I agree with utilizing Austin more on offense. I know Spiker wants to shoot the three, but this team just does not show that it's going to be able to do that consistently, so your only reliable big shouldn't only be a "role player" per KenPom. Give Spiker some credit though, he has mentioned, and the stats bear this out, that we've slowed our play to match our short-handedness. We've also cut back on the number of threes we are taking, we were around 42% of our attempts earlier in the year and we're sub 40% now. So we've seen a willingness to change approaches depending on circumstances, I consider that a positive as compared to the past. I'm concerned at how we seemingly don't get up for games you'd think we'd win.
We're almost ohfer against sub 200, needing a frantic comeback against Lafayette to grab that victory.
As far as recruiting, the jury is still out. He's found some nice players and he's gotten much more out of Austin than Bru was able to. Coletrane will bring some size to the guard position when he gets on campus next year at 6-4, Miles would help if we are ever able to get him on the court this year. Hopefully Tim Perry Jr. and James Butler settle in as replacements for Austin. Jarvis and Alihan seem a bit redundant, but that could be a good thing in terms of depth. Right now, I'm willing to go with Metsox's view prior to the Bowling Green game:
Quote:"The question that looms largest for this team as they take the floor against Bowling Green tonight isn’t what most fans think it is. It’s not about whether or not this team has any talent. This team has pieces. The question is can this jigsaw puzzle of pieces all fit together?"
http://alwaysadragon.com/pregame-bowling-green/
I'll change puzzle pieces to gears, because engineer, but the gears aren't meshing yet all the time. We've seen glimpses where it does, and it looks pretty damn good, but also a lot where it doesn't, and that's ugly and frustrating. That being said, we still have three open spots to fill next year, and it's been awful quiet on the recruiting front for even making offers. Looking at Verbal, we have three open offers to guards, but no recent activity. This is a big class as, except for Sam Green, the seniors who are leaving are the last scholarship players of the Bru Era. Starting next year, Spiker and staff stand on their own legs.