Couple of thoughts that don't fit anywhere else as we get started.

1. We've spent the offseason going in circles bout players and Forbes. Wanted to mention Sander. I've had several conversations with him lately. Dude is approachable, honest, and he GETS IT. I always feel better about our program when I come away from talking with him.

2. I love that at all events from Brooks to East Coast, the athletic staff is there. Matt and Scott are always lurking, and willing to talk Buc Basketball. I encourage all y'all to get to know these guys. Much better sources of info than this board (usually).

3. Not sure of most folks know this, but the players read this board. Which is why I choose to be positive about the program and I don't whine about dumb stuff (boo hoo Freedom Hall), and if I make a criticism, it's hopefully fair (i.e. I hope Lester improves his defense this year). This is additional reason why we jumped on the idiot who posted academic info on a player. Finally, I get it. Yes Freedom Hall needs new seats and sound and scoreboard. BUT, I heard someone whine to a group of players that they liked their Dome seats better. (!) Those kids just need support. Heard someone complain the other day to Forbes' face about just dumb stuff. Things have changed. 1992 is over.

4. New mascot rocks. His dance at Bluenanza was the most relevant thing a mascot has done in 50 years at ETSU.

5. I love that our president is at events. Actually, I just love our president.

One more week and the PAIN begins in the SoCon.

The access to and engagement with players and coaches has been unprecedented. I know more about the players and coaches than I ever did under what's his name. I care about these "kids" (not trying to sound patronizing - it's the parent in me coming out).

Our basketball programs now have legitimacy. Before, under the low-expectations/path-of-least resistance regime, I felt like we were masquerading as a d1 program, hanging on the coattails of some damn good squads. Now it's as though we've had and will have damn good squads because that's the expectation.

Candid remarks from Dr. Sander about basketball's place in ETSU athletics:
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Basketba...m&lp=1&p=1

Everybody get their season tickets this week?

(10-25-2015 07:02 PM)brock20 Wrote:  Everybody get their season tickets this week?

Mine arrived Thursday. Can't wait to start using them.

(10-25-2015 06:15 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  Candid remarks from Dr. Sander about basketball's place in ETSU athletics:
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Basketba...m&lp=1&p=1

Candid and, I'd argue, very keen. Men's basketball is ETSU's only realistic opportunity for sustainable national attention. I find the annual top 100 rating goal both attainable and worthy of great pride. Yearly championship opportunity goes without saying....

Completely fair of Sander to be tempered about excitement vs. expectations. But you can't kill this excitement, and I just don't see the team struggling at any level that would kill the excitement.

IS IT GAME TIME YET?! Poor Milligan.

(10-25-2015 08:04 PM)shampoo Wrote:  

(10-25-2015 06:15 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  Candid remarks from Dr. Sander about basketball's place in ETSU athletics:
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Basketba...m&lp=1&p=1

Candid and, I'd argue, very keen. Men's basketball is ETSU's only realistic opportunity for sustainable national attention. I find the annual top 100 rating goal both attainable and worthy of great pride. Yearly championship opportunity goes without saying....

Completely fair of Sander to be tempered about excitement vs. expectations. But you can't kill this excitement, and I just don't see the team struggling at any level that would kill the excitement.

IS IT GAME TIME YET?! Poor Milligan.

Men play Tusculum.

(10-25-2015 08:27 AM)CaptainJackAubrey Wrote:  Couple of thoughts that don't fit anywhere else as we get started.

1. We've spent the offseason going in circles bout players and Forbes. Wanted to mention Sander. I've had several conversations with him lately. Dude is approachable, honest, and he GETS IT. I always feel better about our program when I come away from talking with him.

2. I love that at all events from Brooks to East Coast, the athletic staff is there. Matt and Scott are always lurking, and willing to talk Buc Basketball. I encourage all y'all to get to know these guys. Much better sources of info than this board (usually).

3. Not sure of most folks know this, but the players read this board. Which is why I choose to be positive about the program and I don't whine about dumb stuff (boo hoo Freedom Hall), and if I make a criticism, it's hopefully fair (i.e. I hope Lester improves his defense this year). This is additional reason why we jumped on the idiot who posted academic info on a player. Finally, I get it. Yes Freedom Hall needs new seats and sound and scoreboard. BUT, I heard someone whine to a group of players that they liked their Dome seats better. (!) Those kids just need support. Heard someone complain the other day to Forbes' face about just dumb stuff. Things have changed. 1992 is over.

4. New mascot rocks. His dance at Bluenanza was the most relevant thing a mascot has done in 50 years at ETSU.

5. I love that our president is at events. Actually, I just love our president.

One more week and the PAIN begins in the SoCon.

1. Dr. Sander showed at Bluenanza that he is a good sport about getting involved with the students. I loved that he participated with the free throw thing.

2. I have to agree - the athletic staff has been even more out there and welcoming this year I think. Every event we've walked into so far, we've had several people from the dept (and I'm including those I don't know personally) come and talk to our family. I've seen them interacting with many others in the same way. That stuff goes a LONG way to get and keep people involved. I don't need tons of insider info, but knowing these guys and gals are around and accessible like that makes it where I feel I have a nice place to mention my concerns and ideas. I also don't get the feeling that any of them are just humoring me for appearance sake. They have genuine concern. I doubt all they can do something about every thing I might mention, but at least they seem to take it into consideration.

3. Hi players!!! Like Bucfaithful said - I think of them as "kids" too, but only because they are close in age to my own. If my house was bigger, I'd have every single one of the student athletes over for dinner and there are several players I'd adopt if I could. I try to remember they might be lurking around any time I critique as well. And if any of them read this, thank you! I'm so happy to have a great bunch of role models for my kids. I don't care if you win every game or break records. I care that you play with heart and follow your dreams. It makes me cheer, win or lose.

4. Yay for the new Bucky! That dancing was fantastic and EXACTLY what I've wanted to see. Make little kids (and grownups) smile and want to meet you.

5. Can we start a fund to somehow keep Dr. Noland around until he retires? Every time another school tries to lure him away, give him a huge bonus? His wife gets it too. She's often right there chatting with students and fans as well. It's nice to see that they consider it a family thing.

Does anyone know if they plan on doing anything different at the games this year except win? Can we expect the same old lame halftime entertainment or will they turn it up a notch this year? Loved when the kid played his fiddle at halftime during one game.

FWIW, Blue Ribbon's 2015-16 College Basketball Preview:

1. Chattanooga
2. ETSU
3 Wofford
4. Mercer
5. Western Carolina
6. UNCG
7. Furman
8. Samford
9. VMI
10. The Citadel

All-conf
Justin Tuoyo - Chatt
Kayel Locke - UNCG
Casy Jones - Chatt
Spencer Collins - Wofford
Stephen Croone - Furman

POY
Croone

Newcomer of the Year
TJ Cromer

Thanks for the Blue Ribbon preview. Could you be so kind to post the write up they do?

Unfortunately, my PDF copy is protected so I cannot cut and paste it. The writeup was by Chris Dortch. Basically the preview highlighted Forbes' career and long journey to being a Div I head coach. Drotch was high on Forbes, had good info on each of the players, particularly Stokes. Quoted Forbes as saying in two years people will be saying how did you get that guy. Article says if the players buy into Forbes' system, which relies on man-to-man D and pressing, the Bucs will compete for a league championship.

Analysis
Frontcourt B+
Backcourt B
Bench/Depth B
Intangibles B

Thanks, I look forward to reading theirs every year if i can find it.

If things come together like they could, these picks could look very good, in particular putting the Bucs second and competing for the top. But it may look like a foolish choice early on.

Man-to-man and pressure is exactly what you'd want to see from this athletic team. But teaching such a new bunch how to do this well as a team could take some time. Especially if you listen to what some posters have said about the front court picking up defensive concepts at practice so far.

I'm thinking that it will look like a smarter choice come January and February.

T.J. Cromer as newcomer of the year sounds very possible. He's got an outside stroke that could be better than Rashawn, and a more rounded game statistically.

Tusculum won't tell us too much - they're in the same conference as Wingate and Mars Hill, the kind of teams we play in early exhibitions every year. It gives you a taste, but not too much. Their 6'10" 235 Junior Chase Mounce will actually give our bigs a bit of work, averaging 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. He got 18 points and 5 rebounds against us as a freshman 2 years ago, in a foreshadowing of the Bucs inability to defend bigs (freshman Banks, an injured Poderis and KGG were our bigs in that game). http://www.etsubucs.com/media/mbasketbal...16-13).pdf Last year he got 11 points on 3-14 shooting and 8 rebounds, doing less well, especially on a per minute basis. Big men then were Banks, Alex Bates and a few minutes of Tommy Williams.

Averitt will be a step backwards, on the level of UVA Wise. Stetson Moore could score 20 against that kind of team. Not much to be learned there.

Then Wisconsin Green Bay should be fun. They've gone to the NIT the last two years, finishing 2nd and 1st in the Horizon League. Unfortunately they've lost a lot this year (their top 2 guys and 4 of their top 6 scorers), and are only picked to finish 6th. Still, it will be a whole different challenge. It would be really nice to show well against them. It sure would be nice to make a statement in that game. Definitely worth the 6 am starting time. I can't wait for that one.

Swva with another excellent post. Thanks for doing your homework on W Green Bay. I am so excited for that game, and for the 6AM weekday start. Something out of the ordinary is good for our program.

Also out of the ordinary this season, we'll not be playing zone, and we have guys playing in the right position. Still in awe of the last 7 months.

The game versus Wisonsin Green Bay will give us a good baseline (no pun intended). At risk of sounding dramatic, if we lose I think it would be a demoralizing way to start the season - it's a ESPN game, at home, for a team loaded with talent and expectations.

Holy crap Sander keeps dropping bombs. New article in the press:

"The basketball teams are expected to compete for the Southern Conference championships and participate in a postseason tournament each year. In addition, the men should sell 2,500 season tickets."

Expected.

Some snippets from a recent intra squad scrimmage to sink your teeth into:
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Basketba...m&lp=1&p=1

It's gettin real you all!!

I know it's just a scrimmage but I'm very pleased to hear that Deuce led the scrimmage in scoring. Not surprised of Cromer's offensive production, I still say he leads this team in scoring.