we are so thin. we need some of these freshmen/juco/grads coming in immediately

Unless he graduates, I think he is going to have to drop down to D-2 in order to play.

PG Smith SG Lewis II SF James PF Hungarian kid C Robinson Bench Littleson and football player. Castro was set up for a good bit of playing time. 

Dukes2012 wrote:

WashPaRick wrote:

PG Smith SG Lewis II SF James PF Hungarian kid C Robinson Bench Littleson and football player. Castro was set up for a good bit of playing time. 

I think castro's departure almost guarantees that we will be in the market for a grad transfer. If we can find someone who makes a similar impact as Blackman, I will be very pleased.

I think my preference would still be a four year player or a transfer with multiple years who have to sit. I see the logic in this though as they could significantly upgrade the talent. Problem is the grad transfer market is so competitive. 

If you can believe it, Trey Dickerson still has eligibility and is on the grad transfer market. 
 

Last edited by steve19981 (4/10/2017 11:29 pm)

I wonder if some of the issue with Sanders, I. Mike and Castro is the attention that M. Lewis II got from the media (e.g., bruised egos). It's a fair question to ask. The shame is, Castro never lived up to expectations and would have had that opportunity under Coach Dambrot.

​Wish him all the best; wish the Dukes much better.

Right now, the talent level on this team isn't good enough to win 10 games next season. Still waiting to see some recruiting magic by Dambrot.

Phildog wrote:

rittersdiner wrote:

Right now, the talent level on this team isn't good enough to win 10 games next season. Still waiting to see some recruiting magic by Dambrot.

 
The departing talent was only good enough to win 10 games last year.

Was it the departing talent, or was it the departing coach?
 

I don't think there has been a more underwhelming player, based on the hype, than Castro. The 7 foot stiff from Kentucky wasn't here long enough. Maybe that center from Africa during the Danny Nee era, can't even recall his name.

Phildog wrote:

duq81 wrote:

Phildog wrote:

 
The departing talent was only good enough to win 10 games last year.

Was it the departing talent, or was it the departing coach?
 

 
Ferry didn't miss one game winning layup or free throw, so let's not pretend we lost some All America players from these kids.

We need better players, and none that left had the heart of an Aaron Jackson who fought to stay when RE arrived and left a winner three years later.

While I agree with you that guys helped to lose games down the stretch last year with rushed shots, turnovers, and poor execution I would argue that in most of the games we lost by a close margin down the stretch, we should never have gotten to a point that it was a one or two possession game.

That is on the coaching. Ferry couldn't make adjustments, couldn't slow his team down or make sure they were playing the end of games the way you should play with a 6-10 point lead. That is where you should be able to kill games off.

I think it is also a reflection of the coaching that every time I can remember that we had a late lead down the stretch, we blew it and lost literally every time, which says to me we were out coached, especially with the Canisius' and UT Martins of the world where it was obvious we were the much more talented team.

But your also right that these aren't superstar players, none of them. Sanders was actually on the smaller end of average guys playing his position and his production is literally a dime a dozen. Isiaha Mike obviously hurt more to lose but at the end of the day he can be replaced too. When you aren't getting the high 4 star and 5 star guys who are obviously a cut above the rest, everyone else is basically a crap shoot. I said it before we need to move up to the next tier of players relative to what we have got in the past. Castro was garbage like 90% of the time he was here so he's really an after thought for me anyway.

Yeah we might not have as much depth as we want for next year, but realistic expectations weren't reallly all that high for year 1 of the Dambrot regime. This is about laying the foundation for years 2-7 so thats what I am worried about. If part of that process includes guys leaving that don't want to be here, so be it, that's a cost of doing business and getting to where you want to go.

These guys leaving sucks more because of the fact that pickings are slim for guys out there that can play next year because of how far along in the recruiting process we are for 2017, almost everybody is wrapped up. Everyone of them is replaceable, but likely not until next year.

Phildog wrote:

duq81 wrote:

Phildog wrote:

 
The departing talent was only good enough to win 10 games last year.

Was it the departing talent, or was it the departing coach?
 

 
Ferry didn't miss one game winning layup or free throw, so let's not pretend we lost some All America players from these kids.

We need better players, and none that left had the heart of an Aaron Jackson who fought to stay when RE arrived and left a winner three years later.

Jackson was constantly disrespected on this board until his senior year. When Ron tried to run him off, most agreed with it. Most felt he was some bum that Kojo would quickly dispatch, and when that didn't happen, I had to read about how Eric Evans would soon send him to the bench. I was pretty much Aaron's only real fan on this board until his senior year.
 

Per Verbal Commits:

Rene has been granted his release, will graduate, and will be immediately eligible to pla

WashPaRick wrote:

duq81 wrote:

Phildog wrote:

 
Ferry didn't miss one game winning layup or free throw, so let's not pretend we lost some All America players from these kids.

We need better players, and none that left had the heart of an Aaron Jackson who fought to stay when RE arrived and left a winner three years later.

Jackson was constantly disrespected on this board until his senior year. When Ron tried to run him off, most agreed with it. Most felt he was some bum that Kojo would quickly dispatch, and when that didn't happen, I had to read about how Eric Evans would soon send him to the bench. I was pretty much Aaron's only real fan on this board until his senior year.
 

I was right there with you on Jackson but I did think Mike James was a waste of a schollie during his freshman season.

I think people were against him strictly because Nee brought him in.