Stephens officially not returning
- Thread starter DG10
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Wonder if an official offer will be extended to Bane at this point as one poster mentioned a few weeks ago when he ran in to Bane and his father on spring break. Imo, Bane would be a good get as a player that brings something different to the program similarly to Davis did but with a much higher ceiling and offensive capability.
As it stands, there are four open...Albrecht was offered, and that scholarship would be available then for '17 again.
Painter is in a tough spot...a ton of pressure to come up big in the '17 class, but at the same time, so hard to put together big classes on a recurring basis as has been the case already a couple of times...and not a lot left at this point to use a scholarship or two on for more than a year, plus the uncertainty of Swanigan's status (and likelihood of him leaving after next year if he happens to return).
Lots of scholarships to offer...not a lot of talent to use them with/for, nor a lot of playing time to offer...with the pending departure of 6 guys in the next two classes...anything but an ideal situation.
Current scholarship players by position, size, and year of eligibility:
PG's: 1. Thompson 5'9 (Jr.) 2. C. Edwards 5'11 (Fr.)
SG's: 3. Mathias 6'4 (Jr.) 4. Cline 6'5 (So.)
F's: 5. Smotherman 6'6 (RS Jr.) 6. V. Edwards 6'8 (Jr.)
PF's or C's: 7. Haas 7'2 (Jr.) 8. Taylor 6'10 (RS So.) 9. Swanigan 6'9 (So.)
I think two grad transfers can be added. The coaching staff should keep an eye on 6'7 forward Jaron Blossomgame of Clemson if he decides to return. He's athletic, can defend (fundamentally sound and blocks shots and gets steals) and he can shoot/score (51% FG's, 78% FT's, 45% 3PT's this past season) and rebound. He redshirted his first year and probably wants to play in his first NCAA Tournament if he opts out of the draft:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/228/clemson-tigers
PG's: 1. Thompson 5'9 (Jr.) 2. C. Edwards 5'11 (Fr.)
SG's: 3. Mathias 6'4 (Jr.) 4. Cline 6'5 (So.)
F's: 5. Smotherman 6'6 (RS Jr.) 6. V. Edwards 6'8 (Jr.)
PF's or C's: 7. Haas 7'2 (Jr.) 8. Taylor 6'10 (RS So.) 9. Swanigan 6'9 (So.)
I think two grad transfers can be added. The coaching staff should keep an eye on 6'7 forward Jaron Blossomgame of Clemson if he decides to return. He's athletic, can defend (fundamentally sound and blocks shots and gets steals) and he can shoot/score (51% FG's, 78% FT's, 45% 3PT's this past season) and rebound. He redshirted his first year and probably wants to play in his first NCAA Tournament if he opts out of the draft:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/228/clemson-tigers
This entire situation is a head scratcher to me. To me this has to go way beyond basketball. And it seems the ball is all in Stephen's court. If he wants a change of scenery after what he has gone through, then so be it. But the effort he going to need to put forth to be a factor at any other D1 team could just as well been given at PU. Best of luck to him and his family. Their are many many other basketball ball players out their eager to give it their all to reach their dreams. Hope we find a couple.
He's going to go somewhere, if he doesn't go pro and doesn't go back to Clemson, that he can start and play big minutes. Who comes out of the hypothetical starting lineup of Haas/Swanigan/Edwards/Mathias/Thompson? Might be hard to sell him given who we have coming back in the frontcourt and the fact that we'll have to keep a guard or two on the floor most of the time. About the only scenario you could try is maybe move Vince to the 2. That would be intriguing but I'm not sure it's ideal.
This was set in motion when Painter didn't redshirt Cline and decided to give him significant minutes. I said on a post last spring, before Cline was even in the picture, on a post after last year's NCAA tournament about the starting five, I commented that with Johnny Hill starting at 1 (okay, I missed that prediction) that R. Davis would be playing 2-man (I was correct there). Then I said that either Dakota or Stephens was not going to be happy with their playing time. Last fall, in one of many posted debates about Cline redshirting, I argued Cline needed to be redshirted, unless injury, because there were just no minutes, or if he did get minutes, there were gonna be problems. I guess in a way, it's no longer a problem. But I really, don't see how Painter didn't see this coming when he didn't redshirt Cline.
Players come to colleges with one main goal: get a lot of minutesand get plenty of shots so they can impress NBA scouts, especially a player with Stephens' talent and skill set. But most college players think that way: make no mistake, Cline and Dakota are the same: they both want minutes and shots and a shot at the NBA. Maybe Painter did see that someone would be unhappy and want to leave, or at least the possibility that someone at 2-man might leave, but he decided that the best players would play and let the dice fall where they may.
Once again, to the guys who kept commenting that Stephens should stay and work hard and get his spot back, that was never going to happen. It's clear to Stephens that for some reason, he didn't mesh in Painter's system. But I really believe he is going to go somewhere and be a double-figure-scoring stud. He is a talent that Purdue (Painter) somehow just didn't work it out together.
Players come to colleges with one main goal: get a lot of minutesand get plenty of shots so they can impress NBA scouts, especially a player with Stephens' talent and skill set. But most college players think that way: make no mistake, Cline and Dakota are the same: they both want minutes and shots and a shot at the NBA. Maybe Painter did see that someone would be unhappy and want to leave, or at least the possibility that someone at 2-man might leave, but he decided that the best players would play and let the dice fall where they may.
Once again, to the guys who kept commenting that Stephens should stay and work hard and get his spot back, that was never going to happen. It's clear to Stephens that for some reason, he didn't mesh in Painter's system. But I really believe he is going to go somewhere and be a double-figure-scoring stud. He is a talent that Purdue (Painter) somehow just didn't work it out together.
Unless he learns to do something on the offensive end besides shoot threes he's not going to be a stud no matter where he ends up.
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vilehoopster is a moron. Cline played great for us this year as a Freshman, and was key to winning several games (most notably, Pitt). He has more upside than Stephens too. It has nothing to do with Stephens meshing or not meshing. He just didn't play well enough to have a spot. I don't regret not redshirting Cline at all....
Wherever you end up, Kendall, good luck in your future! Thanks for the years you gave us!
He needs to improve his overall D and might have to tighten his handle up to go face-to-face with other top 2 guards, but I could imagine Vince being able to do that, in this hypothetical (i.e. a Blossomgame type addition). I don't think it would be much different than Mathias or Cline playing the 2, except that VE can get to the rim more often and is no doubt a better rebounder.
Please.... Don't turn this on painter. I really liked Stephens but he got every shot (pun intended) to be a star here. It's not poor coaching to play the best players. Cline was a better shooter this year, and he was able to do a lot more than just shoot too.
it actually is on painter. he recruits shooters then won't let them shoot. KS had a really quick release and many on this board called it a bad shot if he didn't make a really high percentage. how can painter's offense not get his shooters shots. it is on painter a little
Please explain when CMP ever gave KS the Red Light. I'm hoping you are just joking because if you aren't I have no idea what you have been watching during KS 3 years.
CMP also said many times in the past that KS had the green light to shoot. In fact, it was discussed previously by those that were overly-critical of KS on here. Especially when he was in a slump and he kept shooting.
KS fell behind because Dakota and Cline got better and that tragedy impacted that as well. But saying CMP won't let shooters shoot, is just ridiculous.
Many times this. And as fickle as this forum is, those getting on Painter for this would be the first ones in line to yell if Cline or Dakota didn't get more minutes. But to turn this on Painter because he played his best players at the time, just boggles my mind.
Wow! That may be one of the silliest statements I have seen yet. Painters offense did get shooters shots. Lots of shots. Lots and lots of open shots. That offense was getting defenses to simply not defend some of our guards in order to stop our interior game. They have to hit them and do it in crunch time. I don't know what happened to Stephens but it wasn't a lack of opportunity.
What does having a quick release have to do with any of this? Did you mean to say quick trigger?
Look at Stephens' percentages. If we can't call someone a poor shooter from bad percentages, how else do you define them?
As Dakota said, we had the perfect offense to make 3s last year. And we did make a ton. But it's not beneficial to have a shooter shoot 30% from out there. Doesn't exactly make the defenders honest.
I was a big Stephens fan coming into last year. I thought he would turn a corner. Unfortunately he turned the wrong way - his percentages have gotten worse every year.
When Kendall was on, he was fun to watch. No matter where he goes, I hope he can get his game back to where it was his first 2 years. The year off may do him some good.
i don't know that he ever told him to not shoot. he took him out after a couple of missed shots on many occasions . that's kind of a red light.
KS would have thrived at IU. someone try to deny that. be careful you're ignorance could show
edit: at a program similar to IU
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it may have gotten them good shots but they were definitely hesitant to take them. think tacos, ryne smith, DM and cline late in the season. and many many more examples.
shooters become non shooters at purdue under painter
i mean he got his shot off coming off a screen without having stop, get set and then shoot
i really like painter and the way he runs the program. i would be happy with the way things are if to win more meant cheating or getting a coach like crean that is a embarrassment in creaning players and laughable to watch on the sideline
he does in my opinion need to let the players have a little more fun.
he does in my opinion need to let the players have a little more fun.
No one works to get shooters good shots then tells them they can't shoot. Could the hesitancy be the fault of the player?
I can't argue with that. They do look a bit tight. I don't know if that is Painter though as we have seen teams under painter be very confident. I just am leery of blaming everything on a coach. They really don't have as much control and impact as some would suggest.
who knows why they are hesitant but they sure seem to me to be. i have felt like it was the fear of being taken out of the game for several seasons now.
i don't know how many times i've screamed at the tv for a player to shoot. they must not hear me. vbg
You must not be shouting in all CAPS! Maybe it's related to being perpetually young and still recovering from the poor recruiting years.
KS had every opportunity to shoot and shoot often while at PU. To say otherwise is simply trying to be argumentative. He got passed in the rotation by players that are more versatile and were shooting better than he was. It really isn't very complicated.
No idea where you are headed with the IU comment or the "ignorance" comment.
I have a clue that every team they played left the perimeter pretty much unguarded all season long to defend the middle
Tacos unchained? Every Boiler's dream! Every rivals' worst nightmare!
Well, it is often said (for college hoops at least) that teams mirror the personality of their head coach. I think that's true with most programs, particularly ones that are typically above .500 on an annual basis.
Not totally sure what you mean...so I'll speculate wildly.
If the implication is that Painter tightens up and therefore the team does also, how do we explain the teams Painter had which did not have that issue. Same coach. Hmmm...different PLAYERS. That might be it. Older players tend to be better at handling high pressure. Our older players were not shooters. I am hopefull that as VE, DM, and RC get older we could be a very good shooting team in crunch time.
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