Portal failures

[Richland County]

Unlike Key who has used the portal effectively to help build his team CDS has failed to get the same results. Is Damon bad at evaluating talent? Is he listening to the wrong advice? Is he overconfident in his coaching ability? Something is off and it's way off this team sucks period.

 

[tsrich]

I think he's bad at putting the talent in positions to succeed.

 

[AUFC]

I don’t think CDS is able to scheme around his skillsets. This was a problem with Pastner too, though Pastner usually made the necessary adjustments once he got a taste of how the team looked against ACC competition. It was typically too late by then, but to his credit, he made the adjustments year in and year out.

We are running an offense he had success with in Boston but we are running it without Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It’s a huge contrast to Key (and his assistants) who can scheme a gameplan around his players strengths and opponent’s weaknesses. You hear him talk all the time about needing heart. His success in the NBA as an undersized guard might be indicative that he has the strongest heart in the history of basketball, but a strong heart and will to win is far less important than an ability to critically think and problem solve when you’re standing on the sidelines in a polo and chinos.

 

[cpf2001]

Boston isos a lot because of the stars but they also move a lot more than we have been. And the quality of their pick execution is higher. They aren’t the most fluid offense in the world, but they aren’t this.

We look more like Dallas a couple of years ago, with four guys watching Luka dribble for twenty seconds. But without even any of the elite shooting, passing, and penetrating tools.

 

[bke1984]

Pastner’s coaching was miles ahead of Stoudamire. His problem had more to do with inability to acquire elite talent. But he did pretty well with what he had.

The product we are putting on the court right now is just plain sad. We are likely about to have the worst season of my lifetime with a roster loaded with talent because we seem to think that’s all it takes to win.

 

[OG-T]

CDS deserves his 3-5 years. I’m hopeful, pulling for him, and still supportive. However, he’s asked his players recently to “own” it in their preparation and performance. Truth is, he’s top of list that needs to “own it.” His grade so far this season has been failing. But, more season ahead, and he’s got time to turn it around - yet, if he’s rigid and doesn’t adjust his scheme and offensive action and sets, we’re a 12-20 team at best.

 

[gte447f]

CDS deserves his 3-5 years. I’m hopeful, pulling for him, and still supportive. However, he’s asked his players recently to “own” it in their preparation and performance. Truth is, he’s top of list that needs to “own it.” His grade so far this season has been failing. But, more season ahead, and he’s got time to turn it around - yet, if he’s rigid and doesn’t adjust his scheme and offensive action and sets, we’re a 12-20 team at best.

I agree, except I hardly see how we can get anywhere close to 12 wins at this rate. We will have to see significant improvement just to reach 12 wins which is dreadful. Hopefully the team will improve.

 

[AUFC]

I agree, except I hardly see how we can get anywhere close to 12 wins at this rate. We will have to see significant improvement just to reach 12 wins which is dreadful. Hopefully the team will improve.

The 5 power conference teams we’ve played would all be top half finishers in the ACC. We will notch some wins against the worst of the worst in the ACC but we are frankly playing for an ACC Tournament berth at this point. Teams finishing 16-18 do not get to go to DC.

 

[Techster]

Pastner’s coaching was miles ahead of Stoudamire. His problem had more to do with inability to acquire elite talent. But he did pretty well with what he had.

The product we are putting on the court right now is just plain sad. We are likely about to have the worst season of my lifetime with a roster loaded with talent because we seem to think that’s all it takes to win.

Pastner's teams played defense well, and was very good at rebounding and not letting the other team get too many 2nd chances. Fundamentally, they were sound.

Stoudamire's teams have a lot of talent, but something is just "off" with his teams. It's like they all came to a gym to play pick up and are all playing basketball for the first time together...except they're playing against the highest level of college basketball not a bunch of part time gym hoopers. It's not that I don't think our talent doesn't mesh well. Personally, I don't think Stoudamire can coach to each player's strength and weaknesses and get them all to fit together like a puzzle. The funny thing is, individually, you see the improvement over time...but cohesively as a team, it's just not there.

 

[MWBATL]

The 5 power conference teams we’ve played would all be top half finishers in the ACC.

I think that says more about the weakness of the ACC this year than the strength of our schedule.

 

[gte447f]

Pastner's teams played defense well, and was very good at rebounding and not letting the other team get too many 2nd chances. Fundamentally, they were sound.

Stoudamire's teams have a lot of talent, but something is just "off" with his teams. It's like they all came to a gym to play pick up and are all playing basketball for the first time together...except they're playing against the highest level of college basketball not a bunch of part time gym hoopers. It's not that I don't think our talent doesn't mesh well. Personally, I don't think Stoudamire can coach to each player's strength and weaknesses and get them all to fit together like a puzzle. The funny thing is, individually, you see the improvement over time...but cohesively as a team, it's just not there.

I see improvement in some but not others. Lance Terry, yes but it’s relative to 2 years ago. Mustaf certainly. Powell some. Nait no, compared to last year. Baye no, compared to last year. DO not really, but he’s still a freshman.

 

[Root4GT]

Pastner's teams played defense well, and was very good at rebounding and not letting the other team get too many 2nd chances. Fundamentally, they were sound.

Stoudamire's teams have a lot of talent, but something is just "off" with his teams. It's like they all came to a gym to play pick up and are all playing basketball for the first time together...except they're playing against the highest level of college basketball not a bunch of part time gym hoopers. It's not that I don't think our talent doesn't mesh well. Personally, I don't think Stoudamire can coach to each player's strength and weaknesses and get them all to fit together like a puzzle. The funny thing is, individually, you see the improvement over time...but cohesively as a team, it's just not there.

Pastner’s teams turned the ball over at a very high create less Jose’s senior year.

 

[cpf2001]

I’m not sure how sound you can call a team that loses 86-43 to Duke, or have a first half against Florida Tech that’s all too close until the end of the half.

Pastner had a few good and fun teams, but also some quite bad ones. Did that 2023 team pull together, or did the schedule just get weak at the end?

 

[Techster]

Pastner's teams played defense well, and was very good at rebounding and not letting the other team get too many 2nd chances. Fundamentally, they were sound.

Stoudamire's teams have a lot of talent, but something is just "off" with his teams. It's like they all came to a gym to play pick up and are all playing basketball for the first time together...except they're playing against the highest level of college basketball not a bunch of part time gym hoopers. It's not that I don't think our talent doesn't mesh well. Personally, I don't think Stoudamire can coach to each player's strength and weaknesses and get them all to fit together like a puzzle. The funny thing is, individually, you see the improvement over time...but cohesively as a team, it's just not there.

I must have been drunk or something. Just went back to look at our defensivie efficiency rankings and it was attrocious the last 3 seasons of Pastner's tenure.

Let's just pretend I never posted that...

 

[swampsting]

Key hadn't been perfect in the portal. We've had some misses in football.
But with basketball and only five guys at a time on the floor, instead of 11, and with only 15 on the roster instead of 100-plus, the misses are more glaring

 

[bke1984]

Key hadn't been perfect in the portal. We've had some misses in football.
But with basketball and only five guys at a time on the floor, instead of 11, and with only 15 on the roster instead of 100-plus, the misses are more glaring

If you’re suggesting our poor play is due to misses in the portal then I just have to disagree. There is talent, but we don’t really look prepared to play competitive basketball.

 

[Steverc]

Many here say we have talented players. I don't see it.