I agree that "not having enough players" is our biggest current flaw. However, who's fault is that?
Norms
It's not all Norms fault. Plenty of factors went into it, but if we're being completely honest, Lav is somewhat responsible.
But proportionally, Norm is far more at fault. And more and more I believe the Rise situation wasn't the fiasco some make it out to be. From what SJU79 and others "in the know" have said; everyone knew all along that Sampson and Pelle were miles away from qualifying. Lavin signed them to generate buzz for the program, and on the hope and prayer that they'd qualify if they took summer classes. I don't think they were ever
expected to be here, it was a hope. And having gotten into the game so late, the pickings were very slim. Plus, we should have had a returning PF in Polee. I don't think the staff forsaw him leaving after the season.
Bottom line; Norm left him with a shitty situation; several unfortunate things occured, and partially Lav may have erred in not signing one or two safe players. But that's debatable at best. It's impossible to judge Lavin poorly at this point. Ridiculous actually. He delivered success on the court last season; signed several studs that form half the core we need going forward, and then got sick. Norm had 6 years and he never won or recruited as well as Lavin has done in the past two years. The program is better than it was, it's moving in the right direction. The key is a year from now we hope we can say it's even better then than it is now. Improve every year, that's what I'm looking for.