In Reply to: Agree- so far very disappointing posted by DCfan on April 19, 2026 at 20:26:12
I’m probably higher on Booker than most, if not everyone, and I like what this group has coming back. Looking at the run at the end of last season, Freeny and Williams were key contributors. Tyler was essentially a non-factor in the Michigan State game—about 11 quiet minutes—and they still got the win, played Purdue tough, and picked up a first-round tournament victory. From that perspective, the main piece they’re replacing from that stretch is Dent. He had a solid year overall, but defensively, he was more of a liability.
I like the addition of Petty and think he can offset a good portion of what’s lost with Dent, particularly as a defensive upgrade while still contributing offensively. On top of that, you have Perry, who should take another step forward as an upperclassman.
I’ve said before I’m not the biggest Bilodeau fan. He’s very skilled offensively, but he struggled on the defensive end, especially down low. It often felt like he needed to score 20+ just to break even. That’s why bringing in a more physical presence like Jovic inside is encouraging—we’ll see how it plays out.
Circling back to Booker, if he continues to get stronger, he can be a real difference-maker. He’s never going to be a bruiser, but he can alter shots, and his ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting is a major asset. Last year, lineups with Booker and Tyler lacked an interior presence, but this season, there should be pieces in place to help cover some of those gaps.
Overall, I expect this team to look more like a traditional Cronin group—slower tempo, defense-first, and lower-scoring games. Having a big who can knock down a couple of threes a night adds a meaningful advantage.
All things considered, I see this as a fringe top-25 team that should comfortably make the tournament. That said, unless they add someone like Blackwell and a few more pieces, they’re probably not in true national title contention, which is a bit disappointing.