Very true we are all just fans posting our irrelevant comments out of love/interest in the EMU basketball team. No one needs to show credentials to post (and Eaglesam is plenty knowledgeable by mere merit of his posts). Nor does anyone deserve to be insulted for their perspective on zone defense or any other matter (Luckeyone seems plenty knowledgeable with basketball himself and with EMU basketball history as well).

Inevitably there will be critiques of each other's posts, the players, the coach. That is the inevitable nature of sports fan hood in general and a fan forum especially. But I advise trying to be respectful in doing so, if possible. Everyone will enjoy the forum and EMU Basketball much more that way.

GO EMU!!!!!

(04-30-2017 04:46 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Very true we are all just fans posting our irrelevant comments out of love/interest in the EMU basketball team. No one needs to show credentials to post (and Eaglesam is plenty knowledgeable by mere merit of his posts). Nor does anyone deserve to be insulted for their perspective on zone defense or any other matter (Luckeyone seems plenty knowledgeable with basketball himself and with EMU basketball history as well).

Inevitably there will be critiques of each other's posts, the players, the coach. That is the inevitable nature of sports fan hood in general and a fan forum especially. But I advise trying to be respectful in doing so, if possible. Everyone will enjoy the forum and EMU Basketball much more that way.

GO EMU!!!!!

Amen Ramy! Great Post! Much respect for you!

Was just checking the roster for EMU...

I see Kevin Mondro is listed as Associate Head Coach. Was he previously an Assistant and promoted to Associate with the departure of Mike Brown? Or was he already Associate?

Don't see Ty Groce on there. Thought that article posted in a separate thread said he rejoined the team. Hope I read that right.

http://www.emueagles.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

(05-04-2017 10:54 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Was just checking the roster for EMU...

I see Kevin Mondro is listed as Associate Head Coach. Was he previously an Assistant and promoted to Associate with the departure of Mike Brown? Or was he already Associate?

Don't see Ty Groce on there. Thought that article posted in a separate thread said he rejoined the team. Hope I read that right.

http://www.emueagles.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

Mike Brown was the assoc HC.

(05-04-2017 10:54 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Was just checking the roster for EMU...

I see Kevin Mondro is listed as Associate Head Coach. Was he previously an Assistant and promoted to Associate with the departure of Mike Brown? Or was he already Associate?

Don't see Ty Groce on there. Thought that article posted in a separate thread said he rejoined the team. Hope I read that right.

http://www.emueagles.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

Mike Brown was the assoc HC.

Assuming departure of Thompson and arrival of Groce, this would be my projected line up of scholarship players for 2017-18. Some potential bright spots is that Minnie could be an upgrade at PF and of course do-it-all Bond returns. Weaker spots could be at Center and more so a very thin backcourt. Question marks are how much contribution will EMU get from newcomers Jackson, Harris, and Groce. Who is EMU getting in as freshman?

G 6-1 Jackson
G 6-6 Harris
F 6-6 Bond/ 6-7 Groce
F 6-9 Minnie/ 6-9 Nobles
C 6-11 Steele/ 6-9 LWH

(05-04-2017 11:05 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Assuming departure of Thompson and arrival of Groce, this would be my projected line up of scholarship players for 2017-18. Some potential bright spots is that Minnie could be an upgrade at PF and of course do-it-all Bond returns. Weaker spots could be at Center and more so a very thin backcourt. Question marks are how much contribution will EMU get from newcomers Jackson, Harris, and Groce. Who is EMU getting in as freshman?

G 6-1 Jackson
G 6-6 Harris
F 6-6 Bond/ 6-7 Groce
F 6-9 Minnie/ 6-9 Nobles
C 6-11 Steele/ 6-9 LWH

you are missing Green the juco sf, Ellison the true frosh PG and Silver who at 6'5 could play the big guard/SF as a frosh. I think all the non Div I transfers will see significant time next season. The only remaining question is are we waiting for Epps or do we go ahead and get another guard? By the way I would switch Harris and Bond in your lineup. Bond is much quicker than Harris and has played a lot of minutes at guard, Harris would be more suited at small forward.

(05-04-2017 11:05 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Assuming departure of Thompson and arrival of Groce, this would be my projected line up of scholarship players for 2017-18. Some potential bright spots is that Minnie could be an upgrade at PF and of course do-it-all Bond returns. Weaker spots could be at Center and more so a very thin backcourt. Question marks are how much contribution will EMU get from newcomers Jackson, Harris, and Groce. Who is EMU getting in as freshman?

G 6-1 Jackson
G 6-6 Harris
F 6-6 Bond/ 6-7 Groce
F 6-9 Minnie/ 6-9 Nobles
C 6-11 Steele/ 6-9 LWH

Why are you assuming JT4 is leaving?

Most underclassmen who enter the NBA draft w/out an agent return.

Assume that to be true with JT4.

(05-04-2017 12:31 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(05-04-2017 11:05 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Assuming departure of Thompson and arrival of Groce, this would be my projected line up of scholarship players for 2017-18. Some potential bright spots is that Minnie could be an upgrade at PF and of course do-it-all Bond returns. Weaker spots could be at Center and more so a very thin backcourt. Question marks are how much contribution will EMU get from newcomers Jackson, Harris, and Groce. Who is EMU getting in as freshman?

G 6-1 Jackson
G 6-6 Harris
F 6-6 Bond/ 6-7 Groce
F 6-9 Minnie/ 6-9 Nobles
C 6-11 Steele/ 6-9 LWH

you are missing Green the juco sf, Ellison the true frosh PG and Silver who at 6'5 could play the big guard/SF as a frosh. I think all the non Div I transfers will see significant time next season. The only remaining question is are we waiting for Epps or do we go ahead and get another guard? By the way I would switch Harris and Bond in your lineup. Bond is much quicker than Harris and has played a lot of minutes at guard, Harris would be more suited at small forward.

Wow thanks, 79. I can always count on you, especially regarding recruits.

(05-04-2017 12:33 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(05-04-2017 11:05 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Assuming departure of Thompson and arrival of Groce, this would be my projected line up of scholarship players for 2017-18. Some potential bright spots is that Minnie could be an upgrade at PF and of course do-it-all Bond returns. Weaker spots could be at Center and more so a very thin backcourt. Question marks are how much contribution will EMU get from newcomers Jackson, Harris, and Groce. Who is EMU getting in as freshman?

G 6-1 Jackson
G 6-6 Harris
F 6-6 Bond/ 6-7 Groce
F 6-9 Minnie/ 6-9 Nobles
C 6-11 Steele/ 6-9 LWH

Why are you assuming JT4 is leaving?

Most underclassmen who enter the NBA draft w/out an agent return.

Assume that to be true with JT4.

Because I would draft him if I was an NBA team... no bias of course

Can we just take a step back for a moment;

Look at this incredibly talented lineup...my oh my how things have changed over the course of Murphy's time here. I know we dog on him for his lack of change or acknowledgement of poor offensive sets and poor rebounding, but damn. This type of talent didn't exist for quite some time.

Agreed. I still wish we had an experienced SG, but this is probably the most talented EMU team this century (assuming Thompson comes back). I'm most excited to have some young guys to watch grow. All three freshmen (Ellison, Silver, Groce) have some very impressive tape, and should have good careers.

With a very weak MAC, this should be absolutely be Murphy's last chance to prove he can contend for a conference title and a berth in the big dance. There are no excuses this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jb1Mt3cnsQ

Can't remember if I posted that video of Isaiah Green at LCC or not, but wow. Definitely will be a PF/C here, and hopefully a rim protector that we haven't had since Riley left. He seems to have a knack for blocking shots and positioning himself well. It also helps that he's a freak athlete. Got a bit of Richaun Holmes in his game.

I bet he contributes immediately. Might even take Steele's starting spot.

(05-05-2017 10:33 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jb1Mt3cnsQ

Can't remember if I posted that video of Isaiah Green at LCC or not, but wow. Definitely will be a PF/C here, and hopefully a rim protector that we haven't had since Riley left. He seems to have a knack for blocking shots and positioning himself well. It also helps that he's a freak athlete. Got a bit of Richaun Holmes in his game.

I bet he contributes immediately. Might even take Steele's starting spot.

Not sure I see what you are saying in your last sentence.

Did you mean to say that he (Green) could bump Steele down a notch?

Steele should be the back up to JT4 at center (I assume, because JT4 isn't going to play PF and send Minnie to the bench. Minnie will play and maybe star so JT4 has to go back to '5').

P.S. there hasn't been any announcements, but simple logic says in 2017/18 that both Minnie and JT4 will not play the same position, i.e., PF. I don't know any mid-major coach would would play his two best players at the same position.

I mean if your ideal starting lineup is Jackson/Bond/Minnie/JT4/Steele, then I'm saying Green could be coming for Steele's spot.

We are almost certainly going to be starting both Minnie and Thompson, but that doesn't mean one of them has to play center (although that's where Thompson SHOULD be playing...I don't like him on the wing of the zone). Both Minnie and Green have very good shot blocking abilities, which will help Thompson down low defensively. Minnie also can stretch the floor, which means you can get away with playing him as a big SF.

Since we don't really have any experienced SG/SF types (unless you consider Nobles a SF), then I'm all for starting, or finishing with, the five best players on the team. Barring one of the freshmen lighting the world on fire, that should be Bond-Jackson-Minnie-Thompson-Steele/Green.

I don't know enough about Terry Harris, and he could very well be the starting SG, which means I'd go with Jackson-Harris-Bond-Minnie-Thompson. But a big lineup with Green instead of Harris would intrigue me, especially considering how it would look defensively with 6'1, 6'7, 6'9, 6'9, 6'10 and all above average athletes.

Also, Epps took EMU off of his twitter, so I'm assuming he's a no-go, at least this year.

I'm still really hoping we used the last scholarship on a combo guard. That Shaver kid would be nice, and I think the JUCO guys we offered are still out there. With the roster we currently have, Jackson and Bond would be playing A LOT, and that's a bit troublesome.

Excellent, informative, and intriguing posts, Sam. But I am a little confused by a couple things that you are stating:
1) If Thompson is ideally a center (at least defensively), then why would he be a PF in an ideal lineup? Because of lack of SG?
2) Not sure if this is correct but Verbal Commits has Green listed as 6-7, not 6-10.

Given all the information you guys shared on this board, I am revising my rotation projection. Note, my understanding is Harris's key skill is outside shooting, so I have him starting and parked at the arc...to clear up the post for JT4 and the lanes for Bond/Jackson.

G 6-1 Jackson/ 5-7 Ellison
G 6-6 Bond/ 6-5 Silver
F 6-6 Harris/ 6-7 Groce
F 6-9 Minnie/ 6-9 Nobles/ 6-9 LWH
C 6-10 JT4/ 6-7 Green/ 6-11 Steele

(05-05-2017 08:23 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Excellent, informative, and intriguing posts, Sam. But I am a little confused by a couple things that you are stating:
1) If Thompson is ideally a center (at least defensively), then why would he be a PF in an ideal lineup? Because of lack of SG?
2) Not sure if this is correct but Verbal Commits has Green listed as 6-7, not 6-10.

Thanks man.

I see Thompson as a tweener. I don't think he's big enough to be a center (although I LOVE that he's bulking up), but that's what his skill set is best for. He didn't look very good on the wing of the zone last season, so I'd rather he be in the middle. But at the same time, we lose a size advantage when he isn't on the wing. I'm curious as to what Murphy does with him.

My mistake on Green. Don't know where I saw that he was 6'9-6'10. Even at 6'7, he still has a rim protecting PF skill set and body. Thick, athletic kid.

I think we can all agree that our optimal lineup will include Bond, Jackson, Thompson, and Minnie. We have plenty of versatile options for the 5th guy.

(05-05-2017 08:42 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Given all the information you guys shared on this board, I am revising my rotation projection. Note, my understanding is Harris's key skill is outside shooting, so I have him starting and parked at the arc...to clear up the post for JT4 and the lanes for Bond/Jackson.

G 6-1 Jackson/ 5-7 Ellison
G 6-6 Bond/ 6-5 Silver
F 6-6 Harris/ 6-7 Groce
F 6-9 Minnie/ 6-9 Nobles/ 6-9 LWH
C 6-10 JT4/ 6-7 Green/ 6-11 Steele

Our front court will be so loaded. I'd say it'll be the best in the MAC.

Give me another SG, and I'll be ready to get hyped for next season. If I'm not already.