I know the arguments against this year's team:
-Too young
-"Cal can't coach" (don't agree)
-No leaders with experience
However, the argument I think is the best for this team to potentially be pretty good is just pure talent. Potentially enough talent to overcome some of their perceived limitations.
The last two years teams have not been young or freshman oriented. Playing only 2 or 1 freshman in the Top 7 so youth could not have been their problem.
Let's look at the recent top 7 minutes played per recent team and their National Ranking in their class. I know this doesn't account for experience, I am just using it as a metric of pure potential talent. I know this does not equal results but I thought it was interesting.
Also any unranked player I gave a value of 151 to since Rivals only rates the Top 150. I also only used players currently on the team.
2021 (avg ranking 74.43. Only 1 freshman in Top 7)
Grady- 65th
Tshiebwe- 26th
Wheeler- 91st
Tyty- 8th
Mintz- NR (151)
Brooks- 29th
Toppin- NR (151)
2022 (avg ranking 84.14. Only 2 freshman in top 7)
Tshiebwe- 26th
Wallace- 8th
Toppin- NR (151)
Wheeler- 91st
Reeves- NR (151)
Livingston- 11th
Fredrick- NR (151)
2023 (avg ranking 34.57. 5 freshman top 7) or w/ Reeves (avg ranking 52.14. 4 freshman top 7)
Wagner- 6th
Edwards- 3rd
Dillingham- 15th
Thiero- NR (151)
Onyenso- 37th
Sheppard- 28th or Reeves- NR (151)
Bradshaw- 2nd
-Too young
-"Cal can't coach" (don't agree)
-No leaders with experience
However, the argument I think is the best for this team to potentially be pretty good is just pure talent. Potentially enough talent to overcome some of their perceived limitations.
The last two years teams have not been young or freshman oriented. Playing only 2 or 1 freshman in the Top 7 so youth could not have been their problem.
Let's look at the recent top 7 minutes played per recent team and their National Ranking in their class. I know this doesn't account for experience, I am just using it as a metric of pure potential talent. I know this does not equal results but I thought it was interesting.
Also any unranked player I gave a value of 151 to since Rivals only rates the Top 150. I also only used players currently on the team.
2021 (avg ranking 74.43. Only 1 freshman in Top 7)
Grady- 65th
Tshiebwe- 26th
Wheeler- 91st
Tyty- 8th
Mintz- NR (151)
Brooks- 29th
Toppin- NR (151)
2022 (avg ranking 84.14. Only 2 freshman in top 7)
Tshiebwe- 26th
Wallace- 8th
Toppin- NR (151)
Wheeler- 91st
Reeves- NR (151)
Livingston- 11th
Fredrick- NR (151)
2023 (avg ranking 34.57. 5 freshman top 7) or w/ Reeves (avg ranking 52.14. 4 freshman top 7)
Wagner- 6th
Edwards- 3rd
Dillingham- 15th
Thiero- NR (151)
Onyenso- 37th
Sheppard- 28th or Reeves- NR (151)
Bradshaw- 2nd