I wanted to analyze how the 2023 100T roster began and ended and use it to understand how this 2024 Sentinels roster may end up. During the offseason leading up to the 2023 VCT, 100T saw massive success making one player change (will->cryo) as seen during the red bull home ground. They particularly benefited from cryo's chamber but also the fact that a few of their players we're also doing really good (specifically Bang and Derrek). I would argue a major aspect of their success off season success was because of how the meta worked in their favor, specifically allowing cryo to play jett and chamber while also letting Derrek play sova, fade, and breach (we'll get back to this point). Moving to the start of VCT with lock-in, they managed to beat EDG and FUT before getting eliminated by Fnatic (which makes sense given that it's Fnatic). Then at the start of VCT regular season, the first game they played against Sentinels was a loss. I would argue this loss was in part due to the meta shift away away from chamber and more towards double controller + skye, for instance fracture comps for most teams changed since chamber was no longer viable (which meant no neon + kayo + breach + chamber + brim) a comp 100T saw a lot success with. Throughout the season they sort of fell in the middle of the pack yet still beat respectable teams like Lev and Furia. I think people forgot how good teams like NRG, Loud, and C9 would end up being because all the attention was placed on 100T during the off season. Also on the point of Derrek's agents, since the team overall moved toward the meta of double controller and single initiator, he definitely took a hit since he had to play skye (which isn't as good as his other agents) and if Asuna played skye Derrek filled the extra role (agents he evidently wasn't comfortable at). Also important to mention coach Mikes was probably overwhelmed with everything he had to do alone.
Now lets compare this to Sentinels. If we assume Zellsis is actually going to be starting, then here's what we can know:
- 2 player changes during the off season (-Marved (IGL Controller), -Pancada (Controller), +johnqt (IGL Senitnel/flex), +Zellsis (flex)
- an experienced IGL who can play sentinel (johnqt) who has worked with coach Kaplan before
- an addition of a well-rounded player (Zellsis) who has been on Sentinels before, can play a wide variety of agents at a high level, and brings incredible energy to a team
- the new roster is better equipped for meta changes which the 2023 100T was not
- they just beat multiple new good looking teams in the off season
- beat G2 twice (expected to be a top 5 NA team in 2024 season)
- beat PRX twice (2nd place at champions and also got beat with Jinggg in play)
- beat DRX (historically consistent top team at international tournaments and also expected to be top 3 in pacific 2024)
- beat Team Liquid (solid team all around)
- Sentinels setting meta standards for maps
- Bind comp: Yoru, Raze, Skye, Viper, Brim
- Sunset comp: Omen, Raze, Fade, Cypher, Breach
Ultimately, I agree with FNS when he says the performance of Sentinels depends on how much they're able to innovate and improve their strats