(03-27-2014 03:41 PM)Cotten Wrote:  I think the most important thing for next year our guard play. We've got a tandem of 3 guys who haven't played a minute of D1 ball...can they learn fast? will they make good decisions with the ball? can they shoot? can they minimize turnovers?

Those are the $1million questions imo.

can they shoot?

OMG I'm sorry, I just cringe when I hear anything rel8ted to "we must make shots to win" scratch anything about making shots! PLAY DEFENSE!!!!

That's worth more than making a shot...JMO

I am by no means writing Dom off, especially after the transformation with Shaq, but how many college big-men have been losing weight/adding strength away from being awesome? I am not saying it cannot or will not happen, but more often than not it doesn't happen. I think it is far more likely that Austin adds strengh than it is that Dom hasd the kind of change that Shaq had. I think both happening is extremenly unlikely. I think Dom can be a good player without dramatic weight-loss, but I am not going to make the key to the season something that doesn't happen all that often.

(03-27-2014 04:01 PM)thagr82008 Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:41 PM)Cotten Wrote:  I think the most important thing for next year our guard play. We've got a tandem of 3 guys who haven't played a minute of D1 ball...can they learn fast? will they make good decisions with the ball? can they shoot? can they minimize turnovers?

Those are the $1million questions imo.

can they shoot?

OMG I'm sorry, I just cringe when I hear anything rel8ted to "we must make shots to win" scratch anything about making shots! PLAY DEFENSE!!!!

That's worth more than making a shot...JMO

It's part of the equation. Our coach used it as an oversimplification of a complex problem so I understand the reactioin. But I'm just saying that we don't know if our freshmen guards are any good yet.

Dom is one piece of the puzzle, not THE piece. If that's the case, this team is in trouble. And I don't mean that as a knock to Dom. He played some solid minutes, but he has a long way to go to be a major D1 player. Austin, Shaq, and Nick are the keys, in my opinion. The Tigers need to be good around the basket, instead of relying on long balls.

I also believe the new talent coming in is going to surprise a lot of people. It was time to clear the deck and start fresh.

(03-27-2014 04:09 PM)Cotten Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 04:01 PM)thagr82008 Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:41 PM)Cotten Wrote:  I think the most important thing for next year our guard play. We've got a tandem of 3 guys who haven't played a minute of D1 ball...can they learn fast? will they make good decisions with the ball? can they shoot? can they minimize turnovers?

Those are the $1million questions imo.

can they shoot?

OMG I'm sorry, I just cringe when I hear anything rel8ted to "we must make shots to win" scratch anything about making shots! PLAY DEFENSE!!!!

That's worth more than making a shot...JMO

It's part of the equation. Our coach used it as an oversimplification of a complex problem so I understand the reactioin. But I'm just saying that we don't know if our freshmen guards are any good yet.

The fact is we had several key players who never committed to playing the type of defense that is required to advance in the NCAA tournament. Doesn't seem that complex to me.

(03-27-2014 02:34 PM)cvilletiger Wrote:  Just to be safe, I choose not to pin my hopes on Dom. JMO.

This.

cautiously optimistic is reasonable

Dom can certainly be a factor, a big factor, no pun intended. I think he's got a chance to be really good. Like someone else said, he can be a key. One of many actually. If Pastner goes through the bigs and makes them the focus of the offense and defense, Dom will be really good.

(03-27-2014 06:49 PM)450bench Wrote:  Dom can certainly be a factor, a big factor, no pun intended. I think he's got a chance to be really good. Like someone else said, he can be a key. One of many actually. If Pastner goes through the bigs and makes them the focus of the offense and defense, Dom will be really good.

To play starters minutes at the 4/5, Dom needs to be in shape. To be a real factor, Pastner just has to run the offense through the bigs.

In my opinion, the key to the season rests in the guards understanding of how much a big man helps them out on the perimeter. This is just on offense though. This year's team though they could shoot defenses out of the game. But, a good guard understands that making teams have to pack crowd their bigs makes shots a lot easier and gets defenses moving a lot more.

Hopefully, the new guards will understand this better and be able to figure out the mysterious post entry pass.

This thread will be hilarious when he transfers ...

He's the key? The same guy who can't crack the starting lineup? Where's he going to play...the 3? He could be a very good backup. Or we could start three big guys.

(03-27-2014 03:43 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If we are going to play the same style of defense as we did last year we will need a shot blocker...

Woodson is not that and I don't think we have one coming in.

He can eat up a lot of space though and he will block a few shots. I still think a maturing Dom being about to give real minutes would change us into a much more physical team. I'm also assuming Nichols will add more size. I know he did his last year or so in HS. I expect he will add 10-15 pounds and hit the weights. We actually can be a physical team next year with Dom, Shaq, Nichols and Hawkins all in the rotation.

That front line should be a very powerful rebounding unit on both ends of the floor.

Almost no one would ever push that group around.

(03-27-2014 08:24 PM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:43 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If we are going to play the same style of defense as we did last year we will need a shot blocker...

Woodson is not that and I don't think we have one coming in.

He can eat up a lot of space though and he will block a few shots. I still think a maturing Dom being about to give real minutes would change us into a much more physical team. We actually can be a physical team next year with Dom, Shaq, Nichols and Hawkins all in the rotation.

That front line should be a very powerful rebounding unit on both ends of the floor.

Almost no one would ever push that group around.

No one's gonna push Nichols around? You must put a lot of faith in our S&C coach. Oh yeah, we don't have one!

(03-27-2014 08:29 PM)73tigerfan Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 08:24 PM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:43 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If we are going to play the same style of defense as we did last year we will need a shot blocker...

Woodson is not that and I don't think we have one coming in.

He can eat up a lot of space though and he will block a few shots. I still think a maturing Dom being about to give real minutes would change us into a much more physical team. We actually can be a physical team next year with Dom, Shaq, Nichols and Hawkins all in the rotation.

That front line should be a very powerful rebounding unit on both ends of the floor.

Almost no one would ever push that group around.

No one's gonna push Nichols around? You must put a lot of faith in our S&C coach. Oh yeah, we don't have one!

There is no need to be such a smart A55.

You seriously think the kid is not going to get stronger? He is going to be surrounded by 3 very physical players.

(03-27-2014 08:29 PM)73tigerfan Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 08:24 PM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:43 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If we are going to play the same style of defense as we did last year we will need a shot blocker...

Woodson is not that and I don't think we have one coming in.

He can eat up a lot of space though and he will block a few shots. I still think a maturing Dom being about to give real minutes would change us into a much more physical team. We actually can be a physical team next year with Dom, Shaq, Nichols and Hawkins all in the rotation.

That front line should be a very powerful rebounding unit on both ends of the floor.

Almost no one would ever push that group around.

No one's gonna push Nichols around? You must put a lot of faith in our S&C coach. Oh yeah, we don't have one!

I just want a big man coach. We have 3 big men on our team that can play at the next level. A scorer, an effort guy, and a bruiser. I think even Coach K would trade our returning front line with his.

(03-27-2014 08:24 PM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:43 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If we are going to play the same style of defense as we did last year we will need a shot blocker...

Woodson is not that and I don't think we have one coming in.

He can eat up a lot of space though and he will block a few shots. I still think a maturing Dom being about to give real minutes would change us into a much more physical team. I'm also assuming Nichols will add more size. I know he did his last year or so in HS. I expect he will add 10-15 pounds and hit the weights. We actually can be a physical team next year with Dom, Shaq, Nichols and Hawkins all in the rotation.

That front line should be a very powerful rebounding unit on both ends of the floor.

Almost no one would ever push that group around.

Well, you did claim Woodson to be the most offensively skilled big Memphis will have had in nearly two decades.

Unfortunately, his gpa (3.0) was higher than his ppg (2.6).

(03-27-2014 08:16 PM)tigerlands Wrote:  He's the key? The same guy who can't crack the starting lineup? Where's he going to play...the 3? He could be a very good backup. Or we could start three big guys.

Yeah. He played the minute equivalent of 3.5 games (136 mins total). He couldn't basically make progress on the one requirement (lose weight) that would have possibly gotten him some minutes--doesn't say a lot about drive and desire to improve.

(03-27-2014 08:41 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 08:24 PM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:43 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If we are going to play the same style of defense as we did last year we will need a shot blocker...

Woodson is not that and I don't think we have one coming in.

He can eat up a lot of space though and he will block a few shots. I still think a maturing Dom being about to give real minutes would change us into a much more physical team. I'm also assuming Nichols will add more size. I know he did his last year or so in HS. I expect he will add 10-15 pounds and hit the weights. We actually can be a physical team next year with Dom, Shaq, Nichols and Hawkins all in the rotation.

That front line should be a very powerful rebounding unit on both ends of the floor.

Almost no one would ever push that group around.

Well, you did claim Woodson to be the most offensively skilled big Memphis will have had in nearly two decades.

Unfortunately, his gpa (3.0) was higher than his ppg (2.6).

WOW bro.......You've lied about that quote every time you've brought it up. I can't believe you are still obsessing over this.

That post from LAST YEAR was about guys listed 6-10 and up. (must be the 4th or 5th time we've covered that now)

And its still true. Hopefully he commits himself to getting in shape for next year.

He can be a real beast if he wants to be.

(03-27-2014 08:10 PM)80sTiger Wrote:  This thread will be hilarious when he transfers ...

He's not transferring though.

(03-27-2014 09:03 PM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 08:41 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 08:24 PM)Jedi Master Sipho-Dyas Wrote:  

(03-27-2014 03:43 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If we are going to play the same style of defense as we did last year we will need a shot blocker...

Woodson is not that and I don't think we have one coming in.

He can eat up a lot of space though and he will block a few shots. I still think a maturing Dom being about to give real minutes would change us into a much more physical team. I'm also assuming Nichols will add more size. I know he did his last year or so in HS. I expect he will add 10-15 pounds and hit the weights. We actually can be a physical team next year with Dom, Shaq, Nichols and Hawkins all in the rotation.

That front line should be a very powerful rebounding unit on both ends of the floor.

Almost no one would ever push that group around.

Well, you did claim Woodson to be the most offensively skilled big Memphis will have had in nearly two decades.

Unfortunately, his gpa (3.0) was higher than his ppg (2.6).

WOW bro.......You've lied about that quote every time you've brought it up. I can't believe you are still obsessing over this.

That post from LAST YEAR was about guys listed 6-10 and up. (must be the 4-5 time we've covered that now)

And its still true. Hopefully he commits himself to getting in shape for next year.

He can be a real beast if he wants to be.

Why so mad?

So offensively skilled that he scored 49 points the whole season on 42% shooting.

lol