What will this year's team look like?

[Orangezoo]

Ehhh, I guess if the numbers say it, still think he stinks.

I’m not sure it’s him so much as just having that size inside. Kind of why I think just having size will be a difference maker when you look at how bad it was defending with such a small team.

 

[Niastri]

if he has lost that aspect of his game and he literally cant move his knees...he shouldnt be on the team

i trust red isnt just keeping him on as a sentimental fave

i get it that people assume the worst...but i assume he is his normal self...and a great defender

but then again red did say taylor is the best 1 on 1 defender 0n the squad

Even if they already know Westry won't play again, it's not like Red is going to kick him off the team.

 

[Niastri]

I’m not sure it’s him so much as just having that size inside. Kind of why I think just having size will be a difference maker when you look at how bad it was defending with such a small team.

Just having adequate size to not get pushed around is going to be big. Shotblocking will be a bonus.

 

[CardiacCuse]

Even if they already know Westry won't play again, it's not like Red is going to kick him off the team.

that would be wild considering they already left 1 scholarship unfilled

i wouldnt want him kicked off the team but still i would hope that if that was the case, he would somehow be coaxed off the roster

i mean, they cleaned house last year, right? patterson carey, mintz, hima, q...etc...why would chance be any different?

 

[Todoubled23]

On the lookout for McLeod misspelling in this thread. You're all on my list now!

 

[Idiocuse22&]

“Beyond fine.”
That’s an interesting characterization. Reminds me of a commercial I’ve been seeing lately, for some product that cleans and “removes up to 100% of deposits.” The product could do absolutely nothing and that claim would still be true….

Yea but they say that product is like a pregnant lady on welfare...it dont work.
Im saying we will be beyond fine...just listen Ill be quick like nestle and beat it like Michael Jackson. Thats why your neighbors call me Nicholas Cage bc ill be gone in 60 seconds...I will clean up all your deposits and add in withdrawals...And then We will be beyond fine.

You watch commercials? Why would you submit yourself to that level of brainwashing? Damn. Go back to 1986 zelda.
Should I have said average maybe slightly above average? Nah, I strive for interesting.

 

[Jake]

We are going to be better this year. It’s a miracle that we got 20 wins last year with essentially a dysfunctional team and flawed roster.

Carlos is the exact opposite of Judah as lead guard. He’ll get players the ball when and where they need it. But he’s not going to get to the FT line at will like Judah could.

I share Rothstein’s concern about a go to guy, but the go to guy might be Carlos’ decision making. Scoring should be more spread out this year, but I think there will be nights when Bell is unconscious.

This team isn’t going to roll over and die like last years team did repeatedly. I expect us to be more physical and competitive.

I expect this team to make the tournament.

 

[RF2044]

We are going to be better this year. It’s a miracle that we got 20 wins last year with essentially a dysfunctional team and flawed roster.

Carlos is the exact opposite of Judah as lead guard. He’ll get players ball when and where they need it. But he’s not going to get to the FT line at will line Judah could.

I share Rothstein’s concern about a go to guy, but the go to guy might be Carlos’ decision making. Scoring should be more spread out this year, but I think there will be nights when Bell is unconscious.

This team isn’t going to roll over and die like last years team did repeatedly. I expect us to be more physical and competitive.

I expect this team to make the tournament.

Good post.

I'll add that several newcomers offer better depth / a group of no-frills guys who just get the job done, to compliment established scorers like JJ and Bell.

This team is going to qualitatively a LOT different than last year.

Welcome change in that regard.

 

[kcsu]

Freeman has the higher ceiling, but I've been saying since last Spring I think there's a very good chance that this year, Maliq will be the better PF. I've also been saying I think we need to curb our expectations of Donnie because he was ranked Top 10 largely based on measurables and potential, not because he can dominate right now. And the excitement about him going in the lotto is also based on potential, not what he can do today. Hope I'm wrong. We need Donnie's though / we need Orange in the NBA.

Brown and Donnie are two completely different players. Brown is an excellent player with limited offensive skills. Donnie is a future NBA star.

 

[kcsu]

I'm not saying his knees are still bad but you just don't jump right in like nothing happened. He hasn't played regularly in games since he was in high school. 20 minutes a game would be expecting a lot.

It's hard to come back from major injuries and Chance has had two.

 

[SUFan44]

We are going to be better this year. It’s a miracle that we got 20 wins last year with essentially a dysfunctional team and flawed roster.

Carlos is the exact opposite of Judah as lead guard. He’ll get players the ball when and where they need it. But he’s not going to get to the FT line at will like Judah could.

I share Rothstein’s concern about a go to guy, but the go to guy might be Carlos’ decision making. Scoring should be more spread out this year, but I think there will be nights when Bell is unconscious.

This team isn’t going to roll over and die like last years team did repeatedly. I expect us to be more physical and competitive.

I expect this team to make the tournament.

I am hoping the team takes the step. I will be disappointed if we do not have our name called on Selection Sunday.

I think we're going to be deeper - I still don't know that I trust a team that Bell is a key piece on. Too inconsistent. Too one dimensional. I hope when he goes into one of his funks, he is properly placed in a position where he can't hurt the team.

Also interested to see how Freeman's role develops.

 

[Orangezoo]

I am hoping the team takes the step. I will be disappointed if we do not have our name called on Selection Sunday.

I think we're going to be deeper - I still don't know that I trust a team that Bell is a key piece on. Too inconsistent. Too one dimensional. I hope when he goes into one of his funks, he is properly placed in a position where he can't hurt the team.

Also interested to see how Freeman's role develops.

Bell made several plays against Clarion he didn’t last year. He drove it to the rim and drove and kicked out and made some nice passes overall. He also defended and rebounded much better for one game at least. He did still get beat one on one a couple times but it wasn’t without effort.

 

[RF2044]

Bell made several plays against Clarion he didn’t last year. He drove it to the rim and drove and kicked out and made some nice passes overall. He also defended and rebounded much better for one game at least. He did still get beat one on one a couple times but it wasn’t without effort.

His demeanor was different, as well. He seemed more... patient. More focused.

Last year, he would complain demonstratively seemingly every time a call went against him. The other day [and granted, this was an exhibition game, lacking pressure] he seemed more mature.

Which kind of makes sense. He's an upperclassman now. He's started the better part of two seasons. He's "been there" before. And on a team with new faces, he might be counted upon to be a leader -- maybe that's what we're seeing.

There was a play where he got a pass when he was open on the left baseline. He paused like he was lining up the shot, causing the defender to go flying out towards him, which enabled Bell to put it on the floor and drive. But instead of trying to take it all the way in to the rim, he spotted Jayre Davis wide upon up top, and kicked the ball out to him for a wide open three that Davis knocked down.

Tough to envision Bell making that play last year, or not looking just to get his own shot on the drive.

 

[Cappy3]

His demeanor was different, as well. He seemed more... patient. More focused.

Last year, he would complain demonstratively seemingly every time a call went against him. The other day [and granted, this was an exhibition game, lacking pressure] he seemed more mature.

Which kind of makes sense. He's an upperclassman now. He's started the better part of two seasons. He's "been there" before. And on a team with new faces, he might be counted upon to be a leader -- maybe that's what we're seeing.

There was a play where he got a pass when he was open on the left baseline. He paused like he was lining up the shot, causing the defender to go flying out towards him, which enabled Bell to put it on the floor and drive. But instead of trying to take it all the way in to the rim, he spotted Jayre Davis wide upon up top, and kicked the ball out to him for a wide open three that Davis knocked down.

Tough to envision Bell making that play last year, or not looking just to get his own shot on the drive.

Umm, one thing. Davis was 0-3 from 3.

 

[RF2044]

Umm, one thing. Davis was 0-3 from 3.

Pretty sure it was Davis, but maybe I'm wrong [lots of new faces, still learning their numbers / getting used to so many new players].

Doesn't matter -- not germane to the point.

 

[Orangezoo]

Pretty sure it was Davis, but maybe I'm wrong.

Doesn't matter -- not germane to the point.

Yep and I think it was Choppa actually but as noted doesn’t change the point.

 

[Orangezoo]

Umm, one thing. Davis was 0-3 from 3.

 

[Orangezoo]

His demeanor was different, as well. He seemed more... patient. More focused.

Last year, he would complain demonstratively seemingly every time a call went against him. The other day [and granted, this was an exhibition game, lacking pressure] he seemed more mature.

Which kind of makes sense. He's an upperclassman now. He's started the better part of two seasons. He's "been there" before. And on a team with new faces, he might be counted upon to be a leader -- maybe that's what we're seeing.

There was a play where he got a pass when he was open on the left baseline. He paused like he was lining up the shot, causing the defender to go flying out towards him, which enabled Bell to put it on the floor and drive. But instead of trying to take it all the way in to the rim, he spotted Jayre Davis wide upon up top, and kicked the ball out to him for a wide open three that Davis knocked down.

Tough to envision Bell making that play last year, or not looking just to get his own shot on the drive.

My favorite thing offensively besides the passing was him making the effort to get to the line. He knew a couple of times he would draw a foul and was intentional in his efforts.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

So based on Clarion, we look like a team that's deep and moves the ball. We look like a bigger, older team.

What I'm excited about is I think we'll shoot pretty well from outside most games, and last game outside of Bell and Starling nobody hit threes really.

 

[RF2044]

So based on Clarion, we look like a team that's deep and moves the ball. We look like a bigger, older team.

What I'm excited about is I think we'll shoot pretty well from outside most games, and last game outside of Bell and Starling nobody hit threes really.

Something else to get excited about: Red was freewheel substituting, playing weird lineups, etc.

Those types of things usually make it difficult for the players to get into offensive rhythm, players have a tendency to force shots, etc. But despite that, we still score 100+.

 

[Sherman20]

So based on Clarion, we look like a team that's deep and moves the ball. We look like a bigger, older team.

What I'm excited about is I think we'll shoot pretty well from outside most games, and last game outside of Bell and Starling nobody hit threes really.

Choppa knocked down two 3s. I think he’s going to play this year if he can give us another outside shooting threat and decent perimeter defense.

 

[djcon57]

Choppa knocked down two 3s. I think he’s going to play this year if he can give us another outside shooting threat and decent perimeter defender.

Feels to me like 1 of the 3 (Moore, Taylor, and to a lesser degree Cuffe) will become THEE 3rd guard in the rotation and will come in when they move JJ to PG and when Carlos needs a rest or JJ needs a rest. Obviously Westry is the wildcard but until we see anything, not really worth is to assume anything.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Feels to me like 1 of the 3 (Moore, Taylor, and to a lesser degree Cuffe) will become THEE 3rd guard in the rotation and will come in when move JJ to PG when Carlos needs a rest or JJ needs a rest. Obviously Westry is the wildcard but until we see anything, not really worth is to assume anything.

I think Taylor will be #3 but Choppa will squeak in some wing minutes.

 

[djcon57]

I think Taylor will be #3 but Choppa will squeak in some wing minutes.

Taylor is going to need to knock down that 3 ball though to get those mins with JC. Not saying he can't based on previous numbers.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Taylor is going to need to knock down that 3 ball though to get those mins with JC. Not saying he can't based on previous numbers.

Yeah, his shot didn't look... good Saturday.

Plenty of time to work it out though.