(10-27-2016 05:47 PM)Just Buc Wrote: [I don't think the SoCon coaches have learned how Bob Hoffman can reload. They will.
Quote:What is this based on? He hasn't reloaded the last two years. I'm not enamored with him at all and the fact he got nothing career-wise out of that title year and Duke upset suggests the industry is either not impressed or still tying him with Kelvin Sampson.
Apparently you missed the fact that he was leading the SoCon last year, ahead of both UTC and ETSU, when Jibri Bryan, one of his players, was shot and killed and two others suspended (post player Desmond Ringer and highest scorer guard Jestin Lewis).
I think Hoffman's something of an ass with his on the court behavior, and he has been ruthless with players, cutting one after he won a student athlete award - a good decision from the point of view of talent on the floor - a lousy one from the point of view of a player who had given his all for the team and done everything he could.
But only someone too young to have been following his career at Mercer, would slight his recruiting abilities.
Consider what he did this year. Faced with the loss of his 2 best guards (2 of his top 3 leading scorers), and with his best post player on academic suspension, here’s what Hoffman did: got an a post replacement with high major experience ready to play this year in case Ringer could not be eligible.
J.J. N’Ganga 6-10 245 New Mexico Sr. 2* Achilles heel injury last year - Junior stats: 12 min., 3.2 points on .590, 1.7 boards; High school offers Nevada, Fresno, Albany, Librty
And got some experienced talent to bolster his returning talent at guard (which wasn’t bad with Jordan Strawberry and 6’8” Demetre Rivers.)
Ri’an Holland 6-0 152 JUCO-Jr Wichita St transfer, JUCO 13.3 ppg on 50.4% from 3 with 65 makes, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists; no other offers noted
Rashad Lewis 5-8 156 Tr-JUCO-Jr. USC Aiken transfer, JUCO 11.6 ppg on 41.6% from 3 with 99 makes, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists; no other offers noted
Ryan Johnson 6-5 192 Tr-Rs-So was at Rutgers, high school offers – JMU, Appy State, Gdnr-Webb, UNC-W, Asheville, GA St., Longwood
Along with a promising freshman guard: Fr. Darius Roy 6-2 170 Okla 5A POY.
And he got Wake Forest’s starting point guard to commit as a 5th yr – but then lost him to Seton Hall
This team should be ready to contend again. Only Steve Forbes and staff did a better recruiting job in this conference.
I saw Hoffman do this year after year in the ASun.
If you can put together a team that can beat Duke in the NCAA's your recruiting ability kind of speaks for itself.