I just have the feeling Payne was not a leader in any clubhouse dissention but perhaps more in sympathy with his two fellow sophomore class friends. Payne's decision seems much more likely to be simply based on money and perceived market value.
The easy answer is, would PJ Fleck allow a guy to enter the portal, test the waters, and then come back?
I'm counting Betts as a true 4 as well, but yea both he and Groves are completely unproven. I'd HOPE Betts could offer spot minutes as the 5th big with this being his 3rd season in the program...
That is huge.
Is Wet Blanket Guy on vacation or something? Good lord some of you will always try and find a negative angle on everything.
PJ has allowed it with Phillip Howard and Curtis Dunlap off the top of my head.
so yes then?
Every time he landed violently on his back, everyone here held their collective breath.
I'm not gunna sugar coat a signing of this level.. if he blows the B1G up I'll gladly eat crow... I don't see him being an improvement..
I'm not sure why this is controversial. Is Mitchell better than what I feared we might get (Jack Wilson II)? Yes. Is he better than Payne? No. I don't think it's all that close.
Payne is a big loss. It is possible that Mitchell could fit better with what they want to do with Garcia and on the boards as well. There was no way they were going to bring in someone with Payne's potential, but I have myself getting pretty happy with who they got. Last year with Hawkins they found a speedy competitor who is undersized and therefore overlooked - but he turned out very, very well. This year they went out and found a guy who is just great at rebounding the ball and scrapping - but he is undersized for a post man, so he is overlooked. They are just going to have to put the right group together. One way or another, as a group they have to defend better..... a lot better...to win big.
I went back and looked at Payne's production vs our non conference schedule. Arguably worst competition than Canisius conference schedule. Payne's non conf stats are not impressive. I think it is more of a wash. With Mitchell being fairly new to basketball I'm optimistic that he will get better.
For what? A 2nd unit that can step right in and contend in the Big Ten?
The transformation would be absolutely astounding. It would be amazing how the light just suddenly clicked-on for Ben.
Dang it.....did they forget to invite me to the parade route planning meeting again?
Where did you get the idea Payne's replacement has to be better? That is not necessary for team success. If Mitchell is at least a better rebounder who takes away second and third shots from the other team, he's good enough and what we need.
People were being positive about the pickup and we have some here that just can't deal with that and feel the need to find a way to inject some negativity back into the conversation.
Papists love hoops!
Payne was really inconsistent. Sometimes he was the best player on the court and other times the basketball looked like a slimy, flopping fish.
He was a far better rebounder in a shitter league... Look I like what he brings... Just off the bench.
His stats appear consistent against power 5 teams.
Again as I said.. we will see... I'll gladly eat crow
Age wise maybe... But it wasn't his true freshman year...