(09-20-2016 06:38 PM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  

(09-20-2016 02:17 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(09-20-2016 02:11 PM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  Even with ODU only getting a few crumbs, I can't say I have too quarrel with your list. Thanks for putting it out there.

I'll be pulling hard for every one of these players. At least until January rolls around, when I'll have to become just a bit more selective.

Looking forward to November!

I toyed around with getting B.J. some where on the list but I just haven't seen him play enough. Taylor is a stud too.

Zoran
Taylor
Stith
Stith
Point Guard

GOOD LUCK SCORING 50 AGAINST THAT CREW

ODU's starting point guard should be Caver (Soph.) who is a good defensive player at the guard position. Baker (Sr.) also returns to play the 2 or 3 positions and he too is a talented defensive player that has started for most of his first 3 years at ODU and might again this season. Both he and Taylor along with Brandon Stith are worthy preseason candidates to make the end of the year all defensive team. I expect the team's scoring to be spread around a lot more this season with the departure of Freeman and Baycote, but don't anticipate a drop off in the overall team scoring average from what it was last season. Personally I would like to see them press full court since they have the depth to do it, but I doubt that they will as I don't think that it is Coach Jones' style to do that.

Fantastic insight. This is the best defensive team Jones has had in my opinion.

I'm pretty certain that Coach Jones feels like this is likely to be the best defensive team and the best rebounding team that he has had during his time at ODU. It should also prove to be the deepest, biggest, and most athletic one as well. Not sure that any of it will create more wins though since I believe that the conference as a whole will be improved this season. Also, with so many new players it may take a few weeks of the season to jell together. Playing in Spain during the summer should help them some in that area although their 6'-9" junior college transfer (Alasane Kah) was not able to travel with the team on that trip due to a visa issue.

Freeman's ability (and to a lesser degree, Bacote) to put the team on his shoulders and take over a game at times will surely be missed and may also cost them a game or two unless their balance and increased strengths in the other areas overcomes the need for that to the degree that it occurred last season.

(09-20-2016 10:14 PM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  I'm pretty certain that Coach Jones feels like this is likely to be the best defensive team and the best rebounding team that he has had during his time at ODU. It should also prove to be the deepest, biggest, and most athletic one as well. Not sure that any of it will create more wins though since I believe that the conference as a whole will be improved this season. Also, with so many new players it may take a few weeks of the season to jell together. Playing in Spain during the summer should help them some in that area although their 6'-9" junior college transfer (Alasane Kah) was not able to travel with the team on that trip due to a visa issue.

Freeman's ability (and to a lesser degree, Bacote) to put the team on his shoulders and take over a game at times will surely be missed and may also cost them a game or two unless their balance and increased strengths in the other areas overcomes the need for that to the degree that it occurred last season.

We probably will be a better defensive team, but the absence of a proven "floor general" on the offensive end will be by far the biggest challenge for this year's team.

It also is a true opportunity for Coach Jones to either establish or tarnish his credentials as a capable in-game manager. Without the near-certain reliability of Freeman to turn to in a pinch, it will be interesting to see how he gets this team to respond to the many looks that will be coming at us through this season.

If coached to perfection, ODU has the ability to compete for first in the CUSA this year. But we also have the very real possibility of stumbling through the season and ending up as low as sixth (or perhaps even eighth). It will be very interesting.

(09-20-2016 01:50 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(09-20-2016 01:43 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Getting excited for basketball season, looks legit, might switch out Carmichael on 2nd team for Pancake Thomas for WKU...

I've been hearing for a while now Willie is the best player on the court at times. Pancake could easily play at a first team level. Trust me when I say this list was hard to put together. WKU screwed up everything with this influx of grown men.

I hear ya man, this time next year if all our guys signed we have committed you will have another huge problem putting together your preseason teams...

(09-21-2016 07:29 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(09-20-2016 01:50 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(09-20-2016 01:43 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Getting excited for basketball season, looks legit, might switch out Carmichael on 2nd team for Pancake Thomas for WKU...

I've been hearing for a while now Willie is the best player on the court at times. Pancake could easily play at a first team level. Trust me when I say this list was hard to put together. WKU screwed up everything with this influx of grown men.

I hear ya man, this time next year if all our guys signed we have committed you will have another huge problem putting together your preseason teams...

Yep. Stan dropped another 4* bomb last night. Incredible.

(09-21-2016 06:58 AM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  

(09-20-2016 10:14 PM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  I'm pretty certain that Coach Jones feels like this is likely to be the best defensive team and the best rebounding team that he has had during his time at ODU. It should also prove to be the deepest, biggest, and most athletic one as well. Not sure that any of it will create more wins though since I believe that the conference as a whole will be improved this season. Also, with so many new players it may take a few weeks of the season to jell together. Playing in Spain during the summer should help them some in that area although their 6'-9" junior college transfer (Alasane Kah) was not able to travel with the team on that trip due to a visa issue.

Freeman's ability (and to a lesser degree, Bacote) to put the team on his shoulders and take over a game at times will surely be missed and may also cost them a game or two unless their balance and increased strengths in the other areas overcomes the need for that to the degree that it occurred last season.

We probably will be a better defensive team, but the absence of a proven "floor general" on the offensive end will be by far the biggest challenge for this year's team.

It also is a true opportunity for Coach Jones to either establish or tarnish his credentials as a capable in-game manager. Without the near-certain reliability of Freeman to turn to in a pinch, it will be interesting to see how he gets this team to respond to the many looks that will be coming at us through this season.

If coached to perfection, ODU has the ability to compete for first in the CUSA this year. But we also have the very real possibility of stumbling through the season and ending up as low as sixth (or perhaps even eighth). It will be very interesting.

The year UAB beat Iowa St in the tournament the team traveled to Spain before the season. It paid dividends late in the season in my opinion. We were breaking in a freshman point guard which is similar to you guys replacing TF.

ODU's style of play will keep them in the top 5 in this league every year. There's just not enough teams with enough offensive power to over come them. I'm going to release my pre-season rankings in a couple weeks and I'm feeling that they'll be no lower than 5th.

Brandan Stith will be on one of the All-Conference teams (in addition to Defense). He's going to be a walking double-double.

And, FWIW, Xavier Green is very likely going to redshirt this year.

(09-21-2016 09:41 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Brandan Stith will be on one of the All-Conference teams (in addition to Defense). He's going to be a walking double-double.

And, FWIW, Xavier Green is very likely going to redshirt this year.

If he comes anywhere close to Freeman, I will be surprised or at least the Freeman WKU fans witnessed these last 2 seasons...

(09-21-2016 09:41 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Brandan Stith will be on one of the All-Conference teams (in addition to Defense). He's going to be a walking double-double.

And, FWIW, Xavier Green is very likely going to redshirt this year.

Thanks for that info. He's going to be great once he sees the court.

You're likely going to be right about BS. Watching him court side at the CUSA tournament was a treat. Does everything well.

(09-21-2016 11:03 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(09-21-2016 09:41 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Brandan Stith will be on one of the All-Conference teams (in addition to Defense). He's going to be a walking double-double.

And, FWIW, Xavier Green is very likely going to redshirt this year.

Thanks for that info. He's going to be great once he sees the court.

You're likely going to be right about BS. Watching him court side at the CUSA tournament was a treat. Does everything well.

Considering he shot 48% from the foul line last year, maybe he doesn't do everything well.

I know everyone is excited about the new players for Western but no Western player deserves being ranked over JJ...

15 ppg 8rebs on 60% shooting are first team numbers or 2nd team at worse but definitely not 3rd team..especially when you have Reggie Upshaw with lower ppg and lower FG% and only .5 of a reb difference from JJ on 1st team. Not saying he doesn't deserve 1st team...

just that JJ should be on there with him or 6th man...2nd team

But there are a lot of very good players in the conference this year

(09-21-2016 01:41 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  I know everyone is excited about the new players for Western but no Western player deserves being ranked over JJ...

15 ppg 8rebs on 60% shooting are first team numbers or 2nd team at worse but definitely not 3rd team..especially when you have Reggie Upshaw with lower ppg and lower FG% and only .5 of a reb difference from JJ on 1st team. Not saying he doesn't deserve 1st team...

just that JJ should be on there with him or 6th man...2nd team

But there are a lot of very good players in the conference this year

Let me start by saying I agree with you on JJ. He's 1st or 2nd team material.

That was before the influx of transfers. JJ did it all for Western at times last season. He was a bailout on late shot clock plays and was a beast on the boards.

If he can maintain those stats next to Willie Carmichael and co. I'll be very happy to say I was dead wrong.

I think his stats will go down just for the fact that he had to do it all in a system that just threw it inside all the time. I think he is 1st team talent but might not get the touches.

(09-21-2016 09:14 PM)Jack Bauer Wrote:  I think his stats will go down just for the fact that he had to do it all in a system that just threw it inside all the time. I think he is 1st team talent but might not get the touches.

Spot on. If they gave a toughness / effort award each season he'd win it by a large margin.