Next years team

[jacobkdoyle]

I tend to agree with you. Mick starts the guys he trusts on defense. We would all like to see Sanders and Guyn play secondary roles but unless some of the more offensively gifted players make huge strides defensively, I think they are going to be playing much more prominent roles than many of us anticipate.

If we do start Sanders and Guyn, I'd rather have KJ at SG and TC off the bench. I don't think it'd be smart to have both KJ and Cobb coming off the bench. I expect Cobb to be instant offense and KJ was only behind SK and JJ last year in points per minute. And if we get off to a slow start, I'd rather turn to Troy to come in and pick up the pace.

 

[waterhead]

I would like to see a "free for all" and see what shakes out. I don't think Mick will look at it that way. He will use veterans to show the new kids how to play D in the beginning. Hopefully a couple of them pick it up pretty quickly. One thing they should find out right away is that a little effort goes a long way. Whoever shows they want to get after it will be first in line.

Who are the likliest kids to have a "high motor" coming in? Ellis, Strickland, Debarry, Moore, Clark, Mormon, Cobb. Man I can't believe we have 7 new players this year...maybe 8. That's almost unheard of.

I think our vets will get their minutes...but we need 4 more players to step up if we want to be 9 deep. I really have my doubts about how much we can accomplish this year...but next year I think we could be good and the year after could be great. One thing is for sure...Mick will get the most out of the situation that he can.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Mormon in my opinion.

 

[waterhead]

I hadn't really thought about it all that much until Lawrence decided to leave. We lost 4 seniors, had one scholly to give, and had two redshirts.

Returning vets...two sophs (this year), two role playing seniors, and one talented yet inconsistent junior.

Caupain
Johnson
Sanders
Guyn
Thomas

Coming in (first year playing)...

Debarry
Strickland
Ellis
Moore
Clark
Mormon
Cobb
New player TBD (maybe)

I don't know how in the world you make a run with that type of team but if we do...it will be one HELL of a coaching job!!

 

[waterhead]

Mormon in my opinion.

I agree...so that's one...now we just need a few more

 

[Bulldog01]

Mick lost so much defense with this year's seniors, I don't see any way that he doesn't go back to GG starting, if for nothing else, to anchor the defensive situation he'll be faced with. Everyone keeps hoping that GG fades into the sunset, but I believe he'll be a much bigger piece of the puzzle than everyone thinks.

Talents there just has to want it more. I still have him has my Breakout player just too much ability and he's a freak of nature

 

[handwaver]

I hadn't really thought about it all that much until Lawrence decided to leave. We lost 4 seniors, had one scholly to give, and had two redshirts.

Returning vets...two sophs (this year), two role playing seniors, and one talented yet inconsistent junior.

Caupain
Johnson
Sanders
Guyn
Thomas

Coming in (first year playing)...

Debarry
Strickland
Ellis
Moore
Clark
Mormon
Cobb
New player TBD (maybe)

I don't know how in the world you make a run with that type of team but if we do...it will be one HELL of a coaching job!!

Ellis should know something about the system, having been here before. He also has some juco time under his belt, so I would expect him to "get it" first.
Mormon has at least exposure, so hopefully he's a quick study. Cobb isn't straight out of high school, so he will hopefully have some court maturity. Just need one of the frosh to be a phenom, & the others to be decent role players. (I'm assuming all the experienced Bearcats take great leaps forward

 

[IDC]

Ellis should know something about the system, having been here before. He also has some juco time under his belt, so I would expect him to "get it" first.
Mormon has at least exposure, so hopefully he's a quick study. Cobb isn't straight out of high school, so he will hopefully have some court maturity. Just need one of the frosh to be a phenom, & the others to be decent role players. (I'm assuming all the experienced Bearcats take great leaps forward

The one positive about having 7 newcomers is all but Clark and Moore have some type of experience at the college level. If it were 7 frosh coming in I would be deeply concerned. However, with 3 jucos (2 with d 1 experience) and 2 redshirts who have been around the system, hopefully the learning curve will be much faster

 

[Robert]

The one positive about having 7 newcomers is all but Clark and Moore have some type of experience at the college level. If it were 7 frosh coming in I would be deeply concerned. However, with 3 jucos (2 with d 1 experience) and 2 redshirts who have been around the system, hopefully the learning curve will be much faster

Strickland wasn't allowed to practice last season if I'm not mistaken, so he might as well be a true freshman.

 

[BearcatMick]

Really like this team for next year!

 

[Bearcat Rob]

People keep talking about guyn, he is just not a threat. His moves go side by side, it's takes some time for him to bring it up against pressure because he doesn't move forward. He's quick and fast he needs to work on blow by moves and get to the hoop and also work on finishing in fluid motion when he drives in for lay ups it looks so forced. Troy is better at using different speeds and different moves and. Excited about this team next year it will be fun

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Interested to hear what everyone thinks...
What ONE position do you feel best and worst about going into next year? And what's most important... depth, experience, or potential?

 

[rallie25]

A SG who is aggressive and a Center who can be productive down low. Can I say confidence??? I really think Shaq can be special if he had more confidence.

 

[Robert]

Interested to hear what everyone thinks...
What ONE position do you feel best and worst about going into next year? And what's most important... depth, experience, or potential?

I don't feel particularly great about any of the positions right now. No one on this squad has averaged more than 6 or 7 ppg at the D-I level. I do think we have a nice mix of players with varying skill sets and athletic talents that could gel together into a nice team, but it's going to take some off-season work, chemistry, and good coaching to make it happen. If Cronin takes this team to the tournament, I will consider it his finest coaching achievement given the lack of experience and proven talent on this team.

 

[Robert]

A SG who is aggressive and a Center who can be productive down low. Can I say confidence??? I really think Shaq can be special if he had more confidence.

Shaq could be a 15/7 kind of player if he bulked up and projected a little more confidence. Tremendous athlete, nice mid-range jumper/elevation, and has shown the ability at times to break his man down off the dribble. The problem is I didn't think he showed that much improvement last season. Everything he did last year we saw in flashes his freshman year. He really needs to step up and show he has put in some work.

 

[handwaver]

Interested to hear what everyone thinks...
What ONE position do you feel best and worst about going into next year? And what's most important... depth, experience, or potential?

Best? - guards, some experience and now it's THEIR team...no more looking up to the big 3 senior leadership - this will play out positively, I believe - the sophs will take responsibility and lead, along with Guyn, who will be a solid presence to have on the team. We could have a surprise major contributor in Morman or Cobb as well.

Worst? - center - inside game - no one has played any D-1 games

Forwards, Shaq & Sanders...meh

Experience matters only if it's high quality
Same goes for depth
Potential matters only if it's realized

 

[IDC]

I think we're all going to have to accept that Shaq isn't going to bulk up much more. Going on his 4th year in the program, he is what he is physically.

He might add a little more strength, but I remember Mick saying no matter what they tried, he can't put on weight. Shaq needs the confidence to attack the basket and he needs to learn how to draw fouls if he's not going to be able to finish.

Even though there is a lack of experience in the frontcourt, I feel good about it. We have legit size that not many teams will be able to match. If Mick can get these guys to crash the boards, especially on offense, we will see results.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

This team really reminds me of a fantasy team right after you draft it. You look at the potential and think everyone can be great. You got a few sleeper picks and a young player you just hope breaks out. In reality you don't know what you have until the games start playing.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

A SG who is aggressive and a Center who can be productive down low. Can I say confidence??? I really think Shaq can be special if he had more confidence.

Shaq needs a lot more then confidence. He needs 20lbs,he needs to pick up his defensive intensity,seek contact and not avoid it just to name a few. It takes more then a occasional highlight to play D1 basketball.

 

[dp3113]

I think we're all going to have to accept that Shaq isn't going to bulk up much more. Going on his 4th year in the program, he is what he is physically.

He might add a little more strength, but I remember Mick saying no matter what they tried, he can't put on weight. Shaq needs the confidence to attack the basket and he needs to learn how to draw fouls if he's not going to be able to finish.

Even though there is a lack of experience in the frontcourt, I feel good about it. We have legit size that not many teams will be able to match. If Mick can get these guys to crash the boards, especially on offense, we will see results.

Fans tend to say "add 15/20/25 pounds" in conversation about a player as if it is is easy to do. That is very, very difficult for anyone to do, let alone someone with a very narrow frame and base like Shaq. You need to have the bone structure that enables you to add that type of weight. Some guys simply cannot add that type of weight. I think Shaq is that type.