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Post by Ken D on Apr 20, 2013 11:11:56 GMT -5
One deadline has passed, but the real one is still to come at the end of April. So far, Rasheed Sulaimon hasn't committed to leave, even though he is projected as a first round pick in most mock drafts. I haven't heard much chatter about him, so I assume he will stay in school.
If he does, the Devils will have an interesting roster next season. Their scholarship roster includes one "big" (Plumlee), two point guards (Cook and Thornton) and eight wings, none of which is a true power forward. They have a ton of talent at the wing spot, but will rebounding be a problem for a team with only one player over 6'-8"?
Edit: Forgot about Andre Dawkins returning to the team after sitting out a year. That gives them nine wing players. That should be some fight for playing time.
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Post by Tizu on Apr 22, 2013 6:55:04 GMT -5
That is very interesting. I feel some of those wings may have to play out of position some in order to get any type of PT. Unless Coach K rotates them in and out constantly. It will be interesting to see what he does with the lineups, that's for sure. If Duke lands Black (Center transfer from Memphis) that would help with the big man position, right now I've seen nothing from MP3 that gives me any faith that he'll be worth a damn.
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Post by Ken D on Apr 22, 2013 8:25:29 GMT -5
I can't see why K would want to bring him in. Doing so would seem to undermine much of the brand he has studiously built over the years. I don't care how smart this kid may be. The perception will be that he is just a mercenary who is not up to the academic standards Duke likes to claim they hold their athletes to. And for what? If he plays, he takes PT from one of the current players, some of whom could resent that greatly.
This for a foul prone player who averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds in Conference USA? Who you will only have for one season? I just don't see it. Maybe the lack of a quality big man keeps them from a national championship, but they are still a top ten team with the talent they have.
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Post by Tizu on Apr 22, 2013 12:34:25 GMT -5
No one knows but the coaching staff what the though process there is, unfortunately. I know Duke needs a 'good' big man or at least someone who's average. Maybe Marshall will shock us all and be a beast, or at the very least, be like Mason became. Either way yes, you're right, they are going to be absolutely loaded.
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Post by cvholt87 on May 7, 2013 16:27:27 GMT -5
Just something to keep in mind, but State isn't done recruiting yet. They're pursuing Trevor Lacey out of Alabama and a PF/C from another school. Lacey is shaping up to be a UNC and NC State battle early on with him already having set up visits with both schools. Lacey initially had a ton of interest but most of that seemed to disappear when everyone found out UNC was all in. Kudos to Gottfried in going head to head with Roy, but I'm not sure NC State will win out in this one.
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Post by Ken D on May 8, 2013 8:48:00 GMT -5
It seems odd to me that UNC would make such a strong move for a player who won't be eligible until 2014. As things now stands, Carolina has 14 players enrolled or committed for 2014 unless someone leaves early or transfers. And they have offers out to several high profile recruits. I guess their problem is that of that number, only four are shooting guards or small forwards, and one of those - Hairston - is likely to leave early. I expect to see some players transfer out, maybe even at the end of this semester.
For State, Lacey wouldn't be eligible to play, but with only nine scholarship players on the roster, it's hard to have effective practices. That was a big problem this year. Lacey would be a huge help there, and with mentoring the four frosh in the class.
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Post by cvholt87 on May 8, 2013 19:05:22 GMT -5
I think it's a fair assumption that if Hairston continues where he left off, he'll be making the jump to the league after next season. That being said, UNC is in need of another shooting guard for the 2014 class. It seems UNC isn't where they want to be with a lot of their targets so they're opting for a guard who already has a college ready body/game.
State is set at shooting guard regardless of what happens with Lacey, which is why I think UNC has the edge. Lacey is strongly considering State due to his personal ties with Ralston Turner and Cat Barber, but UNC has the tradition and simply needs him more.
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Post by cvholt87 on Jun 12, 2013 9:25:31 GMT -5
In a turn of events it appears State will land Lacey, it's just up to him when he wants to announce it. I think a big part of it is due to the long standing relationship with Gottfried but you can't discredit the effect of UNC landing Theo Pinson. Big pick up for the Pack.
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Post by Tizu on Jun 13, 2013 7:13:17 GMT -5
Big time pick up. 2013-14 and 2014-15 are going to be two very strong years for the triangle teams.
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Post by Ken D on Jun 13, 2013 8:54:48 GMT -5
I think it's a fair assumption that if Hairston continues where he left off, he'll be making the jump to the league after next season. That being said, UNC is in need of another shooting guard for the 2014 class. It seems UNC isn't where they want to be with a lot of their targets so they're opting for a guard who already has a college ready body/game. State is set at shooting guard regardless of what happens with Lacey, which is why I think UNC has the edge. Lacey is strongly considering State due to his personal ties with Ralston Turner and Cat Barber, but UNC has the tradition and simply needs him more. Carolina currently has 15 players on their projected 2014 roster. But I believe at least 4 or 5 of these will be gone, either through early entry or transfer. These include McAdoo, Hicks and Hairston to the NBA, and at least one point guard (Britt or White). That leaves them deep, but not talented, in bigs, deep and talented at the point, and very thin at the SG/SF spot. Williams still has some heavy lifting to do on the recruiting trail. With Lacey, State will be deeper and more talented than any Pack team in recent memory. By my count, they will have 11 quality players, evenly spread out over four classes (2 seniors, 3 juniors, 4 sophs and 2 freshman). They will have better than average size for a top level D-I team, and plenty of experience. If they jell as a team, they're clearly a top twenty team, IMO. If Duke lands Okafor and Jones, I think their talent makes them the favorite, with State #2 and Carolina #3 in the current ACC for 2014, barring serious injuries (but not counting Syracuse and Louisville). It's hard to see how the ACC isn't the premier hoops conference in 2014.
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Post by cvholt87 on Jun 17, 2013 17:23:13 GMT -5
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Post by Marty Da Hungry Wolf on Jun 17, 2013 17:57:29 GMT -5
Niiiice. Like what I'm seeing - NOW, gotta put it together on the court.
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