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(12-31-2020 10:59 AM)skyblade Wrote:  

(12-31-2020 10:40 AM)C1ncy4Life Wrote:  I’m not sure what to think of this. It’s sort of concerning that multiple players have now essentially quit on the team in the middle of a season, in back to back years. Is this a result of a culture issue? It doesn’t really give me confidence in the locker room, though I guess that may be a result of a bad season as well.

I think it's a result of poor player evaluation, recruiting over players and transfers. Transfers (especially grad transfers) aren't usually looking to sit on the bench.

In Raps case, Rap made it clear that he wants to play the 4, wants to be developed as a 4 and does not want to be a center. Brannen for some unknown reason thought Rap could play the 4 at this level (he obviously could not, I said that the moment he was recruited). When it become clear Rap wasn't a 4 and wasn't even good as a 5, his options became backup center (possibly 3rd string depending on if Diarra decided to come back first or Rap decided to leave first) or go and he chose go.

Diarra it's hard to say how big of a role the baby played. But he was almost surely expecting to be at least the backup center averaging 15+ minutes per game, instead Rap moved to center and Diarra became 3rd string playing spot minutes. Now he's coming back to play 15+ minutes per game.

Sorolla came expecting to start, then Vogt got his waiver approved and Sorolla became a backup.

Trevor Moore was apparently just an awesome practice three point shooter. But when it came game time he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He fooled Cronin, fooled Brannen.

I guess the realization is growing on me that one must be very selective in recruiting midmajor transfers. Just 'cause a guy was all-conference in the MAC, Horizon, or wherever, doesn't mean he can be a difference-maker for UC.