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Ohio Basketball

Topic: 2021 Freshman

Topic: 2021 Freshman

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Bobcat Jerry
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Member Since: 5/3/2017
Post Count: 229

Status: Offline

2021 Freshman

Posted: 3/12/2022 10:22:33 AM

Looks like the role of the freshman class (who could of underpinned our seniors) diminished as the season wore on. Was it a deficiency in talent and / or coaching that became apparent ?

Last Edited: 3/12/2022 10:23:50 AM by Bobcat Jerry

FlashGary
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Member Since: 6/18/2013
Location: Long Island, NY
Post Count: 377

Status: Offline

RE: 2021 Freshman

Posted: 3/12/2022 4:47:10 PM

Bobcat Jerry wrote:

Looks like the role of the freshman class (who could of underpinned our seniors) diminished as the season wore on. Was it a deficiency in talent and / or coaching that became apparent ?

I think there were several factors involved here, Bobcat Jerry. IJ Ezuma was sick early on and it took time for him to get into playing shape. I think we've all seen the potential he has to be a quality contributor behind Dwight Wilson next season and a potential starter down the road.

A.J. Clayton technically should have been a senior in high school. He can stroke it and he began to show other skills as the season went on. But toward the end, I think he hit the wall. Remember, he should have been in high school.

I wondered why Olumide Adelodun was given a scholarship when Jalen White transferred, being that his high school record, or lack of it, didn't resemble someone who could be a contributor right away and I thought we needed that. Now, having seen Adelodun the few times he got to play, I'm glad he's here and really hope he stays. He's athletic, he's long, he can defend, he looks like he can score, he seems to know how to play, he has the look of a player. And I want to see that potential actualized here.

This being said, I think our 2021 freshman class wasn't brought in to be big contributors this season. And the way our season began, it became apparent we were shooting for the moon, trying to keep that sterling record going, at the expense of giving these guys valuable playing time.

And here's the X-Factor none of us could have expected, even the coaching staff: the effect of the MAC hitting the transfer portal hard. This created a new playing field, and something we're gonna have to deal with next season--young freshmen not being physically, mentally or ready experience-wise to contend on a high level with upper class transfers from major programs. Jason Carter and Tommy Schmock (a quality Div-II find) really helped us. Other MAC schools has four, five, even seven of these guys. It really showed the second time around the conference and in the tournament.

So I'm not down on our freshmen. The bigger issues were that Sam Towns and Colin Granger, part of the 2020 recruiting class with Mark Sears, weren't able to step up and contribute more than they did; and factor in Ben Roderick's flame-out season and Lunden McDay leaving the team.

Add it all up and our freshmen were put in a situation they weren't ready/prepared to handle.

Last Edited: 3/12/2022 4:51:33 PM by FlashGary

BobcatSports
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Member Since: 2/2/2006
Post Count: 1,077

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RE: 2021 Freshman

Posted: 3/12/2022 8:50:12 PM

No one even the coaching staff could have anticipated the transfer portal! Really? Anyone even the coaches that didn�t anticipate that the Wild West was upon us was either blind or inept. Quickest way possible to build a roster, not necessarily going to work in every instance. But the Portal didn�t sneak up on anybody as it�s been right there for all to see that players are essentially all free agents now and the landscape has dramatically shifted, like it or not.

FlashGary
General User

Member Since: 6/18/2013
Location: Long Island, NY
Post Count: 377

Status: Offline

RE: 2021 Freshman

Posted: 3/12/2022 10:20:13 PM

BobcatSports wrote:

Everyone knew it was there, yes. But do you think our staff thought the way to go was to sign up as many as five to seven players out of the portal? If they did, they wouldn't have signed four highly-promising freshman in the early signing period. They would have signed a couple, waited until this season ended, then hit the portal hard for what we need for next season, right?

Problem with taking a ton of ballers out of the portal is everyone may not be all-in on what you want to do. It will be interesting to see how we handle the portal for next season, depending on who's leaving.

Last Edited: 3/12/2022 10:20:51 PM by FlashGary

Bobcat Jerry
General User

Member Since: 5/3/2017
Post Count: 229

Status: Offline

RE: 2021 Freshman

Posted: 3/12/2022 10:57:13 PM

Thanks Flash Gary,
You make some good points. In watching "class-less" Kent and Akron tonite, these two teams have some exceptional "portal" talent. Missing Wilson and an NBA guard really showed up too. Hoping for a competitive team this fall.

Last Edited: 3/12/2022 10:58:29 PM by Bobcat Jerry

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