of the Sun Belt (whether or not that's an official title or not), and winning 23 games, that we can't get an NCAA bid. It looks as though the Sun Belt will be predominantly a one bid league forever, unless we drop a few teams and add some that are substantially better programs.
It really does suck that you can't get to the big dance when you win 23 D1 games, and 11 of them on the road. That should count for something. Excellence should be rewarded, but as long as the big boys dominate the selection process, it won't change. There will eventually be a lawsuit to change the process. I'm pretty certain of that. Fourth and fifth place teams should not be rewarded while first and second place teams are not.

(03-13-2009 09:59 AM)Dr. J. Wrote:  of the Sun Belt (whether or not that's an official title or not), and winning 23 games, that we can't get an NCAA bid. It looks as though the Sun Belt will be predominantly a one bid league forever, unless we drop a few teams and add some that are substantially better programs.
It really does suck that you can't get to the big dance when you win 23 D1 games, and 11 of them on the road. That should count for something. Excellence should be rewarded, but as long as the big boys dominate the selection process, it won't change. There will eventually be a lawsuit to change the process. I'm pretty certain of that. Fourth and fifth place teams should not be rewarded while first and second place teams are not.

Don't think they will drop anyone, but some, like the two Florida teams and probably Denver will leave if they can find a better fit. As to your suggestion that we get in their place, schools that are "substantially better programs." If we do that that lessens our chances of ever making the NCAA's. Hell, we haven't been able to get there with the competition that's been here for twenty years, and you're wanting to bring in new schools with better programs.

What we've got to do is beef up our program, and that means recruiting better basketball players, not athletes. Basketball players who can shoot and score. You don't have to have 7 footers, just bigs in the 6'8" or 6'9" range that can jump, shoot, and block shots. That's about the size of the bigs you usually see in the Belt. Grinder ball has got to go.

Grinder ball won't go away as long we have the coaching staff that we currently have. It is Coach Sheilds' offensive philosophy. And we won divisional titles for multiple years with it. He obviously believes in it and I can't imagine him changing the way he wants our team to play.

However, if going inside is the first option, which it is, I think we should hope for bigger bigs with "softer" hands. It would help if we learn how the feed the bigs more efficiently.

(03-13-2009 10:46 AM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-13-2009 09:59 AM)Dr. J. Wrote:  of the Sun Belt (whether or not that's an official title or not), and winning 23 games, that we can't get an NCAA bid. It looks as though the Sun Belt will be predominantly a one bid league forever, unless we drop a few teams and add some that are substantially better programs.
It really does suck that you can't get to the big dance when you win 23 D1 games, and 11 of them on the road. That should count for something. Excellence should be rewarded, but as long as the big boys dominate the selection process, it won't change. There will eventually be a lawsuit to change the process. I'm pretty certain of that. Fourth and fifth place teams should not be rewarded while first and second place teams are not.

Don't think they will drop anyone, but some, like the two Florida teams and probably Denver will leave if they can find a better fit. As to your suggestion that we get in their place, schools that are "substantially better programs." If we do that that lessens our chances of ever making the NCAA's. Hell, we haven't been able to get there with the competition that's been here for twenty years, and you're wanting to bring in new schools with better programs.

What we've got to do is beef up our program, and that means recruiting better basketball players, not athletes. Basketball players who can shoot and score. You don't have to have 7 footers, just bigs in the 6'8" or 6'9" range that can jump, shoot, and block shots. That's about the size of the bigs you usually see in the Belt. Grinder ball has got to go.

I agree. What I meant was that in order to receive more than one bid each year, we would either need to move to a better league, or have some better teams join our league, and if the league was better, hopefully we would recruit better players to compete, and wouldn't have to rely on winning the tournament to ever get to the big dance. You're right in the fact that we've normally never consistely been able to recruit that 6'6" wing player that can do it all, like Western seems to have every year. Our 6'6" guys normally are inside players with hands of stone. Obviously not all, but we can't seem to recruit that size player who's a true wing player. However, the Cicic kid seems to fit that mold. Assuming he makes it to campus, which we're assured he will.

(03-13-2009 10:59 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Grinder ball won't go away as long we have the coaching staff that we currently have. It is Coach Sheilds' offensive philosophy. And we won divisional titles for multiple years with it. He obviously believes in it and I can't imagine him changing the way he wants our team to play.
However, if going inside is the first option, which it is, I think we should hope for bigger bigs with "softer" hands. It would help if we learn how the feed the bigs more efficiently.

You are probably correct that as long as Steve is here, grinder ball is here. But, there has got to be a limit on how many years you're willing to give a coach to only win divisional titles, and not win the tournament. Chris has been quoted in print, that we've got to get to post season. He didn't say how many years he's willing to wait. I consider the NCAA and NIT(WNIT)to be post season. I don't count post season tournaments you buy your way into. I hope he doesn't either.

Right now I'd just like the opportunity to get beat in the finals.

(03-13-2009 10:59 AM)Scotto Wrote:  bigger bigs with "softer" hands.

If we get a 6-10 guy who was a point guard earlier, he might fit the bill.

The SBC is making progress. It got two teams in the NCAA last year and it has gotten two teams in before. If Western had lost in the championship game we would have had two teams in this year. WKU will be tough again next year. And we will be competitive if the recruiting class is as good as everyone says it is. Courtney Jackson is a player. We have Burton, Mouzy, and Foster back. And we get Bozeman eligible. WKU didn't get where it is over night. They built and built just like we are now.

(03-13-2009 06:16 PM)ez272 Wrote:  The SBC is making progress. It got two teams in the NCAA last year and it has gotten two teams in before. If Western had lost in the championship game we would have had two teams in this year. WKU will be tough again next year. And we will be competitive if the recruiting class is as good as everyone says it is. Courtney Jackson is a player. We have Burton, Mouzy, and Foster back. And we get Bozeman eligible. WKU didn't get where it is over night. They built and built just like we are now.

Courtney Jackson was the 13th ranked recruit from Texas, and hardly did anything this past year. Is it because Sheilds doesn't like to go to freshmen, or is he not as good as we thought he was? I hope he realizes his potential. With him we've got Smith (who obviously needs to be allowed to shoot those mid-range jump shots), Burton, Bails, and hopefully Neighbour inside (plus those jucos who I honestly don't think will amount to much). Outside we've got Bozeman, Mouzy, Foster, Curtis Jackson, Cicic, and Stevie Moore v. 1.0.

I hope I'm not missing anyone (I'm sure I am...long day), but that to me is the makings of a very good team, provided Sheilds doesn't screw it up.

V. 1.0. ...?

(03-13-2009 09:32 PM)Scotto Wrote:  V. 1.0. ...?

McBride. When he was at Binghamton he did similar stuff.

(03-13-2009 09:22 PM)eh9198 Wrote:  

(03-13-2009 06:16 PM)ez272 Wrote:  The SBC is making progress. It got two teams in the NCAA last year and it has gotten two teams in before. If Western had lost in the championship game we would have had two teams in this year. WKU will be tough again next year. And we will be competitive if the recruiting class is as good as everyone says it is. Courtney Jackson is a player. We have Burton, Mouzy, and Foster back. And we get Bozeman eligible. WKU didn't get where it is over night. They built and built just like we are now.

Courtney Jackson was the 13th ranked recruit from Texas, and hardly did anything this past year. Is it because Sheilds doesn't like to go to freshmen, or is he not as good as we thought he was? I hope he realizes his potential. With him we've got Smith (who obviously needs to be allowed to shoot those mid-range jump shots), Burton, Bails, and hopefully Neighbour inside (plus those jucos who I honestly don't think will amount to much). Outside we've got Bozeman, Mouzy, Foster, Curtis Jackson, Cicic, and Stevie Moore v. 1.0.

I hope I'm not missing anyone (I'm sure I am...long day), but that to me is the makings of a very good team, provided Sheilds doesn't screw it up.

Steve said at the last tip in club meeting that Courtney could be a three year starter for us, and an all league player in a couple of years. That tells you he likes what he's doing so far. Give him time in the weight room, and he'll be pretty darn good.

(03-13-2009 09:44 PM)Dr. J. Wrote:  

(03-13-2009 09:22 PM)eh9198 Wrote:  

(03-13-2009 06:16 PM)ez272 Wrote:  The SBC is making progress. It got two teams in the NCAA last year and it has gotten two teams in before. If Western had lost in the championship game we would have had two teams in this year. WKU will be tough again next year. And we will be competitive if the recruiting class is as good as everyone says it is. Courtney Jackson is a player. We have Burton, Mouzy, and Foster back. And we get Bozeman eligible. WKU didn't get where it is over night. They built and built just like we are now.

Courtney Jackson was the 13th ranked recruit from Texas, and hardly did anything this past year. Is it because Sheilds doesn't like to go to freshmen, or is he not as good as we thought he was? I hope he realizes his potential. With him we've got Smith (who obviously needs to be allowed to shoot those mid-range jump shots), Burton, Bails, and hopefully Neighbour inside (plus those jucos who I honestly don't think will amount to much). Outside we've got Bozeman, Mouzy, Foster, Curtis Jackson, Cicic, and Stevie Moore v. 1.0.

I hope I'm not missing anyone (I'm sure I am...long day), but that to me is the makings of a very good team, provided Sheilds doesn't screw it up.

Steve said at the last tip in club meeting that Courtney could be a three year starter for us, and an all league player in a couple of years. That tells you he likes what he's doing so far. Give him time in the weight room, and he'll be pretty darn good.

I love to hear that!

(03-13-2009 10:59 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Grinder ball won't go away as long we have the coaching staff that we currently have. It is Coach Sheilds' offensive philosophy. And we won divisional titles for multiple years with it. He obviously believes in it and I can't imagine him changing the way he wants our team to play.

However, if going inside is the first option, which it is, I think we should hope for bigger bigs with "softer" hands. It would help if we learn how the feed the bigs more efficiently.

Then this is obviously trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I've been a season ticket holder since 1989, and since the Newell days, I can't remember one really top big man at UALR who had great offensive skills. Can anyone of you think of any player in the 6'10" or greater range we've ever had who was an offensive impact player? I don't think there's been one since we've been in our current league.

The Sun Belt has traditionally been a guard oriented league, since really great big men are going to be snapped up by BCS teams, as there are not enough of them to go around. I have no problem with Steve's offensive philosophy. But if you can't recruit those inside player you need to make it work, you should be recruiting shooters and building your offense around a perimeter offense. Get a decent big man or two who can rebound, but don't try and build your offense around them.

(03-14-2009 09:16 AM)Dr. J. Wrote:  

(03-13-2009 10:59 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Grinder ball won't go away as long we have the coaching staff that we currently have. It is Coach Sheilds' offensive philosophy. And we won divisional titles for multiple years with it. He obviously believes in it and I can't imagine him changing the way he wants our team to play.

However, if going inside is the first option, which it is, I think we should hope for bigger bigs with "softer" hands. It would help if we learn how the feed the bigs more efficiently.

Then this is obviously trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I've been a season ticket holder since 1989, and since the Newell days, I can't remember one really top big man at UALR who had great offensive skills. Can anyone of you think of any player in the 6'10" or greater range we've ever had who was an offensive impact player? I don't think there's been one since we've been in our current league.

The Sun Belt has traditionally been a guard oriented league, since really great big men are going to be snapped up by BCS teams, as there are not enough of them to go around. I have no problem with Steve's offensive philosophy. But if you can't recruit those inside player you need to make it work, you should be recruiting shooters and building your offense around a perimeter offense. Get a decent big man or two who can rebound, but don't try and build your offense around them.

Will Neighbour sounds like he could be that player (although I thought the same thing about Derrick Bails). Likely Neighbour will still be something of a "project" despite the fact that he apparently has excellent offensive skills based on the fact that he was playing point guard a couple of years ago. I'm simply basing that on the fact that he was not snatched up by a "big time" school. Maybe, for the first time since Derek Fisher, we really "stole" one. More likely, he will need a year or two of putting on weight and muscle before he can be a "go to" player. However, it really sounds like this kid could one day be the dominant player in the Sun Belt.

(03-13-2009 09:59 AM)Dr. J. Wrote:  of the Sun Belt (whether or not that's an official title or not), and winning 23 games, that we can't get an NCAA bid.

The league isn't that good. Just barely stayed out of the bottom third of conferences this season. We probably would not get a bid at all if the tournament winner didn't go.

(03-14-2009 09:16 AM)Dr. J. Wrote:  

(03-13-2009 10:59 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Grinder ball won't go away as long we have the coaching staff that we currently have. It is Coach Sheilds' offensive philosophy. And we won divisional titles for multiple years with it. He obviously believes in it and I can't imagine him changing the way he wants our team to play.

However, if going inside is the first option, which it is, I think we should hope for bigger bigs with "softer" hands. It would help if we learn how the feed the bigs more efficiently.

Then this is obviously trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I've been a season ticket holder since 1989, and since the Newell days, I can't remember one really top big man at UALR who had great offensive skills. Can anyone of you think of any player in the 6'10" or greater range we've ever had who was an offensive impact player? I don't think there's been one since we've been in our current league.

The Sun Belt has traditionally been a guard oriented league, since really great big men are going to be snapped up by BCS teams, as there are not enough of them to go around. I have no problem with Steve's offensive philosophy. But if you can't recruit those inside player you need to make it work, you should be recruiting shooters and building your offense around a perimeter offense. Get a decent big man or two who can rebound, but don't try and build your offense around them.

The closest I can think of would be Jeff Cummings. When he was in decent shape(not sure he was ever in good shape), he was pretty good offensively. I remember one year he was the MVP of the TAAC tournament. And, he and Johnnie Bell may be the only two players that the fans ever did something extra with. The barking when Dog was introduced or did something positive, and the loud Johnnieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Belllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, when Johnnie was introduced or scored. Those two traditions at that time have never to my knowledge been repeated for any Trojan since. And, of course we lost the pride of the Sun Belt(they always won the best dance team in the TAAC tournament), the Trojans in Motion.

Johnnie Bell was the last 6-10 guy that made an impact for UALR that I can remember. Heck, the only other guy I can remember we've ever even had that was that tall was Jason Evansingston, but he didn't make an impact at all.

Jeff Cummins was too soft, and too lazy. He had potential to be great, but his attitude did him in. Michael Covington was 6-11 and had very good skills offensively. He had a great work ethic and always did what the coaches asked him to do. Unfortunately he blew his knee out in practice and never recovered. Johnnie Bell is a good choice. And let's not forget Jake Yancy. He had the killer instinct that Too Tall didn't have. If Jake's knees had let him play another year, I think he would have had a huge year.

(03-14-2009 12:17 PM)eh9198 Wrote:  Johnnie Bell was the last 6-10 guy that made an impact for UALR that I can remember. Heck, the only other guy I can remember we've ever even had that was that tall was Jason Evansingston, but he didn't make an impact at all.

I don't believe Johnnie Bell was 6'10". I don't even believe he was listed as being that tall. I think he was around 6'7" or 6'8". And if I didn't state it correctly, I meant to say since we've been in the Sun Belt. I'm talking about a tall inside player who was an offensive threat like Alysha Clark is for Middle Tennessee. Someone who could put it on the floor and overpower people going to the basket. A big man who had enough skills where one man couldn't guard him. Ain't been seen in these parts.