There is a ton of exuberance surrounding the program right now, and for good reason.
I wasn’t overly excited when AG was announced as the next HC and that had a lot to do with what appeared to be a limited search, and quite frankly what I saw as underperforming teams at Alabama. I thought that he was an easy hire that the boosters and fan base would identify with because he was a former player. I wouldn’t say that I was a “hater” but I wasn’t convinced either.
I’m not necessarily a believer in the “Anthony understands UD” thought process. I think that he is a really good recruiter and has put together a really strong staff with Coach Slo and Greer. I just read the DDN article about Zimi and how Coach Slo’s relationship with the Spire coach opened the door, and that he and AG sold Zimi on UD before he stepped on campus. These guys have connections and present well.
AG has resources that no other UD coach had. This started after Archie’s E8 run and included financial and infrastructure. UD has NBA locker rooms combined with P5 practice and training facilities, a budget to hire a P5 type of staff, charters, catered meals and a renovated Arena. There is very little that the UD Men’s Basketball Program doesn’t have.
I was one of the posters that didn’t believe that AG needed 4 years to win - mainly because of the preceding paragraph. Last year the team exceeded almost every expectation. There were a few bad games but what AG and the team put together was remarkable. The most encouraging thing was the team’s road record.
In my opinion, AG is the first HC to get UD at a level where it should be in terms of men’s basketball. Archie is responsible for getting the ball rolling and starting to establish a brand, but AG has put together perhaps the most complete team since the mid 60’s. In most games he has the best player on the floor, the best starting five and best bench. He may not be the best X’s and O’s coach but he put together the best team.
Looking forward there is a lot of basketball to be played this year. AG and the team need to keep “chopping wood”. Too often we get ranked and lose and never get get close again. This team is not just winning but beating teams soundly. Just keep winning and we stay ranked despite who we play in conference. We need to maintain a national ranking.
Next year is important because we most likely lose Obi and then Trey and Ryan to graduation. AG has players in place to step in - Chase, Ibi and most likely Zimi - but this will be a challenge for AG. We need to have consecutive years in the top 25.
The following year is another challenge with a large senior class graduating. I like that AG appears to be looking several years down the road and recruiting accordingly. I give him credit for recruiting RJ, Koby and Luke when there isn’t a clear path for immediate playing time for any of the three.
I give credit to AG for assembling a top 15 team in basically two years. It’s important that being a top 25 team is the benchmark for every year going forward. Every so often we have a “special season” but honestly teams like Xavier and Gonzaga have “special season” every year. That’s the difference.
I wasn’t overly excited when AG was announced as the next HC and that had a lot to do with what appeared to be a limited search, and quite frankly what I saw as underperforming teams at Alabama. I thought that he was an easy hire that the boosters and fan base would identify with because he was a former player. I wouldn’t say that I was a “hater” but I wasn’t convinced either.
I’m not necessarily a believer in the “Anthony understands UD” thought process. I think that he is a really good recruiter and has put together a really strong staff with Coach Slo and Greer. I just read the DDN article about Zimi and how Coach Slo’s relationship with the Spire coach opened the door, and that he and AG sold Zimi on UD before he stepped on campus. These guys have connections and present well.
AG has resources that no other UD coach had. This started after Archie’s E8 run and included financial and infrastructure. UD has NBA locker rooms combined with P5 practice and training facilities, a budget to hire a P5 type of staff, charters, catered meals and a renovated Arena. There is very little that the UD Men’s Basketball Program doesn’t have.
I was one of the posters that didn’t believe that AG needed 4 years to win - mainly because of the preceding paragraph. Last year the team exceeded almost every expectation. There were a few bad games but what AG and the team put together was remarkable. The most encouraging thing was the team’s road record.
In my opinion, AG is the first HC to get UD at a level where it should be in terms of men’s basketball. Archie is responsible for getting the ball rolling and starting to establish a brand, but AG has put together perhaps the most complete team since the mid 60’s. In most games he has the best player on the floor, the best starting five and best bench. He may not be the best X’s and O’s coach but he put together the best team.
Looking forward there is a lot of basketball to be played this year. AG and the team need to keep “chopping wood”. Too often we get ranked and lose and never get get close again. This team is not just winning but beating teams soundly. Just keep winning and we stay ranked despite who we play in conference. We need to maintain a national ranking.
Next year is important because we most likely lose Obi and then Trey and Ryan to graduation. AG has players in place to step in - Chase, Ibi and most likely Zimi - but this will be a challenge for AG. We need to have consecutive years in the top 25.
The following year is another challenge with a large senior class graduating. I like that AG appears to be looking several years down the road and recruiting accordingly. I give him credit for recruiting RJ, Koby and Luke when there isn’t a clear path for immediate playing time for any of the three.
I give credit to AG for assembling a top 15 team in basically two years. It’s important that being a top 25 team is the benchmark for every year going forward. Every so often we have a “special season” but honestly teams like Xavier and Gonzaga have “special season” every year. That’s the difference.
