Experience

[douggie]

Experience. A term taken lightly in today's age of fast flight to the NBA, still exists. Maybe not in terms of "Senior Leadership". But upper classmen stick around to show some experience in difficult times. Whether it is in turbulent times during a low ebb in the team's season stretch or experience in the NCAA Tourney. What does your team have left for next year?

Wisconsin returns Kaminsky and a cast that went to the Final Four with an overall record of 30-8.
Kentucky returns the Harrison twins along with Poythress as Sophs.
Texas returns it's whole team.

Who else?

 

[gordontrue]

Arizona is looking good.

Of the 7 players that played 20+ mpg last year, 5 of them are back.... 1 senior, 3 juniors and a sophomore. 3 of those 5 players are likely 1st round picks next year.

Throw in the Junior transfer, and Zona has plenty of experience to balance that great recruiting class coming in.

 

[HizzleRocker]

You already said it - but Texas returns every single player, and now add Miles Turner.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Experience. A term taken lightly in today's age of fast flight to the NBA, still exists. Maybe not in terms of "Senior Leadership". But upper classmen stick around to show some experience in difficult times. Whether it is in turbulent times during a low ebb in the team's season stretch or experience in the NCAA Tourney. What does your team have left for next year?

Wisconsin returns Kaminsky and a cast that went to the Final Four with an overall record of 30-8.
Kentucky returns the Harrison twins along with Poythress as Sophs.
Texas returns it's whole team.

Who else?

No need to look any further than the 2012-2013 UK team lead by nearly all underclassmen and ousted in the first round of the NIT. Lack of experience.

Struggled some this year, again, mostly underclassmen and a lot of freshmen to mesh.

Compare that to the run in their last title where they had several SR/JR's to mesh with the talented freshmen.

Experience definately plays a huge, huge role, especially in this day of 1-and-done.

This year's UK team will have experience now to mesh with their talent. Poythress/Stein are Juniors, they return everyone but Young and Randolph from this past class, and add even more talent. That experience that the Harrisons, Poythress, Stein, plus the other returning freshmen meshing with even more talent is going to be scary good.

As for "my" team...Cincinnati has little returning. Definately going to be year of transition.

 

[The Derski]

Bear down

 

[ericd7633]

Minnesota will have 4 seniors(3 senior starters) 2 juniors and a red shirt sophomore on the roster. That's 7 upperclassmen that will contribute significant minutes. I think only 2 freshman will see playing time this year. 1 MIGHT possibly start but I doubt it.

 

[NDHoosier101]

IU is in trouble again on that front, fucking frustrating. We lost a lot of guys needlessly to transfer.

8 total returning. Only 3 saw more than 10 minutes per game last season- Yogi Ferrell, Stan Robinson, Troy Williams

A couple really stepped up at the end of the season though (Devin Davis, Hanner Perea) and they all showed tons of potential last season so we'll see.

No Seniors, two juniors. No real inside presence now or coming in. Crean is on the ropes.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Cincinnati isn't in any better shape, really.

They have 2 Seniors returning, and neither of them are starter quality. Guyn who did start at PG actually had less minutes than Freshman Troy Caupain (who is going to be one solid play down the road). Sanders has spend 3 years coming off the bench, and isn't really a starter, though he may start this year by default, but still won't get starter minutes.

After those two, you have Shaq Thomas, who has shown flashes of great play, but no consistency. Hopefully, his Junior year will be the year he can take that next step. Offensively, this is going to be his team now that Kilpatrick is gone.

Lawrence really struggled his Freshman year, despite his lofty ranking. Injury has riddled him since he missed most of his Sr year in H.S. and then just as he was rounding into form, he got hurt again, and missed 4-5 weeks, setting him back again.

After that...it's a cast of thousands. Mostly Sophmores, Red-Shirt Freshmen, and true Freshmen.

Caupain and reserve soph Johnson will be two to watch though...these kids can play, and are fun to watch. If they both continue to grow, and UC gets Shaq to match his consistency with his ability, they could have another similar run to this past year, but...that is a lot ofwhat-ifs, and hope. I am not expecting much.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Minnesota will have 4 seniors(3 senior starters) 2 juniors and a red shirt sophomore on the roster. That's 7 upperclassmen that will contribute significant minutes. I think only 2 freshman will see playing time this year. 1 MIGHT possibly start but I doubt it.

Yeah the gophs will have nice experience. Dre should make a huge leap with the ankle issues behind him. Senior back court will be huge.

Carlos Morris will certainly get a lot of time but he's not a freshman. Martin will get time too.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

TJ McConnell- 5th year starting PG
Kaleb Tarczewski & Brandon Ashley return as the starting big men. Both juniors.
Gabe York- Junior SG likely to be the sixth or seventh man off the bench.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson- Sophomore SF that is due for a HUGE year.

 

[The Derski]

CBS says AZ has the best starting 5 and it's not even close.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

CBS says AZ has the best starting 5 and it's not even close.

Whoever said that is a pure fool.

They may have the best starting 5, but to say it is not even close is laugh out loud funny.

 

[CatsTopPac]

Yeah, AZ's 5 are not run away the best.

Observations: UK is nation's deepest team, but Arizona has best top five - CBSSports.com

 

[520GGATO]

TJ McConnell- 5th year starting PG
Kaleb Tarczewski & Brandon Ashley return as the starting big men. Both juniors.
Gabe York- Junior SG likely to be the sixth or seventh man off the bench.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson- Sophomore SF that is due for a HUGE year.

This just about says it all for Zona. Just add in the junior college player of the year and we got another powerful team.
Bear Down PGU.

 

[ChicagoIrish]

IU is in trouble again on that front, fucking frustrating. We lost a lot of guys needlessly to transfer.

8 total returning. Only 3 saw more than 10 minutes per game last season- Yogi Ferrell, Stan Robinson, Troy Williams

A couple really stepped up at the end of the season though (Devin Davis, Hanner Perea) and they all showed tons of potential last season so we'll see.

No Seniors, two juniors. No real inside presence now or coming in. Crean is on the ropes.

Yeah it's going to be another long, tough season to watch.

I'm predicting Creans final season in Bloomington

 

[Texas Jefe]

As for leadership, Jonathan Holmes is our guy. All the others are young pups. But when all the malcontents of the previous several years either ran off, were run off or left prematurely for the NBA, Holmes stayed, and was calming influence this season, and should be the mentor for young M.Turner next year.


The thing Texas really needs, and didn't have this year, is someone who can fill up the bucket. A shooter who can break the back of the defense when they pack inside.

 

[TrollyMcTroller]

Yeah, AZ's 5 are not run away the best.

Observations: UK is nation's deepest team, but Arizona has best top five - CBSSports.com

Well, I think if you read the article, it makes sense.... (it appears not everyone who responded did)

UK has the most "talent" (athleticism, whatever) with whatever starting 5 they go with , but Arizona will be a more complete team, if for no other reason that UK has a dozen guys that can play at 1/2 or 4/5 but there isn't a single true 3 on the team. Poythress is almost certain to take that role but he's more effective as a 4.

But I agree that AZ's starting 5 will be the best. Duke and UK aren't far behind though.

 

[HizzleRocker]

As for leadership, Jonathan Holmes is our guy. All the others are young pups. But when all the malcontents of the previous several years either ran off, were run off or left prematurely for the NBA, Holmes stayed, and was calming influence this season, and should be the mentor for young M.Turner next year.


The thing Texas really needs, and didn't have this year, is someone who can fill up the bucket. A shooter who can break the back of the defense when they pack inside.

True true. Our weakness is the 3 point shot.

* We were the best rebounding team in the Big 12 last year as is. Now bring back every single person and add 7 foot top 3 prospect Turner to the lineup. Nobody will out rebound us.

* We will be one of the biggest teams in the country.

* We are extremely deep as well. We have two 7 footers coming off the bench and one of them can shoot the 3. The other is the best shot blocker you've never heard of.

* We have great PG play. Isaiah Taylor without exaggeration will be one of the best PG's in the country next year.


But we are not a great 3 point shooting team, and I don't know that will improve too much. Felix is our only starter we can depend on there.