The people calling for Gaffney to totally replace Gilbert were right. He makes far fewer mistakes has a much better BB-IQ. He provides us with a much needed calming influence on offense.
I mentioned to
@BFieldHusky in a PM the other day. AG's positive is he's a one man press break, but it gets negated by the TOs, and that his terrible shooting effectively is a turnover a lot of times. It demoralizes the rest of the team--they stop trying on the boards, no one moves on offense etc. I tell my HS kids that all the time. Bad shots kill your teammates will to win and compete hard. They make them stop trying. I wouldn't either as a player. Which is
especially frsutrating to me because AGs mistakes are absolutely mental. He can stop dribbling into traps, taking bad shots, and letting the ball stick in his hands starting right this second. It's about understanding roles, accepting them, and thriving in them.
Gaffney can't break the press alone like AG, and he's not that good of a ballhandler. In fact he's awful with his left. And he's not a great defender yet either. But 1) He has to learn to break the press eventually and this is the season to do it; 2) Once he gains 15lbs he will be a fine defender. His timidity is noticeable on D too. Hurley should be telling him to foul MORE if anything.
The players on the team know they are going to get the ball when Gaffney is out there. He has fantastic timing on passes, and gives the ball up early so our wings and bigs have enough time/space to attack closeouts or counter before the shot clock is down under 10. When the ball moves, good things happen. Good point guards set the tone for the team by giving it up early. The 35 dribble 20 second moves are not how this team will thrive. We don't have Kemba on the floor. But our team can still be really good if we play to our strengths--ball movement, passing, running, secondary break, getting to the rim.
I guarantee he'll have some games that look BAD by the end of the year. But IMO he's earned the chance to make those mistakes. In year 4 in this program, I'm not sure AG can say the same.
We have no idea. Hurley will play the guy he wants to play. My guess is that Cole starts at the beginning of 2020. But by the time Gaffney is a junior I think he'll be the better player of the two. Could happen during the season as well. 
