Here is the difference as I see it. Even with 2-3 future NBA players, Krystko did not maximize their talent and impact because he was a bad coach. While we enjoyed the ride, there were some of us that were unsettled by some of what we were seeing. In 2017, which was the last time I was fairly active on this board, it all seemed to be settling in. We were smoked by Boise in the NIT, the team basically gave up, and it was clear that Larry’s teams would continue to be plagued by turnovers, rebounding issues, and lost possessions. We are not 100% there by any stretch, but I grade coaching not ultimately by W/L because that is a lagging indicator.
I look at leading indicators such as whether players are getting better game by game and year by year, whether the team is getting better similarly. While I don’t disagree that recruiting is a big part of it, realistically, there are only so many NBA prospects to go around. But we’ll attract players if they feel they’ll get better, and while Larry obviously failed at that, Craig looks like he could reestablish that reputation that the big guy had in spades. People will look at BC’s coming out party, they will see the development of Keba, see how Rollie has blossomed, see how Smith came here and in essentially half a season, inserted himself into the national conversation. A great season and good run in the tourney, and thing will be back on track.
All that said, we need to stay healthy, because BC, Gabe, Rollie, and to a lesser extent Keba are carrying us. We have some depth defensively, but offensively it drops off pretty hard. Enough weapons to keep defenses honest, but not enough to sustain with a missing piece. That’s why the play of other BC, Hunter, Pajama, Lovering, and others is so important to give those guys a break and keep them fresh. Tired players get injured, that may be what took us out last year in addition to inexperience and lack of depth.
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