That's the key point, unfortunately. Program has never reached a Final Four, and has only made the Elite Eight once. But because Barnes got paid we're suddenly supposed to be a top 10 team every year and pushing for Elite Eight or Final Four appearances?
Before the season started I thought we could be a 22 win team, and I'm overly optimistic in most predictions. I figured we'd have Uros and Turner all season too (and healthy). Sucks we're sitting at just 15 wins and need deep runs in the SECT and/or the NCAA (if we were to make it) to possibly hit 22 wins now. I don't know if Barnes' style of recruiting/coaching will ultimately lead us to a Final Four appearance. But I know he develops players and staff and if he can't get his there at least the foundation will be stronger for the next coach after him than it was after every previous coach left.
Yeah, I purposely waited until the Uros denial to make my prediction of 18-13, and that was with a healthy Turner, so I can’t say we’re far off of my expectations. I don’t look at someone’s newfound salary and expect them to immediately turn water into wine. Barnes was going to struggle with this team regardless of his salary. How much of that realistically falls on him is obviously a debatable topic, but the expectation that he was going to make this same group of guys a top 10 team because he got paid more money is about as ignorant an expectation as can possibly be dreamed up.
Realistically, his first step towards further justifying that salary increase would come in the 2020 recruiting class. That was the first real chance he would have to “step up” his game. He knocked that class out of the park. Springer, K Johnson, Walker, and Vescovi was one heck of a class on paper. Vescovi being the least heralded has already returned immediate results and significant hope for our immediate future.
The next realistic opportunity to further justify that pay increase will come during the summer as the staff continues to lay the groundwork for the 2021 class, which will have a chance to sign immediately after the tip of the 2020-21 season. Following a down year on the floor, Barnes will have to sell our still recent success, team inexperience, incoming talent, and opportunity to the 21 class.
Then, on the floor improvement must come from the talent he has secured, starting next season. Landing top shelf talent is meaningless if it doesn’t lead to greater results. That is where the true justification can be earned, and should be expected by fans.
