In my opinion, 2016 recruiting is going to be very important and very telling.
We have a very good core group coming back next season. We have a couple of solid complimentary players being added.
To keep the ball rolling, we REALLY need a solid class in 2016. By solid, I don't mean a bunch of burger boys (that would be great, but c'mon, look at past history -- that's not happening.) But we do need guys that will be very good contributors, not just role players.
In the fall of 2016, Stephens and Basil will be seniors, and Haas/Edwards/Matthias will be juniors. That's still a very good core group of upperclassmen.
The reason why I think 2016 is an important class is for what happens after that year. The 2014 class is already followed by one class of role players. (Again, I like Cline and Weatherford, but I don't see them as being the type that can carry a team.) If we have 2 (or more) consecutive classes of just role players, we'll be right back to watching the tourney from home for a couple of years. Plus, it would be great to have the next group of core players get their feet wet with Edwards/Haas/Matthias etc still there to lead the way, as opposed to hoping we can get guys who can step right in as freshmen and carry the load.
We have a very good core group coming back next season. We have a couple of solid complimentary players being added.
To keep the ball rolling, we REALLY need a solid class in 2016. By solid, I don't mean a bunch of burger boys (that would be great, but c'mon, look at past history -- that's not happening.) But we do need guys that will be very good contributors, not just role players.
In the fall of 2016, Stephens and Basil will be seniors, and Haas/Edwards/Matthias will be juniors. That's still a very good core group of upperclassmen.
The reason why I think 2016 is an important class is for what happens after that year. The 2014 class is already followed by one class of role players. (Again, I like Cline and Weatherford, but I don't see them as being the type that can carry a team.) If we have 2 (or more) consecutive classes of just role players, we'll be right back to watching the tourney from home for a couple of years. Plus, it would be great to have the next group of core players get their feet wet with Edwards/Haas/Matthias etc still there to lead the way, as opposed to hoping we can get guys who can step right in as freshmen and carry the load.
