You know it will be interesting how Barnes handles Springer next year. On paper he is the best player on the roster. James walked into camp, with two senior guards leading the way coming off a very successful year. Springer walks into camp replacing a senior guard, with a bunch of young teammates, looking for an alpha, off a year that has been like 3 different seasons in one.
Fulkerson has proved that he belongs, as has Pons despite being undersized in their current respective positions, but is either vocal enough to be the leader? Vescovi has moxy but often you want your best players to be your leaders, and he won’t be that guy either. James has a mature demeanor but may not want to be the alpha. Springer could very well not be that automatic 5*, one and done type player either, but when the offense is defended, or the clock is running down, you need “that guy” to make a play in any level of basketball. We “think” Springer will be that guy. Will Barnes encourage him to be that guy is a question.
I’m sure next year will present surprises as they always occur. I just hope we run a lot more. We will have the bodies to defend aggressively and play uptempo for 40 minutes or even speed up our halfcourt sets. Fulkerson can outrun any big in the SEC and Pons probably should be more of a matchup problem in the open court, with his athleticism (assuming he improves his handle). You would think Springer, Keon Johnson, Walker, and James would all be suitable for up tempo. Kicking out to Vescovi or Bailey for a perimeter shot on a secondary break seems would be suitable for them too before the defense gets set. I’m not interested in “run and gun”, but we can still push tempo and take good shots in the process.