Interesting year so far for WKU. They have played a killer schedule, and were only 3-5 after the Memphis game. They are shooting only 41% overall and a very un-Topperish 32.3% from the arc. And, believe it or not, only 56% from the FT line. They will be a dominant team in the SBC, no doubt, but they have only one player over 6-6 who has played any minutes of consequence so far. No doubt to some degree their shooting percentage is due to the tough opposition, but when you play smallball, you normally need to shoot the 3 pretty well.

(12-07-2010 05:18 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  No doubt to some degree their shooting percentage is due to the tough opposition, but when you play smallball, you normally need to shoot the 3 pretty well.

An astute observation that is pretty much lost on Coach McDonald.

I have watched our recruiting the last couple of years and I have seen multiple instances where McDonald has recruited "athletes" over "shooters". Over and over again I see "needs to improve outside shooting" in the recruiting descriptions.

We have been in react mode on point guards for a couple of years. Remember that Butler's Nored was a WKU commit until Horn left. How much could we have used him the last couple of years. Anthony Sally was recruited in haste to fill a hole. We are playing the Juco game where we bring them in and then have to spend a year raising the point guard before they are ready for primetime. The turnovers are really starting to drive me nuts.

Our bread and butter will be putbacks, runouts and transition. If we get hot from 3 we will likely destroy a team.

On the inside, Patillo may be 6'6" but he will impress you with his athleticsm. He has some finer points to learn, but he could seriously average a double double. Dixon is a solid role player as long as he doesn't try to dribble. We have another 6'11" that will be eligible here in a couple of weeks. He runs the floor well and blocks shots.

I really don't know how we will be in conference play. I could honestly see us finishing anywhere from 1rst to 4th in the east.

(12-07-2010 09:44 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  

(12-07-2010 05:18 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  No doubt to some degree their shooting percentage is due to the tough opposition, but when you play smallball, you normally need to shoot the 3 pretty well.

An astute observation that is pretty much lost on Coach McDonald.

I have watched our recruiting the last couple of years and I have seen multiple instances where McDonald has recruited "athletes" over "shooters". Over and over again I see "needs to improve outside shooting" in the recruiting descriptions.

We have been in react mode on point guards for a couple of years. Remember that Butler's Nored was a WKU commit until Horn left. How much could we have used him the last couple of years. Anthony Sally was recruited in haste to fill a hole. We are playing the Juco game where we bring them in and then have to spend a year raising the point guard before they are ready for primetime. The turnovers are really starting to drive me nuts.

Our bread and butter will be putbacks, runouts and transition. If we get hot from 3 we will likely destroy a team.

On the inside, Patillo may be 6'6" but he will impress you with his athleticsm. He has some finer points to learn, but he could seriously average a double double. Dixon is a solid role player as long as he doesn't try to dribble. We have another 6'11" that will be eligible here in a couple of weeks. He runs the floor well and blocks shots.

I really don't know how we will be in conference play. I could honestly see us finishing anywhere from 1rst to 4th in the east.

Hey Scotto, where's the violin music?

(12-07-2010 10:30 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  Hey Scotto, where's the violin music?

Maybe spring for a quartet?

(12-07-2010 11:13 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  Maybe spring for a quartet?

I expect to see Western in their usual place, on or near the top of the East.

WKU really needs their game tonight. As one of the guys on our board said - if they don't the Toppers could be on an 8 game losing streak headed into SBC play.

(12-08-2010 12:53 PM)CMJ Wrote:  WKU really needs their game tonight. As one of the guys on our board said - if they don't the Toppers could be on an 8 game losing streak headed into SBC play.

There only win since Nov. 18 was a 2 point defeat of Hofstra.

(12-08-2010 01:04 PM)mjs Wrote:  

(12-08-2010 12:53 PM)CMJ Wrote:  WKU really needs their game tonight. As one of the guys on our board said - if they don't the Toppers could be on an 8 game losing streak headed into SBC play.

There only win since Nov. 18 was a 2 point defeat of Hofstra.

I thought Hofstra was at the bottom of the river with cement blocks tied to his feet! Oh wait. That was Hoffa. Never mind.

I am becoming more and more certain that FAU will win the East.

(12-08-2010 09:59 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  I am becoming more and more certain that FAU will win the East.

I wouldn't argue with you there.