Mack Recruiting now haunting X

[X-Expert]

I realize Gates left but how can X have no seniors on this team. Take that with the recruiting class of this year (no offense to Kennedy and James but X still had the #7 recruiting class in BE) and Mack reallygot X in the end. I know he left so recruits followed but when you hear that he told a couple of his Louisville recruits for next year say that Mack told them (while at X) that they could play for him wherever he coaches shines a light on the fact that Mack was leaving long before the year was over last year. X is a team with four slashers on the permiter-allbeit good slashers but makes it easy to guard particularly when they aren't shooters. I really like Hankins and Jones but neither have the post moves. Jones can power bigs at the IUPUI and Evansville level but against BE type talent (Ethan Happ), he had trouble getting his shot off. hankins for the most part was able to dunk on a miss or getting a pass but didn't see much in the post in terms of creating his own shot. having said that, he did a great job defending Happ. Teams will sag on the guards too making it very difficult for the bigs to get good one on one opportunities. My biggest fear is that they have two shooters coming in next year and they have to produce immediately from the outside. Given the fact that Kennedy came in and not Hardin could be telling for Hardin unless he is hurt. Hard to really blame Goodin, Scruggs, and Marshall for not being great outside shooters since they never came here with that being their amo. They are great slashers and when you have bluitt and JP sitting on the wings, the middle tends to be more open.

[longliveskip]

are there guys who were supposed to commit to X who have now committed to U of L instead and who would be impact frosh for us but are now impact frosh for U of L?

if so, who are they?

[bluegrass]

No doubt the rumors all year that he was leaving for UL hurt recruiting for us.Not sure if our freshman class could have been better or not.Pitino wasn't fired til October so this years class was probably set by then. I think Steele has done a good job on next years class so hopefully we won't be hurt too much.

[skyhops]

X-pert, great post besides the part of Hankins playing great defense. Mack left the cupboard bare and we are beginning to feel the effects. It could take a few years to get back on track.

[kyzrex]

X-pert, great post besides the part of Hankins playing great defense. Mack left the cupboard bare and we are beginning to feel the effects. It could take a few years to get back on track.

The freshman have not been impressing anyone so far, but that’s really the norm more than it is the exception. No doubt that the rumors surrounding Mack and ULsucks probably had a major effect on recruiting this freshman class. X was in an lots of high caliper kids and failed to land even one. But it’s a waste of time and effort to complain about it. It is what it is and X just needs to make the best of it.

However, the cupboard is hardly bare. Naji and Scruggs are sophomores. Q and Jones are juniors. All 4 will most likely be back next year. The 2019 class is ranked in the top 10 by many. Looks like 5 quality recruits coming in, and they still possibly have one open scholarship that could be used.

The season is barely underway. Don’t throw in the towel in the 1st round.

[Anti-Homer]

X-pert, great post besides the part of Hankins playing great defense. Mack left the cupboard bare and we are beginning to feel the effects. It could take a few years to get back on track.

The freshman have not been impressing anyone so far, but that’s really the norm more than it is the exception. No doubt that the rumors surrounding Mack and ULsucks probably had a major effect on recruiting this freshman class. X was in an lots of high caliper kids and failed to land even one. But it’s a waste of time and effort to complain about it. It is what it is and X just needs to make the best of it.

However, the cupboard is hardly bare. Naji and Scruggs are sophomores. Q and Jones are juniors. All 4 will most likely be back next year. The 2019 class is ranked in the top 10 by many. Looks like 5 quality recruits coming in, and they still possibly have one open scholarship that could be used.

The season is barely underway. Don’t throw in the towel in the 1st round.

As usual,

I agree with my good friend Kyz. Despite the fact that CM was a basketball lothario last year, X still has some talent with upside, and a good crop of transfers. They are playing very undisciplined, and Steele seems overwhelmed, which is understandable for a 1st-year coach. Their shot selection last night was atrocious, as was their 3 point D; again. My son and I were listening to Steele on the way home, and Byron asked if he thought the drought to start the 2nd half was due more to Wisconsin's D or X's execution. He chose the former. I respectfully disagree. When you have a below than average 3 point shooter like Goodin take 8 in the game, and others like Marshall taking long 3's early in the shot clock, it's an issue. I'd rather Hankins taking 3's right now over Goodin.

The comeback was fueled when Marshall and the others starting going to the hole. Steele may be having a hard time transitioning from being a buddy assistant to an HC. it took CM about 3 years to shake that, though I'm optimistic Steele will graduate sooner.

Hops, do you always have to spew doom and gloom? As of now, I'm going to recommend that Mman take you off his pig roast guest list in a couple of weeks. I thought Hankin's D on Happ was exceptional. Happ's line was great, but Hankins stopped him from scoring four times in a row. He made Jones look like a 7th grader on the other hand. I will say there aren't more than a handful of centers who are harder to guard than Happ. He has now developed a very good face-up game (in addition to his very good post up posture) from 8 feet in, where he attacks in the lane, and scores with either hand, on either side of the basket. It didn't help that he scored about a dozen off pick and rolls, which Steele mysteriously never adjusted to.

He should have told whoever was guarding him to hang low in the block, and concede an outside jump shot. That's not Happ's game. Player and coaches alike have some growing to do, and as usual, I will adopt the glass 7/8 full perspective and say we will be much better in a month.

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