The Other Coach K -- A Yearbook Legacy (CH 2K8)

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2007-2008 ended up being a miserable season for the Sacramento State Hornets. They finished dead last in the Big Sky conference, going 7-19 (3-13).

Team highlights: Few and far between, but the team remarkably lost back-to-back games against tournament-bound Oregon & Marquette by 1 and 2 points respectively. Amazing that they couldn't do better against much weaker competition.

Team lowlights: Getting crushed by 50 points at Stanford, and losing 104-55 in the season finale at home to Weber St. following the only win streak (2 games) of a pathetic season.

Individual highlights: Loren Leath scoring 44 (16-21 FG, 5-9 3pt) in an early-season 83-60 rout of Pacific.

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2008 Final Four

Cinderella story Western Michigan is finally defeated in the Final Four semifinal game after rolling through Rhode Island, Akron, Pittsburgh, and Oregon.

UCLA defeats West Virginia for the National Championship behind a monster game by Kevin Love (26 pts, 17 rebs).

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Kansas State's Michael Beasley makes a clean sweep of the postseason awards.

Player of the Year: Michael Beasley, PF (Kansas St.) - 23.3 ppg, 11.6 rpg
Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Beasley
Big Man of the Year: Michael Beasley
Freshman of the Year: Michael Beasley
Coach of the Year: Ben Howland (33-4)

1st Team All-Americans:
PG Sean Singletary, Virginia (Sr 91) - 20.7 ppg, 6.4 apg
SG Chris Lofton, Tennessee (Sr 88) - 23.3 ppg
SF Joe Alexander, WVU (Jr 89) - 17.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg
PF Michael Beasley, Kansas State (Fr 91) -23.3 ppg, 11.6 rpg
C Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (So 88) - 26.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg

2nd Team All-Americans:
PG D.J. Augustin, Texas (So 91) - 21.3 ppg, 5.3 apg
SG Chase Budinger, Arizona (Fr 86) - 19.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.6 apg
SF Terrence Williams, Louisville (Jr 85) - 13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.9 apg
PF Brook Lopez, Stanford (So 88) - 20.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg
C Joe Reitz, Western Michigan (Sr 77) - 21.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg

Sacramento State Awards:
1st Team Big Sky Conference: SG Loren Leath - 19.0 ppg

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Coach K provided these comments on the disastrous 2007-2008 season:

So where did things go wrong? Lack of any kind of consistent scoring & horrible free throw shooting were the primary weaknesses of this team. We finished dead last in the conference in FG (39.7%), and FT (60.6%) shooting. We only had one player average in double figures (SG Loren Leath, 19.0 ppg).

I pride myself on running an exciting, fast-paced, run & gun offense, but when the shots don't fall, its a recipe for getting blown out.

I know that I'm already on the hot seat, and I probably won't be here for year #3 unless we improve significantly in the 2008-2009 campaign. But wait until you see the new recruits I've brought into the program! Anything's possible when you've got enough charisma to break a lesser man's jaw like I do.

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Sacramento State had 6 scholarships available, and filled all 6 spots. Coach K spent a lot of time on the road recruiting, possibly to the detriment of his current squad of players.

Coach K's Comments:
I felt like 2 of the biggest team needs were better shooting (especially 3pt shooting) and some low post help. My offense relies on guys driving to the basket or tossing it into the post, and kicking it out to open shooters at the 3pt line when the defense collapses. We didn't have enough offensive firepower to make this offense work last season, and we were also frequently outrebounded.

I believe this recruiting class addresses those shortcomings. One big advantage of the Hornets' roster for recruiting was that we had no true Centers on the roster, and only one SG and one SF returning.

One regret I have is that we signed one too many SFs. Both Keita & Cannon lack the ball handling skills we like to see from that position, although both are solid 3 pt shooters. What's worse is that the talented tall SG we signed (Souchu) will likely be moved to SF in the future.

Recruiting Class Ranking:95th Nationally (1 4-star, 4 3-star, 1 2-star)

2008 Sacramento State Recruiting Class:

1) **** Andre Souchu, SG (Fr) - 6'5", 199 lbs, 74 OVR, A potential
Location: Muni (Sacramento, CA)
1st Priority: Feeling wanted
2nd Priority: Playing at a big program
3rd Priority: Playing time
Not concerned with being close to home

We were really shocked to land this guy. In fact, we probably never would've pursued him except that he had no scholarship offers and he's from Sacramento. He can shoot the 3 adequately (76 rating), has above-average speed (86) and rebounding skills (61 off/72 def), and is easily our best defensive player already (82). He's also an above average passer, so he could even log some minutes at PG. The main thing he needs to work on is ballhandling (hands 79). Another plus is he's extremely durable (91). Projects to a slashing SF in the future.

2) *** Kammron Ravello, C (Fr) - 6'10", 232 lbs, 76 OVR, C+ potential
Location: Regional (Compton, CA)
1st Priority: Feeling wanted
2nd Priority: Playing time
3rd Priority: Playing at a big program
Not concerned with being close to home

Another guy we were surprised to land. He had his heart set on going to UNLV, but they had no scholarships to give. We eventually talked him into playing for the Hornets. Tremendous skill set for a big man (A- hand & passing, A- Close shooting rating, B+ FT shooting). Good post player (B- post off & def), and above average rebounder. Also great speed for his size (A-), making him ideal for our run & gun style. Only serious downside is getting into foul trouble (D rating), but that's pretty common for big men.

3) *** Lavelle Keita, SF (Fr) - 6'7", 199 lbs, 68 OVR, C- potential
Location: Regional (Pasadena, CA)
1st Priority: Playing at a big program (Coach K knows how to persuade!)
2nd Priority: Feeling wanted
3rd Priority: Playing time
Not concerned with getting good coaching

Strengths: Outside range (80 3pt rating), solid all-around performer
Weaknesses: Roberto Duran hands (67 rating). Doesn't fit the mold of the slashing SF this offense likes to utilize.

4) *** Bradley Cannon, SF (Jr) - 6'5", 199lbs, 66 OVR, D potential
Location: Local (San Francisco, CA)
1st Priority: Feeling wanted
2nd Priority: Playing at a big program
3rd Priority: Playing time
Not concerned with getting good coaching

Strengths: What could be a better name for a gunner than Cannon! Close, med, & 3pt ratings all in the upper 70's or better.
Weaknesses: Awful passer (45 rating). Could be better at driving to the basket (59 layup). Also tends to get in foul trouble.

5) *** Raphael Rios, PF (Fr) - 6'7", 210 lbs, 66 OVR, C potential
Location: Local (Oakland, CA)
1st Priority: Feeling wanted
2nd Priority: Playing time
3rd Priority: Playing at a big program
Not concerned with getting good coaching

Strengths: Above avg shooter for a big man (B- medium & 3pt ratings), good low post skills (B- LowO), plays bigger than his size (B+ vert, B strength).
Weaknesses: Not very durable (D), below avg defender

6) ** Jovan Lamptey C (Fr) - 6'9", 235lbs, 65 OVR, C+ potential
Location: Local (Oakland, CA)
1st Priority: Feeling wanted
2nd Priority: Playing at a big program
3rd Priority: Playing time
Not concerned with getting good coaching

Strengths: Good hands for a big man (A- hand & A- steal ratings)
Weaknesses: Pretty average ratings otherwise. Gets in foul trouble often (D rating).

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Player Recruiting Cards -- note the potential ratings ended up lower than expected due to our less than spectacular scouting skills:

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One more recruit card:

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Top Recruiting Classes for 2008. Yes, I know I need to get better at camera aim, so I don't keep ending up with these crooked images!