In Reply to: Re: The myth about Cronin's recruiting posted by Cachorro on January 20, 2026 at 09:54:46
Cronin has to make adjustments.
First off, every player Cronin brings in, whether a high school recruit or a transfer, a period of adjustment is needed. Every player. So with that in mind it would be better if he can identify players, whether recruits or transfers, who already have some of the skills and talents and/or the attitude that would be conducive to Cronin's system. Cronin's system is very demanding and every player has to have time to learn how to play the way Cronin demands.
So, with that in mind Cronin probably needs to concentrate on high school players who will develop over years to be the kind of player that kind play in Cronin's system. That's probably 3 and 4 star players and not necessarily 5 stars. It would also be advantageous to get transfers who have more than only one year left of eligibility. If he decides to keep Booker then the kid has a year under his belt at learning Cronin's method and maybe there's a chance that he gets it by next year. With Dent there's only this year. I have not doubt that if Dent had another year he would see an entirely different player than the one we've seen this season.
The caveat with all this is that no one knows how long a kid will stay anywhere. Coaches, in some very real ways, can only count on this one season. His roster for next year is totally uncertain and he alone no longer can determine any of that. So maybe in the end coaches like Cronin are basically screwed. Perhaps the only viable way to strategize one's schemes, system, season, and rosters is to develop everything in terms of only one season - recruit for only one year, bring in transfers with only one year in mind. If that is so, then everything for someone like Cronin needs to change. How he coaches, how he recruits, the schemes on both sides of the ball are determined by the one year in mind.
Developmental coaches may be a thing of the past and development is one of Cronin's strengths. College basketball and it's fans have long been leaning toward the NBA style of basketball and this new paradigm in college sports is perhaps bringing it even closer. IMO organized structured basketball is becoming more like playground basketball where developed fundamental basketball and teamwork aren't as important as innate talent and skill. Is this an example of the adapt or perish adage?