It's revisionist for every person who was so positive the first six games and now think that we can't beat average teams now at home suddenly. If people thought we didn't have enough guards when Connor was healthy and we had Pettigrew in the mix, then I guess we just aren't going to see eye to eye. What if Connor comes back for the next game and we win four in a row going back to Valley play? You can bet the narrative is going to be completely rosy again. I'd rather just be even keel because we're never as great or as bad as people make it seem in the moment.
You have been one consistent person in your points, I'll give you that. I don't agree with them (basically Meta stinks and our depth is awful) and it's frustrating to read the same thing after every game. In your long set of points, you completely glossed over Burch. He is the guy who is "supposed to challenge Deen" and he showed it plenty when we were winning. You insert probably the most critical new member of the team into the mix and then your depth chart looks a heck of lot more rosy. Ellis can't be the third string PG in a pinch? For 5 minutes or less a game? That's just silly. And again, it's not Wardle's fault that Pettigrew didn't work out. Neither you nor anybody else has made any sort of argument on how we would have recruited yet another guard to come here knowing how far they would have needed to come to move up the depth chart. It's like you're all playing fantasy football and you can just plug these guys in without thinking about playing time. Most guys aren't Hickman, Leons or J-Henry. As much as we'd want them to be just all in about Bradley, if they sit on the bench all season, they are probably going to leave (or never come in the first place) and aren't going to just be there for the moment we need someone. From as much as was made public here on the board, it seems like that's what happened (at least partially) with Pettigrew anyway. He probably had a level of expectation of where he'd fit in the mix and when he didn't get that, it wasn't enough for him to want to stay. I think it's evident that in our situation now he would have gotten a ton more minutes, but that's his mistake.
I'll probably not say any more on the topic because I don't we will see eye to eye on it and that's okay. I know we all want us to be successful. Here's hoping there will be more positive things to talk about soon!
I don’t think Meta stinks. I wonder what his upside and fit is and think he is hurting us defensively quite a bit right now. He’s a decent offensive back up center. I just think three posts lineups are not for the Valley either. I don’t know if he can develop into a starter. But I hope he develops into something great, seems like a great kid. I’m just honestly analyzing what I see.
I like Deen and think he’s talented, but I do think it was possible to get another point guard and play them all. Heck, Hickman’s our backup point guard and he starts with Deen. And I love Burch, I’ve complimented him many many times, and have said he’s just going through freshman struggles (it’s not been his best stretch), but he was more of a shooting guard so it’ll take time for him to develop as a point. He has demonstrated nice passing skills at times. Burch will be a great starting guard one way or another eventually I think. I don’t see Ellis is a point guard as all, at least right now. Some guys are just wings, and he has had a hard time handling the ball so far this year. Has he brought the ball up hardly at all this year that I can recall?
I do also think when a player doesn’t work out, the coaches share some responsibility, after all, they recruited them. I give Brian all the credit in the world for Burch and Atlason, but then he also gets some blame for the transfers.
In terms of how we get another guard, there seems to be playing time available. Also, are you implying Ellis and Pettigrew originally came here knowing and accepting they’d be on the bench? People thought Ellis and Pettigrew could be starter quality in the off season. What I wanted was a D1 transfer like them except a better fit than they’ve shown so far. Neither is really a point or shooter.
As I’ve maintained all year, there’s some good and bad with this team. Of course the narrative changes with wins or losses. That’s sports. I hope we can keep improving the bad and get better. This team still has potential, but some things will have to go right for 8-9 players at best to have a great season. I hope it happens that way. We will see, and that’s why I love watching sports.
