re: Basketball Recruiting Thread

I've been up and down on KA-I started out arguing against him as a candidate (mainly recruiting issues), then after the recruiting shook out for this year I thought we might turn out to be pretty good, if we got off to a decent start. We all know what happened next, and so I became more skeptical again. But I am seeing progress, the kids are improving and some chemistry is developing, and it was probably inevitable that any coach who was inheriting this roster situation needed time to be evaluated. Patience is required, whether we like it or not. I still think this team could potentially finish pretty strongly. One advantage this group has going into the conference season is they HAVE played some quality, tough teams, and have learned something of what it takes to compete and win at this level.

Anyway, to get back on topic here, Puryear and Van Lear weren't recruited to be studs. They were recruited as role players, those kids who provide roster stability, and experience by the time they're seniors and they've developed more. This program has suffered because of the lack of those type kids since Suitcase Mike left us with no recruiting class his last year. It's part of why Painter ended up turning down the job. Haith tried to avoid biting that bullet because he was under the gun from the moment he was announced as coach, and I'm sure felt like he couldn't afford the time rebuild the roster in the face of that firestorm.

These kids are part of the program rebuild, and I'm sure KA sees some things in them he can develop and use in rebuilding the program, even if as role players and eventual senior leaders.