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re: Tide Hoops | Recruiting
Posted on 5/5/24 at 9:31 pm to bamagoat
Posted on 5/5/24 at 9:31 pm to bamagoat
quote:
Stevenson will want more than 20 minutes. He'll come back more developed in the offseason and if he'd known he'd only play 15 minutes next season he would have entered the portal a few days ago.
The same thing could be said about whoever he's taking those minutes from. I like Stevenson, but both Nelson and Cliff will receive starter minutes. It's not like there's a lot left to divvy out considering he's pretty locked at the 4-spot. We could use Nelson for stretches at the 5 but he's better as a 4, and then Sherrell, who's a great center prospect, gets no run.
It's definitely possible he gets more than 20 minutes, but there are going to be 4-5 players this year who who are good enough to deserve more run and are disappointed with their minutes. There is no combination that will please everyone on a roster this stacked.
1
Posted on 5/5/24 at 10:11 pm to BigBird09
Stevenson knows he won't be drafted this time, but he wants to get feedback. His goal is to be drafted after next season.
Stevenson played an average of 16.6 minutes last season. Do you think Stevenson, who is entering the draft at the end of next season, wants to play less minutes than last season? Even though he knew Nelson was returning to Bama, he didn't enter the portal.
Stevenson played an average of 16.6 minutes last season. Do you think Stevenson, who is entering the draft at the end of next season, wants to play less minutes than last season? Even though he knew Nelson was returning to Bama, he didn't enter the portal.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 5:24 am to bamagoat
quote:
Stevenson knows he won't be drafted this time, but he wants to get feedback. His goal is to be drafted after next season.
Stevenson played an average of 16.6 minutes last season. Do you think Stevenson, who is entering the draft at the end of next season, wants to play less minutes than last season? Even though he knew Nelson was returning to Bama, he didn't enter the portal.
My suggested minutes are rounded to the nearest 5. I think you might be taking this a little too seriously. And again, you could say that about anybody he's taking the minutes from. Cliff came here because he thought we gave him the best chance at making the NBA. Nelson came here for the exact same reason and is coming back to play at his natural 4 spot. Sherrell is a McDonald's All-American prospect. You think any of those guys are going to be happy with limited or no minutes? Posted on 5/6/24 at 5:43 am to BigBird09
The reality is, barring injuries, there are very, very good players on this team who aren’t going to get minutes outside of garbage time and the non conference buy games. It’s the nature of the beast with a roster like this. Who it turns out to be remains to be seen.
My guess is, like last year, it will be the freshmen who have a hard time finding the floor.
My guess is, like last year, it will be the freshmen who have a hard time finding the floor.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 6:24 am to Allthatfades
quote:
The reality is, barring injuries, there are very, very good players on this team who aren’t going to get minutes outside of garbage time and the non conference buy games.
Bingo. There's definitely an argument that Stevenson will see more minutes (I could easily see it), but that won't have anything to do with his expectations. There will be a lot of players whose PT expectations won't be met. The funny thing is that the allotments I posted doesn't even take into account Reid playing any minutes at the 4 which also has a strong possibility to happen.
It's a great problem to have, but one of the challenges for Oats next year may be managing team chemistry with all the guys upset with PT.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 6:59 am to BigBird09
quote:
but one of the challenges for Oats next year may be managing team chemistry with all the guys upset with PT.
This is exactly what worries me. If players play for the team, we all get really good results.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 8:19 am to bamagoat
Great roster but chemistry will be the key.
I don't have any trouble seeing Nelson, Cliff and Stevenson on the floor at the same time if the latter can improve on D.
I don't have any trouble seeing Nelson, Cliff and Stevenson on the floor at the same time if the latter can improve on D.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 8:21 am to BigBird09
quote:
It's a great problem to have, but one of the challenges for Oats next year may be managing team chemistry with all the guys upset with PT.
Just unofficial blue blood problems.
In all seriousness though, successfully managing a talented locker room full of big egos and diverse personalities is probably the most underrated (and rarest) skill in the coaching profession. If Oats achieves that this season I am confident that he will eventually win us a championship if the NBA doesn't snatch him up first.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 8:52 am to Robot Santa
Column: Take a Bow, Preston Murphy (SI)
The Alabama assistant basketball coach has been monumental in helping put together an excellent roster for the 2024-25 season.
The Alabama assistant basketball coach has been monumental in helping put together an excellent roster for the 2024-25 season.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 9:47 am to rcbama
quote:
Great roster but chemistry will be the key. I don't have any trouble seeing Nelson, Cliff and Stevenson on the floor at the same time if the latter can improve on D.
Would work well when teams play big and felt we need to match size for a stretch.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 10:44 am to Alabama_Fan
I don't see chemistry being too big of an issue, it's a veteran squad. The returning players know the expectations, the vets coming in know their role and (in some cases) are taking less playing time to be in this system, and the freshmen coming in know they have to earn it and if they're not ready, we know Oats isn't afraid to sit them. I would like to see:
Sears
Wrightsell
Youngblood
Nelson
Cliff
The only legitimate knock I can see if being a bit undersized in the backcourt and at the wing position, however, Youngblood is a bulldozer and then Cliff at the rim kinda negates bigger Guards taking advantage of Sears. Expecting Nelson's shooting numbers to increase a bit, you have shooters at 1-4, a couple of lockdown defenders, a top PG, and a crazy amount of experience.
Holloway CG
Philon CG
Reid 2-4
Stevenson 4
Sherrell 4/5
So look, it's almost worthless trying to limit these guys to a position on paper, we know the Oats system is positionless basketball. You're either a ballhandler, wing or big. However, where Bama is going to shine this year is their depth and the versatility that it brings. That is, IIRC, 3 McDonald's All-Americans off the bench. Either backcourt player can spell Sears at the 1 for a few minutes and they're also both talented enough to ease Wrightsell's minutes down a bit more than the average starter (I have no idea how Oats will handle him, he's one concussion away from being done). Reid is going to get starter minutes sooner than later, I think he's a future lottery pick and his only concern is his jump shot but he does everything else so well for his size. Stevenson is the only player I don't have multiple positions for, I think he's stuck as a stretch 4 and can play some emergency minutes at the 5 if needed. Sherrell is a tailor-made 5 for this system, he was considered a 4 but gained quite a bit of weight this past year so definitely a big but has kept some of those qualities that made him a top 4 like his perimeter shot. Can you imagine a talented big in this system that can also shoot it? That's Sherrell. The front-court minutes are going to be very intriguing to watch.
Mallette
Naas
Mo D
That's right everyone, our last three off the bench as of now, include:
Mallette had one of the highest catch-and-shoot percentages in the country last year and finished at 41.5% from 3. Cunningham, the former #1 recruit in the country has all the potential in the world. Mo D, who we saw grow throughout the year, and honestly, if it wasn't for him, not sure we win that GCU tournament game. He looks like a player that has bought in and having a guy with his March experience now at the end of the bench is quite valuable.
This will be worthless if Sears and/or Stevenson stay in the draft but you're looking at the best roster ever assembled at Alabama if they do return. There are a couple of things to be objectively concerned about but landing Cliff was so big because it raises the ceiling of this team to a true title contender.
It can be difficult to gauge the success of a season just based on a singular run in March. Two years ago we had Miller and Clowney in the lineup, doubled dipped on SEC titles, and scored the #1 overall seed. Then they got bounced to an SDSU squad that gave us hell, couldn't get a 3 to fall, and Miller wasn't 100%. A couple of years before that, we had Oats developing Herb, Ellis, Petty, and JQ to the next level and scoring a 2 seed, after once again double dipping SEC titles, just to shoot 44% from the free throw line and lose in OT. Then this past year, a disappointing finish to the season that gave us a 4 seed, went on a run to our first-ever Final Four with a top offense but poor defense. That's what makes a single elimination tournament that decides your season great/horrible at the same time. I'm expecting another double dip of conference titles this season and about the same kind of run, maybe even further come March.
Sears
Wrightsell
Youngblood
Nelson
Cliff
The only legitimate knock I can see if being a bit undersized in the backcourt and at the wing position, however, Youngblood is a bulldozer and then Cliff at the rim kinda negates bigger Guards taking advantage of Sears. Expecting Nelson's shooting numbers to increase a bit, you have shooters at 1-4, a couple of lockdown defenders, a top PG, and a crazy amount of experience.
Holloway CG
Philon CG
Reid 2-4
Stevenson 4
Sherrell 4/5
So look, it's almost worthless trying to limit these guys to a position on paper, we know the Oats system is positionless basketball. You're either a ballhandler, wing or big. However, where Bama is going to shine this year is their depth and the versatility that it brings. That is, IIRC, 3 McDonald's All-Americans off the bench. Either backcourt player can spell Sears at the 1 for a few minutes and they're also both talented enough to ease Wrightsell's minutes down a bit more than the average starter (I have no idea how Oats will handle him, he's one concussion away from being done). Reid is going to get starter minutes sooner than later, I think he's a future lottery pick and his only concern is his jump shot but he does everything else so well for his size. Stevenson is the only player I don't have multiple positions for, I think he's stuck as a stretch 4 and can play some emergency minutes at the 5 if needed. Sherrell is a tailor-made 5 for this system, he was considered a 4 but gained quite a bit of weight this past year so definitely a big but has kept some of those qualities that made him a top 4 like his perimeter shot. Can you imagine a talented big in this system that can also shoot it? That's Sherrell. The front-court minutes are going to be very intriguing to watch.
Mallette
Naas
Mo D
That's right everyone, our last three off the bench as of now, include:
Mallette had one of the highest catch-and-shoot percentages in the country last year and finished at 41.5% from 3. Cunningham, the former #1 recruit in the country has all the potential in the world. Mo D, who we saw grow throughout the year, and honestly, if it wasn't for him, not sure we win that GCU tournament game. He looks like a player that has bought in and having a guy with his March experience now at the end of the bench is quite valuable.
This will be worthless if Sears and/or Stevenson stay in the draft but you're looking at the best roster ever assembled at Alabama if they do return. There are a couple of things to be objectively concerned about but landing Cliff was so big because it raises the ceiling of this team to a true title contender.
It can be difficult to gauge the success of a season just based on a singular run in March. Two years ago we had Miller and Clowney in the lineup, doubled dipped on SEC titles, and scored the #1 overall seed. Then they got bounced to an SDSU squad that gave us hell, couldn't get a 3 to fall, and Miller wasn't 100%. A couple of years before that, we had Oats developing Herb, Ellis, Petty, and JQ to the next level and scoring a 2 seed, after once again double dipping SEC titles, just to shoot 44% from the free throw line and lose in OT. Then this past year, a disappointing finish to the season that gave us a 4 seed, went on a run to our first-ever Final Four with a top offense but poor defense. That's what makes a single elimination tournament that decides your season great/horrible at the same time. I'm expecting another double dip of conference titles this season and about the same kind of run, maybe even further come March.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 11:02 am to Allthatfades
quote:
very good players on this team who aren’t going to get minutes outside of garbage time and the non conference buy games. It’s the nature of the beast with a roster like this.
But those guys you're referring to, probably aren't going to be surprised with the role they have next year. Oats doesn't seem like he'd mislead them with that, because it'd create resentment. And not only can that screw up the current team's chemistry, but it would all but guarantee they would transfer out regardless of the new role they'd have.
I think Naas knows his ceiling, and has already been humbled by his experience with OTE. To go from #1 to #51 will help let them know work needs to put in, and expect at least 2 years of college.
Labaron is probably expecting this year to either be a small role and development year or he'll get to learn how to run the offense from Sears, who would be a great mentor.
The Prolific Prep guys will play this year. Reid could even be a starter (though most likely not on day one).
MoDi knows he's got work to do. But by not transferring, he seems like a team player that's convinced Oats can develop him into a professional player. Guys like that are rare nowadays. I thought for sure he'd be gone because of lack of playing time.
But one thing I haven't heard considered, is what if we have a Clowney? A guy that was was underrated, who's capable of being a 1 and done. With the way oats and staff evaluate players, I'm not ruling out a surprise baller. Usually that'll happen at your wings. But occasionally, someone finally gets surrounded by proper talent and flourishes like never before. Though with the way we are recruiting now, most of our guys have had tons of exposure, unlike Noah, who didn't play much, if any, AAU and it hurt his rank.
This post was edited on 5/6/24 at 11:08 am
Posted on 5/6/24 at 11:07 am to rcbama
quote:
I don't have any trouble seeing Nelson, Cliff and Stevenson on the floor at the same time if the latter can improve on D.
This is what I'm waiting to see. The question is, does Stevenson get stronger, and Nelson plays the 3, or does he improve his quickness, and Stevenson plays the 3? It's a lineup i honestly expect to see against large teams, like Miss St the last couple of years. Hell, put Reid at the 2, and that's a huge lineup that could give people fits. Switch Cliff with Sherrell, and everyone can still hit the 3. So it would be your typically big, banger type lineup.
Evan Miya evaluates every team's lineup. I may have to sign up again because there's going to be a lot if interesting combinations next seeing. We'll have something we can throw at damn near any scenario.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 11:29 am to CCTider
quote:
But those guys you're referring to, probably aren't going to be surprised with the role they have next year. Oats doesn't seem like he'd mislead them with that, because it'd create resentment. And not only can that screw up the current team's chemistry, but it would all but guarantee they would transfer out regardless of the new role they'd have.
I think it's important we understand that these are kids in their teens or early 20's. I don't think Oats is going out there and telling kids they'll play a certain amount of minutes. He likely tells them that he likes their game, talks about how the best players will play, and may even tell them straight-up that there are no guarantees. But even if he tells them all that, there are kids (likely the majority of them) who will start pointing fingers at the coach instead of themselves if they aren't playing. Even last year, there was a lot of smoke suggesting that Pringle being unhappy with his role led to his suspensions. And that is someone most of us would've considered the biggest "team guy" the previous season. Kids at this age aren't mature enough to be patient, especially in today's portal world.
quote:
But one thing I haven't heard considered, is what if we have a Clowney? A guy that was was underrated, who's capable of being a 1 and done. With the way oats and staff evaluate players, I'm not ruling out a surprise baller. Usually that'll happen at your wings. But occasionally, someone finally gets surrounded by proper talent and flourishes like never before. Though with the way we are recruiting now, most of our guys have had tons of exposure, unlike Noah, who didn't play much, if any, AAU and it hurt his rank.
I think just about anyone on the roster is capable of this kind of ascension, which will result in other players being unhappy with their minutes. There will be some unhappiness with the minutes with a roster this stacked. Hopefully Oats can keep the complaints private and keep the younger guys thinking towards the future and how many minutes will open up next season. The older guys are often more difficult to reason with given their eligibility clock is ticking. I think Oats can of it, but it definitely should be an area he has a plan in place to address.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 11:43 am to TheNameIsDalton
quote:
Sears
Wrightsell
Youngblood
Nelson
Cliff
The only legitimate knock I can see if being a bit undersized in the backcourt and at the wing position
That's pretty much all you could knock it on. But one thing I absolutely love about this lineup, is that it's 5 5th year seniors. That's a deadly as hell tournament lineup.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 12:04 pm to CCTider
quote:
This post was edited on 5/6/24 at 12:05 pm
Posted on 5/6/24 at 12:05 pm to rcbama
quote:
I don't have any trouble seeing Nelson, Cliff and Stevenson on the floor at the same time if the latter can improve on D.
Something I thought about, but with this roster clearing a logjam by being flexible with positions only creates another logjam and takes minutes away from other great players (Youngblood and Reid in this example). Again, a great problem to have but a choice I'm glad I'm not responsible for making
This post was edited on 5/6/24 at 12:08 pm
Posted on 5/6/24 at 12:10 pm to BigBird09
From January
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Posted on 5/6/24 at 12:22 pm to TheNameIsDalton
I think Wrightsell and Mo D will be glue guys. Hold the roster together, in check. Also, gonna be important if veterans Mallette and Youngblood can bring in leadership. If Sears comes back, he's the de facto General.
Posted on 5/6/24 at 12:48 pm to Bravo Crimson
quote:
Also, gonna be important if veterans Mallette and Youngblood can bring in leadership.
Youngblood was a huge leader for USF. They can’t say enough about him. Not to mention his actual play on the court, he was Player of the Year in arguably the top mid-major conference. People saying he’s coming off the bench are crazy.
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