We are racking up some talent at guard...the future looks bright!
We are racking up some talent at guard...the future looks bright!
Troy D'Amico and Foster Wonders coming in as well in this recruiting class. Next year is going to be fun.
A stud Div II player played relatively well and with confidence against a Div II team. I hope with time he can play with more confidence on both ends of the floor going forward this year.
He played well in a couple of tests against D1 competition last year too. You can see the offensive ability and he's a really hard worker. It's just a matter of time before it clicks with this kid.
--Insert something witty here--
Really like this team. All of them. You can see the positive chemistry.
Room to grow, no doubt, but the upside looks great.
March on triumphantly!
A stud Div II player played relatively well and with confidence against a Div II team. I hope with time he can play with more confidence on both ends of the floor going forward this year.
He played well in a couple of tests against D1 competition last year too. You can see the offensive ability and he's a really hard worker. It's just a matter of time before it clicks with this kid.
I agree he has the potential and I love his length. I'm looking forward to him developing further within this program and being a vital part of our championship next year. : )
D'Avanzo looks heftier to me than 205 lbs.
(Inflammatory political snark)
We are racking up some talent at guard...the future looks bright!
Troy D'Amico and Foster Wonders coming in as well in this recruiting class. Next year is going to be fun.
The question of playing time comes into mind for me next year. We have a lot of talented guards that can score this year at seems, at least early on. Verplanken will probably get it going eventually. But adding 2 MORE talented guards seems impossible to balance. Does someone leave after this year?
Regardless, this is a much better problem to have than lack of depth, which we fought last year!
We are racking up some talent at guard...the future looks bright!
Troy D'Amico and Foster Wonders coming in as well in this recruiting class. Next year is going to be fun.
The question of playing time comes into mind for me next year. We have a lot of talented guards that can score this year at seems, at least early on. Verplanken will probably get it going eventually. But adding 2 MORE talented guards seems impossible to balance. Does someone leave after this year?
Regardless, this is a much better problem to have than lack of depth, which we fought last year!
Maybe they're loading up for a package deal for a talented and athletic 7 footer and a draft pick? 🤔
For real though, one can't help but wonder what a Kavion Pippen would look like with this group.
--Insert something witty here--
In terms of managing a talent-rich roster and keeping guys happy going forward (hard to avoid daydreaming a bit about the next two years, especially with this season being nontraditional with no fans, all the scheduling headaches, etc.), Mullins might be able to glean some lessons from how his former team handles a stacked roster because Loyola is loaded this year, especially in terms of guards. In the first game, they had Marquise Kennedy, Cooper Kaifes and last year's starting PG, Keith Clemons, all coming off the bench. You just have to hope you have guys who will buy into winning and being part of a special team. You never know how it'll play out because obviously kids want to play (a lot), but I think Mullins has as good a chance of instilling that unselfish culture as anyone would.
Guards next year:
JR-Brown, Harvey, Jones, Verplancken
SO-Banks, Butler
FR-D'Amico, Wonders
It is a bit crowded but on the flip side it leaves a lot for rotation.
Imagine a lineup with 2 F/3 G
Then the rotations get clearer
F-Muila/Ebube
F-Filewich/Dembele
W-Domask/Verplancken/D'Amico
SG-Harvey/Brown/Wonders
PG-Jones/Banks/Butler
So it is crowded but manageable and there should hopefully be enough minutes to go around to keep everyone happy.
Guards next year:
JR-Brown, Harvey, Jones, Verplancken
SO-Banks, Butler
FR-D'Amico, Wonders
It is a bit crowded but on the flip side it leaves a lot for rotation.
Imagine a lineup with 2 F/3 G
Then the rotations get clearer
F-Muila/Ebube
F-Filewich/Dembele
W-Domask/Verplancken/D'Amico
SG-Harvey/Brown/Wonders
PG-Jones/Banks/Butler
So it is crowded but manageable and there should hopefully be enough minutes to go around to keep everyone happy.
I know D'Amico will need to put on some weight, but I don't see him playing the 3 very often. I think he's that stretch 4 that Mullins wants...I think he'll slot in there. I don't see Dembele back next year either, so you could for sure go big with Muila/Filewich/Ebube filling in the 4/5 spot, but I think that will be rare.
D'Amico is 6'5. I doubt he slots in at the 4 very often.
D'Amico is 6'5. I doubt he slots in at the 4 very often.
I think that height may have been from his sophomore year...I see him listed at 6'7 on Prep Hoops and most articles talking about him list him at 6'7. I know Verbal Commits lists 6'5, but I think he's grown.
Guards next year:
JR-Brown, Harvey, Jones, Verplancken
SO-Banks, Butler
FR-D'Amico, Wonders
It is a bit crowded but on the flip side it leaves a lot for rotation.
Imagine a lineup with 2 F/3 G
Then the rotations get clearer
F-Muila/Ebube
F-Filewich/Dembele
W-Domask/Verplancken/D'Amico
SG-Harvey/Brown/Wonders
PG-Jones/Banks/Butler
So it is crowded but manageable and there should hopefully be enough minutes to go around to keep everyone happy.
The NCAA has said that due to COVID this year won’t count towards eligibility for anyone, so hypothetically D’Avanzo could return, right? Long could return also, but I doubt he does, given his role as it’s shaping up.
