re: UA Basketball Recruiting

Interesting, but not reassuring. Seems like he probably wants to stay out West. That was always going to be a tough pull anyway.

I guess some experts must think that with our talent level we underachieved by a lot under Avery, which is also my line of thinking.

Also replacing AJ Jr with Beetle Bolden is a huge upgrade, I think what we were most missing last year was a good secondary ball handler.


Also shows how much Oats is respected as a coach, he beat some really good teams at Buffalo with less talent than we have this year.

The culture change is gonna be the biggest issue, how quickly the team gains confidence in what he is teaching and how much they buy into it. They seem to be really buying in from what I’ve seen.

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The culture change is gonna be the biggest issue, how quickly the team gains confidence in what he is teaching and how much they buy into it. They seem to be really buying in from what I’ve seen

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This is a big concern of mine. It's good to be doing everything and buying in during the offseason, but will they keep buying in when we hit some rough patches? I don't want them to revert back into their old ways.

I'm not going to hold anything in the past against the guys. I want them to start fresh, but I feel I see one of the guys start doing his old shite, I'm gonna blast him

That's a really good article.

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Almost every poster in this thread realizes just how far both players have to go. Most of us recognize that both players have at least some potential for improvement though

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And this is the difference between myself & others on this board.

Yes, Oats is going to coach circles around Avery. From the videos, interviews, etc., it’s easy to tell he’s so much more in tuned to the college game.

And yes, his coaching is going to take some of these players to another level. Players like Petty, Reese, Kira, etc., the ones who have shown a glimmer of basketball skill, I can’t wait to see them this year.

Then, there are players like Avery Jr. If Coach K came here this year, and Jr had an extra year, would you expect any improvement from him? Of course not, he has 0 skill. Galin and Herb are like Avery Jr to me, they aren’t basketball players.

I think the insults against me are getting old because of my opinion, especially considering Herb & Galins horrible first 2 years.

I disagree with everyone on their upside, whoopity doo, does it bother you guys that much?

I assume I’ll be getting a lot of apologies by mid-season when they both still suck, and we’re wondering which community college their going to transfer too.

Would it surprise any of you if Hawkins is getting the majority of minutes at the 5 by conference play? It wouldn't me. I think Reese is too good of a shooter to play him at the 5 too much, he shot 38% from three last year, by far the best on our team, and I like Galin but I don't think he is gonna be that guy.

I like that Fleming is trying so hard, but its hard to see Oats picking him over Hawkins when Hawkins is a guy Oats recruited himself to play the 5.

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Would it surprise any of you if Hawkins is getting the majority of minutes at the 5 by conference play? It wouldn't me

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It wouldn't surprise me at all. I think he has a great opportunity for a lot of playing time. Plus, like your said, Oats recruited him.

His actually reminds me a lot of donta hall but is a much better ball handler. Dunks the ball a ton though and runs the floor very well in transition, can dunk about any alley oop you throw at him.

Oats did say Hawkins arrived a little out of shape but the season is 4 months away, probably has plenty of time to get in shape by then, especially with how hard they are working out.