Here are a handful of my observations from the win over NJIT.
Casey and Nwoko looked very active last night on both ends of the court. You cannot compare the 2020/21 starting 5 with the last 2 years nor this year before the injuries started mounting up. Picking any team in the Top 10 right now and they are 1 or 2 injuries away from watching their season blow up. We are no different. You think Duke is the same team if Filipowski is lost or Purdue loses Edey? Not a team in the country is making the Sweet 16 if they lose key starters. Even Kansas drops off significantly after its base 8. Lose ****enson and/or McCuller and they are in trouble.This starting lineup is one of the best we have ever put out, with 4 people that have a shot at All-ACC honors (all 4 won't get it obviously but any one of the 4 could make an All ACC team) and Bensley who although not at that level has good experience in Coach L's system and has a been a part of winning teams.
On the other hand, I am really worried that we have very limited proven depth on the bench, and am very skeptical in anyone other than George really developing into an ACC-caliber role player (I hope I am wrong about Casey/Watson/Nwoko) this season. Coach L really needed to get another PG in the portal to either start and let Bensley be a super sub (i.e. subbing for both guards), or to be a super sub for Bensley/Pack.
Consequently this team is basically one starter getting in foul trouble away from struggling against any top 100 team, and one significant injury away from basically being a bubble team and 2 injuries away from being out of tourney conversation. Now we have been really lucky the last 2 seasons to avoid major injuries, but this lack of depth that has plagued the program since the "scandal" is a problem that will bite us again (as it bit us in 2020 for example).
Idk Angel, Sheldon, Davon, Murphy, and Tonye were all pretty darn good. Same with Shane, Scott, TMJ, Kadji, and Gamble.This starting lineup is one of the best we have ever put out, with 4 people that have a shot at All-ACC honors (all 4 won't get it obviously but any one of the 4 could make an All ACC team) and Bensley who although not at that level has good experience in Coach L's system and has a been a part of winning teams.
On the other hand, I am really worried that we have very limited proven depth on the bench, and am very skeptical in anyone other than George really developing into an ACC-caliber role player (I hope I am wrong about Casey/Watson/Nwoko) this season. Coach L really needed to get another PG in the portal to either start and let Bensley be a super sub (i.e. subbing for both guards), or to be a super sub for Bensley/Pack.
Consequently this team is basically one starter getting in foul trouble away from struggling against any top 100 team, and one significant injury away from basically being a bubble team and 2 injuries away from being out of tourney conversation. Now we have been really lucky the last 2 seasons to avoid major injuries, but this lack of depth that has plagued the program since the "scandal" is a problem that will bite us again (as it bit us in 2020 for example).
I agree, those are probably the gold standards... although I may replace Gamble with Reggie Johnson for the 2013 team (although Reggie was hurt much of that season).Idk Angel, Sheldon, Davon, Murphy, and Tonye were all pretty darn good. Same with Shane, Scott, TMJ, Kadji, and Gamble.
Idk Angel, Sheldon, Davon, Murphy, and Tonye were all pretty darn good. Same with Shane, Scott, TMJ, Kadji, and Gamble.
We were very fortunate with few injuries last season. Fingers crossed for this upcoming one.Casey and Nwoko looked very active last night on both ends of the court. You cannot compare the 2020/21 starting 5 with the last 2 years nor this year before the injuries started mounting up. Picking any team in the Top 10 right now and they are 1 or 2 injuries away from watching their season blow up. We are no different. You think Duke is the same team if Filipowski is lost or Purdue loses Edey? Not a team in the country is making the Sweet 16 if they lose key starters. Even Kansas drops off significantly after its base 8. Lose ****enson and/or McCuller and they are in trouble.
We dodged a bullet with Omier against Duke. We don't make a run if that injury was worse..
We were very fortunate with few injuries last season. Fingers crossed for this upcoming one.
Thought about that the other day. Crazy how we went from thinking season was over to not even worrying about it once he took the floor against Drake.We dodged a bullet with Omier against Duke. We don't make a run if that injury was worse.
If he doesn't play against Drake then we don't win that game. I mean it didn't even look like his ankle was bothering him all tournament.Thought about that the other day. Crazy how we went from thinking season was over to not even worrying about it once he took the floor against Drake.
Here are a handful of my observations from the win over NJIT.
Very good points, I just happen to view it from an optimistic stance: not many teams will be able to withstand our top 5-7 players playing Laranaga Ball!This starting lineup is one of the best we have ever put out, with 4 people that have a shot at All-ACC honors (all 4 won't get it obviously but any one of the 4 could make an All ACC team) and Bensley who although not at that level has good experience in Coach L's system and has a been a part of winning teams.
On the other hand, I am really worried that we have very limited proven depth on the bench, and am very skeptical in anyone other than George really developing into an ACC-caliber role player (I hope I am wrong about Casey/Watson/Nwoko) this season. Coach L really needed to get another PG in the portal to either start and let Bensley be a super sub (i.e. subbing for both guards), or to be a super sub for Bensley/Pack.
Consequently this team is basically one starter getting in foul trouble away from struggling against any top 100 team, and one significant injury away from basically being a bubble team and 2 injuries away from being out of tourney conversation. Now we have been really lucky the last 2 seasons to avoid major injuries, but this lack of depth that has plagued the program since the "scandal" is a problem that will bite us again (as it bit us in 2020 for example).
As opposed to which team in college basketball? I would take a bench group of George, Casey, Watson and Nwoko over pretty much any team in the country. Not to say our bench is great but rather to say that no team has a great bench.This starting lineup is one of the best we have ever put out, with 4 people that have a shot at All-ACC honors (all 4 won't get it obviously but any one of the 4 could make an All ACC team) and Bensley who although not at that level has good experience in Coach L's system and has a been a part of winning teams.
On the other hand, I am really worried that we have very limited proven depth on the bench, and am very skeptical in anyone other than George really developing into an ACC-caliber role player (I hope I am wrong about Casey/Watson/Nwoko) this season. Coach L really needed to get another PG in the portal to either start and let Bensley be a super sub (i.e. subbing for both guards), or to be a super sub for Bensley/Pack.
Consequently this team is basically one starter getting in foul trouble away from struggling against any top 100 team, and one significant injury away from basically being a bubble team and 2 injuries away from being out of tourney conversation. Now we have been really lucky the last 2 seasons to avoid major injuries, but this lack of depth that has plagued the program since the "scandal" is a problem that will bite us again (as it bit us in 2020 for example).