I agree in terms of the quality of the staff...top to bottom it's prob the best we have ever had. Harrick and Farmer were a formidable twosome. Dan's last couple staffs were pretty strong but with Kenny and Duane and an accomplished / established head coach like Archie this is overall a top class staff.Blue Man wrote: ↑2 years agoI tend to agree. But I do think this feels like the NIT Hurley team as a ceiling, with an A10 tourney run/birth if we get hot in Brooklyn isn't out of the question.bigappleram wrote: ↑2 years agoDan Year 3 had 2 bona fide future All Conference talents (Hass and EC) and a very highly regarded FR (JT). This squad, at least right now, doesn't have any of that. Not sure that's a fair comparison. Guys like Weston and Harris obv have that potential but there is just no evidence to say its a definite. At this point in Dan's tenure you knew Hass and EC were cornerstone players. And that Jared was going to be a star.PeterRamTime wrote: ↑2 years ago
Now that the roster is locked in I'm with you.
Wasn't sure there for a while. Looked very developmental.
Considering how good our coaching staff is, especially how well they coach defense, the guys we kept on the roster, talent and expereince at guard and size in the frontcourt, we compete easily.
This does feel like early Dan, but fastforward to year 3 with Dan. I think these guys have a bubble team ceiling.
Strongly disagree about Loyola. I watched them a lot last year and their style of play was virtually the same under Valentine. He can coach. Dude won't have a problem getting players there either. Loyola is very likely going to compete for a league title immediately. I mean, if they were in the A-10 last year they probably win the regular season title over Davidson. They just play great defense, shoot the ball well and have athletes. I'll be shocked if they struggle in the A-10.
I think this is the best top-to-bottom coaching staff we've ever had. And to your point about cornerstone players - EC was a soph coming off all-rookie team honors, like Bray. Terrell was a Freshman - Brandon Harris is a "soph" with a similar high school ranking out of HS.
Now obviously this team will be built different than the 2015 NIT team without someone like Hass (but we do have his brother), but Ant Harris is senior aged and has seen a lot, just has lacked opportunity.
When you look at that 2015 Rhody team - Jarvis/Jared/EC/Hass/Gil, I think this team is a good comparison with Bray/Weston/Harris/Martin/TBD. I also think this URI team has more depth/experience coming off the bench with Ish/Carey probably seeing significant minutes at the 1/2/3.
If healthy, Bray/Harris/Weston have a solid chance at being one of, if not the best, backcourt in the conference. Size and projected talent.
Obviously none of that matters until they actually play together and if they develop, but I'm all in.
I don't disagree that NIT is a possible ceiling but if we get to that point then Archie will proven to be an even better coach than I already think he is. We will have to leapfrog a bunch of programs to do so.