Post by seastape on Dec 13, 2016 17:09:02 GMT -8
Yes, the team is awful this year. We are all aware of it. But for the guy who led us to the first tourney in 25+ years in his second season? Yes, I want that guy as coach.
People have brought up that last year's team had so many of Robinson's recruits on it. They were unquestionably a factor, but it was a factor of depth, not one of talent. Last years stats leaders, in order:
Points--Payton, Tinkle, Thompson, Eubanks.
Rebounds--Payton, Tinkle, Eubanks,
Assists--Payton, Duvivier, and Schaft. This is the one category that Robinson's people were ahead of Tinkle's people. Duvivier should be a senior point guard and the fourth man in assists, Bruce, who came on strong at the end of last season, should be here, too.
Steals--Payton, Tinkle, Thompson.
Three point %age -- Bruce, Thompson, Schaft, Tinkle.
See a pattern? See that the great majority of the statistical leaders after Payton II were freshmen last year and recruited by Tinkle? Make no mistake, Robinson's guys were contributors that helped with depth, but Tinkle's were the stars. Payton II? I would not classify him as either Tinkle's or Robinson's, he was OSU's because of the legacy factor.
What happened this year? Obvious--1) Injuries. 2) A lack of the most essential position in college basketball: point guard. Last year at this time, we had two that we thought would be here and now we have none. One of the two from last year, Bruce, was arguably our second best player (after Payton II) at the end of the season. 3) We have no depth.
We can pin Tinkle's lack of depth this year on him to a certain extent; that is fair. Dew is a discipline bust and Tinkle lost out on the JC big man last year that wound up signing with Utah. But there should be seniors on the team this year from Robinson and we lost one (just unfortunate there) and the other has been injury prone and, respectfully, was not all Pac 12 to begin with.
I wouldn't the panic switch just yet. Tinkle's earned a little faith. The team is listless right now, but I can't say I'm surprised with all the injuries, departures and Dew's discipline problem/distraction. I think Tinkle has more than earned time to moving the team along.
