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32,393 Views | 184 Replies | Last: 5 mo ago by Kbeauty63
Wicked Good Ag
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I don't think forfeiting the scholarship is the best way to describe. If someone enters the portal the next semester doesn't have to be renewed by the coaching staff at the school you were playing at. Same basic premise but schools could still honor the agreement if they so choose and some in the past have maybe hoping for a change of heart.
AggieSports
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AG

Buzz has the right kind of players who truly want to be Aggies and are 100% in. I think this is what it will take for our WBB program to be consistently successful. I believe Joni will get there but like it did with Buzz, it will take a little time. Ware, Coulibaly, and Jones are those types of players. Hopefully, they will help recruit like-minded players to continue to build the program.
Ag4eva95
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Yes and no. If you look at the top 25 programs, they recruit very well. We have not recruited the hs ranks very well outside of Barker. The transfer portal has been huge miss so far this year. We needed to find some real leadership at guard and most of the top transfers are gone. I like the core we bring bring down low, but that won't matter at all if we can't move the ball.

Blair, even in his off years, still recruited decently well. Did they pan out, not necessarily. But Jones and Malone are Blair prospects. But the thing that scares me about Taylor is that she's missing on great instate talent. She was brought in to tap into the local talent and that was a big part of her pitch. Marshall was a huge miss and we have a decent guard/forward coming in, but looks like a Jones clone. So idk how much she will contribute with Jones back.

WBBALLFAN84
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Ag4eva95 said:

Yes and no. If you look at the top 25 programs, they recruit very well. We have not recruited the hs ranks very well outside of Barker. The transfer portal has been huge miss so far this year. We needed to find some real leadership at guard and most of the top transfers are gone. I like the core we bring bring down low, but that won't matter at all if we can't move the ball.

Blair, even in his off years, still recruited decently well. Did they pan out, not necessarily. But Jones and Malone are Blair prospects. But the thing that scares me about Taylor is that she's missing on great instate talent. She was brought in to tap into the local talent and that was a big part of her pitch. Marshall was a huge miss and we have a decent guard/forward coming in, but looks like a Jones clone. So idk how much she will contribute with Jones back.


I agree for her 3rd year Joni hasn't done well recruiting the HS ranks in Texas. That will take time to build those relationships. In my opinion something is wrong when you have a 6 player exodus on your team, with 4 that you recruited.

I love basketball and have had kids play and coached from time to time. I am going to say this, something changed from year 1 to year 2. Specifically for Barker and Bowles, who I thought would be the centerpieces going forward for this team but for some reason they regressed as did most of the returners from the 1st year. Most of the coaches that I've talked to and worked with take development very serious. I'm not saying that this staff doesn't take it seriously but to be honest it didn't show basketball wise. I must admit the transfers did well.

Kids today want to come where a team wins, plays a good style of basketball (fit for their skills) and NIL opportunities. The question remains, does the WBB program excel at any of the above? I truly hope that the staff listened to these girls that transferred and did an internal look to see if there's anything that was pointed out needs to be changed, updated or just plain trashed. You have a good core of Coulibaly and Ware that's coming back. Let's hope they concentrate on getting everybody else better also. Last, you can't expect to experience growth when you continue to use the same old tools, methods and habits.
Ag4eva95
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Bowels went from having some confidence last year to be completely lost this year. Barker. We all know that story. I think you hit it on the head. Player regression was evident.

Even Coulibally and Rodgers regressed compared to their previous stops. Oregon was a lot more successful than us too, so that's shocking. Coulibally did find her rythyn at the end of the season and that was great to see. She became the go to scorer and a real threat for us to build around. Ware, I think she will always be complimentary. She is not a scorer, but gives the team energy and guidance.


With Taylor, she didn't have a great resume at UGA. Wasn't exactly exciting outside of her USA coaching experience. That hasn't translated into anything here in Aggieland. After watching the offensive confusion and lack of intensity defensively, what is she trying to coach? What is she bringing to the table?
MUAG
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Breaking my rule of only lurking and not posting. I understand injuries to four players, esp Rogers and Barker, greatly affected the season, i understand lack of NIL money probably is reason our recruiting and portal results that aren't great. but what I don't understand is the total lack of development in the players over the season. Name a player that got better? Won't name those that were turn over machines, one that kept making dumb defensive fouls, two that often shot close in shots that didn't even hit the rim, could go on, but won't , 29 turnovers in a game at end of season indicates awful coaching. it was lack of development that disappointed me. But I am going to do my part. Bought a Powerball ticket and when I win the 331 mil $ will fix NIL money so Joni can compete with Kim for players.
MUAG
aggiedrjdub
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AG
I think this is why you see the better teams playing with such short rosters. They have 2-3 elite players and 3-4 players that play their role. I'll play devils advocate here with regards to Barker. She did improve from year 1 to year 2. She is immensely talented, but incredibly immature on the court. Some days you'd get mature and focused Janiah, and some days you'd get reckless crazy-foul overly emotional Janiah. She is a work in progress, but seemed unwilling to change. She had too many outside distractions (NIL, gf, social media, etc). Bowles played as much as she played her freshman year bc we had nobody else. There are very few freshman and underclassmen that can compete the way we need them to compete. They don't have the game or maturity to do so consistently. There are some, but they are not on our roster. I loved Tineya, but she was a turn over machine as was KayKay. And I mean just turnovers at the worst possible times in the games. They all wanted more time on the court, but their play didn't warrant more time on the court. MJ - great free throw shooter? Hustled hard. That's about it.

In my opinion, what we see happening is not so much the inability to coach or develop but more of an adaptation of how they have to recruit to have a chance to win. They aren't developers anymore. They are managing talent and recruiting experience so they can do just that. What wins in the SEC and beyond is experience. They don't necessarily need to recruit high school players right now. They can effectively build a roster on transfers alone and it seems like that's where their focus is. With regards to Kylie, she did not fit in with SEC basketball. She played way too slow and needs to play for a school that is more of a set play style. We can all agree, Rogers, Lauren, and AC were the stars of the season. All transfers. All came in and bc of their experience and ability to compete, were instant impacts. Janiah was an integral part of the team, but she was not the focus and I think that bothered her. In the games we needed her the most, she had costly turnovers and fouls at the very end of the games. (That would have improved with more experience). I think Janiah just doesn't want to go thru the hard stuff right now. The other players that left - I'm sorry, but they were just filling holes until better athletes come in. You could literally see the difference in focus and fight from Rogers, Ware, and AC compared to the rest of the team.

I'm not saying Joni is the answer, and I am worried (mostly bc I just want to win immediately), but I think we have to give her 3/5 years. AC didn't come in until late last year. I'm sure Joni has some things in the works.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
AggieSports
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AG
Excellent post aggiedrjdub! I think you hit the nail on the head in your analysis of players and where our program is right now.
aggiedrjdub
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Realistically, why do you think Janiah hasn't announced her new home yet? Do you think it's due to contractual obligations (NIL)? Adidas?
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
Kbeauty63
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Looks like Kylie is going to SMU (and how ironic we got a Transfer from SMU)…
aggiedrjdub
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Y'all. Is Janiah going to LSU? Omg gross.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
Ag4eva95
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That speaks more to Janiah than it does A&M. What a slap in the face if true.
Aldo the Apache
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AG
LSU spends more than every other school in NIL for WBB, this should not be a shock if/when it happens.

This is the new era of college athletics, so we, as a program, either need to adjust or we will continue to fall behind.
aggiedrjdub
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AG
Wish her well, but I'm not missing her at all at this point. Don't need that drama. She wasn't happy here and money wasn't going to fix that. Hopefully she will perform better for Mulkey.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
WBBALLFAN84
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aggiedrjdub said:

Y'all. Is Janiah going to LSU? Omg gross.
Where do you get that belief from?
aggiedrjdub
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AG
I just saw Starkey post something on X - didn't say her specifically, but I'm just reading between the lines. She also just posted an Instagram story that shows her with what looks like purple and gold shoes on.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
aggiedrjdub
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They also just hired Seimone Augustus as a coach.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
WBBALLFAN84
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aggiedrjdub said:

I just saw Starkey post something on X - didn't say her specifically, but I'm just reading between the lines. She also just posted an Instagram story that shows her with what looks like purple and gold shoes on.
Those are Adidas AE1s, in other words Anthony Edward(Minnesota Timberwolves) signature shoes. I am guessing Janiah's just congratulating Anthony Edwards on making the conference finals by sporting his kicks.
aggiedrjdub
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WBBALLFAN84 said:

aggiedrjdub said:

I just saw Starkey post something on X - didn't say her specifically, but I'm just reading between the lines. She also just posted an Instagram story that shows her with what looks like purple and gold shoes on.
Those are Adidas AE1s, in other words Anthony Edward(Minnesota Timberwolves) signature shoes. I am guessing Janiah's just congratulating Anthony Edwards on making the conference finals by sporting his kicks.
Ok...guess we will see.

How does Buzz keep his guys without NIL if our NIL is so poor for the basketball program?
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
Aldo the Apache
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aggiedrjdub said:

WBBALLFAN84 said:

aggiedrjdub said:

I just saw Starkey post something on X - didn't say her specifically, but I'm just reading between the lines. She also just posted an Instagram story that shows her with what looks like purple and gold shoes on.
Those are Adidas AE1s, in other words Anthony Edward(Minnesota Timberwolves) signature shoes. I am guessing Janiah's just congratulating Anthony Edwards on making the conference finals by sporting his kicks.
Ok...guess we will see.

How does Buzz keep his guys without NIL if our NIL is so poor for the basketball program?


A combination of using whatever NIL is at his disposal effectively, plus 6+ years of culture building and recruiting "OKG's" (Our Kinda Guys) that have generally shown to be fiercely loyal to Buzz.

This has frustrated many, since most 5-Stars aren't looking at culture at the top of their big board when being recruited. But the flip side is that our top guys just don't leave. Ton of buy in on the other side of Reed.
aggiedrjdub
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Aldo the Apache said:

aggiedrjdub said:

WBBALLFAN84 said:

aggiedrjdub said:

I just saw Starkey post something on X - didn't say her specifically, but I'm just reading between the lines. She also just posted an Instagram story that shows her with what looks like purple and gold shoes on.
Those are Adidas AE1s, in other words Anthony Edward(Minnesota Timberwolves) signature shoes. I am guessing Janiah's just congratulating Anthony Edwards on making the conference finals by sporting his kicks.
Ok...guess we will see.

How does Buzz keep his guys without NIL if our NIL is so poor for the basketball program?


A combination of using whatever NIL is at his disposal effectively, plus 6+ years of culture building and recruiting "OKG's" (Our Kinda Guys) that have generally shown to be fiercely loyal to Buzz.

This has frustrated many, since most 5-Stars aren't looking at culture at the top of their big board when being recruited. But the flip side is that our top guys just don't leave. Ton of buy in on the other side of Reed.
I love it.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
WBBALLFAN84
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aggiedrjdub said:

WBBALLFAN84 said:

aggiedrjdub said:

I just saw Starkey post something on X - didn't say her specifically, but I'm just reading between the lines. She also just posted an Instagram story that shows her with what looks like purple and gold shoes on.
Those are Adidas AE1s, in other words Anthony Edward(Minnesota Timberwolves) signature shoes. I am guessing Janiah's just congratulating Anthony Edwards on making the conference finals by sporting his kicks.
Ok...guess we will see.

How does Buzz keep his guys without NIL if our NIL is so poor for the basketball program?
Having said that, with all the money floating around I wouldn't be surprised at anything.
AggieSports
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AG
Aldo the Apache said:

aggiedrjdub said:

WBBALLFAN84 said:

aggiedrjdub said:

I just saw Starkey post something on X - didn't say her specifically, but I'm just reading between the lines. She also just posted an Instagram story that shows her with what looks like purple and gold shoes on.
Those are Adidas AE1s, in other words Anthony Edward(Minnesota Timberwolves) signature shoes. I am guessing Janiah's just congratulating Anthony Edwards on making the conference finals by sporting his kicks.
Ok...guess we will see.

How does Buzz keep his guys without NIL if our NIL is so poor for the basketball program?


A combination of using whatever NIL is at his disposal effectively, plus 6+ years of culture building and recruiting "OKG's" (Our Kinda Guys) that have generally shown to be fiercely loyal to Buzz.

This has frustrated many, since most 5-Stars aren't looking at culture at the top of their big board when being recruited. But the flip side is that our top guys just don't leave. Ton of buy in on the other side of Reed.

Thank you. That was exactly my point when sharing the Buzz tweet about his guys returning for next season. Joni will have to develop that kind of buy in and I think she will. Barker, Bowles, and Hylton were originally signed to play for Georgia (the home state for B&B) so I don't think the buy in was necessarily there. I know Marshall is a Texas kid but what does that say about the ranking system for HS athletes that she left to play for SMU which is not exactly a WBB powerhouse. How could she have possibly been the #1 recruit in the state? We need players regardless of where they come from who truly buy into being an Aggie and into Joni's program. As far as Janiah, she seems to be more into her gf and social media than anything else.
aggiedrjdub
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AG
Bowles signs with Florida State
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
Ag4eva95
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Kind of surprised she signed with a P5 school
WBBALLFAN84
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Ag4eva95 said:

Kind of surprised she signed with a P5 school

Why are you surprised?
Aldo the Apache
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WBBALLFAN84 said:

Ag4eva95 said:

Kind of surprised she signed with a P5 school

Why are you surprised?



Not understanding either. She was a high 4 star out of HS, just didn't perform to expectations here.
HiddenAg2
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Ag4eva95 said:

With Taylor, she didn't have a great resume at UGA. Wasn't exactly exciting outside of her USA coaching experience. That hasn't translated into anything here in Aggieland. After watching the offensive confusion and lack of intensity defensively, what is she trying to coach? What is she bringing to the table?
I've always been concerned about the Joni hire because I agree she wasn't anything special at Georgia. Bjork states that he was so impressed with her ability to interview and lay out a strategy for the A&M program. I'm much more concerned with results on the court that any words. Her results at Georgia were just okay. She was recruiting well, but I don't see the player development that is needed in the program. Trev Alberts needs to keep a close eye on the program next year to determine if we are indeed moving in the right direction. That and we need some donors willing to step up to help with NIL or no coach will succeed here.
WBBALLFAN84
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We may find out Janiah's transfer location today at noon. I wish all of our transfers well as well as Joni and this staff to get players needed for her system.
aggiedrjdub
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AG
The self aggrandizing of this generation is over the top. Lol. Where are the elite athletes that just show up and play and let their play do the talking? ((We do have a few on our current team)). Doesn't appear Joni is a fan of prima donnas; it's probably for the best for both parties that Janiah has moved on.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
Kbeauty63
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WBBALLFAN84 said:

We may find out Janiah's transfer location today at noon. I wish all of our transfers well as well as Joni and this staff to get players needed for her system.
just what we were thinking - she's going to UCLA.
aggiedrjdub
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AG
Thank God that's over. Good luck to her; let's rock with who wants to be here.
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
Rudybryan
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Kbeauty63 said:

WBBALLFAN84 said:

We may find out Janiah's transfer location today at noon. I wish all of our transfers well as well as Joni and this staff to get players needed for her system.
just what we were thinking - she's going to UCLA.
Janiah Barker, the No. 3-ranked prospect from the Class of 2022, has committed to UCLA out of the transfer portal, she announced on social media Tuesday.
AggieSports
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aggiedrjdub said:

Thank God that's over. Good luck to her; let's rock with who wants to be here.

AMEN!!
WBBALLFAN84
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AggieSports said:

aggiedrjdub said:

Thank God that's over. Good luck to her; let's rock with who wants to be here.

AMEN!!I
LOL!!! I am not a graduate of Texas A&M but have kids and relatives that did. Having played, coached and watched basketball for many years, I have different perspective on why kids may leave a program. All kids that leave may not have wanted to leave. Some may leave for more playing time, system doesn't fit, lack of development, more NIL money or coaches running players off. I can go on and on. I don't know why any of our current players left.

As graduates and fans of the school, many are going to say it was somehow the athlete's fault. In some instances it may be, in others maybe not. Believe me, coaches have caused many athletes to transfer that didn't want to.

I look at these things from strictly a basketball perspective, which I'm sure many of you do also, because I have no inside knowledge on the culture of this team. I wish all of our players that transferred the very best and hope they ball out wherever they go and I will attempt to follow them and cheer them on. Additionally, I hope that the athletes and Staff will flourish also.

 
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