Better or Worse Next Year?

  • 28 replies
  • 2737 views
Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #20 on: June 14, 2008, 10:54:37 AM »
Better for reasons already stated by others. JB and Mase can run - Boothe can dish - if Rob Thomas (who was trapped in a disabled body last year but always knew where to be on the court) bears any resemblance to the player I used to see at South Kent we are going to have some exciting games. We also have considerable depth and should be able to run, run, run. Coupled with a tenacious defense this could translate into 16 victories. The key lies in an effective rotation and thoughtful substitution patterns. Revolving lineups can be effective if properly orchestrated (e.g., Tubby Smith) but we've got so many sophomores and freshmen that a complex version of this alternative is impractical for us right now. It's critical to have an effective rotation by the time we meet Big East opponents.

Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #21 on: June 14, 2008, 01:06:40 PM »
They NEED to RUN and Paris Horne needs to finish

Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #22 on: June 19, 2008, 03:58:08 PM »
PG:
Boothe - Upgrade: If he can play D without fouling, create some open shots for others and hit a mid range jumper when open.
Edmondson - Upgrade: Same as Boothe plus slash to the hoop a bit.

SG:
Horne - I'm thinking upgrade as long as he can shoot like he did at the end of the season, improve on his handle a little bit (at least when driving to the basket), and play some D.

SF:
Mason - I think he will be same as last year (I hope I am wrong). Which IMO will be a downgrade for the team.

PF:
Burrell - Hopefully, he is hitting the gym and getting stronger. If does get stronger and can hit a 10-12 ft jumper with consistency, he will be an upgrade.

C:
Coker - I am thinking he will probably improve (very slightly). At least be a bit smarter with the foul trouble and be a little bit better with his feet.

Bench:
Evans - I think he will be the biggest upgrade. IMO he will help spell Burrell when he needs a rest. And will be able to play some C when either we go small.
Kennedy - Overall I think he will improve as well.
Jasilonis - No improvement at all!
R.Thomas - He will be an improvement as long as he is healthy (and in shape) to contribute. However, to what extent he can perform at a level that he did in HS may determine how much be improve as a team.

New Players: Wait, Edmonson, Roberts vs. Old Players: Wright, Cavitao and Geno - We obviously get more size here. (Which shouldn't be a bad thing)

SUMMARY:

IMO I think we will improve talent/capability wise. But it's all up NR on how we utilize our talent vs. the competition. Due to the bad taste in my mouth from last season (and the last few years) I can't say I am too optimistic! Although I am hopeful!

Randomhero423

Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #23 on: June 19, 2008, 04:07:49 PM »
how do you know edmonson is good?

peter

  • *****
  • 3551
    • Rumble in the Garden
Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #24 on: June 19, 2008, 05:29:57 PM »
I like how you set up your post, Johnny 4 Life, and I'm gonna disagree on a few points.  I bring up free throws a lot because this team is (I guess) built to slash, not to hit deep jump shots.  Point by point:

PG: I think the team won't miss Geno's slow set up, his turnovers, or his shot, but they will miss Geno's ability to play tough defense on the slower point guards, generate steals, and get to the free throw line.  Boothe, being a shooter I wouldn't trust, has to get to the line; he has to play his D without fouling (I agree with you on that) and it'd be nice if knocked the ball loose from some players.  It's disruptive and one of the best traits Geno had.  Edmondson, by the way, might be back up material, and he might be last year's Paris Horne, a no-pass, streak-shooting, questionable-dribbling guard, but this one would have the ball in his hands.  We don't know.

SG: Kennedy is going to start.  I missed the part where Horne shot more or well at the end of the season.  He had a good game against Marquette in the last 5 and that's it.  If he improves his handle on his drives (and gets to the line), he might have something going there. 

Meanwhile, Kennedy looked lost when he played next to Mase; he didn't look for his shot (as he did in the NEC part of the season) until the end of the season.  I think he has a chance to really break out if he figures out how to get his drives to the basket in (and finish when he gets there).  And the team needs a second dribbler.  He needs to be it, since he likes to push the ball aggressively.

SF: Mase will be much the same, hopefully, as the end of the season.  I'm not holding my breath, but when healthy, he had some very good games, showed some quickness.  Hopefully when he's on the way to a 3-14 clunker he'll look to drive the ball and pass to Burrell, which he did effectively at times.

PF: Agreed on Burrell.  Especially about the getting stronger.  If he gets the ball in better positions, and gets easier shots in some way (43% from an interior scorer isn't good), he'll be nice.  He's got a nice midrange stroke, too, opening up his game.

C: Coker's got to be better with his feet and positioning.  I think Evans will get a lot of time unless Coker comes back as a non-fouling beast.  Coker's per-40 minute numbers would have him fouling out of every single game; if Evans learns a bit more about offensive and defensive basketball, he'll be an okay bench player.  Both guys need to hit a free throw.

Then of course there is Thomas.  At the very least, he'll be an upgrade - the limited minutes he played on that knee weren't terrible, and he knows the game. 

Jasiulionis will swing his towel more energetically than before!  I hope he is studying game film and becomes a non-playing assistant coach.  Or at least when he plays, learns to just use his height. 

Wait is tall and hopefully, strong enough to spell some of the interior guys.  Maybe he can hit a shot.  Who knows.  And Roberts, I hope he's a good outside shooter.  The squad could use it.  But I think it'll come back to the 9 returning players (outside of Jasiulionis).

Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #25 on: June 20, 2008, 11:42:51 AM »
how do you know edmonson is good?

I don't! I meant to say he will be an upgrade "IF" he can do the same things Boothe can plus slash to the hoop a bit.

Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #26 on: July 03, 2008, 12:53:36 AM »
I think the style of play will dictate a lot. Will we realize we're not a good outside shooting team and realize we're fast, athletic, and in a sense a deep team(we have a lot of guys who are similar in talent so we can go 10 deep in rotation so why not run them to death and use all the bodies). If we can get out and run and create offense from defense (turnovers) and get our points from the fast break this team could surprise some.
Follow Johnny Jungle on Twitter at @Johnny_Jungle

Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #27 on: July 11, 2008, 01:48:49 PM »
I think the style of play will dictate a lot. Will we realize we're not a good outside shooting team and realize we're fast, athletic, and in a sense a deep team(we have a lot of guys who are similar in talent so we can go 10 deep in rotation so why not run them to death and use all the bodies). If we can get out and run and create offense from defense (turnovers) and get our points from the fast break this team could surprise some.

COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF! CONSTANT PRESSURE ON DEFENSE SHOULD GET US A FEW SURPRISE WINS.

Re: Better or Worse Next Year?
« Reply #28 on: July 11, 2008, 04:16:14 PM »
too bad in year five we're still hanging our hats on "surprise wins".  the biggest "surprise win" would be if a new coach was brought in asap.