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Message: [QUOTE="DogMania, post: 5218421, member: 21"] Wanting and getting all or most of them is Pitino's playbook, which so far seems to be working out pretty good for St John's. I get what your saying...seems there will be a lot of good options. If we have a deep run and the staff is not sure what current players plan to portal, it could be problematic as to who to pursue and when to do so. I'm sure adding a big combo guard who can attack the basket, has a good midrange game, can hit some 3s at a reasonable clip, rebound and defend, and hope can execute the motion offense is a must. Getting one before any current players decide to test the portal waters could impact their decision, but it doesn't look like any of the current players and incoming freshman fit this Need so I doubt the staff will wait too long if they identify 1 or 2 that fit the need. Pulling the trigger on a big athletic wing or combo forward too early could have an adverse domino effect. Navigating the new world portal order, considering when it opens, is a messy proposition, that could be managed better if they didn't open it till a few days after the championship game. Note one caveat to this. If you pull the trigger early on a player, sometimes you run the risk of missing out on a better one who enters late, which worked in our favor when Timberlake chose KU and Cam Spencer fell into our lap. I hope Hurley and his staff are able to retain the players they want and bring in 2 to 3 who are ready to fill the need right away. Note I'm not speculating as to who should leave or stay. The current roster are our guys that we root for. I leave the 2025-26 roster construction to the staff once that begins. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach