Jon Rothstein in Kingston

[Rhody74]

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein

No doubt URI will be one of the 40 teams he picks for his Top 20.

[sf2010]

Had plenty of buzz going into last year, think we'll get more of the same this season, though perhaps tempered a bit. Definitely always good to have national exposure though.

[ace]

[ace]

Rothstein has always been very high on Hare.

[ace]

[Seawrightspostgame]

Feels like déjà vu. I believe it. I'm nervous. The offseason gets me everytime.

Robert Carter transferring? He's good, injured last year I believe. I really hoped he came here way back when. I wish we had a connect. He could sit out a year and replace Gil. I think he would be an upgrade but no chance.

[ace]

Interesting that he sees the frontcourt as a strength. Of course, he's not watching two expected important parts of the backcourt.

[TruePoint]

I think specifically he is saying that frontcourt depth will be a strength, and I agree. I've said so before. Having waves of bigs you can send out is a luxury in the A10. That a couple of them are (or can be) legit players even better.

[ace]

Of course it's a strength and five is better than three. I'm just not sure I would say it's their "biggest strength." I'm also happy to be discussing which objectively good part of the team is the best.

I also like what he has to say about Reischel. If he never has to play anything other than the 3- which was not the case last year when he was sometimes out there along with three guards- I think he can have a different (better) kind of year.

[bigappleram]

agree with most of what he says

Hassan is still way underrated...his FR stats were very impressive but a bit glazed over because of ECs accomplishments, his numbers are even more impressive when you consider he was a 6'7 18 year old covering 22 year old PFs and Centers.

Hare is an X Factor

Agree with his proposed early season starting lineup, i think the only change is if Biggie beats out TJ to start at PG.

[rambone 78]

Just back from Vegas. Good to see the national pub.

I don't think it will be long before JG takes over at the point. We will go only as far as PG play takes us. Of course it's nice that EC, TJ, and even JT will play some at the position.

JG is the only "natural" PG though. It is nice however to have so many interchangeable parts on this team. It's been quite a while since we have.

[Iggy1979]

There's a chance Reischel's shot could be more consistent this year, and I thought he mostly played good D. But he was a terrible rebounder last year and I doubt that will improve.

[adam914]

agree with most of what he says

Hassan is still way underrated...his FR stats were very impressive but a bit glazed over because of ECs accomplishments, his numbers are even more impressive when you consider he was a 6'7 18 year old covering 22 year old PFs and Centers.

Totally agree, and I think part of it with Hassan was that there wasn't that one stat (other than blocks to a degree) that really jumped off the box score at you every night like scoring alot can do. But he was pretty consistent late in the season, and that note that he provides about his numbers is very impressive.

[Rhody74]

Reischel may have been victimized for playing out of position all year. I hope he bounces back; otherwise he may not see many minutes.

[bigappleram]

as someone said, if JR just became a consistent corner 3 shooter and played good D he would get plenty of burn.

[peeps4life]

rothstein slobs on everyone's knob this time of year. take it with a grain of salt.

[ace]

Everybody already knows that. It's kind of his rep.

[bigappleram]

thx peeps but if we want frian fan opinions we will ask for them.

[rodfromcranston]

That and, he eats a lot.

[ace]

That and, he eats a lot.

And it's always Off the Charts!

That being said, I like him. Everybody can do with some optimism now and then.

[ace]

As for basketball, I am very anxious to see how practice Watson looks compared to game Watson. There's no doubt he's tough and strong, and Hassan likes practicing against him. I hope he can use those assets effectively in-game.

[ace]

Rothstein interview with Hurley

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... dan-hurley

[ramster]

except from the article:
CBSSports.com: You took a team trip to Italy last summer and arguably your best player was Jordan Hare (5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks in 12-13). He never played a game for your team last season due to personal reasons. What does his return mean for your program?

Hurley: First of all, I think it's great for him. He belongs in college basketball and he belongs on a college campus getting his education. He's talented kid and he's an intelligent kid who with the level of commitment he's demonstrated in the last couple of weeks has a chance to resume his career and be a productive member of the program. Obviously, he brings things athletically in terms of his length that not a lot of people in our league have. Once he's eligible and in shape, he has a chance to be a really great piece for us

[rodfromcranston]

"arguably your best player"??????????????
And people think Rothstein has a clue?
Too many pizza crawls have destroyed his mind.

[ace]

Maybe, but others have said that, too- that Hare was their best player in Italy, not their best player overall. The article makes it clear that that is EC right now. Hare had some clear advantages over the Italian players, but a contributing Hare is huge for this team.

[rodfromcranston]

Well, in talking to people last night, Hare has a long
road to travel, before he becomes a contributor.

[ace]

My favorite parts...

"I think the depth is going to be huge for us. The last two years in rebuilding this thing we just haven't had all of the personnel that you need at this level to implement the style of play that we want to utilize both offensively and defensively. We've worked very, very hard the last two years to put the pieces in place to recruit exciting young talent and to also have some really experienced guys that can help lead."

"E.C. is a special talent. The things that he can do --- they're different. When you match that up with the high character, the highest level of work ethic, and a guy that keeps his circle real small, you've got a real exciting building block."


Now, they just need a quiet off-season and start of practice with no surprises. I'm hopeful but not at all certain about that happening.

[bigappleram]

i was in italy, Hare did play well, not sure he was clearly the best player as the games were all glorified pick up games and the 2 teams i saw were not very tall or athletic so Hare could dominate....EC, X and Gil all looked good in italy too, so not much to take from it. i can say two things, the kid is smart and charismatic, and he has the potential to be an X factor for us. will it come to fruition remains to be seen.

[Iggy1979]

Jon Rothstein, CBSSports.com: What's the biggest thing you know now after coaching for two years in the Atlantic 10 that you didn't know when you took the job?
Dan Hurley: The level of the conference. It's such a great league.

In other words, Dan originally thought he could win with Reischel, Biggie and Iffy type players. Then he realized he needed players like Terrell, Garrett and Watson to win in the A10.

[TruePoint]

Jon Rothstein, CBSSports.com: What's the biggest thing you know now after coaching for two years in the Atlantic 10 that you didn't know when you took the job?
Dan Hurley: The level of the conference. It's such a great league.

In other words, Dan originally thought he could win with Reischel, Biggie and Iffy type players. Then he realized he needed players like Terrell, Garrett and Watson to win in the A10.

I thought he was pretty candid about this last night at Rhody Joes, too. Even without him saying so, I think it is pretty obvious it is the case based on some of his comments from earlier in his tenure.

[rodfromcranston]

Exactly. He said he thought it would be like Wagner,
where one recruiting class and some leftovers could
turn the program around.
He admits to misjudging the league. As he said, "It's not a league where many
freshmen start."

[ace]

Jon Rothstein, CBSSports.com: What's the biggest thing you know now after coaching for two years in the Atlantic 10 that you didn't know when you took the job?
Dan Hurley: The level of the conference. It's such a great league.

In other words, Dan originally thought he could win with Reischel, Biggie and Iffy type players. Then he realized he needed players like Terrell, Garrett and Watson to win in the A10.

I thought he was pretty candid about this last night at Rhody Joes, too. Even without him saying so, I think it is pretty obvious it is the case based on some of his comments from earlier in his tenure.

Agreed, but I don't think they could have really done anything differently. They had to fill 8 roster spots, starting in March, with only Hare and Aaman having already been recruited by them.

[TruePoint]

Yeah I don't think they could have done anything differently, but I also think the way they calibrated expectations was colored by how they saw the league. It became accepted that he purposely inflated expectations for PR reasons, but I'm not convinced that was the case. I think they just misread the landscape a little bit. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Just interesting.

[ace]

Maybe a little of both. But they never even had the roster they thought they were going to have last season. Would that have made the difference? Rhetorical question, really, as the future is way more interesting to discuss than the past.

[Rhodekill]

We do need to keep looking forward but we should remember that in year one Dan was supposed to have Holton and Baron...and did not...in year two he was supposed to have Hare and Aamen and did not....those two years would have been significantly different if those pieces were not missing.....Now onward and upward....

[rodfromcranston]

Like This?

[ramfan85]

Now THAT'S a uniform. The helmut would help prevent head injuries, too. Maybe the names could be put on the back of it?