Well we need to improve up front quite a bit and we need to replace Vital's production somehow.
I think Springs and Javonte Brown Ferguson give us a lot of physicality and length and frankly - depth up front - that we haven't had in forever. Whaley being this much better is like a blessing from the gods, but i'm still not a point where i'd be comfortable saying you count on it. Carlton will burn some minutes, but he's so one-dimensional, I don't know where he fits in; and that's not even getting into us adding another big up front whether it's Sanogo/Cliff/surprise recruit/grad transfer. And if Akok does come back and provides us with something positive, he's the guy who to me is the odd man out. Still - we might be a little raw, but we'll have length, size, athleticism and actual options. Right now it's the broken remains of Carlton and then hoping for the best from Whaley. It's gonna be a big upgrade.
Cole picks up a lot of the slack from Vital but more importantly - gives us an actual, real point guard who's not some hybrid-2 (Vital/Adams) or a PG profile who's significantly better off the ball (Gilbert). Pairing him up with Gaffney and assuming Bouknight is back (which i'm 90% sure he will be) - and you've got four guards (possibly 5 if Gilbert is back) who bring a real great blend of talent and experience. I think in some combination - Vital's production gets replaced pretty easily.
We'll also be more explosive next year, too - as Wilson won't have to moonlight up front at all and him and Jackson can be used as actual, bonafide wings. Both - outside of maybe Bouknight - will be two of the best athletes on the team from day-1. Polley will give us a spot shooter - but i'm kinda hoping we can use him off the bench like that.
I think we'll definitely be better next year - like.. a lot better. But our schedule is also a hellscape and the degree of difficulty is sky rocketing, so i'm not so sure we see a dramatic uptick if any in the W-L column - so to me again - at least as of *right now* - it's gonna be another 'eyeball' season and not one where we're counting post season appearances, etc.
I DO THINK though, that unlike this year - there's a clear path to us becoming a tournament team or one that makes a lot of noise nationally. But again - *RIGHT NOW* - things have to happen and someone who isn't a major contributor is going to have to make a step forward next year... Maybe Brendan Adams becomes a guy who's a more consistent shooter or maybe Wilson finally figures it out. But mostly what sticks out to me is that we have a workable roster for the first time since probably 2015. A lot of the things the Ollie guys do well are things they'll be used to do well instead of being stuck in over their heads in roles that are either outsized or being depended on for other things. Polley will be able to shoot and just do that. Gilbert can be played off the ball more. Wilson won't have to pretend to be Jeff Adrien. Carlton can be used selectively and camped under the hoop when we need a guy who can do that at a specific time. We'll have enough talent and athleticism around them that we'll be able to use them much better than we have been.
To me the real keys will be getting Akok back and hopefully it's good. Wilson is a guy i'm dying to see break out so i'm hoping he figures it out.. and if Whaley can maintain - man, we could POSSIBLY be pretty dangerous.
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