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What's appreciably better in this years squad than the one that lost to BSU in the MAC tourney when BSU played all but a handful of minutes without their best player, Taylor Persons?

Not much in my opinion.

Haymond out. Davis in. Net? A wash. Lose scoring. Improve defense and rebounding. Still have no one appreciably skilled to sub in without taking from somewhere else.

Everyone is a year older ... hence better. But isn't most everyone else?

Lack quality depth.

Absolutely no one exists to effectively sub for Brandon. He is the only athletic and skilled front line player. Reggie Jones? If you think so, fine but then who is backing up Davis? Moore? Wilder?

That's what I mean by taking from somewhere else.

IF any of the 3 other back court replacements could effectively provide a well rounded skill set that is a net plus on both sides of the floor then and only then would moving Reggie out of position remotely work. As of now Randall and Printy have been nothing but a roll of the dice. Each has a plus but negatives too. Flowers, who I thought might use his athleticism and skill to sub plant either isn't currently contributing. Time will tell.

I was hoping the competitive physicality of Clifford would buy minutes at least defensively. But he hasnt moved out Adida who isnt going to really contribute for another year if then. Great athlete but has little experience. A great athlete prone to foul tells me they dont have the experience hence BB IQ. IQ takes experience which takes time.

Even with Seth coming back, if he does, isn't it bascially the same squad as last year?

This was a squad that I thought wanted to run, create pace by using skilled athleticism. Right now the lack of quality depth is and will be taking a toll on legs.

If WMU decides to play a half court game, that might be the trick. But they can't let teams score/shoot at a high clip. WMU isn't a great shooting team that can erase a significant deficit in a short time against a potentially good shooting opponent. Can't count on "matching". Make yours and cut them off!

That is why BSU is a concern. They have better skilled people than last year. EMU seems to be less plagued by erratic yet talented play and their strength is WMU's weakness. Up front. CMU cant depend on a shoot out and as a result is trying to play a more balanced attack. You don't have to be gaudy to win. They aren't gaudy anymore. It just takes scoring 1 more point when the horn goes off. Toledo under K has been an enigima. Often talented they can be their own worst enemy. Their ability to defend will decide for them. In his tenure, K teams haven't defended particularly well.

Hoping this squad can hold together and grow some as the season unfolds. It would be nice to see Wilder go out on top.

Welcome back GBL.

Great to have you back GBL! Hope all is well.

I'm very grateful to have GBL input and focus.

Welcome back, friend.

(12-29-2017 11:11 AM)bostonbronco Wrote:  I'm very grateful to have GBL input and focus.

Welcome back, friend.

X1.5

(12-29-2017 12:30 AM)gobaseline Wrote:  What's appreciably better in this years squad than the one that lost to BSU in the MAC tourney when BSU played all but a handful of minutes without their best player, Taylor Persons?

Not much in my opinion.

Haymond out. Davis in. Net? A wash. Lose scoring. Improve defense and rebounding. Still have no one appreciably skilled to sub in without taking from somewhere else.

Everyone is a year older ... hence better. But isn't most everyone else?

Lack quality depth.

Absolutely no one exists to effectively sub for Brandon. He is the only athletic and skilled front line player. Reggie Jones? If you think so, fine but then who is backing up Davis? Moore? Wilder?

That's what I mean by taking from somewhere else.

IF any of the 3 other back court replacements could effectively provide a well rounded skill set that is a net plus on both sides of the floor then and only then would moving Reggie out of position remotely work. As of now Randall and Printy have been nothing but a roll of the dice. Each has a plus but negatives too. Flowers, who I thought might use his athleticism and skill to sub plant either isn't currently contributing. Time will tell.

I was hoping the competitive physicality of Clifford would buy minutes at least defensively. But he hasnt moved out Adida who isnt going to really contribute for another year if then. Great athlete but has little experience. A great athlete prone to foul tells me they dont have the experience hence BB IQ. IQ takes experience which takes time.

Even with Seth coming back, if he does, isn't it bascially the same squad as last year?

This was a squad that I thought wanted to run, create pace by using skilled athleticism. Right now the lack of quality depth is and will be taking a toll on legs.

If WMU decides to play a half court game, that might be the trick. But they can't let teams score/shoot at a high clip. WMU isn't a great shooting team that can erase a significant deficit in a short time against a potentially good shooting opponent. Can't count on "matching". Make yours and cut them off!

That is why BSU is a concern. They have better skilled people than last year. EMU seems to be less plagued by erratic yet talented play and their strength is WMU's weakness. Up front. CMU cant depend on a shoot out and as a result is trying to play a more balanced attack. You don't have to be gaudy to win. They aren't gaudy anymore. It just takes scoring 1 more point when the horn goes off. Toledo under K has been an enigima. Often talented they can be their own worst enemy. Their ability to defend will decide for them. In his tenure, K teams haven't defended particularly well.

Hoping this squad can hold together and grow some as the season unfolds. It would be nice to see Wilder go out on top.

Despite the apparent shortcomings ... the thinking here is WMU still one of the top three teams in the league ... and in a tournament setting on a neutral court Hawk matches up well with every other coach in the league ... I wouldn't panic. Just keep on keeping on.

Not suggesting panic, simply that there are fewer horses in the stable to use than optimal.

Hawk is a good coach but at times in his attempt at perfection he hamstrings his talent, limiting possessions which leads to unnecessarily closely contested games. When you don't shoot well that comes back to bite you.

I like the job the BSU coach has done. He kept talented but erratic players like Kipiway and Jeremie Tyler around but brought in better talent in Persons and Walker. Allowing Kipiway and Tyler to contribute but not have to be the go to guys. When they're hot you ride them. When not they don't burn you because they're back on the pine. WMU doesnt have that depth of quality skill.

2-0. HUGE road test tomorrow

Huge game tonight. Toledo is currently a 5 point favorite. Thomas has been in a shooting slump lately but is still contributing in other ways and other guys have been picking him up.

I respectfully disagree with the opinion that the Broncos are basically the same team as last year.

First, they play way better team defense and with the emergence of Josh Davis, rebound the ball much better.
Second, IMO, so far Reggie Jones is the same player he was last season, which is very good. Thomas, Brandon Johnson, Dugan and Lamont are all better than they were last season. Bryce Moore and Josh Davis are leaps and bounds better than they were last season. This current team with Davis in the starting lineup is considerably better than the same team with Tucker in the starting lineup last season.
Third, I think this team currently has a very solid 8 players, Wilder, Davis, Moore, Dugan, Johnson, Lamont, Jones and Randall. Randall's shooting is hot and cold but he is very good at running the offense when he is in there and plays solid defense. Then they have Printy, Flowers and Ikongshul who at times all provide useful minutes. So I think this team is a solid 8 deep and as many as 11 at times.
Finally, this team is a way better shooting team even with Wilder's shooting slump lately from the field and the line. Davis would go weeks at a time without hitting a shot from the field last season much different from this season. Moore would hit an occasional shot here and there last season but this season he has turned into a sniper from 3 and has become a much bigger weapon on offense. Brandon Johnson has added a pretty solid mid-range jumper. And the teams 2 best ball handlers, Wilder and Jones both shoot 85+ percent from the line.

I still think this team is the class of the MAC and I hope they prove me right at Toledo tonight.

Stock up stock down

Wilder- Seems to be pressing this year. Not saying his stock is down, but it’s not up.

Lamont- All around play is better. Playing like a guy who knows his time is winding down. Has made the most of his talent.

Dugan- Hasn’t developed much. Lacks a killer instinct. Seems to get down on himself when things don’t go his way.

Moore- Along with Davis, Moore has shown huge growth. Looking like the player who led his team to multiple state titles.

Davis- Huge strides. Always had the physical talent. An upgrade to Haymond in my opinion. Capable of being a dominate force in the MAC.

Jones- Has that Vinnie Johnson ability to light it up off the bench. A starter in effect, that he gets starter minutes and usually finishes the game.

Johnson- Potential to be a force in the MAC. If he develops a consistent midrange and can shoot 70% plus from the line he could be scary. We are an impressive team when we go small and he is at the 5, Davis at the 4, and Jones, Wilder, Moore are on the perimeter.

Randall- Not the answer to replace Wilder IMO. Lacks discipline, and legit PG skills.

Printy- Has the skill set to be a weapon from three. Better suited for CMUs offense than ours.

Flowers- Jury will be out for a few years. Can see the skills are there, but need refining over time. I expect Jones and Moore will run the backcourt next year although neither is a true PG.

Ikonshel sp- A poor man’s 4 because he’s long and athletic enough to go against bigger 4’s. Hopefully will be good off the bench next year to spell Johnson.

I like the kid from the UP. Has size, range, toughness, and court vision. Could be sneaky good in a few years.

The key to this year is Wilder. He looked like the MAC POY, down the stretch in 2017, has be that player in February/March of this year.

I take it we either have a commitment or are targeting a Big for next year? I can't seem to fine any history of commits and haven't heard much news on incoming players for next year. We'll be very thin up front after losing Lamont, and an injury prone Dugan. In my opinion we need another 4 and 5...but we're only graduating 2 scholarship players.

Those of you in 'the know' - what type of incoming freshman are we going to see next year.

Only known 2018 commit is the PG from Montreal.
See thread about hime