1. If you were Harwin Francois, and you saw Trent Brown seeing major minutes in important late-season games (while you were grabbing some bench), how would you view your future at SIU?
2. What does Brown over Francois, in the eyes of the coaching staff, say about the head coach and his views of what makes for winning basketball games in the MVC?
(as always...no snark intended)
Thanks for reading...and I look forward to reading responses--I've got nothing else to do!
(1) US COVID-19 statistics (February 29, 2020-June 16, 2020): 2,124,000 reported cases and 115,052 deaths
(2) Donald Trump (June 15, 2020) told a group of senior citizens that there would be very few cases of COVID-19 if the US stopped its testing and contact tracing: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, actually."
(3) Donald Trump [(Jan 20, 2020), when asked if he's worried about a pandemic]: “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine.”
1. Transfer
2. I have no idea I did not attend any practices
I won't get back into the Brown vs. others playing time debate because no one's mind is going to change and, at this point, it's water under the bridge.
But there are kids dissatisfied with their playing time on just about every roster in the country. If coaches want certain kids to stick it out, it's up to them to sell their vision for the kid's future in the program (what they need to improve on to earn more time), and have built a strong enough relationship with them to convince them to stay. I don't know how badly (if at all) Mullins wanted each of these kids to stick around, but in general, that's the deal.
I also wonder if not having kids on campus because of COVID made those end-of-year heart-to-hearts trickier this particular offseason. You'd have to think so.
1. I would work harder.
2. My guess is the coaches think Brown is the better player or maybe just one that works harder.
Francois this year proved to be the better shooter, but Brown was a very good defender; he also sacrificed his body on numerous big occasions (when I was in the Arena for the MSU buzzer beater win as one example) which might add to why he saw more PT than Francois / others.
if bryan thought he had a better option than trent, he would be on the floor. not sure why anybody could possibly think differently.
Though Brown never found his shot this year he improved significantly in every other facet of his game. His defense, passing, court awareness, hustle, basketball iq etc is the reason he played. Plus, BM clearly trusted him on the floor.
1. Seems to me like Francios had greater upside. However, to the point that's been made previously it may have been a matter of Brown working harder than Francios, giving the coaching staff more confidence in Brown.
1. Transfer
2. I have no idea I did not attend any practices
This. All the way, especially 2.
If the OP watched every minute of every SIU game this season, he would have seen these players for about 1,200 minutes; Mullins saw that much of the guys in his first two weeks. I'm going to trust his judgment on playing time over that of RGOI (random guy on internet).
An aside before I move on. I did not like BH. I questioned his recruiting, his vision for the program (or lack thereof), his ability to "coach up" players, even his work ethic, particularly in regard to recruiting. I'm pretty sure, however, that I never questioned his decisions about who got PT. Because for all his faults, he was a professional collegiate basketball coach, and I am not. Which is not to say that they are above reproach on certain game decisions, of course; it's just admitting there are things that coaches see that I don't because they're there every day. I would not dream of having the balls to question that. I suspect that even BH wouldn't have the balls to question my judgment on my job either.
Also, while it is pure speculation, it seems reasonable and is a more generous take on what might have happened: take a look at Saluki 4 Life's post in the 2020 recruiting thread. It's really good.
Finally, I suggest that your whole premise is wrong: this decision to transfer had a whole lot more to do with Domask and Harvey than it did with Trent Brown.
(Inflammatory political snark)
1. Seems to me like Francios had greater upside. However, to the point that's been made previously it may have been a matter of Brown working harder than Francios, giving the coaching staff more confidence in Brown.
Absolutely. I thought Francois played well in limited minutes late in the season - even showed some defensive chops and some energy when every player on the floor except Lance Jones looked like they were on Valium - and had a lot more upside than Brown. Just as good if not better shooting the ball, way more size. I'd rather lose Davis than Francois actually. Nobody knows what goes on in practice, but you have to do it in the games!
Knowing that we are going to be a guard-heavy roster, I think unless Brown can consistently add something to the offense, he's going to get little playing time in the future.
Some "first year" stat comparisons of Jones, Mullins, Brown, and Francois. I have put Bryan's Freshman year stats between Jones and Brown for easy comparison. Francois was technically a Sophomore but this was his fist year at D1.
For the life of me, I can't figure out what people are seeing in Francois. Low D1/ high D2. I think Davis , if he would ever stop playing scared, had twice the upside. I also believe that neither left because of Brown's playing time. Like Austin said, I think it had far more to do with Domask and Harvey. As far as Trent is concerned, he has a ways to go before he can be considered to be real effective at this level. The good news, in my opinion, is that he looked pretty good doing the things that he was supposed to struggle with and needed improvement at the things that he has already proven that he can excel in (albeit at the HS? AAU level). I think he will be OK with more exposure and confidence. Just my $.02.
Formerly known as 81Dog
Here's my question: How many schools can a recruit visit, and how many recruits can a school have visit?
“The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.”
-- Al McGuire
5 official visits is the answer to part one.
I do not believe schools have a limit
5 official visits is the answer to part one.
I do not believe schools have a limit
But they can also take unofficial visits. Only real difference is that the athlete pays for everything.
Formerly known as 81Dog
5 official visits is the answer to part one.
I do not believe schools have a limit
But they can also take unofficial visits. Only real difference is that the athlete pays for everything.
Also yes
