How much longer?

[RedSoxGamecock8]

Originally Posted by CardiacKemba

Hopefully our next coach will get us there and/or to the Dance.

not necessary

[uscgamecocks88]

This kinda sounds like our football program a few years back at the end of Holtz/beginning of Spurrier. Will it be the same way with basketball as it was with football?!

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by uscgamecocks88

This kinda sounds like our football program a few years back at the end of Holtz/beginning of Spurrier. Will it be the same way with basketball as it was with football?!

Here's the difference though.
In basketball it's generally easier to build a program. All you need is one big recruiting class.
It also helps that the SEC is bad.

[Ace Dilcock]

I think we skip the NIT next year and make the big dance.

Starting five will be Tyrone Johnson, Ellington, Thornwell, Carrera, and one out of Geathers/Ringer/Chatkevecius. If we get Henry, he backs up Carrera at PF and Slawson will be gone. Kacinas moves to SF behind Thornwell.

Better depth, inside play, bigger ballhandler in Johnson, and a legit go-to scorer in Thornwell.

[Spurz]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Garnet

Here's the difference though.
In basketball it's generally easier to build a program. All you need is one big recruiting class.
It also helps that the SEC is bad.

Seriously -- the SEC's third NCAA bid is there for the taking for whichever team gets their crap together first. We're never overthrowing Kentucky or Florida, but after those two, the conference is wiiiiide open. Once Martin gets more of his players in here, I see no reason we can't have the same kind of success that Vanderbilt and Tennessee were able to have in recent seasons.

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by Spurz

Seriously -- the SEC's third NCAA bid is there for the taking for whichever team gets their crap together first. We're never overthrowing Kentucky or Florida, but after those two, the conference is wiiiiide open. Once Martin gets more of his players in here, I see no reason we can't have the same kind of success that Vanderbilt and Tennessee were able to have in recent seasons.

This is exactly how I feel.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Garnet

Here's the difference though.
In basketball it's generally easier to build a program. All you need is one big recruiting class.
It also helps that the SEC is bad.

That's only true if the class pans out. Horn had a big recruiting class and the remainder of those players seem to be holding back the team more than Martin's first, last minute recruited class.

I think with all the transition that needs to happen for USC Bball, we need at least two new bodies in the spring. Hopefully we get Henry and Frazier. Frazier is removed from HS for two years and Henry is one year removed. They could both be contributors in their first year. If it came down to one of the two, I would want frazier. We need another pg, Ty won't be available until sometime in December, along with Bruce if he comes back for his last year. I think he'll move on to the NFL myself.

The 'All you need is one big recruiting class' theory only works if you have pieces of the puzzle in place.

We simply don't know how long it's gonna take to turn this around, it could be another two seasons away, maybe three. However, the sooner Martin gets his own recruits on the floor, the sooner our chances of success become greater.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by Ace Dilcock

I think we skip the NIT next year and make the big dance.

Starting five will be Tyrone Johnson, Ellington, Thornwell, Carrera, and one out of Geathers/Ringer/Chatkevecius. If we get Henry, he backs up Carrera at PF and Slawson will be gone. Kacinas moves to SF behind Thornwell.

Better depth, inside play, bigger ballhandler in Johnson, and a legit go-to scorer in Thornwell.

TJ isn't available until sometime in December, same with Bruce if he returns. It will be hard to win games without a true pg. Can Smith and Williams run the point until they become eligible? I doubt it.

[gamecock88]

Much

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by Travelin

That's only true if the class pans out.

Well of course.

You really think I meant get a class of high ranked guys that end up doing nothing on the court?

[Singaporecock]

Originally Posted by Travelin

That's only true if the class pans out. Horn

That word is the reason 'his' big recruiting class didn't pan out.
We have a coach now!

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Garnet

Well of course.

You really think I meant get a class of high ranked guys that end up doing nothing on the court?

No, but you made it sound so easy.

It's happened more than once around here in the last ten years and it didn't help. We need multiple strong recruiting classes with a high influence of JC's and transfers and it looks like thats exactly how Frank is going to build the program.

I think we all thought Frank had a decent nucleus to work with when he arrived, he even thought so himself, but it looks like a complete makeover is needed. That's my point. I'm looking forward to the late signing period this year to see if we can add some key components to the team. I don't see us getting a highly ranked recruiting class until we achieve some success with what we have. LJ Peak might be a good example. If we come out and turn heads next year on the hardwood, we might be able to land him and more recruits like him in one class. When we can prove we are going to the dance year in and year out, more of these guys will come to USC.