Like I said— you were duped by the pass he’s been given because of NIL. I mean listen to the guy. Watch his offense. Look at his defense. Look down the bench at his assistants. He’s not it.
No, I wouldn't say I've been duped. He's not blameless for what's happening this year, but to lay it at his feet is misguided. This roster is awful -- I mean, almost everyone completely sucks -- and he chose it. Now, we know he had bottlecaps to spend, and that's mostly not his fault. This is a completely new world, having to have the budget to build a good roster, and there are coaches who have no worries and are able to get everyone they want badly enough by upping the offer. Sha does not have that luxury. So he made the choice this year to take what he's got and spread it around on guys with potential or high ceilings or high athletic ability but who have underperformed so far with the belief he could make something out of them while being able to keep fresh legs over the course of a game and season.
We see how that's turned out. And he see it, too. No one has panned out. We've seen some modest development in some cases, but not enough to move the needle. This roster is terrible, with the exception of Coleman. Aligbe has probably performed to expectations. No one else has taken a step forward.
This all got off to a bad start when Harmon, who I expected to be the primary PG, was a no show. That was a major problem that I don't think gets mentioned enough. He could play. And lately, as we've bottomed out, there have been injuries. Losing by 30 to Butler is bad, but we also played without Jenkins, Addae-Wusu, and Middleton. As bad as our team is, those
might be three of the best four players lost from a lineup that has zero margin for error.
So do I think if the payroll situation stays the same that Sha will try to build this way again? No, no way. That would be idiotic. I think he's leanring to navigate this landscape on the fly, with one wing tied behind his back. That he is at a signifcant competititve disadvantage is not disputable.
So I blame his for his approach to building the roster, but it's not a signifcant ding on his overall profile because there are very good and more experienced coaches struggling with this new landscape, too, even ones with more to play with.
Can he do anything to increase our payroll? I actually think yes, he can, and he will have to work on this if he wants to succeed here. The job isn't just coachign and recruitign anymore. Much like the job of university presidents at one time was to be the top academic on campus, a glorified provist, the job has changed. Presidents now have to be able to exist in an academic landscape, but also be adapt at fundraising, community relations, and real estate prospecting, among other things. Coaches can't just run practice anymore and recruit. They also have to be out there beating the bushes, cultivating relationships, and being able to make the ask from targeted prospects.
People like Sha. He is very well respected in the business, and his interactions with fans and alumni are good when he makes himself available. To me, this is an essential part of his role going foeward, and if he won't, then he's in trouble. I have no doubt about him as a coach and recruiter. He proved he could do both in the former context. But he's got to be able to make that shift to pay-for-play and
everything that entails. And the univesity, in turn, has to enable and empower him to do that. Hire the GM, give him the resources necessary for things to move forward while Sha is out having lunches, taking meetings, and shaking hands with donors.