College Hoops Around The Country [TN opponents, RPI, others]

#20,455
#20,455
DowntownVol said:
I hope you're right. don't shoot the messenger, but I think this is Barnes' last year. I'm just not seeing a guy his age willing to try to recruit an entire new team through the portal, and the team he's assembled this year, if (big if) they stay healthy, seems to be his final do-or-die run at a Final Four.
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Not saying you’re wrong, just curious, he added 4 through the portal for this year, why wouldn’t he be willing to add 4 again next year?
 
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#20,456
#20,456
bleedingTNorange said:
Not saying you’re wrong, just curious, he added 4 through the portal for this year, why wouldn’t he be willing to add 4 again next year?
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Barnes has had a returning core group of program leaders for a while now that will end with ZZZ & Mashack. No returning starters next year and especially no returning ball handlers. I could see that being an unappealing situation for a coach who values culture and is Barnes’ age. No prediction and I hope it doesn’t happen.
 
#20,457
#20,457
walkenvol said:
Barnes has had a returning core group of program leaders for a while now that will end with ZZZ & Mashack. No returning starters next year and especially no returning ball handlers. I could see that being an unappealing situation for a coach who values culture and is Barnes’ age. No prediction and I hope it doesn’t happen.
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Where’s Okpara going?
 
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#20,459
#20,459
walkenvol said:
Barnes has had a returning core group of program leaders for a while now that will end with ZZZ & Mashack. No returning starters next year and especially no returning ball handlers. I could see that being an unappealing situation for a coach who values culture and is Barnes’ age. No prediction and I hope it doesn’t happen.
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We lost 4/5 starters off last years team, and 5 of the top 8 in minutes played. This year we’ll lose 4/5 starters and 6 of the top 8 in minutes played, I don’t see it being a whole lot different, will once again come down to freshman and portal. Everyone said how could we possibly replace Knecht’s scoring and all the pieces departing, they messed around and to date have added an even better scorer and are currently overall an even better team.

I’ll start doubting Barnes/staff ability to field a Top 10-15 team when they give a reason to, right now it seems like a machine that just keeps churning out good teams.
 
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#20,460
#20,460
bleedingTNorange said:
We lost 4/5 starters off last years team, and 5 of the top 8 in minutes played. This year we’ll lose 4/5 starters and 6 of the top 8 in minutes played, I don’t see it being a whole lot different, will once again come down to freshman and portal. Everyone said how could we possibly replace Knecht’s scoring and all the pieces departing, they messed around and to date have added an even better scorer and are currently overall an even better team.

I’ll start doubting Barnes/staff ability to field a Top 10-15 team when they give a reason to, right now it seems like a machine that just keeps churning out good teams.
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I don’t doubt CRB either - as someone in his early 60’s, I could see a guy around 70 not being interested in starting over building a new team without established cultural leadership returning. ZZZ & Mashack are 4 years in the program and we’re clear leaders. Next year at best there are 2 guys entering their 3rd season with neither having an established leadership role. Felix is a portal rental. To me, next year will be a very different animal compared to this season. Obviously I’m not in touch with Barnes’ take so TIFIW
 
#20,461
#20,461
walkenvol said:
I don’t doubt CRB either - as someone in his early 60’s, I could see a guy around 70 not being interested in starting over building a new team without established cultural leadership returning. ZZZ & Mashack are 4 years in the program and we’re clear leaders. Next year at best there are 2 guys entering their 3rd season with neither having an established leadership role. Felix is a portal rental. To me, next year will be a very different animal compared to this season. Obviously I’m not in touch with Barnes’ take so TIFIW
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It just feels like every year we have these questions, the program has been built and established as next man up. Many wondered who would take over for Grant, then it was Fulky’s leadership etc, it happens every year. As you mentioned Estrella and Phillips will be 3 year guys, you ask anyone and Gainey has a huge voice, he’s only a 2 year guy, it doesn’t have to be 3+ years to have a voice and earn respect of your peers. Boswell playing a role this year and being a plus defender will allow him to also be part of that culture turnover, same of Okpara.
 
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#20,462
#20,462
bleedingTNorange said:
It just feels like every year we have these questions, the program has been built and established as next man up. Many wondered who would take over for Grant, then it was Fulky’s leadership etc, it happens every year. As you mentioned Estrella and Phillips will be 3 year guys, you ask anyone and Gainey has a huge voice, he’s only a 2 year guy, it doesn’t have to be 3+ years to have a voice and earn respect of your peers. Boswell playing a role this year and being a plus defender will allow him to also be part of that culture turnover, same of Okpara.
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…must have…

IMG_5986.png
 
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#20,471
#20,471
bleedingTNorange said:
Not saying you’re wrong, just curious, he added 4 through the portal for this year, why wouldn’t he be willing to add 4 again next year?
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others have more or less beat me to this, but Barnes is old, with an old-school approach, he's shown he can be adaptable but I think he enjoys the process of developing players, and ZZ and Mashack might be the last two guys he has for four full years. believe me, I WANT him to stay a couple more years if he's willing, I just have this sneaking suspicion that the new way of building a team just doesn't have the same juice for him as traditional player development does.
 
#20,472
#20,472
I could, for instance, definitely see a scenario in which Estrella comes back strong next year, has an all-SEC type season, then transfers out for a bigger and better NIL deal.
 
#20,474
#20,474
DowntownVol said:
others have more or less beat me to this, but Barnes is old, with an old-school approach, he's shown he can be adaptable but I think he enjoys the process of developing players, and ZZ and Mashack might be the last two guys he has for four full years. believe me, I WANT him to stay a couple more years if he's willing, I just have this sneaking suspicion that the new way of building a team just doesn't have the same juice for him as traditional player development does.
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Phillips and Estrella will both be entering Year 3 under Barnes…I had the same initial thoughts, but everything I’ve heard suggests Barnes has enjoyed the portal. He’s not doing the grinding of evals and recruiting, his staff does that, and they’re finding mature guys who for the most part don’t need to be broken or taught how to be a college basketball player and student, and he’s liked that aspect of it. Guys coming in that know how to practice and handle their day to day work and are coming in with a mindset of a business approach and this being a “final go around” if you will.
 
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#20,475
#20,475
Anybody else wondering why the Drake isn’t even top 25? Win at K State, Valpo and Vandy. Not that any of those Ws are world beaters but undefeated is still undefeated. Imo they also look the part.
 
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