Seawright,
I'll comment on your comments in 2 parts. Part 1 Holton and the Selling of the Team then Part 2 in a separate message.
There is so much selling on the part of Hurley, the local media, the northeastern media, and like 8 people on this board. I hope next year when I show up for games they aren't frustrating because the team doesn't win. I won't explain to my dad again how if URI just did ______ or someday ______. Its old.
Holton started for a 3 seed today. I just don't know. Was there no keeping him? Was the early roster truly out of DH's hands in terms of the quality? They played a lot of close games and lost them. We thought it was because the kids weren't up to par.
If Nikola whatever his last name was played this year, would he have been considered better than Akele? if he didn't punch a wall?
Considering the 8 people on this Board you refer to I'm guessing I am one but I don't consider myself "selling" just as I don't consider the more negative or dissatisfied posters as "unselling". It's more sharing opinions and opinions are just that on both sides.
I don't like when people say we were "promised" something by Hurley, Thor and Dooley. If you are not happy with that I can tell you that Jerry D and Jim B promised every year after Harrick left - so there's that. You could say all Coaches and Administrations promise. Shure the goal is an NCAA bid. Is that a promise or a goal. I am not sure but I do believe we are on the right track to an NCAA bid.
I'll be glad to talk to your dad and share some of my optimism with him. We can get NYGiants208 on a conference call too
It's a catch 22, chicken and egg thing.
Every Team promotes their team. They do this to sell Season Tickets, to get the fan base excited. You can call that whatever you want but show me a team that does not do that in Professional or College ranks. Football or Basketball or other sports. Coaches always rave about their incoming recruits.
Hurley admitted he overpromised on his transfers and that he underestimated the level of play in the A10. Done and behind us. Plenty of people here were also promoting the transfers, several saying they had seen them in practice. We heard the transfer guys were beating up the starting 5 in year 1 in practices so people got excited.
From DH's first year at URI since you are bringing that up:
Xavier Munford JUNIOR - 29 starts. Played for DH in HS. Recruited by DH from JC. Munford is now the first URI Player to play in the NBA from URI since Lamar Odom which was the last Century - not bad huh?
Mike Powell SOPH - 29 starts. Recruited by Jim B out of Chicago. Left team not long after losing starting position and facing diminishing playing time
Andre Malone SENIOR - 29 starts. Transferred to URI from Auburn under Jim B. Also played for the URI baseball team his last year
Nikola Malesivic SENIOR - 22 starts. Recruited by Jim B
Jordan Hare FRESHMAN - 19 starts. Originally recruited by Jim B, signed by DH. I loved Hare's game and potential. Not everybody did. 16 rebounds, 7 blocks and 8 points in his 5th college game of his career could not help but impress me. But much as he did not play all of his Senior Year HS games in Michigan and did not play AAU ball I am not sure Hare really loved the game. As with Holton, give TJ Buchanan Hare's body and he is an NBA Lottery Pick. Shame is Hare quit the team not once but twice. The second time may have cost us a recruit...may have. I was first to report URI recruiting Rokas Gustys in June and 6 months later in December it came out publicly when URI offered Gustys. Read the recruiting thread as I was doubted by some who wondered my sources. Gustys started at center for Oak Hill (one of the top Prep teams in the nation every year) and Oak Hill went to the Dick's Sporting Goods National Championship in NYC. Gustys just finished his Soph year at Hofstra. Gustys was a steal to sign. Wonder what DH could have done with a kid like Gustys. Gustys could be in the NBA one day or for sure will play overseas in a top program. The fact that Hare is not playing anywhere today says something about his interest in basketball too. But remember, those were the early years. DH is now able to be much more selective and in complete control of the roster he has assembled and continues to do so.
Ryan Brooks SENIOR - 13 starts. Recruited by Jim B
Mike Aaman FRESHMAN - 4 starts. Suffered concussions at URI on top of concussions in HS. Came to URI with Hurley after having committed to Wagner. Transferred from URI to Wagner. Aaman led Wagner as an 8-seed over 1-seed St Bonaventure in the NIT with 9 pts and 13 rebs. Wagner plays against Creighton today in NIT
URI won 8 games in DH's first year. Previous year Jim B won 7.
URI lost their 2 best returning players when DH took over for Jim B
Billy Baron SENIOR who originally spurned URI for UVA. Billy did not get the PT he expected at UVA and transferred back to URI to play with dad
Billy became eligible just before Christmas of his dad's final year at URI
Billy originally said he would play for DH. To some extent this impacted DH's initial recruiting. Then Billy changed his mind and went to Canisius before playing a game for DH.
Jonathon Holton FRESHMAN was expelled, dismissed by URI. This was not DH's decision but a University decision.
Holton led the A10 in Offensive rebounding his Freshman year. He averaged 8 rpg. While I liked his game a lot, especially his rebounding, I did not care too much for his pouting when he came to the bench sometimes when Jim B took him out. Give TJ Buchanan Holton's body and he would be NBA ready. He liked to take 3 pointers even though he shot low percentages - still does at WVU. To be honest I thought Holton would be a star at WVU. I talked personally to Huggins at an AAU event (after Holton's Palm Beach State College year and before his WVU year) about Holton and he was looking forward to having him and talked glowingly about his play. But even Huggins had issues with Holton this year with a suspension that is still untold as for reasons. By your Senior year you should be straightened out - no? Again I loved Holton's game. If DH had been here I am not sure Holton would have been dismissed. DH has excellent Bench Coaches. He has outstanding academic support for the players. He and his staff keep close tabs on the players and their lives working constantly for them to be successful in life and good ambassadors of the school. Would DH have recruited a guy like Holton? No. He goes after good academic and strong character kids, but if he had inherited Holton I am sure he would have been managed and watched and counseled much more closely than with Jim B. Still may have had problems with Holton thought but less likely is my point.
Malesevic broke his hand. I was there. Saw him come out of the locker room all bandaged up in ice. Was he better than Akele? Malesevic was a Senior, Akele only a Freshman so it's not a fair comparison yet but ask me after Akele's Senior year. But ask me now and I take Akele. Great kid. Showed some nice athletic ability, good shot blocking skills, good defense. He has a nice upside to him. I do think Malesevic was a talented player and would have loved to have seen what DH could have done with him over a full career versus only one year. I also love that Malesevic still maintains contact with URI and sends encouraging messages to the team - great to see.
So Bottom Line in his 1st year with URI - Hurley loses his two best returning players - Baron and Holton - but still wins 1 more game than Jim B did. DH brings in Munford who is now with Memphis in the NBA as of this week!!! Hurley brings in EC Mathews and Hassan Martin who were 1st team preseason picks by the A10 Coaches for this season. He also brings in Mike Aaman who is now starting for Wagner in NIT but had concussion issues and would not have been starting ahead of Martin or Iverson on this year's team.
One year ago the board was counting Guards being offered by DH and saying we needed big men and what was wrong with DH in recruiting strategy? DH got Berry late in May when Quad Smith was also out there and Quad was playing on Akele's IMG Academy team in Florida. At the time I thought Berry was the better pick up than Quad. Look at them both now. Marshall has done wonders with Berry and Berry has done wonders for himself. Then DH goes out and gets 3 incoming Freshmen big men in Layssard, Tertsea and Langevine signing them in the early signing period in November. All have solid potential. He also lands an excellent combo guard in Dowtin. When was the last time URI completed their recruiting class in the early signing period? When was the last time URI was NOT recruiting for next year's team in April and May to desperately fill slots? DH and staff have been and continue to now work on the 2017 and 2018 classes, not trying to finish up the 2016 class.
And maybe most importantly is that DH and staff recruit quality individuals. Good students. He has raised the level of talent and the quality of the incoming recruits to levels not seen in a long time here.
Will that translate into an NCAA appearance for URI in 2017? I believe so.
Will that translate into URI being in the Top 3 in the A10 next year? I believe so.
Will URI be preseason Top 25 next year? I believe so
Will URI be Top 25 during the year next season? I believe so
Will that translate into P5 Programs offering DH HC Positions next March? I believe so.
Will DH take a P5 Position? I don't know. I hope not.
Is there anyone else I would want Coaching URI now and next year? NO
Can I wait for next season? NO
Can I wait for the Mohegan Sun games next November? NO
But my advice to everyone here is to enjoy the ride. It is as promising a time for URI Basketball since Digger Phelps was on the URI Campus for ESPN Midnight Madness during the Harrick Years and that was in the previous century!!!!!!!
It's a great time to be a URI Basketball FAN!!!