[AlbanyCardinal]

Touché. I've certainly heard the defensive backcourt part, but I think UCLA and Oregon have better talent and depth. I also think we're missing pieces of the puzzle that others teams aren't. They get transfers, round out their depth, etc. How many teams in the conference would start Kisunas? I just don't see it and haven't seen it all year, but I believe you that pundits have said as much.

Hadn't heard that Stanford has the most talent in the conference. Can't see how anyone would argue that, but I agree that the results are falling short of the talent, especially by the end of last season. This season's a wash, no matter if Stanford were to lose the rest of its games. Like it or not, he's going nowhere after this bizarre season, especially if you factor in the finances of it. I think Bobbb mentioned he likely has two more years after this one to prove himself. (Seven-year itch?)

As for talent next season, I don't feel as strongly as you that it will plummet so severely. Wills, Jones, O'Connell, Delaire, Taitz, Murrell, Kisunas, Ingram, Moss, and Silva. I'm pretty confident in the first four and hope four of the last six improve and/or hit the ground running. There are certainly question marks, but I don't think it's automatic that this team will fall off a cliff talent-wise. (I sure wish we had a beefy center in the mix, but that's another story.) Now, whether Haase can sustain success across a season and get his team over the hump is another matter altogether.

My point is that next year's team is highly unlikely to be able to make the tournament because of the losses from this year's team, and I think Haase should not have a job beyond next year if he can't get to the tournament. Given the low odds for next season, might as well get started.

Haase is a great recruiter in terms of getting talent in the door, but after five years of middling results - especially last year and this year - it doesn't appear that he can develop that talent into a good enough team. I've heard several analysts say that this year's roster is the most talented in the conference, and yet we are once again mired in mediocrity and not looking good for making the tournament.

The larger issue for me is Muir. He's supposed to be a basketball guy, and yet he appears to have now blown it twice with this program - first by not firing Dawkins sooner and second by hiring Haase. Won't go into the other problems under his tenure, but that list is growing longer every year.

 

Many people have said Stanford has the most talent in the conference and the only team that I would wager has more talent, is the only team underperforming more than us: Arizona State. We have a Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate, a future top 10 pick, and the best defensive backcourt in the conference. Looking at the teams ahead of us in the standings, USC has Evan Mobley who is both a POY and Freshman of the Year candidate but the rest of the roster is meh. UCLA doesn't have a POY candidate and is made up of a bunch of solid, but not great players. Colorado has Wright who is a POY candidate and a promising freshman in Jabari Walker. But no one else who would piut them over the edge in regard to talent. Finally, Oregon has Duarte and a bunch of solid pieces. It is completely reasonable to say that Stanford is the most talented team in the conference, and that  is why many pundits have said so.

[AlbanyCardinal]

Touché. I've certainly heard the defensive backcourt part, but I think UCLA and Oregon have better talent and depth. I also think we're missing pieces of the puzzle that others teams aren't. They get transfers, round out their depth, etc. How many teams in the conference would start Kisunas? I just don't see it and haven't seen it all year, but I believe you that pundits have said as much.

Hadn't heard that Stanford has the most talent in the conference. Can't see how anyone would argue that, but I agree that the results are falling short of the talent, especially by the end of last season. This season's a wash, no matter if Stanford were to lose the rest of its games. Like it or not, he's going nowhere after this bizarre season, especially if you factor in the finances of it. I think Bobbb mentioned he likely has two more years after this one to prove himself. (Seven-year itch?)

As for talent next season, I don't feel as strongly as you that it will plummet so severely. Wills, Jones, O'Connell, Delaire, Taitz, Murrell, Kisunas, Ingram, Moss, and Silva. I'm pretty confident in the first four and hope four of the last six improve and/or hit the ground running. There are certainly question marks, but I don't think it's automatic that this team will fall off a cliff talent-wise. (I sure wish we had a beefy center in the mix, but that's another story.) Now, whether Haase can sustain success across a season and get his team over the hump is another matter altogether.

My point is that next year's team is highly unlikely to be able to make the tournament because of the losses from this year's team, and I think Haase should not have a job beyond next year if he can't get to the tournament. Given the low odds for next season, might as well get started.

Haase is a great recruiter in terms of getting talent in the door, but after five years of middling results - especially last year and this year - it doesn't appear that he can develop that talent into a good enough team. I've heard several analysts say that this year's roster is the most talented in the conference, and yet we are once again mired in mediocrity and not looking good for making the tournament.

The larger issue for me is Muir. He's supposed to be a basketball guy, and yet he appears to have now blown it twice with this program - first by not firing Dawkins sooner and second by hiring Haase. Won't go into the other problems under his tenure, but that list is growing longer every year.

 

Many people have said Stanford has the most talent in the conference and the only team that I would wager has more talent, is the only team underperforming more than us: Arizona State. We have a Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate, a future top 10 pick, and the best defensive backcourt in the conference. Looking at the teams ahead of us in the standings, USC has Evan Mobley who is both a POY and Freshman of the Year candidate but the rest of the roster is meh. UCLA doesn't have a POY candidate and is made up of a bunch of solid, but not great players. Colorado has Wright who is a POY candidate and a promising freshman in Jabari Walker. But no one else who would piut them over the edge in regard to talent. Finally, Oregon has Duarte and a bunch of solid pieces. It is completely reasonable to say that Stanford is the most talented team in the conference, and that  is why many pundits have said so.