Men's basketball 2019-20

[billhoward]

If prognosticators have already placed Cornell's finish for 2019-20 - 8th or last, depending on the spin - it's time for a 2019-20 thread.

[billhoward]

Arizona looking good 2019-20 thanks to a Cornell transfer. https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2019/3/14/18264879/arizona-wildcats-whos-in-whos-out-college-basketball-roster-miller-transfer-2019-recruiting

Arizona is set to bring in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for next season, a five-man group that will serve as the heart of the team and provide at least two starters, if not more. Also part of the mix will be power forward Stone Gettings, a transfer from Cornell who joined the program in January and who figures to be a top candidate to start. With seven scholarship players eligible to return—if you don't count junior Jake DesJardins, who was a walk-on before the 2018-19 season—there's your full roster. But coach Sean Miller hasn't been shy about the prospect of Arizona adding more new pieces to the puzzle for next year, something that can only happen if currently occupied spots open up.

We should be proud.

[mountainred]

The official newcomer announcement is out:  Link

This is an enormously important class for Earl because last year's class had a very disappointing debut and back-to-back poor classes would be a disaster.*

The recruiting services don't think much of the Big Red's class, but there are a few reasons for cautious optimism.  SG Jordan Jones missed his 8th and 9th grade seasons with an auto-immune issue and probably fell off a lot of recruiting lists, but he has really come on.  His senior HS season, he averaged 23-10 for a decently-sized, LA-area private school.  He then took a PG year at Phillips Exeter where he averaged 18p, 7r, 3a, 3st, lead the team to the league title and won POY at his division.  The last 3 guys to win POY in that division are a guy who was Stanford's sixth man as a freshman (since transferred to Notre Dame), Colgate's starting Point Guard who was 2nd team all-Patriot League as a sophomore last year, and Miye Oni, the reigning Ivy POY and a 2nd round NBA draft pick. If James is anywhere in that spectrum, he'll be an impact player for the BR.  

The most highly-recruited kid in this year's class is point guard Greg Dolan.  Dolan was a stud for Williamsville South outside of Buffalo (2000 career points, Mr. Basketball finalist).  He took a PG year at Northfield Mount Hermon, where he put up very good point guard numbers (12p, 6a, 5r) on the league champion and was named second team all-league.  Dolan had offers from a bunch of schools in the Cornell range and is probably a safe bet to be at least a solid Ivy point guard, with a decent chance to be the best Big Red point since Lou and 'ski.

The rest of the class is okay.  Marcus Fillen was a good forward for Albany Academy (14-8) who had a so-so PG year at Phillips Andover.  Chuks Uzoka is lottery ticket forward from Houston, but one who is enrolled in the AAP program so he may not have time to work on his game.  Sarju Patel is a shooting guard who is transferring in from VMI (coached by Earl's brother).  He averaged 10 points a game last year at the D-1 level so he's probably a safe bet to make the rotation after sitting out this year.  I found it interesting that Earl's three main recruits all did a PG year, which is what his best recruit so far (Boeheim) did.



* Earl's first class has actually aged fairly well:  Boeheim's good; Julian gave the team two solid years; and McBride has flashed some potential even though he regressed last year.  But just as importantly there have been a lot of flops around the league: Penn's class can't get healthy; Princeton's star recruit has been meh; Columbia's star recruit transferred;  Brown's ROY transferred.  After two years, Cornell's class is probably 6th best in the league and not too far behind Brown, Columbia or Harvard.

[Ken711]

The official newcomer announcement is out:  Link

This is an enormously important class for Earl because last year's class had a very disappointing debut and back-to-back poor classes would be a disaster.*

The recruiting services don't think much of the Big Red's class, but there are a few reasons for cautious optimism.  SG Jordan Jones missed his 8th and 9th grade seasons with an auto-immune issue and probably fell off a lot of recruiting lists, but he has really come on.  His senior HS season, he averaged 23-10 for a decently-sized, LA-area private school.  He then took a PG year at Phillips Exeter where he averaged 18p, 7r, 3a, 3st, lead the team to the league title and won POY at his division.  The last 3 guys to win POY in that division are a guy who was Stanford's sixth man as a freshman (since transferred to Notre Dame), Colgate's starting Point Guard who was 2nd team all-Patriot League as a sophomore last year, and Miye Oni, the reigning Ivy POY and a 2nd round NBA draft pick. If James is anywhere in that spectrum, he'll be an impact player for the BR.  

The most highly-recruited kid in this year's class is point guard Greg Dolan.  Dolan was a stud for Williamsville South outside of Buffalo (2000 career points, Mr. Basketball finalist).  He took a PG year at Northfield Mount Hermon, where he put up very good point guard numbers (12p, 6a, 5r) on the league champion and was named second team all-league.  Dolan had offers from a bunch of schools in the Cornell range and is probably a safe bet to be at least a solid Ivy point guard, with a decent chance to be the best Big Red point since Lou and 'ski.

The rest of the class is okay.  Marcus Fillen was a good forward for Albany Academy (14-8) who had a so-so PG year at Phillips Andover.  Chuks Uzoka is lottery ticket forward from Houston, but one who is enrolled in the AAP program so he may not have time to work on his game.  Sarju Patel is a shooting guard who is transferring in from VMI (coached by Earl's brother).  He averaged 10 points a game last year at the D-1 level so he's probably a safe bet to make the rotation after sitting out this year.  I found it interesting that Earl's three main recruits all did a PG year, which is what his best recruit so far (Boeheim) did.


* Earl's first class has actually aged fairly well:  Boeheim's good; Julian gave the team two solid years; and McBride has flashed some potential even though he regressed last year.  But just as importantly there have been a lot of flops around the league: Penn's class can't get healthy; Princeton's star recruit has been meh; Columbia's star recruit transferred;  Brown's ROY transferred.  After two years, Cornell's class is probably 6th best in the league and not too far behind Brown, Columbia or Harvard.

Looks like some good backcourt help, but another class short on size in the front court.

[mountainred]

The schedule is out and Bart Torvik has an early projection:  7-20 overall, 2-12 in the league.  That's a solid 3 games back of Yale who he has projected for 7th.

Torvik doesn't expect much from the two freshman I'm most optimistic about (Dolan and Jones), so there is room for growth.

Unfortunately, while the rest of the league is picking up recruits for 2020, I can't find anyone committed to Cornell.  If Earl doesn't have a "good get" in there, especially a big man or two, the talent gap is going to grow out of control.

[scoop85]

The schedule is out and Bart Torvik has an early projection:  7-20 overall, 2-12 in the league.  That's a solid 3 games back of Yale who he has projected for 7th.

Torvik doesn't expect much from the two freshman I'm most optimistic about (Dolan and Jones), so there is room for growth.

Unfortunately, while the rest of the league is picking up recruits for 2020, I can't find anyone committed to Cornell.  If Earl doesn't have a "good get" in there, especially a big man or two, the talent gap is going to grow out of control.

I think we'll be reasonably competitive this year, but I'd be surprised with more than 10 wins overall and 4 or 5 league wins.  Like you I'm most concerned with the future outlook, as most of the other Ivies are picking up top 200-level talent, and we seem to be lagging.

[billhoward]

When Brian Earl came here in spring 2016, he seemed like the real deal. IIRC, he was vetted by the players - at least, they got a chance to meet him before the hiring. Cornell is rural and that hurts basketball recruiting. But for us to be ranked behind more-remote Dartmouth 149 (of all D1 teams) and Yale (194) to our 304 ...

[mountainred]

Earl has his first recruit for 2020:  Sean Hansen, a 6'8" forward out of NJ.  As scoop85 said on the Ivy BBall forum, he looks a bit like Jimmy Boeheim (our JB, not the coach).  

In opponent news, Dartmouth has lost senior guard, and probably their second best player, Brendan Barry for the season.

[Chris '03]

Kinda sorta on topic, former Penn and Brown coach Glen Miller named in a sex discrimination suit along with Jim Calhoun: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-lawsuit-calhoun-sex-discrimination-20191009-miksbamalrcmdmcw53dr3bgsiy-story.html

[scoop85]

In more relevant news, Cornell hoops picks-up a commitment from PG Isaiah Gray from Brooklyn who's playing this year at Cushing Academy. Had offers from Holy Cross, Binghamton, NJIT and a few others.  

He seems to have an excellent skill set as a shooter, passer and slasher to the basket

[mountainred]

I'm a little more bearish on Gray, but he's a D1 talent who should help.  My time in Indiana skewed my view of high school gyms, but those looked like really small facilities for a NYC school.  Or is that just the way it is in the City?

[arugula]

I'm a little more bearish on Gray, but he's a D1 talent who should help.  My time in Indiana skewed my view of high school gyms, but those looked like really small facilities for a NYC school.  Or is that just the way it is in the City?

That's funny.  Watching the clip, I was reminded of how large MLK HS's gym is (played there a number of times back in the day).  City gyms are fairly basic

[mountainred]

I'm a little more bearish on Gray, but he's a D1 talent who should help.  My time in Indiana skewed my view of high school gyms, but those looked like really small facilities for a NYC school.  Or is that just the way it is in the City?

That's funny.  Watching the clip, I was reminded of how large MLK HS's gym is (played there a number of times back in the day).  City gyms are fairly basic

Different world.  Newman Arena isn't is enormous, but it does seat 4473.  That would only be the 42nd largest HS gym in Indiana.

[arugula]

Different world indeed.  Hs hoops in NYC is often an after school activity. Lucky if you have ten people in the stands.

I'm a little more bearish on Gray, but he's a D1 talent who should help.  My time in Indiana skewed my view of high school gyms, but those looked like really small facilities for a NYC school.  Or is that just the way it is in the City?

That's funny.  Watching the clip, I was reminded of how large MLK HS's gym is (played there a number of times back in the day).  City gyms are fairly basic

Different world.  Newman Arena isn't is enormous, but it does seat 4473.  That would only be the 42nd largest HS gym in Indiana.

[mountainred]

Coach Earl has his third recruit, Chris Manon, a 6-4 shooting guard who is taking a post graduate year at St. Thomas More.  According to this story, Manon averaged 12 points a game as HS senior.  According to Verbal Commits, St. Francis (Pa) and BU had interest.

The team was supposed to have "secret" scrimmages last week v. Canisius and yesterday v. Niagara (though Niagara had to replace head coaches this week, so who knows if that messed with the schedule).  I haven't such much at all on either.