How did Travis Steele have a top 20 defense last year ? It literally improved 80 something spots from his first year to his 2nd year.
That’s culture building. He purposely recruiting tough minded players who couldn’t shoot but could defend the shit out of the ball. Hence the name Mick Steele.
So un year 2 he builds an identity of toughness, which is the best defense that Xavier has played since the 2009 season.
In year 3, he brings in shooters to add to his defenders. Adam kunkel, 2nd year kyky Tandy, Nate Johnson, Colby Jones.
Then compliments them with more physical players like Odom.
Look at their roster in 3 years time, it’s shock full of shooters, defenders, rebounders, skilled post players. It all seems purposeful.
But maybe it was a coincidence.
Giving no access to brendal is a win.
If you get 1 good player a year, you will have a successful program. Cronin got 1 really good player about every 2 years and built around those players with role players. Of course that’s impossible after 1 year. That’s why it takes time.
Jacob Evans, Gary Clark, Tre Scott, Jarron Cumberland. More like 1 per year, at least if you are talking recently.
Jacob Evans, Gary Clark, Tre Scott, Jarron Cumberland. More like 1 per year, at least if you are talking recently.
Why do you say that?Giving no access to brendal is a win.
Then we are in pace?
I think people forget all the misses along the way. Some early mick recruits were Alvin Mitchell, Kenny belton, biggie, toyloy, wilks, etc., there were some good players also but how quickly we forget this thing isn’t easy.
Mick was successful and ultimately established longevity here because he had 2 home run recruiting classes in year 3 and year 4.
08: Yancy, Dixon, Cash
09: Kilpatrick, Lance, Parker
Those players laid the foundation for the rest of Mick's tenure.
Brannen won't have the luxury of being able to wait that long for his teams to pan out.
He needs the MAW/Harvey/Davenport group to come along steadily and the Madsen/Saunders/Eason class to be even better.
And it’s not like those level guys are unattainable, Yancy and sk were great. Cash could have been great but was hurt a lot and dion and Parker were role players. My point is all you have to do is get a couple of the right guys and it can turn around quick.
Yeah, that didn’t hurt my feelings. I get chad wanting access but why would that matter to the coach? Not sure why that’s even a negative
What have you missed from chad not having access? It’s not you’re getting ground breaking information from him attending practices.Uhhh access to the program makes people feel more apart of it.
Jesus if I’m a brannen hater then y’all are blind followers. Brannen could have us 0-30 and y’all would be singing his praises
I watch every single game with the hopes UC wins. When we lose, it validates my doubts but I don’t get my rocks off to us losing. Brannen being elite is the kinda thing I want to be wrong about.
I put my self out there and on record saying my opinion that brannen is not the guy. I hope I’m wrong.
Y’all are the opposite now though. Now you’ve taken on the role of brannen Defenders even when you guys know youre worried about the direction of the program.
Ain’t nobody sitting pretty in pancake city about this team or it’s direction, not John brannen. Not the players.
We flat out suck. Nothing wrong with calling it like I see em
I mean I called it 18 months ago that UC basketball would lose its toughness and defensive identity under brannen.
Can I at least get some praise for a correct prediction?
But you hope your wrong. Give me praise
What have you missed from chad not having access? It’s not you’re getting ground breaking information from him attending practices.
The problem is you say, “I hope I’m wrong” but comment about how bad he is every chance you get.
Is anyone saying this is great or even ideal? Anyone? I’m saying it takes time. I don’t know what the future holds. I know it takes time and it’s rarely a smooth transition when you switch coaches. Right now, it looks bad. We have people saying this recruiting class isn’t good after 6 games? But then praising micks players like Tre which took 4 years to develop. Justin Jackson the same. But let me guess, that’s different, ok. Doesn’t make much sense to me. Also, the coach gets all the blame but we didn’t want to blame the last coach for anything. Let’s be consistent at leastI mean Brannen has been pretty bad so far. I thought Brannen was the right hire, but let's be honest, at this point I've become skeptical. Can't blame Justin who was already skeptical for being critical when thus far all his worst fears have been confirmed.
At the very least Brannen gets the remainder of this season, let's see what he can do. It doesn't look pretty so far, but maybe he can turn it around.
Our returning players seem to have been developed worse, we play worse defense, turn it over more, shoot worse from 3 and rebound worse. Our players seem to weaker both mentally and physically and have lost the identity of a tough hard-nosed team.
That's not a lot to get excited about. I wanted Cronin to stay, but I'm ready to embrace Brannen. But he needs to show us improvement, development, something to believe we will get better in the future.
So far Eason and Davenport are all I have to get excited about. I'd like to see more, 2 good players out of 10+ is not much.