Our current commits, Sisyphus and Aggie Hoops

6,491 Views | 109 Replies | Last: 11 hrs ago by wurmhole
Method Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
It appears we are going to have about the same team moving forward under Buzz. A team we would've loved had it occurred when BCG arrived. A hard nosed team that lacks shooters and plus offensive players but is never truly out of a game.

For anyone in the know, are our youngsters that aren't playing and our recruits more of the same or are they better offensive players who will also give that max effort that we've come accustomed to under Buzz?
AggieCrew44
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Well, Buzz is in on the best player in the country in the 2027 class out of Rockwall. I sure he'd love to have him, but we won't land him

If we took just 10% of our football efforts and gave it to basketball Buzz could build something special here. As it stands getting underdog types will have to suffice
Method Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Buzz seems like he's found his groove at what he thinks works best for his situation at A&M. I waffle between thinking he's some sort of mad genius and a stubborn coach. Maybe both.
NyAggie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
AggieCrew44 said:

Well, Buzz is in on the best player in the country in the 2027 class out of Rockwall. I sure he'd love to have him, but we won't land him

If we took just 10% of our football efforts and gave it to basketball Buzz could build something special here. As it stands getting underdog types will have to suffice


If underdog types means having teams like this year's, I'm in
agspirit_09
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Method wants pretty basketball. Method wants us to be duke or UConn. Method doesn't realize that's not going to happen here, so a coach like Buzz or BCG is our best case scenario. Maybe people should enjoy the ride instead of always wishing for something they're never going to have.
Pumpkinhead
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
AggieCrew44 said:

Well, Buzz is in on the best player in the country in the 2027 class out of Rockwall. I sure he'd love to have him, but we won't land him

If we took just 10% of our football efforts and gave it to basketball Buzz could build something special here. As it stands getting underdog types will have to suffice
Sincere question:

There are posters who don't think this 2024-2025 team is special?

With a healthy Wade Taylor they look every bit as special as BCG's 2006-2007 team. Which was a special team even though it only made it to a Sweet Sixteen.

What exactly about this current team is saying 'Not Special' when it looks like a Top-10-sh quality team in the country? What is the bar that has to be overcome to be considered 'special'. An #1 NCAA tournament seed?

Note this current team...the one that is currently 13-3...

One of those losses was the very first game of the season without Phelps...who as we have seen...is pretty damn good.

One of those losses was Saturday without the star PG who is pretty damn good.

I think you could easily argue that with zero health issues this team right now might be currently like 15-1 instead of 'only' 13-3 if not for the injuries in the backcourt. Which would probably mean it would be ranked like Top-5 in the country now instead of 'just' Top-10.

--
So...could build something special? I'd argue there are signs that Buzz HAS just built something special. I mean...it does suck that Wade Taylor is not healthy right now and that is going to make it difficult to win the harder games right now (such as this game @Kentucky) but he'll eventually be back. This team CAN make a deep NCAAT run if fully healthy. We are far enough into the season and have seen enough games against quality opponents to know that is true.
Method Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
agspirit_09 said:

Method wants pretty basketball. Method wants us to be duke or UConn. Method doesn't realize that's not going to happen here, so a coach like Buzz or BCG is our best case scenario. Maybe people should enjoy the ride instead of always wishing for something they're never going to have.


Auburn, Tennessee and Bama are football schools with less money than us. All are top five teams.

I am enjoying the ride and like with Johnny's first season it has left me wanting more.

bobinator
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Method doesn't think we're gonna be Duke or UCONN. I think it's more like could we get some offensive players like Oklahoma or other peer schools. It's a worthy conversation when you're talking about this program long term.

I think the NIL money situation under Buzz is overblown. We've obviously been pretty serious players in the portal.

But I agree it's both. I think he's a little stubborn in that he's not gonna actively try to shmooze donors and build up some kind of elite recruiting war chest like some other coaches might so hes putting himself at a slight disadvantage in that regard. And he's also going to recruit overall athletes over unathletic but more skilled guys.

But I do think he's onto something in that he's one of only a handful of coaches that might have the ability to really build program continuity and that in this open transfer era that might offset the skill gap.

AggieCrew44
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Pumpkinhead said:

AggieCrew44 said:

Well, Buzz is in on the best player in the country in the 2027 class out of Rockwall. I sure he'd love to have him, but we won't land him

If we took just 10% of our football efforts and gave it to basketball Buzz could build something special here. As it stands getting underdog types will have to suffice
Sincere question:

There are posters who don't think this 2024-2025 team is special?

With a health Wade Taylor they look every bit as special as BCG's 2006-2007 team. Which was a special team even though it only made it to a Sweet Sixteen.

What exactly about this current team is saying 'Not Special' when it looks like a Top-10-sh quality team in the country? What is the bar that has to be overcome to be considered 'special'. An #1 NCAA tournament seed?

Note this current team...then one that is currently 13-3...

One of those losses was the very first game of the season without Phelps...who as we have seen...is pretty damn good.

One of those losses was Saturday without the star PG who is pretty damn good.

I think you could easily argue that with zero health issues this team right now might be currently like 15-1 instead of 'only' 13-3 if not for the injuries in the backcourt. Which would probably mean it would be ranked like Top-5 in the country now instead of 'just' Top-10.

--
So...could build something special? I'd argue there are signs that Buzz HAS just built something special. I mean...it does suck that Wade Taylor is not healthy right now and that is going to make it difficult to win the harder games right now (such as this game @Kentucky) but he'll eventually be back. This team CAN make a deep NCAAT run if fully healthy. We are far enough into the season and have seen enough games against quality opponents to know that is true.

I meant for the long term. I do think this team is special, but we need more talent year in and year out to be special nearly every season
AggieCrew44
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Our NIL is lacking to a point that Buzz had to practically beg for us to be a part of that vegas tourney. I don't think it's horrendous by SEC standards (we are getting good but not elite players) but I don't think it's good either
bobinator
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I think it was less that we don't have any money and more that Buzz saw the potential for that event and a way to get some NIL funds at the same time.

I think that alone actually shows that Buzz is trying to stay on top of where this thing is headed.
AggieCrew44
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I do think he's trying to adapt, we just aren't nearly at the level that Bama, Tennessee, auburn, kentucky, etc are operating at

Regardless the ROI is so much better than football right now it's not even funny
Method Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Where did the fans/donors who obviously paid for Kennedy's players go?
bobinator
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
We've actually signed some pretty highly ranked dudes these last couple of years, we just haven't seen them make it to the court yet. That's part of why I think it's overblown. We don't get Phelps and (especially) Payne out of the portal if we're broke. And we don't keep Taylor.

But Buzz was never going to be a politician type out there spending time gladhanding for that extra level of money that would let him truly recruit with the elites.

That should probably be a major consideration the next time we need to hire someone, but that's just not who he is and it was never going to be.
halfastros81
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I think getting a player that is really good in the post up role shows Buzz is evolving . Next step is to find a few really solid shooters that he can mold into his style of defender . Find the shooters early and convince them they can go next level if they learn to play lock down defense

This team is constructed to do very well in the Big Dance imo if everyone is healthy .
Ag_EE_88
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I think the big question will be whether, we've gotten to the point where we won't have a big fall off next year. We are losing a lot of experience and pkayers that have been in the system for years and years. Next year is going to be interesting to see how replacing most of the team is going to play out. Is it only Payne and Washington that are gonna be back?
Method Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
What it looks like.
bobinator
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Yeah. Of the heavy rotation guys anyway. Next year is definitely going to be interesting.
TjgtAg08
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
We have potentially 6 scholarships to fill in the portal, right? 15 scholarships available starting next year, 2 returning starters in Payne and Solo + Lee + 4 freshmen + 2 hs signees … should leave us with 6 spots.

Will be interesting to see if we bring in that many guys, and the profile/positions we target. Gotta think at least 2 guards that can run the point, a stretch perimeter guys that can, in theory, shoot, and a "big-bodied" guy, hopefully with multiple years of eligibility.
linkdude
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Thankfully, both Payne and Solo seem like great players to build the new core around.
TjgtAg08
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
We've somewhat discussed this before, but I'll be really interested to see if we can get anything out of the 2024 guys. All 3 have definite potential, especially Mills, and McDermott has played a couple minutes and at least didn't look lost.

But looking back through the entirety of Buzz's HS recruits at A&M, he's never gotten anything out of a player that didn't play a lot as a freshman. Most of them have left after a single year.

Maybe it will be different next fall, because we really didn't have room for those guys to play (I think maybe Mills could have been useful, but that's hindsight with the Wade injury), but at some point we've got to get multiple guys to their sophomore years and get the benefit out of them being in the Buzz program for a full year.
AggieCrew44
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Think Buzz will try to go get 2-3 portal guys with only a year or two left to bridge the gap to go along with Solo and Payne. Let those young guys play off the bench next year
Proposition Joe
How long do you want to ignore this user?
We have the NIL to go after who we want.
TjgtAg08
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Agreed, but I bet we sign 4-5 total, no reason to leave 3 scholarships unused.

2-3 older guys, 2 younger guys.
PatAg
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
we need 2 people that can shoot from 3 next year
Method Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
TjgtAg08 said:

We've somewhat discussed this before, but I'll be really interested to see if we can get anything out of the 2024 guys. All 3 have definite potential, especially Mills, and McDermott has played a couple minutes and at least didn't look lost.

But looking back through the entirety of Buzz's HS recruits at A&M, he's never gotten anything out of a player that didn't play a lot as a freshman. Most of them have left after a single year.

Maybe it will be different next fall, because we really didn't have room for those guys to play (I think maybe Mills could have been useful, but that's hindsight with the Wade injury), but at some point we've got to get multiple guys to their sophomore years and get the benefit out of them being in the Buzz program for a full year.


Didn't Boots redshirt at Va Tech?
kingjaret92
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
What kid are you talking about? The number one recruit I've seen is out of Maryland. The number one recruit in Texas is from Plano and ESPN shows only Texas next to his name. Rivals doesn't even have rankings for '27.
MarcAg
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Ratowski has a sweet looking jumper. I'm not sure he can make shots, but his form sure looks pretty.
AlwaysNextYear89
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
halfastros81 said:

I think getting a player that is really good in the post up role shows Buzz is evolving . Next step is to find a few really solid shooters that he can mold into his style of defender . Find the shooters early and convince them they can go next level if they learn to play lock down defense

This team is constructed to do very well in the Big Dance imo if everyone is healthy .
That is the key. If you listen to Buzz at all, you know he is a big analytics guy. And the numbers that travel well are defense efficiency, rebounding, scoring in the paint, etc...you can have a bad night shooting from outside, but if you do those things well, you are still in the game. If you don't have guys who can defend and rebound, or are unwilling to get knocked to the floor a few times a night taking it to the hole, you have no shot at winning if the outside shots do not fall. I think the reason we do not get some of the flashy one and dones who can light it up is because of this.

The other thing, and you hear this in the interviews all the time, is Buzz praising the character of the young men he brings into his program. How many guys has he said "you can tell they were raised the right way"...my guess is most of the one and doners are selfish and probably carry a sense of entitlement, and Buzz is not interested in bringing egos into the locker room.

12Power
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I agree. Last night we were depending on 1 guy, Phelps, to catch us up with 3s. It would be nice to have multiple good shooters on the team. Ones who can make a free throw would be bonus.
AggieCrew44
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
kingjaret92 said:

What kid are you talking about? The number one recruit I've seen is out of Maryland. The number one recruit in Texas is from Plano and ESPN shows only Texas next to his name. Rivals doesn't even have rankings for '27.
Ryan Hampton

TjgtAg08
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Method Man said:

TjgtAg08 said:

We've somewhat discussed this before, but I'll be really interested to see if we can get anything out of the 2024 guys. All 3 have definite potential, especially Mills, and McDermott has played a couple minutes and at least didn't look lost.

But looking back through the entirety of Buzz's HS recruits at A&M, he's never gotten anything out of a player that didn't play a lot as a freshman. Most of them have left after a single year.

Maybe it will be different next fall, because we really didn't have room for those guys to play (I think maybe Mills could have been useful, but that's hindsight with the Wade injury), but at some point we've got to get multiple guys to their sophomore years and get the benefit out of them being in the Buzz program for a full year.


Didn't Boots redshirt at Va Tech?


Yes he did, but I think that was an academic eligibility issue.

I was just talking about recruits at A&M. I'm not familiar with what he did at Vtech and Marquette. Probably a lot different with the transfer portal not existing.
bobinator
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
For me it's less about shooting and more about ball handling. If you can create space off the bounce you can make mediocre shooters look good, but we've had like three guys who are even sort of high level ball handlers in six seasons.
jaxisback
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm guessing here, but I don't think I'm that far off. I think the perfect "Buzz" 5 man roster would look something like:

2 Dexter Dennis' (one with a little poorer shot, but a better penetrator)
1 Payne
1 Andy and
1 guy where you would blend all the skills of Wade and Phelps creating this awesome dalmatian of:

good ball handler
high IQ
unselfish
confident
decent shooter (better than Phelps, not as good as Wade)
solid defender (better than Wade, probably not quite as good as Phelps otherwise I'm describing a lottery pick here)

Some shades of Solomon Washington at a couple of the positions wouldn't be a bad think either.
Method Man
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Love Andy but he's kind of a rare find.
Last Page
Page 1 of 4
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.