Rothstein's AAC offseason notebook

[Ponyneighbor]

Anyone who thinks Gus minutes decrease when Jahmal becomes eligible hasn't been paying attention. This programs identity is D and boards, not chucking indiscreminently in between blunts. Don't get me wrong, MacMurray is a sniping specialist who can get his own, and we'll need that, but he's not gonna move Gu to bench. I'd bet Gu is close to a 10ppg senior

No shortage of hot sports opinions in that post

[ponyboy]

Maybe we are third or fourth best in the conference, but as I think one poster said above we've consistently outperformed expectations the last few seasons. Won't be shocked if we do so again this coming season.

[One Trick Pony]

Blunts vs. Edibles - the world is changing

[sadderbudweiser]

Blunts vs. Edibles - the world is changing

There was an inter squad game nobody mentioned?

[One Trick Pony]

Blunts vs. Edibles - the world is changing

There was an inter squad game nobody mentioned?

Can't wait for basketball

[JasonB]

What gives JasonB? You always overrate and overprotect our football team and now you are underrating and underselling our basketball team.

. I've been extremely wrong three seasons in football - I thought we were set up to win big in GG's final season, but the OL completely melted down. I thought we were going to be okay in June's last year because I thought the players that had shown well two seasons prior would come back and do well, but everyone quit. Finally, I thought we would be better in Morris first season, because I thought Davis was a perfect fit for his offense.

However, for the record, I had us at 6-6 last year in football, pretty close considering most on this board were at 3-4 wins. Last year in basketball, I predicted that we would finish first in the AAC and Semi would be all conference. I said we would finish 3rd if Semi wasn't all conference.

This year, Jarrey at the 4 full time scares me a little bit. Tons of reliance on frosh scares me. McMurray's fit scares me. And I don't see reliable scorers that compliment Shake outside of McMurray, who is coming in late and I'm not sure if he fits the offense or defense. Who takes the game over in a close contest? There are a ton of unknowns that would prevent me from ranking the team or calling for a top 3 or 4 finish in the league.

If Whitt is great, Jarrey is a reliable scorer, McMurray fits like a glove, and a frosh big plays well to form a good 3 man rotation in the 4 and 5 spots, then yeah we are going to battle for the top spot in conference. But this could very well be an NIT team because we don't have McMurray in the OOC, struggle there, and a lack of reliable scorers and closers leaves us fifth in conference.

[hoopmanx]

It's funny, but when it comes to this program, I'm so enamored w our culture and family vibe, that I find myself less concerned w individuals or perceived team weaknesses. At the end of the day, this program play smart, d's up, boards and shares the ball religiously. So long as we keep doing that, we'll always achieve more than what's expected. No matter who we plug in, I expect the, to play SMU hoops. They do that, everything else will come together, cause despite youth and inexperience, the team is damn talented

[sadderbudweiser]

Great points made by both Jason and Hoop….and there you have it. Young, talented, focused with a solid guiding hand. Can't wait to see the evolution.

[LA_Mustang]

Definitely talented. We have an incoming 4-star, borderline national top 100 freshman wing who is going to have a tough time seeing the floor. Think about that for a minute.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

We are not finishing behind UCF. I think it's very fair to have us 3rd behind WSU and Cincy. But not UCF.

Totally agree. University Central Florida finishing ahead of us is laughable. I still think we finish ahead of Cincy and give the Shockers a run but no matter what I can't wait for November.

[East Coast Mustang]

I think we'll be a 25-win team and make the tourney again; however, I don't see this year's squad being as good as last years...although they could go deeper in March with better depth

2018-19 is when we could really make some noise

Agau
Mike
Foster
Whitt
McMurray

With Chargois, Ray, Douglas, and Landrum all off the bench with a year of experience under their belts. I'm assuming Shake goes pro. Recruiting wise I'm guessing we'll take one freshman (Kaden Archie or Kyler Edwards seem like the most likely to me at this point) and then if/when Shake declares we'll use the final spot on either another late signee, or a transfer.

[PonyLawExpress]

I think we'll be a 25-win team and make the tourney again; however, I don't see this year's squad being as good as last years...although they could go deeper in March with better depth

2018-19 is when we could really make some noise

Agau
Mike
Foster
Whitt
McMurray

With Chargois, Ray, Douglas, and Landrum all off the bench with a year of experience under their belts. I'm assuming Shake goes pro. Recruiting wise I'm guessing we'll take one freshman (Kaden Archie or Kyler Edwards seem like the most likely to me at this point) and then if/when Shake declares we'll use the final spot on either another late signee, or a transfer.

Seconded. I think 18-19 could be the year we are back to frontrunner in the AAC with WSU having mass casualties after this year and Cincy losing most of their frontcourt. Everything i've heard on Mike and seen is that he is going to be a stud. So glad we grabbed him.

I would be shocked if we weren't a tourney team this year. I remember all the NIT talks on here last season, because of the unknowns. We have alot of talent still. As long as we play SMU style basketball I think we are at least a 23+ win regualr season team in an improved AAC with Shake and Jarrey back. If Agau can live up to expectations we should be real solid with those 3, Whitt, McMurray and Gu as a our top 6 (not even mentioning the freshman). It is 100% going to be Shake and Jarrey's team though.

Be stunned if we landed Kaden Archie. My guess would be Kyler Edwards or someone we make a run at later this month. Still praying for a Liddell or Brazdekias.

[LA_Mustang]

@JonRothstein
The theme around BC practice today? Positionless basketball. Eagles have interchangeable pieces. Similar in mold to SMU last season.

[Rebel10]

UCF had a lot of decent transfers that sat out last year. It will be interesting to see how good they will be with those transfers now eligible. I think Tulane had a few decent transfers that will be eligible this year as well. Going to be a fun year in the AAC.

[Stallion]

Love the team chemistry in recent years-still some question whether new players can replicate the team chemistry established by Ben Moore and Sterling Brown. A lot of new pieces have to mesh