From what I am hearing Ako Adams has taken a step forward with his game. I had been thinking that Josh (our transfer from TCU) was eligible to play this year. Had he not transferred here and sat out last year or was that at the semester? (hearing he is an animal in practice). Getting some good leadership out of our grad transfers as far as bringing a mature mindset to the team.

(10-11-2017 08:27 AM)coachM Wrote:  From what I am hearing Ako Adams has taken a step forward with his game. I had been thinking that Josh (our transfer from TCU) was eligible to play this year. Had he not transferred here and sat out last year or was that at the semester? (hearing he is an animal in practice). Getting some good leadership out of our grad transfers as far as bringing a mature mindset to the team.

Yes please. As disappointed as I was with all the transfers I don't think this year will be as big of a step back as the previous exodus. I think the current sophomore class will be a nice foundation to build off going forward. I'm glad to hear Ako has taken steps forward. I think he's going to be a solid pure point guard going forward. He was one of our most highly regarded PG recruits in recent memory and he showed flashes of it. Parrish transferred after the season. He played in their NIT game.

So starting lineup?
Ako, Cashaw, Lapray, Mency, Meyer/Harrison

Any word on whether the other grad transfer makes it in (Dylan jones)?
Any chance Osborne or Hunter are showing starting potential?

Bench will be Trauber, Martin, Hunter, Osborne, Lester, Harrison, Jones, Youngkin, Owen
With Parrish on the practice team this year.

Not bad. I see a 10 man rotation there.

(10-11-2017 08:57 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 08:27 AM)coachM Wrote:  From what I am hearing Ako Adams has taken a step forward with his game. I had been thinking that Josh (our transfer from TCU) was eligible to play this year. Had he not transferred here and sat out last year or was that at the semester? (hearing he is an animal in practice). Getting some good leadership out of our grad transfers as far as bringing a mature mindset to the team.

Yes please. As disappointed as I was with all the transfers I don't think this year will be as big of a step back as the previous exodus. I think the current sophomore class will be a nice foundation to build off going forward. I'm glad to hear Ako has taken steps forward. I think he's going to be a solid pure point guard going forward. He was one of our most highly regarded PG recruits in recent memory and he showed flashes of it. Parrish transferred after the season. He played in their NIT game.

So starting lineup?
Ako, Cashaw, Lapray, Mency, Meyer/Harrison

Any word on whether the other grad transfer makes it in (Dylan jones)?
Any chance Osborne or Hunter are showing starting potential?

Bench will be Trauber, Martin, Hunter, Osborne, Lester, Harrison, Jones, Youngkin, Owen
With Parrish on the practice team this year.

Not bad. I see a 10 man rotation there.

I question whether we will be going with a 4 guard starting lineup. IMO, both Meyers © and Harrison (PF) make for the optimal starting lineup. Remember, Lapray was a point guard in high school.

(10-11-2017 09:12 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 08:57 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 08:27 AM)coachM Wrote:  From what I am hearing Ako Adams has taken a step forward with his game. I had been thinking that Josh (our transfer from TCU) was eligible to play this year. Had he not transferred here and sat out last year or was that at the semester? (hearing he is an animal in practice). Getting some good leadership out of our grad transfers as far as bringing a mature mindset to the team.

Yes please. As disappointed as I was with all the transfers I don't think this year will be as big of a step back as the previous exodus. I think the current sophomore class will be a nice foundation to build off going forward. I'm glad to hear Ako has taken steps forward. I think he's going to be a solid pure point guard going forward. He was one of our most highly regarded PG recruits in recent memory and he showed flashes of it. Parrish transferred after the season. He played in their NIT game.

So starting lineup?
Ako, Cashaw, Lapray, Mency, Meyer/Harrison

Any word on whether the other grad transfer makes it in (Dylan jones)?
Any chance Osborne or Hunter are showing starting potential?

Bench will be Trauber, Martin, Hunter, Osborne, Lester, Harrison, Jones, Youngkin, Owen
With Parrish on the practice team this year.

Not bad. I see a 10 man rotation there.

I question whether we will be going with a 4 guard starting lineup. IMO, both Meyers © and Harrison (PF) make for the optimal starting lineup. Remember, Lapray was a point guard in high school.

I can see that lineup too. But remember we are still playing an up tempo, shoot lots of 3s style. 4 guards isn't that unusual as long as you have someone 6'5 or so out there.

(10-11-2017 09:42 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 09:12 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 08:57 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 08:27 AM)coachM Wrote:  From what I am hearing Ako Adams has taken a step forward with his game. I had been thinking that Josh (our transfer from TCU) was eligible to play this year. Had he not transferred here and sat out last year or was that at the semester? (hearing he is an animal in practice). Getting some good leadership out of our grad transfers as far as bringing a mature mindset to the team.

Yes please. As disappointed as I was with all the transfers I don't think this year will be as big of a step back as the previous exodus. I think the current sophomore class will be a nice foundation to build off going forward. I'm glad to hear Ako has taken steps forward. I think he's going to be a solid pure point guard going forward. He was one of our most highly regarded PG recruits in recent memory and he showed flashes of it. Parrish transferred after the season. He played in their NIT game.

So starting lineup?
Ako, Cashaw, Lapray, Mency, Meyer/Harrison

Any word on whether the other grad transfer makes it in (Dylan jones)?
Any chance Osborne or Hunter are showing starting potential?

Bench will be Trauber, Martin, Hunter, Osborne, Lester, Harrison, Jones, Youngkin, Owen
With Parrish on the practice team this year.

Not bad. I see a 10 man rotation there.

I question whether we will be going with a 4 guard starting lineup. IMO, both Meyers © and Harrison (PF) make for the optimal starting lineup. Remember, Lapray was a point guard in high school.

I can see that lineup too. But remember we are still playing an up tempo, shoot lots of 3s style. 4 guards isn't that unusual as long as you have someone 6'5 or so out there.

I'm more concerned with our defense with the 4 guard alignment. Furthermore, even with the uptempo offense, having a viable and effective low post option (Meyers) keeps the defense honest, and gives our 3-point shooters more room. From what I saw last year, I REALLY like Meyers footwork and moves to the basket down low. If he can stay out of foul trouble he could be a consistent double-digit scorer for us, especially if our outside game is effective. I think the key to the season will be if Bishop Mencey can finally breakout and play up to his potential. He's always been solid defensively, but he needs to be more aggressive and confident in his 3-point shooting.

I am hoping and expecting to see improvement in our half court offense. The one disagreement I had with Rhodes offense was that if we played better teams that limited our transition offense that yielded 3’s and fast break points and forced us to play half court we really struggled.

I’ve heard Martin looks good in practices and Harrison not so good.

That’s all I got.

Will Lapray be playing in his wetsuit?

(10-11-2017 10:12 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  I’ve heard Martin looks good in practices and Harrison not so good.

That’s all I got.

Interesting. I was hoping Harrison would show the biggest improvements this year and just needed a year to adjust to the college game.

I could see Martin as the 4 and Meyer the 5.

(10-11-2017 10:02 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  I am hoping and expecting to see improvement in our half court offense. The one disagreement I had with Rhodes offense was that if we played better teams that limited our transition offense that yielded 3’s and fast break points and forced us to play half court we really struggled.

Agreed. To my eyes, the half-court offense seemed too focused on Evans and Koulechov, with the other guys passing up some opportunities to be aggressive. Evans and Koulechov were, of course, fantastic.

(10-11-2017 10:12 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  I’ve heard Martin looks good in practices and Harrison not so good.

That’s all I got.

Very interesting. I believe Harrison is the best-rated recruit that is eligible to play this year.

Najaa Hunter is supposedly an extremely tough defender and Lapray can force the defense to defend the 3 pt line. IMO Harrison is still developing mentally to make good decisions but has ability.

I'm hoping for good things from Harrison too. But I agree with Walt - we need 2 bigger guys on the court at the same time. I think 2 out of Meyer, Harrison, Martin, Jones and Osborne will be on the court together much of the time.

Adams and Cashaw are locks in the backcourt, with the third starter either Mency or Lapray?

I think in general we'll be better than people expect, but obviously not as good as next year.

The women's basketball team is the team I'm very intrigued to see. I think they have top 25 potential although in the opening day video they put online, I saw Rainey is still on crutches (not surprising). I doubt she plays this year - maybe she could play in February but I would guess she's redshirting.