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(03-14-2023 10:44 AM)UABrandon Wrote:  

(03-14-2023 10:38 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  I think you take a Legacy player, especially if Bertram's spot opens up. He would have 4 years eligibility.

Agreed, I don't understand the "roster filler" type players that don't get a lick of playing time even though they are transfers. Guys like Locure, Tate, AD, Bertram, Jamal Johnson, and Justin Brown were for the most part were just cheer leaders unfortunately. Maybe theyre really good practice players to have, I just see a team like FAU where anyone could go off for a big night instead of maybe 2 guys. Granted I can't complain with the success of our staff so what do I know

TBH I felt like Johnson and Brown were mismanaged in terms of their minutes and the rotation. AK played a longer bench this year, which seemed to really work well down the stretch. 2 years ago, JJ and JB were afterthoughts riding the pine. JJ put up nice numbers at UTC this year.

Locure was a good player too but I just feel like he was doomed bc we basically couldn't play him and Jelly together at all bc he was tiny.

If AK if going to take so many transfers, I think he has to play a longer bench like he did this year.

(03-14-2023 10:38 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  I think you take a Legacy player, especially if Bertram's spot opens up. He would have 4 years eligibility.

Wouldn't be opposed to it if he is going to play or be developed and not just take a roster spot like some other guys we've picked up the last 2 years.

(03-14-2023 10:50 AM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(03-14-2023 10:44 AM)UABrandon Wrote:  

(03-14-2023 10:38 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  I think you take a Legacy player, especially if Bertram's spot opens up. He would have 4 years eligibility.

Agreed, I don't understand the "roster filler" type players that don't get a lick of playing time even though they are transfers. Guys like Locure, Tate, AD, Bertram, Jamal Johnson, and Justin Brown were for the most part were just cheer leaders unfortunately. Maybe theyre really good practice players to have, I just see a team like FAU where anyone could go off for a big night instead of maybe 2 guys. Granted I can't complain with the success of our staff so what do I know

TBH I felt like Johnson and Brown were mismanaged in terms of their minutes and the rotation. AK played a longer bench this year, which seemed to really work well down the stretch. 2 years ago, JJ and JB were afterthoughts riding the pine. JJ put up nice numbers at UTC this year.

Locure was a good player too but I just feel like he was doomed bc we basically couldn't play him and Jelly together at all bc he was tiny.

If AK if going to take so many transfers, I think he has to play a longer bench like he did this year.

Yep Johnson was a strong player for Chattanooga and Locure had multiple 20 point games and one 33point game at ULM.

But then again, it's different competition and both of those teams ended 7-11 in their conferences.

(03-14-2023 10:50 AM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(03-14-2023 10:44 AM)UABrandon Wrote:  

(03-14-2023 10:38 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  I think you take a Legacy player, especially if Bertram's spot opens up. He would have 4 years eligibility.

Agreed, I don't understand the "roster filler" type players that don't get a lick of playing time even though they are transfers. Guys like Locure, Tate, AD, Bertram, Jamal Johnson, and Justin Brown were for the most part were just cheer leaders unfortunately. Maybe theyre really good practice players to have, I just see a team like FAU where anyone could go off for a big night instead of maybe 2 guys. Granted I can't complain with the success of our staff so what do I know

TBH I felt like Johnson and Brown were mismanaged in terms of their minutes and the rotation. AK played a longer bench this year, which seemed to really work well down the stretch. 2 years ago, JJ and JB were afterthoughts riding the pine. JJ put up nice numbers at UTC this year.

Locure was a good player too but I just feel like he was doomed bc we basically couldn't play him and Jelly together at all bc he was tiny.

If AK if going to take so many transfers, I think he has to play a longer bench like he did this year.

True, plus JJ did get suspended so his PT dropped to basically nothing after that. Definitely thankful for JB hitting the 3 @ WKU. In recruiting news in general we could definitely use Earle Greer, his offers might not shock us but at 6'7-6'8 he is an absolute bucket. Would be an incoming freshman

Part of the "chemistry" issues might be that guys were pissed that came here with 3 + years experience and only played 5 minutes a game at most. Leblanc, JJ, JB, locure all had some sort of issue with PT or off the court issues 2 years ago.

We had less of that this past season, and I think it was directly correlated to AK playing a longer bench. And it makes more sense on the court to me as well. If you're going to play a high scoring fast style, you need to play more guys. If you have a really talented, experienced bench, you need to play more guys.

I agree with the longer bench. Been wanting that.

Well said.

(03-14-2023 11:09 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  I agree with the longer bench. Been wanting that.

Me too!

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Always sad to see a player leave SLU early - we wish Nick the best wherever he ends up.

His shooting, defense, & physicality all translate. Unfortunately we didn’t get a look at him this season to see how his game has grown.

So have y'all all decided that (Butta) Johnson was a wasted scholarship and has no chance to be the future point guard? I was excited when we signed him. Actually think it might be Kennedy's best HS signee. I didn't get a chance to see us this year but was told Johnson looked good in his very limited appearances. I would just like to see us develop homegrown talent. I think fans also have more affinity towards these kids than those that we pick up from the portal that often have no loyalty to a program.

Butta had a solid freshman season. I don’t think he’s a point guard though. AK doesn’t seem to recruit true PGs though, so he will probably have to play the position for us. He’s more of a traditional 2 guard to me.

Which portal guy would you say has no loyalty to the program?

Jelly? The guy who has stated repeatedly how much he has loved UAB and Bham?
Trey, the pillar of the community who is going to be a major business success in this town after he is done with ball?
Buffen, who has been a three year warrior?
Quan and Ertel, who were bedrock players?

Butta is the 8th or 9th best player on the roster now. His time will come if he is good enough

(03-14-2023 08:29 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Which portal guy would you say has no loyalty to the program?

Jelly? The guy who has stated repeatedly how much he has loved UAB and Bham?
Trey, the pillar of the community who is going to be a major business success in this town after he is done with ball?
Buffen, who has been a three year warrior?
Quan and Ertel, who were bedrock players?

Butta is the 8th or 9th best player on the roster now. His time will come if he is good enough

I didn't say our portal guys weren't loyal. I'm saying in general someone brought in as a freshman committed to UAB. Portal players, obviously chose to go elsewhere first. Do you understand? Butta was a point guard in HS. We don't have 8 or 9 point guards on this team. If kids commit to UAB, work their asses off, do everything asked of them but coaches just go to portal every year, then that's a problem to me. I know it's how things are these days but I don't have to like it. Does that make sense to you? Should I type slower?

You’re going to find that high school kids are no more “loyal” … it is just the way it is.

Butta is one of the better high school players we have signed. Satterfield coming in is a good one.

On the whole, even before the portal, our program was built on transfers and juco. For every Steve Mitchell and Aaron Johnson there are 2-3 Andy Kennedy and Robert Vaden. In terms of the most “talented” players, it’s pretty heavy toward JC and transfer in terms of impact.

My other point is you say Johnson is the 8th or 9th best player and his time will come if he's good enough. In the old days I would agree. Players had to work their butts off to improve and get more playing time. The portal encourages players to just say "Hey, I don't like my situation, ill just transfer out". Maybe Johnson leaves for more immediate playing time. Of course this is a generalization but you can't tell me the college landscape hasn't changed due to these new rules. Remember when everyone was so upset at Calipari and his one and done at Kentucky. Not a huge jump from that to what we have throughout college sports now.

You made a great argument. You are right we have had many transfer players in this program. From day one. McCord was the best one year only guy we ever had in my opinion. We have had great 4 year players and a nice mix of great transfers. I just don't want to use the portal at the exclusion of bringing in HS kids we can nurture for 4 years. But you corrected me and I appreciate your thoughts.

It has definitely changed and yes, one of the consequences for giving players agency to transfer is that coaches can recruit more experienced players over them if they don’t develop quickly enough. But especially at the mid major level, it’s just seems to be fact that the portal delivers a higher level of talent than high school. The best high school players are going to get snatched up by the power 5 programs.

I think Butta will get a real chance next year. He was starting to really crack the rotation this year, but guys like LA Brewer, Lovan, and Toney usurped him - but I think that is fine given that he is a true freshman. He knocked down some clutch shots for us this year and showed he will have the ability to score at this level. He has good size for a PG/2G and seems to be a solid rebounder and defender. Jelly seems to love him and think he is our future. I saw nothing that said he won't be a really solid, maybe great, player in the future. I hope he stays.

I honestly thought at the beginning of the season that he would redshirt, thankfully he didn't cause he was a huge reason for the W against UTEP

(03-14-2023 08:23 PM)randy22263 Wrote:  So have y'all all decided that (Butta) Johnson was a wasted scholarship and has no chance to be the future point guard? I was excited when we signed him. Actually think it might be Kennedy's best HS signee. I didn't get a chance to see us this year but was told Johnson looked good in his very limited appearances. I would just like to see us develop homegrown talent. I think fans also have more affinity towards these kids than those that we pick up from the portal that often have no loyalty to a program.

Who the hell said that? Stop typing words in folks mouths.