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Post by FULL_MONTY on Mar 29, 2024 7:46:15 GMT -8
If you lose by one or two or thirty, it is still a loss. They exceeded my expectations, I thought the round of 32 was the ceiling. We have beef coming to the Mesa next year and it can't come quick enough. Rebounding was the problem all year long and it was magnified last night.
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Post by azson on Mar 29, 2024 8:09:57 GMT -8
Worst loss in the dutcher era. Never had a chance. He needs to reevaluate everything. This team was not built to win at a high level And of course you're doing all you can to improve future teams by donating to MESA/NIL, right? Thanks! |
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Post by azson on Mar 29, 2024 8:15:45 GMT -8
I’m not completely buying the NIL budget. We could have easily won a NC last year. Listen to Polluck’s interview where he discusses the staff making Dutcher adjust the offense early in the season. Something totally against what Dutcher is comfortable with. What they should have also done was not make the offense so one dimensional with Bradley. They could have used more LeDee as the season went on. The reason the 2000 team was so good was you had Flynn who could score on all 3 levels, Mitchell who could score on all 3 levels and Yanni could drop 20 on you any night. That’s not even talking about one of our all time best shooters being a 4 option. You need to have multiple players who you can get offense from and run plays for as well. Sorry, but no one was "easily" winning a NC over UConn last year. I think LeBeast should have gotten more minutes in that NC game but they had the more talented team overall, and no amount of offensive scheming could have changed that. |
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Post by koolk65 on Mar 29, 2024 8:22:23 GMT -8
I’m not completely buying the NIL budget. We could have easily won a NC last year. Listen to Polluck’s interview where he discusses the staff making Dutcher adjust the offense early in the season. Something totally against what Dutcher is comfortable with. What they should have also done was not make the offense so one dimensional with Bradley. They could have used more LeDee as the season went on. The reason the 2000 team was so good was you had Flynn who could score on all 3 levels, Mitchell who could score on all 3 levels and Yanni could drop 20 on you any night. That’s not even talking about one of our all time best shooters being a 4 option. You need to have multiple players who you can get offense from and run plays for as well. Do you mean the 2020 team? |
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Post by koolk65 on Mar 29, 2024 8:26:26 GMT -8
Worst loss in the dutcher era. Never had a chance. He needs to reevaluate everything. This team was not built to win at a high level We are what we can afford. UConn puzzled a high performing team together with their NIL efforts. Love it or hate it, the reality is we need to step up our game if we want to stay and take it to the next level. Consider donating to MESA. www.Mesafoundationsd.org It takes a village and everything counts. “This is your team” Great post. I will admit I need to start donating to MESA. |
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Post by mactec on Mar 29, 2024 8:36:43 GMT -8
Cam Spencer had offers from major schools when transferring, including schools like Miami whose players are estimated to earn upwards of $850k a year. I don't know if he's making that much at UConn, but he didn't go to UConn for free.
The fact that we are the only true mid major school who is having success is amazing. Gonzaga of course is up there above us in terms of program success, but they don't have the budget of a mid major. There's not a single school with our budget range that's had more success as a program in the past decade+.
Proud of our guys. Dutcher has done a hell of a job.
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Post by sdsuball on Mar 29, 2024 8:47:01 GMT -8
I’m not completely buying the NIL budget. We could have easily won a NC last year. Listen to Polluck’s interview where he discusses the staff making Dutcher adjust the offense early in the season. Something totally against what Dutcher is comfortable with. What they should have also done was not make the offense so one dimensional with Bradley. They could have used more LeDee as the season went on. The reason the 2000 team was so good was you had Flynn who could score on all 3 levels, Mitchell who could score on all 3 levels and Yanni could drop 20 on you any night. That’s not even talking about one of our all time best shooters being a 4 option. You need to have multiple players who you can get offense from and run plays for as well. The 2020 team was NC caliber with a healthy Mensah. The 2020 team in conference play without Mensah was a Sweet 16 team - good, but missing that shot blocker to take it to the next level. Sound familiar? That's a big part of the story this year. Without Mensah we got destroyed on the boards and UConn wore us down. |
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Post by sdsustoner on Mar 29, 2024 8:52:12 GMT -8
Cam Spencer had offers from major schools when transferring, including schools like Miami whose players are estimated to earn upwards of $850k a year. I don't know if he's making that much at UConn, but he didn't go to UConn for free. The fact that we are the only true mid major school who is having success is amazing. Gonzaga of course is up there above us in terms of program success, but they don't have the budget of a mid major. There's not a single school with our budget range that's had more success as a program in the past decade+. Proud of our guys. Dutcher has done a hell of a job. Gonzaga spends like a P5 school in men's basketball |
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Post by laaztec on Mar 29, 2024 9:34:02 GMT -8
We are what we can afford. UConn puzzled a high performing team together with their NIL efforts. Love it or hate it, the reality is we need to step up our game if we want to stay and take it to the next level. Consider donating to MESA. www.Mesafoundationsd.org It takes a village and everything counts. “This is your team” Great post. I will admit I need to start donating to MESA. I am Mesa Member. It's awesome the perks you get. |
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Post by mactec on Mar 29, 2024 10:11:49 GMT -8
Great post. I will admit I need to start donating to MESA. I am Mesa Member. It's awesome the perks you get. What's your favorite perk? |
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Post by fisherville on Mar 29, 2024 10:46:13 GMT -8
Worst loss in the dutcher era. Never had a chance. He needs to reevaluate everything. This team was not built to win at a high level We are what we can afford. UConn puzzled a high performing team together with their NIL efforts. Love it or hate it, the reality is we need to step up our game if we want to stay and take it to the next level. Consider donating to MESA. www.Mesafoundationsd.org It takes a village and everything counts. “This is your team” I agree that we need to step our nil game up but i also think your post undersells just how well scouted/coached uconn is. Clingan wasn’t a top 50 prospect, newton was lured from east carolina, what hurley has done goes far beyond nil resources |
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Post by mfaulkhof2011 on Mar 29, 2024 10:54:18 GMT -8
Worst loss in the dutcher era. Never had a chance. He needs to reevaluate everything. This team was not built to win at a high level And of course you're doing all you can to improve future teams by donating to MESA/NIL, right? Thanks! I believe that NIL is important and I have donated to MESA and need to again this year. However, one thing that is coming out in Rex Chapman's book is how players back in the day (1996) were getting paid large dollars under the table. He made $700k his junior year and said he was offered $750k to come back for his senior season. He elected to go pro and said he only made $675K his first year in the NBA so actually took a pay cut. He actually was peeved that if they had that kind of money, why wasn't he paid like that at Kentucky all 4 years and said that was one reason he left. My point here is at least the money is out in the open. We now know what we are dealing with. If we want to compete for the best athletes we need to generate the NIL dollars to do so. If we don't we will get lesser players or diamonds in the rough that want playing time. Hopefully we will create loyalty like we appear to be getting from Waters due to our culture and can still compete at a high level. |
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Post by mfaulkhof2011 on Mar 29, 2024 10:56:53 GMT -8
We are what we can afford. UConn puzzled a high performing team together with their NIL efforts. Love it or hate it, the reality is we need to step up our game if we want to stay and take it to the next level. Consider donating to MESA. www.Mesafoundationsd.org It takes a village and everything counts. “This is your team” I agree that we need to step our nil game up but i also think your post undersells just how well scouted/coached uconn is. Clingan wasn’t a top 50 prospect, newton was lured from east carolina, what hurley has done goes far beyond nil resources Spencer was from Rutgers. I'd like to know what kind of NIL dollars they paid to get Newton and Spencer. Both came from programs not well thought of in basketball so I would think it would be less than the $2M that Miami paid its players last year to get to the Final 4. |
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Post by laaztec on Mar 29, 2024 11:48:38 GMT -8
I am Mesa Member. It's awesome the perks you get. What's your favorite perk? The member events. We got to attend a practice where all the coaches spoke. There was a 3 point shooting contest and the team signed autographs. Also we got to attend a Team Bowling tournament at Aztec Lanes. It had catered lunch and we got to hang out with the team and bowl with the coaches and the team before they left for the MWC tournament. |
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Post by koolk65 on Mar 29, 2024 12:24:33 GMT -8
What's your favorite perk? The member events. We got to attend a practice where all the coaches spoke. There was a 3 point shooting contest and the team signed autographs. Also we got to attend a Team Bowling tournament at Aztec Lanes. It had catered lunch and we got to hang out with the team and bowl with the coaches and the team before they left for the MWC tournament. So I assume there are no special discounts at local San Diego businesses? |
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Post by sdsuball on Mar 29, 2024 12:32:39 GMT -8
Keys to winning a NC:
- Having a first round draft pick caliber player on your team
- Top 20 in defensive efficiency
- Having a go-to scorer at guard or wing
- Deep roster
- Shot blocking center
- Physical team that wins on the boards.
The 2011 team had all of the above except a go-to scorer at guard or wing (UCONN had Kemba who won them the game).
The 2020 team had all of the above before Mensah got injured. Also, we didn't lose a game with Mensah - we were undefeated with him.
The 2023 team had all of the above except a first round pick (Hawkins arguably won them them game - whenever we got a run, he ended it by draining a shot).
The 2024 team was missing a first round pick, a go-to scorer at guard or wing, a deep roster, a shot blocking center, and we didn't win on the boards.
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Post by biotec on Mar 29, 2024 12:44:45 GMT -8
Yep, hats off to a nice season. So many highlights: (a) Beating Gonzaga in their house (b) that 2nd half of basketball vs. St. Mary's. Wow. (c) Jaedon LeDee putting the team on his back every night.
For me, the barometer is simple: Was I entertained? Yes. Did I feel the thrill of victory and agony of defeat? Yes. Am I already looking forward to next year? Yes!
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Post by sdsuball on Mar 29, 2024 12:46:04 GMT -8
Looking at next year's team:
- Having a first round draft pick caliber player on your team
Unlikely: Magoon Gwath, Pharaoh Compton
- Top 20 in defensive efficiency
Yes, most likely.
- Having a go-to scorer at guard or wing
Not on this roster as it currently stands (imo). We need to get someone in the portal, or Waters needs to play consistently like he did at the start of the 2023-2024 season.
- Deep Roster
Remains to be seen, dependent on who stays and what transfers we get.
- Shot blocking center
Yes, Heide and Gwath will be that for us.
- Physical team that wins on the boards
Hopefully? Depends on Heide, Gwath, Compton, Byrd, Saunders.
Bottom Line:
We need a transfer guard or wing that can score. Badly. This is the most important piece that we desperately need right now.
We could use another transfer or two to provide us with some combination of physical presence, shooting and/or depth.
Unless Gwath or Compton are incredible next year, like starting and putting up big stats, we likely have a S16 or E8 type ceiling next year.
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Post by koolk65 on Mar 29, 2024 12:46:46 GMT -8
Keys to winning a NC: - Having a first round draft pick caliber player on your team - Top 20 in defensive efficiency - Having a go-to scorer at guard or wing - Deep roster - Shot blocking center - Physical team that wins on the boards. The 2011 team had all of the above except a go-to scorer at guard or wing (UCONN had Kemba who won them the game). The 2020 team had all of the above before Mensah got injured. Also, we didn't lose a game with Mensah - we were undefeated with him. The 2023 team had all of the above except a first round pick (Hawkins arguably won them them game - whenever we got a run, he ended it by draining a shot). The 2024 team was missing a first round pick, a go-to scorer at guard or wing, a deep roster, a shot blocking center, and we didn't win on the boards. Another aspect: Consistent knock down shooters. |
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Post by laaztec on Mar 29, 2024 12:49:19 GMT -8
The member events. We got to attend a practice where all the coaches spoke. There was a 3 point shooting contest and the team signed autographs. Also we got to attend a Team Bowling tournament at Aztec Lanes. It had catered lunch and we got to hang out with the team and bowl with the coaches and the team before they left for the MWC tournament. So I assume there are no special discounts at local San Diego businesses? Not that I am aware of. |
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