Just chiming in because I feel like giving my 2 cents, and will probably regret it in the morning. I know a lot of people didn't like CB; I did. He should have been given the term of his contract to turn it around, but in this day and age of immediate gratification that wasn't allowed. Granted, he was an unknown, but he was learning on the job, and I think he would have figured it out, and could have become a career coach at W. He was left with a depleted roster, but was getting players that could win at this level. I know that is not a popular opinion, and I'll probably get chastised like Antifa protesters at a pro America rally, but I thought he just needed more time to turn it around. That being said, I think Burke was the next logical choice. He created excitement around the program like few have. The players and fans loved him. I think he would have been a hell of a fundraiser for the school as well. He should have gotten the job. My faith in Bass is minimal, just not a fan. I'm pulling for Siddle to do well, but he's unproven like CB was, and is even less experienced. I'm not worried about the lack of landing a big in this years class for next season. Dodd is not much different than Cacok, and could fill that roll if he stays, with hopefully an improved Boggs and Bowen. The CAA is a pretty weak league right now, so we just need guys that can play defense and put the ball in the bucket. As an ode to the Wuhan virus cattle call, "were all in this together"...

CB is gone, so no use in discussing it any futher. I was on board for Burke from Day 1 but he wasn't hired, so no use in discussing any further. I was on board with CB until what he put on the floor got progressively worse and was moving in the wrong direction with no end i sight. I will give Siddle the same support I gave CB until there's a reason not to. He's doing what he feels he needs to in order to win at UNCW, so we'll find out if his recruiting, strategy and coaching are a success or not...but we don't know now.

Siddle was hired because he was perceived to be a very strong recruiter who would implement a style of play that the fans love and was successful at UNCW. Steele, Pridgen, Carr and Harvey is pretty damned impressive haul from a first time HC his first year at UNCW. And that was done with no official visits to UNCW. On paper, this may be the best recruiting class i've seen come to UNCW. That's a PG, two high octane 6'5" wings and a very athletic and skilled 6'9" 261 lb.center. Add them into the roster we already have, implement the style of play we've already seen with Keatts, and I have no idea what all the bitchin' and moaning is for already.

FYI, Pridgen was a football player in HS and his game is mostly in the paint and on the boards. He's going to be a beast in the CAA. Pridgens first NCAA basketball game was against a very good Maryland team. As a freshman he was 6-9 from the field, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in 29 minutes.

I find it amazing that all of the sudden year 1 success is an expectation for Siddle, when it has never been before from this board. When I look at the pieces Siddle has in place I can't help but be excited for the future of UNCW.

(05-17-2020 03:42 AM)82hawk Wrote:  CB is gone, so no use in discussing it any futher. I was on board for Burke from Day 1 but he wasn't hired, so no use in discussing any further. I was on board with CB until what he put on the floor got progressively worse and was moving in the wrong direction with no end i sight. I will give Siddle the same support I gave CB until there's a reason not to. He's doing what he feels he needs to in order to win at UNCW, so we'll find out if his recruiting, strategy and coaching are a success or not...but we don't know now.

Siddle was hired because he was perceived to be a very strong recruiter who would implement a style of play that the fans love and was successful at UNCW. Steele, Pridgen, Carr and Harvey is pretty damned impressive haul from a first time HC his first year at UNCW. And that was done with no official visits to UNCW. On paper, this may be the best recruiting class i've seen come to UNCW. That's a PG, two high octane 6'5" wings and a very athletic and skilled 6'9" 261 lb.center. Add them into the roster we already have, implement the style of play we've already seen with Keatts, and I have no idea what all the bitchin' and moaning is for already.

FYI, Pridgen was a football player in HS and his game is mostly in the paint and on the boards. He's going to be a beast in the CAA. Pridgens first NCAA basketball game was against a very good Maryland team. As a freshman he was 6-9 from the field, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in 29 minutes.

I find it amazing that all of the sudden year 1 success is an expectation for Siddle, when it has never been before from this board. When I look at the pieces Siddle has in place I can't help but be excited for the future of UNCW.

Because we got a taste of it with Burke, and if Siddle A is a better coach, and B is as great of a recruiter as you guys think, why would we not expect a big jump in year 1? But if we are playing with a 6’5 center, not likely.


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(05-17-2020 01:12 AM)Boogie Woogie Wrote:  Just chiming in because I feel like giving my 2 cents, and will probably regret it in the morning. I know a lot of people didn't like CB; I did. He should have been given the term of his contract to turn it around, but in this day and age of immediate gratification that wasn't allowed. Granted, he was an unknown, but he was learning on the job, and I think he would have figured it out, and could have become a career coach at W. He was left with a depleted roster, but was getting players that could win at this level. I know that is not a popular opinion, and I'll probably get chastised like Antifa protesters at a pro America rally, but I thought he just needed more time to turn it around. That being said, I think Burke was the next logical choice. He created excitement around the program like few have. The players and fans loved him. I think he would have been a hell of a fundraiser for the school as well. He should have gotten the job. My faith in Bass is minimal, just not a fan. I'm pulling for Siddle to do well, but he's unproven like CB was, and is even less experienced. I'm not worried about the lack of landing a big in this years class for next season. Dodd is not much different than Cacok, and could fill that roll if he stays, with hopefully an improved Boggs and Bowen. The CAA is a pretty weak league right now, so we just need guys that can play defense and put the ball in the bucket. As an ode to the Wuhan virus cattle call, "were all in this together"...

I don’t see any reason why you should be ashamed of this post.

1. This board is for nothing but opinions, and those are yours.

2. There was nothing disrespectful or disparaging in your post.

3. You’re like the rest of us, dependent upon the past for educated opinions while simultaneously hopeful for the future even if it wasn’t what you envisioned.

You should post more often Boog!


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I am absolutely excited about these recruits! I see no reason why five dominant guards could not win the CAA. Especially if one of them brought 7 rebounds as a freshman. If the new recruit was 6''8" and averaged 17 and 7 people as a freshman would be singing hallelujah. Pridgen is 6'5", big deal. We had a player a few years a ago who was considered undersized for a center and he seemed to rebound ok. Maybe I'm optimistic but we will be in the top half of the conference next year and top 3 the year after.

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(05-17-2020 01:06 PM)jdp8540 Wrote:  I am absolutely excited about these recruits! I see no reason why five dominant guards could not win the CAA. Especially if one of them brought 7 rebounds as a freshman. If the new recruit was 6''8" and averaged 17 and 7 people as a freshman would be singing hallelujah. Pridgen is 6'5", big deal. We had a player a few years a ago who was considered undersized for a center and he seemed to rebound ok. Maybe I'm optimistic but we will be in the top half of the conference next year and top 3 the year after.

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Again, how many times do we have to say it here Cacok is a generational talent and clearly people here take that for granted thinking that’s just going to happen again.


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(05-17-2020 03:24 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 01:06 PM)jdp8540 Wrote:  I am absolutely excited about these recruits! I see no reason why five dominant guards could not win the CAA. Especially if one of them brought 7 rebounds as a freshman. If the new recruit was 6''8" and averaged 17 and 7 people as a freshman would be singing hallelujah. Pridgen is 6'5", big deal. We had a player a few years a ago who was considered undersized for a center and he seemed to rebound ok. Maybe I'm optimistic but we will be in the top half of the conference next year and top 3 the year after.

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Again, how many times do we have to say it here Cacok is a generational talent and clearly people here take that for granted thinking that’s just going to happen again.


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Because teams can, and do, win without a Cacok. It certainly makes it easier to have a talent like that. But it’s not a requirement.

(05-17-2020 03:24 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 01:06 PM)jdp8540 Wrote:  I am absolutely excited about these recruits! I see no reason why five dominant guards could not win the CAA. Especially if one of them brought 7 rebounds as a freshman. If the new recruit was 6''8" and averaged 17 and 7 people as a freshman would be singing hallelujah. Pridgen is 6'5", big deal. We had a player a few years a ago who was considered undersized for a center and he seemed to rebound ok. Maybe I'm optimistic but we will be in the top half of the conference next year and top 3 the year after.

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Again, how many times do we have to say it here Cacok is a generational talent and clearly people here take that for granted thinking that’s just going to happen again.


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You seem to forget, Cacok only got starters minutes for one year under Keatts and we had three first place finishes and two NCAA appearances. We have a really soild core of players lined up right now. Assuming Dodd stays, we'll be fine next year even if Steere doesn't play. And then, our roster starts looking really good.

2020-2021 worst case

Phillips(so), Carr(fr), Okauru(sr), Gadsden(sr), Estime(sr), Sims(jr), Tolefree(jr), Harvey(fr), Boggs(so), Bowen(sr), Dodd(so)

2021-2022

Phillips(jr), Carr(so), Tolefree(sr), Sims(sr), Harvey(so), Pridgen(so), Boggs(jr), Dodd(jr), Steere(jr)

2022-2023

Phillips(sr), Carr(jr), Harvey(jr), Pridgen(jr), Boggs(sr), Dodd(sr), Steere(sr)

This is the future roster of UNCW if we don't add a single player. Again, pretty damned impressive. That 2022-2023 roster could win the CAA with just those 7 players with those juniors and seniors. And we'd still have Carr, Harvey and Pridgen in 2023-2024 to build on.

(05-17-2020 04:18 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 03:24 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 01:06 PM)jdp8540 Wrote:  I am absolutely excited about these recruits! I see no reason why five dominant guards could not win the CAA. Especially if one of them brought 7 rebounds as a freshman. If the new recruit was 6''8" and averaged 17 and 7 people as a freshman would be singing hallelujah. Pridgen is 6'5", big deal. We had a player a few years a ago who was considered undersized for a center and he seemed to rebound ok. Maybe I'm optimistic but we will be in the top half of the conference next year and top 3 the year after.

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Again, how many times do we have to say it here Cacok is a generational talent and clearly people here take that for granted thinking that’s just going to happen again.


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Because teams can, and do, win without a Cacok. It certainly makes it easier to have a talent like that. But it’s not a requirement.

It's an absolute requirement if you don't have other size! Cacok offset not having huge rosters his Soph- Sr years

(05-17-2020 06:52 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 03:24 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 01:06 PM)jdp8540 Wrote:  I am absolutely excited about these recruits! I see no reason why five dominant guards could not win the CAA. Especially if one of them brought 7 rebounds as a freshman. If the new recruit was 6''8" and averaged 17 and 7 people as a freshman would be singing hallelujah. Pridgen is 6'5", big deal. We had a player a few years a ago who was considered undersized for a center and he seemed to rebound ok. Maybe I'm optimistic but we will be in the top half of the conference next year and top 3 the year after.

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Again, how many times do we have to say it here Cacok is a generational talent and clearly people here take that for granted thinking that’s just going to happen again.


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You seem to forget, Cacok only got starters minutes for one year under Keatts and we had three first place finishes and two NCAA appearances. We have a really soild core of players lined up right now. Assuming Dodd stays, we'll be fine next year even if Steere doesn't play. And then, our roster starts looking really good.

2020-2021 worst case

Phillips(so), Carr(fr), Okauru(sr), Gadsden(sr), Estime(sr), Sims(jr), Tolefree(jr), Whitley(fr), Boggs(so), Bowen(sr), Dodd(so)

2021-2022

Phillips(jr), Carr(so), Tolefree(sr), Sims(sr), Whitley(so), Pridgen(so), Boggs(jr), Dodd(jr), Steere(jr)

2022-2023

Phillips(sr), Carr(jr), Whitley(jr), Pridgen(jr), Boggs(sr), Dodd(sr), Steere(sr)

This is the future roster of UNCW if we don't add a single player. Again, pretty damned impressive. That 2022-2023 roster could win the CAA with just those 7 players with those juniors and seniors. And we'd still have Carr, Whitley and Pridgen in 2023-2024 to build on.

I don't forget that at all, look at the rosters that KK won with much bigger rosters his first two years, one without CaCok and one before he blossomed. KK year 1, 6 guys over 6'8 and Bryan was 6'7, year 2, 5 Guys over 6'8 and Cacok and Bryan 6'7.

You guys absolutely murdered CB for recruiting no size, but now 90% of you are giving Siddle who hasn't coached a game here a free pass for not doing the same thing. I'm at least consistent in my criticism, you guys all were on one side of the fence, now on the opposite for the very same topic.

Look, i think he can win here, and honestly think he will(eventually). But to essentially toss away a year is silly. Is that where we are now, you guys are just ok scrapping a year? Sorry, but i'm not.

LOL. you have no idea if he is tossing out next year or not, that's the problem. Let the man coach a game before you criticize anything! If we are losing, and our size in the post is a problem, THEN be critical. McGrath wasn't criticized just for a lack of size he was criticized because he was an awful coach. If he had been winning, nobody would have cared. It's not consistent, it's ridiculous to criticize a coach who hasn't coached a single game here.

(05-17-2020 07:32 PM)82hawk Wrote:  LOL. you have no idea if he is tossing out next year or not, that's the problem. Let the man coach a game before you criticize anything! If we are losing, and our size in the post is a problem, THEN be critical. McGrath wasn't criticized just for a lack of size he was criticized because he was an awful coach. If he had been winning, nobody would have cared. It's not consistent, it's ridiculous to criticize a coach who hasn't coached a single game here.

It's not. To win at this level you need size, we don't have it. We have 1 big guy we don't know if he is eligible, one on the fence about leaving. The tossing out a year is a shot at you guys, everyone here seems to be referencing 2021.
I've absolutely been consistent, you guys haven't. He appears to have some great commits, they are missing one thing, Size!

(05-17-2020 07:39 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 07:32 PM)82hawk Wrote:  LOL. you have no idea if he is tossing out next year or not, that's the problem. Let the man coach a game before you criticize anything! If we are losing, and our size in the post is a problem, THEN be critical. McGrath wasn't criticized just for a lack of size he was criticized because he was an awful coach. If he had been winning, nobody would have cared. It's not consistent, it's ridiculous to criticize a coach who hasn't coached a single game here.

It's not. To win at this level you need size, we don't have it. We have 1 big guy we don't know if he is eligible, one on the fence about leaving. The tossing out a year is a shot at you guys, everyone here seems to be referencing 2021.
I've absolutely been consistent, you guys haven't. He appears to have some great commits, they are missing one thing, Size!

He's also stated that he thinks he can win without size because his press will dictate how the game will be played. I was optimistic going into last season because I thought CB would press more by the way the roster was constructed. That didn't happen and he lost his job mid-season. One reason Burke was somewhat successful is because he had the boys pressing. We have some really good athletes that are going to make our press really good next season. Will we struggle against teams with quality bigs, probably if Steere isn't eligible, but there's only 2 bigs in the CAA that I think would give us trouble at this point. If our press works how Siddle talks about we'll be fine against those teams.

C.B. had 2 years to recruit a big to come in after Cacok and couldn't do it, Siddle's had 2 months. Grading them on the same scale at this point would be ridiculous. He's building a program here. One that will compete next season and one that will contend in year 2. There's not much more you can ask of a coach taking over a program that has fallen to where we have. This class has received attention from national media outlets and there's a vibe about the program that hasn't been there in 3 years. You were never fully on board with Siddle going back to him being mentioned as a candidate so I respect your consistency but criticizing him already is unjust.

(05-17-2020 07:55 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 07:39 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 07:32 PM)82hawk Wrote:  LOL. you have no idea if he is tossing out next year or not, that's the problem. Let the man coach a game before you criticize anything! If we are losing, and our size in the post is a problem, THEN be critical. McGrath wasn't criticized just for a lack of size he was criticized because he was an awful coach. If he had been winning, nobody would have cared. It's not consistent, it's ridiculous to criticize a coach who hasn't coached a single game here.

It's not. To win at this level you need size, we don't have it. We have 1 big guy we don't know if he is eligible, one on the fence about leaving. The tossing out a year is a shot at you guys, everyone here seems to be referencing 2021.
I've absolutely been consistent, you guys haven't. He appears to have some great commits, they are missing one thing, Size!

You were never fully on board with Siddle going back to him being mentioned as a candidate so I respect your consistency but criticizing him already is unjust.

The fact i felt like Burke was a better choice has little to do with my criticism. I agree with you guys, he appears to have brought in some great talent. But, he has to recruit some bigs. Putting all your stock in a big who A, quit on him after 1 game at his last stop and B might not even be eligible is a huge gamble. Could pay off, but also might not. Dodd being on the fence has me extremely worried. If we go into next season without him, Linnsen and Steere we are going to get demolished on the boards and down low, no matter how fast we play. A wise man once taught me an important lesson about coaching " Can't teach size". It's 1000% true!
Fingers crossed that Dodd stays, and Steere commits to actually showing up and staying and is eligible.

(05-17-2020 06:52 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 03:24 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 01:06 PM)jdp8540 Wrote:  I am absolutely excited about these recruits! I see no reason why five dominant guards could not win the CAA. Especially if one of them brought 7 rebounds as a freshman. If the new recruit was 6''8" and averaged 17 and 7 people as a freshman would be singing hallelujah. Pridgen is 6'5", big deal. We had a player a few years a ago who was considered undersized for a center and he seemed to rebound ok. Maybe I'm optimistic but we will be in the top half of the conference next year and top 3 the year after.

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Again, how many times do we have to say it here Cacok is a generational talent and clearly people here take that for granted thinking that’s just going to happen again.


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You seem to forget, Cacok only got starters minutes for one year under Keatts and we had three first place finishes and two NCAA appearances. We have a really soild core of players lined up right now. Assuming Dodd stays, we'll be fine next year even if Steere doesn't play. And then, our roster starts looking really good.

2020-2021 worst case

Phillips(so), Carr(fr), Okauru(sr), Gadsden(sr), Estime(sr), Sims(jr), Tolefree(jr), Whitley(fr), Boggs(so), Bowen(sr), Dodd(so)

2021-2022

Phillips(jr), Carr(so), Tolefree(sr), Sims(sr), Whitley(so), Pridgen(so), Boggs(jr), Dodd(jr), Steere(jr)

2022-2023

Phillips(sr), Carr(jr), Whitley(jr), Pridgen(jr), Boggs(sr), Dodd(sr), Steere(sr)

This is the future roster of UNCW if we don't add a single player. Again, pretty damned impressive. That 2022-2023 roster could win the CAA with just those 7 players with those juniors and seniors. And we'd still have Carr, Whitley and Pridgen in 2023-2024 to build on.

Whitley???

You mean Harvey?


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[/quote]


Whitley???

You mean Harvey?


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[/quote]


Yes, fixed

Wow... this is an absolute steal for Takayo Siddle and UNCW... Pridgen is a definite all-league guy in the CAA.

The kid averaged an efficient 17 and 7 as a freshman. Super consistent. Probably would have been the second or third best player in the league this year if he stayed. That type kid doesn’t usually wind up moving from PL to CAA. He’s gonna be a stud. I’ve seen him in person.

and

Patriot League, ECAC Rookie of the Year Joe Pridgen leaves Holy Cross for UNC-Wilmington

Pridgen entered the NCAA transfer portal in late April and heard from several schools, including Arkansas, Georgia, Rhode Island, Richmond and East Carolina, but the University of North Carolina Wilmington stood out to Pridgen and Sunday he announced, via Twitter, his commitment to UNCW.

“Some pretty big name schools called me and that was fun,” Pridgen said in a phone interview Monday afternoon, “but in the end I wanted to go somewhere I was able to kind of continue what I was doing at Holy Cross, but on a higher level, and I felt UNC Wilmington was that spot. Their coaching staff showed a lot of love to me and made me really feel like it can be a spot where I can grow, not only as a basketball player, but as a person. That led to my ultimate decision.”



I would have gone with the best-available grad transfer big...but hard to argue that Pridgen is not a great addition. Hopefully Dodd sticks around and flourishes, and Bowen comes into his own for his senior year.

(05-19-2020 03:39 PM)70shawk Wrote:  Wow... this is an absolute steal for Takayo Siddle and UNCW... Pridgen is a definite all-league guy in the CAA.

The kid averaged an efficient 17 and 7 as a freshman. Super consistent. Probably would have been the second or third best player in the league this year if he stayed. That type kid doesn’t usually wind up moving from PL to CAA. He’s gonna be a stud. I’ve seen him in person.

and

Patriot League, ECAC Rookie of the Year Joe Pridgen leaves Holy Cross for UNC-Wilmington

Pridgen entered the NCAA transfer portal in late April and heard from several schools, including Arkansas, Georgia, Rhode Island, Richmond and East Carolina, but the University of North Carolina Wilmington stood out to Pridgen and Sunday he announced, via Twitter, his commitment to UNCW.

“Some pretty big name schools called me and that was fun,” Pridgen said in a phone interview Monday afternoon, “but in the end I wanted to go somewhere I was able to kind of continue what I was doing at Holy Cross, but on a higher level, and I felt UNC Wilmington was that spot. Their coaching staff showed a lot of love to me and made me really feel like it can be a spot where I can grow, not only as a basketball player, but as a person. That led to my ultimate decision.”



I would have gone with the best-available grad transfer big...but hard to argue that Pridgen is not a great addition. Hopefully Dodd sticks around and flourishes, and Bowen comes into his own for his senior year.

That was my point about Pridgen. When a guy like that comes along and you have a scholars:bow:hip, sign him up! He is a proven player at the DI level and we get him for 3 years. If we are looking to build long term success, this is how you do it.

(05-19-2020 03:39 PM)70shawk Wrote:  Wow... this is an absolute steal for Takayo Siddle and UNCW... Pridgen is a definite all-league guy in the CAA.

The kid averaged an efficient 17 and 7 as a freshman. Super consistent. Probably would have been the second or third best player in the league this year if he stayed. That type kid doesn’t usually wind up moving from PL to CAA. He’s gonna be a stud. I’ve seen him in person.

and

Patriot League, ECAC Rookie of the Year Joe Pridgen leaves Holy Cross for UNC-Wilmington

Pridgen entered the NCAA transfer portal in late April and heard from several schools, including Arkansas, Georgia, Rhode Island, Richmond and East Carolina, but the University of North Carolina Wilmington stood out to Pridgen and Sunday he announced, via Twitter, his commitment to UNCW.

“Some pretty big name schools called me and that was fun,” Pridgen said in a phone interview Monday afternoon, “but in the end I wanted to go somewhere I was able to kind of continue what I was doing at Holy Cross, but on a higher level, and I felt UNC Wilmington was that spot. Their coaching staff showed a lot of love to me and made me really feel like it can be a spot where I can grow, not only as a basketball player, but as a person. That led to my ultimate decision.”



I would have gone with the best-available grad transfer big...but hard to argue that Pridgen is not a great addition. Hopefully Dodd sticks around and flourishes, and Bowen comes into his own for his senior year.

That was my point about Pridgen. When a guy like that comes along and you have a scholarship, sign him up! He is a proven player at the DI level and we get him for 3 years. If we are looking to build long term success, this is how you do it.

"Pridgen started 29 of 30 games and scored in double figures 24 times. His 521 points were the second most by a freshman in Holy Cross and Patriot League history."

I've got questions.
1) Are we still offering Marcus Elliott?
2) Are we the only school offering him?
3) Do we still need to be offering him since he's another 6'1'
guard?