In Reply to: From my perspective posted by ej on January 20, 2026 at 10:57:48
Here’s where I think we differ. I don’t believe we can afford to wait for Cronin to fundamentally change who he is as a coach—nor is there any guarantee he’d even be successful if he did.
From my perspective, Cronin really has one viable path forward. It’s largely what you described: bringing in transfers who already possess some of the prerequisite skills he values. But just as important, he needs to consistently recruit three- and four-star players who are willing to commit for the long haul. Yes, we all know the modern reality is that no one can predict what a player will do at the end of each season, but he has to build with the expectation of retention and then execute.
I know some people want to move on from players like Williams and Freeny, but those are exactly the kinds of guys you need as seniors. They may not be the most naturally gifted players, but they’re doing exactly what he asks. They’re playing Cronin basketball. They were willing to redshirt, buy in, and develop. The concern for me is that there doesn’t seem to be another wave like them in the pipeline.
Ideally, you keep players like Williams and Freeny, pair them with a developed player like Trent, then supplement the roster with a couple of transfers and maybe one elite freshman. To me, that’s Cronin’s best—and most realistic—formula for success.