Why the doom & gloom?

[JonathanW]

Ok, so we don't have 9 McD AA's.
So we got none of the top players that were waiting until after the season to commit.
So we lost 7 guys, probably 1-2 more than we expected.

Lets focus on what we do have, and how it compares to recent UK teams.

2011 followed a great 2010 team, that also lost several (5) to the NBA, and that also didn't take home the ultimate prize, leaving a bitter taste in the returnees mouth. The 2011 team went 29-9 losing in the Final 4.

2011 backcourt & wings: Knight, Lamb, Liggins, Miller
2016 backcourt & wings: Ulis, Briscoe, Mulder, Matthews, Hawkins
A little more size, experience, and better shooting in 2011, so probably a better group, but not by much.

2011 frontcourt: Jones, Harrellson & Vargas
2016 frontcourt: Labissiere, Poythress, Lee, Willis
I see here a better group, but not by a lot, in 2016 here. Definitely better defensively.

So I think this team compares pretty well to the 2011 team. We have a lot of the needed pieces:
- ballhandling (Ulis, Briscoe, Hawkins) = check
- rebounding (Poythress, Lee, Labissiere) = check
- leadership/experience (Ulis, Poythress, Lee, Hawkins, Willis) = check
- defensive intensity (Poythress, Lee, Ulis) = check
- shooting (Ulis, Mulder) = ok but could be better (maybe Poythress, Willis, Briscoe or Matthews can improve here)

 

[TexKat]

It could also be worse. What "IF" for whatever reason Poy and Lee decided to go NBA draft route with the other 7 players? Now that would've been a Greek Tragedy imho!

 

[JonathanW]

It could also be worse. What "IF" for whatever reason Poy and Lee decided to go NBA draft route with the other 7 players? Now that would've been a Greek Tragedy imho!

True, but had Poythress and/or Lee also gone pro, some of these highly ranked recruits that have committed over the past month may have chosen differently.