2016-2017 Season

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Let's assume that JJ returns to his early season form of a year ago, and his shot improves (there are reports out there that he is shooting much better). I think we all agree, he is much more of a traditional point guard. I would love to see a combo of a traditional point guard, and a 2 guard that has played point guard for 3 years, together on the court. We're hearing reports that Caupain is shooting lights out, so I like the potential that this combo brings in pushing tempo, creativity, and distributing the ball....in addition to being able to hit shots. The issue might be defense. Caupain has never been anything to write home about defensively, and JJ struggled some defensively as well, although I'd argue that he rarely got to break a sweat before he was headed back to the bench last year. I guess a lot depends on how hard JJ has worked this off-season and whether or not Mick is adamant about continuing to run KJ out there no matter how bad he is performing. I guess the best case is that KJ blossoms into a real player as a senior and JJ gives us great minutes and a spark off the bench.

i agree with all you wrote.

 

[L-T]

asking players to guard is not unreasonable. In any walk of life if you want to do well you better satisfy the boss. So we don't play good defense it's more a product of our system. I guess Clark should give the defensive player of the year award back. This team guards. If your awake at the games you can see the effort. TC is a all conference player. JJ isn't close to being in his league. Look we need JJ. He is our only back up. I hope he makes a huge leap in his play.

We had this same argument last season about Caupain's defense and Mick came on his TV show and commented about how Caupain struggles defensively. I go to every game, so I see him struggling. He's better than he was as a freshman and sophomore, but he still is nothing special. I also didn't hear Mick killing JJ for his defense that much last year, as opposed to other issues. Anyway, it is what it is. JJ will play if Mick lets him. That's the bottom line.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

We had this same argument last season about Caupain's defense and Mick came on his TV show and commented about how Caupain struggles defensively. I go to every game, so I see him struggling. He's better than he was as a freshman and sophomore, but he still is nothing special. I also didn't hear Mick killing JJ for his defense that much last year, as opposed to other issues. Anyway, it is what it is. JJ will play if Mick lets him. That's the bottom line.

TC certainly had his problem stopping dribble penetration last year. JJ wasn't on the floor enough for it to be something Mick would comment on. JJ will play if Mick lets him and he performs. That is the bottom line. As I mentioned I hope he plays and plays well because that is a benefit to the team. As a old timer I am of the school that your performance forces coaches to play you. It doesn't always have to be in a game it can be in practice.

 

[L-T]

TC certainly had his problem stopping dribble penetration last year. JJ wasn't on the floor enough for it to be something Mick would comment on. JJ will play if Mick lets him and he performs. That is the bottom line. As I mentioned I hope he plays and plays well because that is a benefit to the team. As a old timer I am of the school that your performance forces coaches to play you. It doesn't always have to be in a game it can be in practice.

That is the way it should be Waite, but because I'm an old timer as well, I've seen tons of cases where guys played or didn't play and there was no rhyme or reason for it other than politics, brown-nosing, coach's preference, or coach just being stubborn. This is not just a reference to Cronin, but encompasses all levels of sports from pee-wee to the pros. I wish it truly was just based on performance in practice and games. At this level, it certainly should be with a $2.5 Million salary on the line. However, I've honestly scratched my head many times with some of Mick's playing time decisions. I've seen some guys transfer that I thought deserved better from Mick, but I guess we don't always know what goes on behind the scenes.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I just don't think Caupain will ever come off the ball. Even if there is an injury to a wing player, it kind of compounds the problem if you start shuffling other players around. I think Cronin would prefer using Scott or Clark at the 3, or Jenifer at the 2 before taking Caupain off the ball. Caupain is way too important to the way Cronin wants to do things to take him off the ball. It might happen in random spurts of early games if Jenifer is getting some experience when we're up. But imo (and I'd bet in the coach's) having Caupain at the point is the single most important thing to our success. I really think he'd be the very last guy to be asked to change his role. If healthy, he's bringing the ball up the floor and setting things up, regardless of who we is hurt, or how thin we are anywhere else. Plus, with his ability to get shots, he can be more of a combo guard if need be...but he'd still be that as the de facto PG. It's obvious to me that Cronin wants it to be this way. No need to ever move the All-League guy off of his position if a player at another position gets hurt.

 

[GarradJ21]

I think Caupain is going to turn some heads. Not from just from the fans that called him chokepain and all the ignorant statements but nationally. He will be more of a 35-37% 3pt shooter, overall will take over games and score more along with having 5 or more asts a game. He's going to be talked about a lot. I am excited.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

That is the way it should be Waite, but because I'm an old timer as well, I've seen tons of cases where guys played or didn't play and there was no rhyme or reason for it other than politics, brown-nosing, coach's preference, or coach just being stubborn. This is not just a reference to Cronin, but encompasses all levels of sports from pee-wee to the pros. I wish it truly was just based on performance in practice and games. At this level, it certainly should be with a $2.5 Million salary on the line. However, I've honestly scratched my head many times with some of Mick's playing time decisions. I've seen some guys transfer that I thought deserved better from Mick, but I guess we don't always know what goes on behind the scenes.

i agree. Without all the info it is very difficult to understand somethings. You and I have both coached and I can tell you the pressure from many directions and sources is insane. Someone is always being mistreated.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I just don't think Caupain will ever come off the ball. Even if there is an injury to a wing player, it kind of compounds the problem if you start shuffling other players around. I think Cronin would prefer using Scott or Clark at the 3, or Jenifer at the 2 before taking Caupain off the ball. Caupain is way too important to the way Cronin wants to do things to take him off the ball. It might happen in random spurts of early games if Jenifer is getting some experience when we're up. But imo (and I'd bet in the coach's) having Caupain at the point is the single most important thing to our success. I really think he'd be the very last guy to be asked to change his role. If healthy, he's bringing the ball up the floor and setting things up, regardless of who we is hurt, or how thin we are anywhere else. Plus, with his ability to get shots, he can be more of a combo guard if need be...but he'd still be that as the de facto PG. It's obvious to me that Cronin wants it to be this way. No need to ever move the All-League guy off of his position if a player at another position gets hurt.

Jake I'm not suggesting we move him off the ball. He is the PG. Mick has always liked having a combo guard at the 2. Someone who can take some pressure off the PG. Especially if your going to want to keep him on the floor for extended periods of time. Letting him play off the ball will save his legs. Not just one game but maybe for the whole season. It also could minimize his risk of injury. If JJ can ro vide that against good competition it make us much better.

 

[L-T]

I think Caupain is going to turn some heads. Not from just from the fans that called him chokepain and all the ignorant statements but nationally. He will be more of a 35-37% 3pt shooter, overall will take over games and score more along with having 5 or more asts a game. He's going to be talked about a lot. I am excited.

I didn't call him Chokepain, but I'm still not a huge fan of him as a point guard. He's just not that good at passing and distributing the ball and he has always shot too much even though his percentage was low....and he hasn't been very good at the end of games. That being said, I am open to having my mind changed about him and I hope you are right in your assumptions.

The fact that he earned 1st team all league and Clark earned defensive player of the year says more about the strength of the AAC (or lack thereof), than it does about the players themselves. I'm a lot higher on Clark overall, than I am on Caupain. I love Evans. I believe I will love Washington. I'm cautiously optimistic about Cumberland and I hope KJ finally puts it together. I know Caupain will be pretty good this year and hopefully great, but I still think he'd be better off the ball.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I didn't call him Chokepain, but I'm still not a huge fan of him as a point guard. He's just not that good at passing and distributing the ball and he has always shot too much even though his percentage was low....and he hasn't been very good at the end of games. That being said, I am open to having my mind changed about him and I hope you are right in your assumptions.

The fact that he earned 1st team all league and Clark earned defensive player of the year says more about the strength of the AAC (or lack thereof), than it does about the players themselves. I'm a lot higher on Clark overall, than I am on Caupain. I love Evans. I believe I will love Washington. I'm cautiously optimistic about Cumberland and I hope KJ finally puts it together. I know Caupain will be pretty good this year and hopefully great, but I still think he'd be better off the ball.

L-T he is a very solid player. Maybe not a All American but he is very very good at what Mick ask him to do. One only has to look at the UCONN to know he is very good. That may have been the best game played by a PG at UC in sometime. Like you he reminds me more of a Combo guard then a true point guard. Lack of having such a player is what has forced him to play PG. I love Evans as well. If we have a great season I think he will be a big reason. Clark keeps improving. Not flashy just very steady. Just need KJ to cut down on his TO's.Washington will give us a offensive presence in the post. He also will range away from the hoop and still need to be guarded. If Cumberland gives us anywhere close to what Evans did as a freshman I will be thrilled.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I think Caupain is going to turn some heads. Not from just from the fans that called him chokepain and all the ignorant statements but nationally. He will be more of a 35-37% 3pt shooter, overall will take over games and score more along with having 5 or more asts a game. He's going to be talked about a lot. I am excited.

One person called him chokepain and he has posted here in awhile.

 

[GarradJ21]

One person called him chokepain and he has posted here in awhile.

I don't remember, just that nickname and a lot of bad talking about him stuck out to me last year. Brembry doesn't guard him in the tourney, things would have been different.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I don't remember, just that nickname and a lot of bad talking about him stuck out to me last year. Brembry doesn't guard him in the tourney, things would have been different.

If Clark isn't playing on one foot it's a different story.

 

[GarradJ21]

If Clark isn't playing on one foot it's a different story.

Yup. That more so than ever, shit even if we have shaq for D purposes it's different.

Come on November get here

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Yup. That more so than ever, shit even if we have shaq for D purposes it's different.

Come on November get here

If we had Thomas, he starts and gets minutes over Evans and we lose by double digits. We were down like 12 and Evans went nuts. Thomas wouldn't have done anything like that.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

If we had Thomas, he starts and gets minutes over Evans and we lose by double digits. We were down like 12 and Evans went nuts. Thomas wouldn't have done anything like that.

If clark isn't on 1 foot we may never have been down 12.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

If clark isn't on 1 foot we may never have been down 12.

Never said anything about Clark. I'm saying a healthy Thomas wouldn't have helped...and actually would've hurt.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Never said anything about Clark. I'm saying a healthy Thomas wouldn't have helped...and actually would've hurt.

Will have to agree to disagree. Having Thomas play would have helped us defensively and we may not of had to use Clark who was obviously not effective on one foot.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Will have to agree to disagree. Having Thomas play would have helped us defensively and we may not of had to use Clark who was obviously not effective on one foot.

Seems like you're disagreeing just to disagree. Doesn't matter anyway bc the game was in March and we lost. Evans had 26 points and 9 boards though. If everyone is healthy, which again it doesn't really matter bc they weren't, Evans gets less minutes and doesn't have that kind of game.

But I mean if we want to turn back time and reinvent a scenario where Thomas is 100% healthy and Clark isn't, I guess he could've played without impacting Evans. Not sure what the point of that is though.

 

[GarradJ21]

Will have to agree to disagree. Having Thomas play would have helped us defensively and we may not of had to use Clark who was obviously not effective on one foot.

Yeah way too many what ifs. Obviously health was a big factor no matter how you look at it. Hopefully this year goes smoother in that category.

We have a chance to really do some damage out there. We shouldn't lose any more than 4 games in the AAC realistically. Is our only game against Memphis this year home? SMU is not the same team. Tulsa no. Temple is not beating us twice this year, not a chance. Houston we might split and then UCONN we might split. It was good last year not to have those slipups like we did the year before last to Tulane and ECU.

Hopefully only 2 non conference losses and one of them not being from Xavier. How does 24/25 - 6 sound? 3 or 4 seed? That should be our only expectations if not better with this type of starting 5. Again, as long as injuries do not hurt us.