I got up around 5 a.m. this morning and unfortunately my productivity to this point has involved reading the comments on that other site we all used to use.
I am sure a lot of you have already seen these but there is a pretty long thread about missing on Ingram, potentially missing on Diallo and essentially being “the same” team we were last year. Many of the what I consider pessimistic arguments revolve around the idea of this “same team”. Referring to next year as the same old team to me is really selling ourselves short. Honestly, 95% of the country would love to have this “same team” returning whether we land anyone or not and that is our reality.
So, that is at least how I feel. Even if we strike out on the rest of the big names left undeclared I personally think we are fine. We are going to have a team without an above average 5. It will certainly require Bill to change up his scheme. Playing through Landen and Jamari is simply not going to work. Luckily even these less than average guys that will play the 5 spot are old. Two seniors and a junior. Shouldn’t be a learning curve issue.
Also, we are returning more than most in the entire country. Think about the top 10 last year and the Final 4 teams. Everyone is losing a ton. Sure, they are all doing their best to reload but it is going to be tough for Wisconsin, Duke, Kentucky, MSU, Arizona and others to match the talent level they had last year.
What other pre season top 10 team is going to have more upperclassmen than KU? I honestly don’t have any stats to back this up but I have to assume we will be the oldest elite program. Maybe UNC will be up there as well.
This is just who we are for next year. A junior / senior team with one hell of a perimeter, one of the best players in the country (Perry) and a pretty big gaping hole at the 5 spot. Things have been worse and I expect a 6-7 loss season and a 1 or 2 seed from this squad even without any additions from the OAD circus.