did people really expect this to be completely turned around in 2.5 years? A decade of ineptitude, poor recruiting, losing, poor class balance…
After year 1 I did. Maybe that was unrealistic with Seniors getting an extra year but what's sobering is SIU doesn't really look close despite the results of nearly every game appearing close. I'm not sure they can flip that switch and suddenly become a contender next year. 4 years is more than enough time to be turned around given what SIU was when Mullins took over. B***y had his best season in Year 4.
IMO the biggest impact player we had that drove our Year 1 results with Bryan was Barrett Benson.
I am just saying we were not ncaa until year four and no pandemic to deal with 6 year players and this season isn't over yet
quit being rational. It has no place here.
I find this thread humorous. "Lighten up, Francis."
I think the pandemic hurts but SIU also has losses to horrible Little Rock and Northeastern teams and should have lost to Alcorn State. Bradley saw massive turnover from last year and is a better team than SIU right now and has 2 wins against the tier 1 MVC teams.
The Valley will lose some good players and Loyola next year but Murray State is a borderline top 25 team in the country right now and they're going to be heads and shoulders above SIU next year. I also wouldn't count out Drake, Missouri State, Northern Iowa reloading despite losing a lot. Missouri State beat us out for NJ Benson, a local product. Drake just picked up a Texas Tech transfer last night and they'll have Tucker DeVries for 3 more years
No matter who picks who from the portal it is hard to blend in some people can reload with transfers but I would rather do it the hard way because you can always count on transfers I would rather build through high school players and an occasional transfer for sustainability
No matter who picks who from the portal it is hard to blend in some people can reload with transfers but I would rather do it the hard way because you cant always count on transfers I would rather build through high school players and an occasional transfer for sustainability
No matter who picks who from the portal it is hard to blend in some people can reload with transfers but I would rather do it the hard way because you cant always count on transfers I would rather build through high school players and an occasional transfer for sustainability
This. If Mullins way works, its sustainable. You don't see Loyola and Murray building through transfers, they go get freshmen and develop them then supplement their team with transfers
@jabman62 that's ideal but with how easy it is to transfer these days, you can’t depend on long-term player stability quite like you did previously...you have to look to the portal too. Barbecue lost some of his best players to the portal. Lots of good MVC players split.
Donovan Clay, Javon Freeman Liberty, Liam Robbins.....
did people really expect this to be completely turned around in 2.5 years? A decade of ineptitude, poor recruiting, losing, poor class balance…
After year 1 I did. Maybe that was unrealistic with Seniors getting an extra year but what's sobering is SIU doesn't really look close despite the results of nearly every game appearing close. I'm not sure they can flip that switch and suddenly become a contender next year. 4 years is more than enough time to be turned around given what SIU was when Mullins took over. B***y had his best season in Year 4.
IMO the biggest impact player we had that drove our Year 1 results with Bryan was Barrett Benson.
Exactly...having a good big guy is like having a good QB...no other player can improve your team as much!
No matter who picks who from the portal it is hard to blend in some people can reload with transfers but I would rather do it the hard way because you cant always count on transfers I would rather build through high school players and an occasional transfer for sustainability
This. If Mullins way works, its sustainable. You don't see Loyola and Murray building through transfers, they go get freshmen and develop them then supplement their team with transfers
Umm in Loyola's final four run I believe two of their starters were transfers. You need a good mix in the current landscape
No matter who picks who from the portal it is hard to blend in some people can reload with transfers but I would rather do it the hard way because you cant always count on transfers I would rather build through high school players and an occasional transfer for sustainability
This. If Mullins way works, its sustainable. You don't see Loyola and Murray building through transfers, they go get freshmen and develop them then supplement their team with transfers
Umm in Loyola's final four run I believe two of their starters were transfers. You need a good mix in the current landscape
And looking at this year's Loyola rotation, just off the top of my head, Norris, Uguak, Schwieger, Knight, Hall and Clemons are all transfers, whether from D-I, D-II or JUCO. No doubt a mix is the way to go in this era, and that Southern probably needs to show more success on the transfer front going forward (while hopefully retaining key players, which has been a recent positive).
Transfers that are there 2 or 3 years to fill in I can agree but 1 year fill ins I don't believe set you up for longevity have to a base core to have long term success that is sustainable
Transfers that are there 2 or 3 years to fill in I can agree but 1 year fill ins I don't believe set you up for longevity have to a base core to have long term success that is sustainable
I'm not sure, it hasn't been long enough to tell in the current landscape of college basketball. I know a few schools have had recent success with it. Gonzaga always seems to have at least one grad transfer starting. Another example is Providence who went 13-13 last year. Reloaded through transfer portal bringing in two grad transfers and are now 16-2. Texas Tech has been doing well with it recently too. Of course these are top of the line grad transfers not guys we could realistically land
No matter who picks who from the portal it is hard to blend in some people can reload with transfers but I would rather do it the hard way because you cant always count on transfers I would rather build through high school players and an occasional transfer for sustainability
This. If Mullins way works, its sustainable. You don't see Loyola and Murray building through transfers, they go get freshmen and develop them then supplement their team with transfers
Umm in Loyola's final four run I believe two of their starters were transfers. You need a good mix in the current landscape
And looking at this year's Loyola rotation, just off the top of my head, Norris, Uguak, Schwieger, Knight, Hall and Clemons are all transfers, whether from D-I, D-II or JUCO. No doubt a mix is the way to go in this era, and that Southern probably needs to show more success on the transfer front going forward (while hopefully retaining key players, which has been a recent positive).
I should have been more specific... It is not ideal to have a bunch of one year transfers. I agree, the transfer game is different now, you can go get sophomores not just graduate seniors. I still prefer Wonders and Ebube paths. If they stay at SIU I have high hopes for what they look like in 5 years.
No matter who picks who from the portal it is hard to blend in some people can reload with transfers but I would rather do it the hard way because you cant always count on transfers I would rather build through high school players and an occasional transfer for sustainability
This. If Mullins way works, its sustainable. You don't see Loyola and Murray building through transfers, they go get freshmen and develop them then supplement their team with transfers
Umm in Loyola's final four run I believe two of their starters were transfers. You need a good mix in the current landscape
And looking at this year's Loyola rotation, just off the top of my head, Norris, Uguak, Schwieger, Knight, Hall and Clemons are all transfers, whether from D-I, D-II or JUCO. No doubt a mix is the way to go in this era, and that Southern probably needs to show more success on the transfer front going forward (while hopefully retaining key players, which has been a recent positive).
I should have been more specific... It is not ideal to have a bunch of one year transfers. I agree, the transfer game is different now, you can go get sophomores not just graduate seniors. I still prefer Wonders and Ebube paths. If they stay at SIU I have high hopes for what they look like in 5 years.
Personally my bet is on Hornecker being the next big thing around here. I do think there is a lot to love about the other guys mentioned here, but Hornecker had some serious offers. Being a 3 star 7 footer doesn't hurt either. I'm going to put an overly positive prediction that he is a starter in year 1!
