People are acting like the lack of a grad transfer is intentional by the staff. It isn't that easy. Most of the better grad transfers this year were guards and most of the big were either not worth going after or not interested in SJU or both.
The one thing you can hit the staff with is coming off of French and going after Zach Brown. French isn't a stud but was solid enough to get minutes freshman year. In retrospect Brown was simply not worth the risk, way too many red flags that came to pass.
It may not be intentional, but it clearly isn't a priority. Matt A said himself that he feels great about the front court and he is just looking to add one more player (presumably Kante).
There is no way Zanna chooses Houston over us if we wanted him. He abused our guys when he played us and knows where he'll fit in. Who cares what kind of top end add-ons a boat has if it can't float. Our font court was the equivalent of a huge hole in a hull last year.
I believe Matt said that because he knows that's all that is coming. He's not going to say "I feel terrible about our front court as it stands now and we need to add multiple solid pieces" when he knows those multiple solid pieces aren't coming. They aren't stupid. They know what they need and now know they aren't getting anybody else.
Well than that is quite simply a failure. Our backup center is a 6'7 200 lb junior PF coming off an extremely disappointing season? Our starting center is 200 lbs and got abused all year by stronger players and can't even played 19 mpg? We had one guy that could hold his position on the low block and he transferred.
Duke is huge. We have at least two games against O'Mara/Kanter/Jones and they are all 240+. We have at least two games against Delgado and co. and Spellman/Painter/Paschall. The list goes on. We've got one kid on the roster above 215 lbs and one of the worst strength and
Conditioning programs in the country.
In addition, who is the backup SF to Bash? It seems as if we're conceding to giving the two remaining scholarships to walkons, when the voids can be filled with Peter Kiss types.
Where is the scoring pop off the bench besides Moose next year? Simon is known for his defense. We have a opportunity within these months to improve for Year 3 and are coming away w only Kante.
Ahmed should be the backup
Ahmed should be a backup if he comes back for his senior season having not improved his game. Just by hearing what his plan is for entering his name in the draft and why sheds light on where he is. He's not leaving regardless like others have. He knows he needs to work on his game, and now he'll have an objective opinion to help him focus.
I think he's gonna return ready, and I think he'll be 2nd team All BE or honorable mention. Just about all jucos need time to adjust to the D1 high major game. Now he's had it. Senior year. This us it.
I think he puts up 14.5 and pulls down 6.5 boards to go with 40% from 3. That's a great season and it's not even such dramatic jump.