What if roster has no change?

[thumpin big]

What if we sign no one else, and everyone who can return does? We will have 13 scholarship players, plus Ellington, plus Steele and Constable as walk-ons.

We will have 5 guys who did not play this year (Geathers, Johnson, Ringer, McKie and Thornwell). 7 of the 13 scholarship players wil be Martin's recruits.

The team will look different. Martin will have more options as to who to play. The team will be considerably bigger than the current team is. We will have 5 guys 6-7 or taller(right now we have 3).

Each of the returning players should be better than they are now. Each should improve themselves as players by next season. Each will have a better idea of what our coaches expect of them and have a better understanding of the offensive and defensive philosophy of the coaches.

[CoverTwo]

If this were the case, I think there would be improvement because they get another year in the weight room. Guys like Chatty and Kacinas just need time to fill out their bodies. Another year could help Slawson as well.

Thankfully, Martin has a great strength coach.

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

If this were the case, I think there would be improvement because they get another year in the weight room. Guys like Chatty and Kacinas just need time to fill out their bodies. Another year could help Slawson as well.

Thankfully, Martin has a great strength coach.

Yes. You are right. Carrera too. Well, really everyone should be stronger.
That will be a factor in the improvement of the team next year.

I believe that if the roster does not change from what it currently is projected to be, we will be considerably better next year.

[usc1]

Originally Posted by thumpin big

Yes. You are right. Carrera too. Well, really everyone should be stronger.
That will be a factor in the improvement of the team next year.

I believe that if the roster does not change from what it currently is projected to be, we will be considerably better next year.

I don't know about considerably. If you can't shoot you can't shoot, and that is our biggest problem along with size

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by usc1

I don't know about considerably. If you can't shoot you can't shoot, and that is our biggest problem along with size size.

Well, the size issue should be improved next year. We get bigger in the post with Ringer and Geathers. We get more size for the backcourt with Johnson, McKie and Thornwell. The shooting might also improve with those additions. Plus Williams and BRich have shot the ball pretty well this season, when they could get on the court.

[Roosterboy]

Well...the team should improve a little....probably finish middle of the pack and make NIT.

I hope we sign Demetrius Henry, that would help a lot in the post I think.

[Spur20001]

We have played almost a full season under Martin. Did his players improve as the season progressed? If so, name them. Did our team get better as the season progressed? I fully expected player development and team improvement at this stage of the season. I have not seen either. Also keep in mind we were playing against a very weak SEC this season.

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by Spur20001

We have played almost a full season under Martin. Did his players improve as the season progressed? If so, name them. Did our team get better as the season progressed? I fully expected player development and team improvement at this stage of the season. I have not seen either. Also keep in mind we were playing against a very weak SEC this season.

I have to agree. I do think BRich and Leonard are better than last year. But I can't see that the team has gotten better as the season progressed. I'm hoping for the best this week and next.

[Travelin]

I'm concerned that many of Horns recruits just don't care anymore. If that is the case, they need to move along. We have to get players on the team that want to play at USC under Coach Martin.

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by Travelin

I'm concerned that many of Horns recruits just don't care anymore. If that is the case, they need to move along. We have to get players on the team that want to play at USC under Coach Martin.

I don't see any signs in the games that there is anyone on this team who does not care. They all seem to be trying very hard.

[Cockhornleghorn]

Originally Posted by Spur20001

We have played almost a full season under Martin. Did his players improve as the season progressed? If so, name them. Did our team get better as the season progressed? I fully expected player development and team improvement at this stage of the season. I have not seen either. Also keep in mind we were playing against a very weak SEC this season.

Laimonas improved and Michael improved. I think Brian improved, too.

[brat]

The second half of the season had tougher opponents. That had much to do with our less than sterling results toward the end.

Next year, simply by being more comfortable playing with the same people as you did last year will lead to a fewer mistakes.

I expect improvement for next season, but I do not expect a WOW result. A winning record would be the most I hope for this far out. Anything beyond that is gravy.

[OldPat]

Originally Posted by Cockhornleghorn

Laimonas improved and Michael improved. I think Brian improved, too.

Shhh, Cockhornleghorn. That doesn't match the narrative. LOL.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by thumpin big

I don't see any signs in the games that there is anyone on this team who does not care. They all seem to be trying very hard.

Only after they got humiliated by Martin after a slew of blowouts. At which time the reg, season was a wash. They seem to be trying harder, but I don't think half of them care if we win or lose. I think the frustration of the Horn years and a coaching change has taken it's toll on some of the players. The ones I'm talking about are the ones that Martin would have never recruited in the first place. Are they trying as hard in practice and away from practice as they seem to be doing during the games?

To answer your question about all of the players with eligibility left returning next year. We will be in the same boat we've been in the last three years, the losing boat.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by Cockhornleghorn

Laimonas improved and Michael improved. I think Brian improved, too.

There has been some improvement, but team improvement is too little, too late. We have the wrong nucleus of players at the moment. If Brian, Leonard, Williams and Smith were all playing on different teams, I believe each of them would be more successful. I just don't think they mesh well on the court together, as teammates.

[FanofCarolina1]

The way I look at it, this is a pretty young team. One full off-season under Coach Martin would probably work wonders. Also, under Frank's S&C program, a pretty good team might show up and actually be able to win against a SoCon team.

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by Travelin

Only after they got humiliated by Martin after a slew of blowouts. At which time the reg, season was a wash. They seem to be trying harder, but I don't think half of them care if we win or lose. I think the frustration of the Horn years and a coaching change has taken it's toll on some of the players. The ones I'm talking about are the ones that Martin would have never recruited in the first place. Are they trying as hard in practice and away from practice as they seem to be doing during the games?

To answer your question about all of the players with eligibility left returning next year. We will be in the same boat we've been in the last three years, the losing boat.

I disagree. We will have several new players next year to put into the mix. Half the team will have been recruited by Martin. The guys who were recruited by Horn will have played a year under Martin and will know what is expected of them. If they don't perform, then Frank will play the freshmen and sophomores, which he might do anyway.

[Travelin]

We have settled for mediocrity so long, we are now cellar-dwellers.

We need better players with better work ethic and attitude that fits Martin's way of doing things. The sooner we have that, the sooner we will have something to build on.

[HeadCockFan]

next season will depend on johnson IMO. If he's a turnover machine or takes bad shots, we aren't gonna be much better. I'm hoping he knows his role on this team.

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by HeadCockFan

next season will depend on johnson IMO. If he's a turnover machine or takes bad shots, we aren't gonna be much better. I'm hoping he knows his role on this team.

I've never seen him play, but based on what I have read, he will be better than Bruce or Eric. We will see. If he can play the pg position well, then you are right, that will go a long way toward determining how well we do next year.