http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969...Teams.aspx

No one on first team All-MAC West, either.

Looking forward to another season of proving people wrong.

(10-30-2012 08:30 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969...Teams.aspx

No one on first team All-MAC West, either.

Looking forward to another season of proving people wrong.

Too bad for Toledo that their team is banned from the post-season due to low APR. They also got hit with a 20% practice time reduction (16 hours, rather than the usual 20 hours per week, and limited to 5 days a week rather than 6 days).

(10-30-2012 08:42 AM)cmadler Wrote:  

(10-30-2012 08:30 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969...Teams.aspx

No one on first team All-MAC West, either.

Looking forward to another season of proving people wrong.

Too bad for Toledo that their team is banned from the post-season due to low APR. They also got hit with a 20% practice time reduction (16 hours, rather than the usual 20 hours per week, and limited to 5 days a week rather than 6 days).

Toledo's dirty? Who would have thunk it?

And they lost a key player in Curtis Dennis (arguably their best outside shooter), who transferred to Iona.

It's only a preseason poll, which isn't exactly clairvoyant (just look at last year's...), but I'm surprised we weren't picked to win the West, considering we won it last year and added 5 talented guys who could all be considered upgrades. We'll be bigger and deeper than pretty much every team in the league. It remains to be seen how that talent meshes together, but I see no reason why we won't pick up right where we left off last year, with a better team to boot.

(10-30-2012 08:50 AM)holybovine Wrote:  

(10-30-2012 08:42 AM)cmadler Wrote:  

(10-30-2012 08:30 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969...Teams.aspx

No one on first team All-MAC West, either.

Looking forward to another season of proving people wrong.

Too bad for Toledo that their team is banned from the post-season due to low APR. They also got hit with a 20% practice time reduction (16 hours, rather than the usual 20 hours per week, and limited to 5 days a week rather than 6 days).

Toledo's dirty? Who would have thunk it?

Dirty?????

I believe it is because of poor graduation rates which goes back a few years.

The reduction in practice time is probably a NCAA remedy like a parent grounding a kid for poor scholastic achievement.

(10-30-2012 08:30 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  http://www.mac-sports.com/News/tabid/969...Teams.aspx

No one on first team All-MAC West, either.

Looking forward to another season of proving people wrong.

This could be a fun team and a surprise team ala the 1994 EMU team which was the best turnaround EMU men's team I can remember.

The post-1991 teams were rebuilding and not very good.

Ben Braun and Gary Waters quietly assembled a nice compliment of newcomers (e.g., Boykins, Dial, Zajac, Nink, Head, etc.) who were able to contribute right away and gave EMU a massive talent infusion to go with Brian Tolbert, Theron Wilson, etc.

For those who don't know:

Boykins was a surprise. Only Kent and EMU recruited him hard. Too many coaches thought he would fail at his size and be considered a wasted signee.

Zajac was a transfer from UBuffalo.

Dial was a sitout. I don't believe it was academics. The redshirt year was good for him.

Head fell to EMU after Iowa reneged on his LOI. They tried to claim academics even though he was fully qualified.

Nink - a H.S. coach in the Cincy area brought him to EMU's attention (believe the h.s. coach was a friend of then EMU asst coach Brian Miller).

There might have been one or two more but I'm posting from memory not a media guide.

*********

If my vibes and take are correct, all or most newcomers will be significant contributors.

Who will be best newcomer? Bryant? Harrison? Ross? Still? Lee?

I don't know, but I'd guess that THREE will start along with Riley and Harris (that would be my guess).

That has been conventional wisdom, i.e., Bryant and Harrison will start and Ross get major minutes at PG, regardless of whether or not he starts.

My guess is that we'll be solid across the starting five and have 3 or 4 dependable reserves.

We'll know more Friday...

Hopefully we have some insiders at the exhibition on Friday. Dennis Recruitster, the Bat Signal has been lit! We need your aid.

Also, it's hard to watch Lee's highlights, plus see what some of the assistants have said about him on twitter, and imagine him not getting significant minutes at either guard spot. He's a BCS level talent who appears to be a pretty hard worker. Jake Presutti, our strength and conditioning coach, has singled him out a couple times (Bryant is also a regular mention of his) as a guy who is improving day by day.

(10-30-2012 09:50 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Also, it's hard to watch Lee's highlights, plus see what some of the assistants have said about him on twitter, and imagine him not getting significant minutes at either guard spot. He's a BCS level talent who appears to be a pretty hard worker. Jake Presutti, our strength and conditioning coach, has singled him out a couple times (Bryant is also a regular mention of his) as a guy who is improving day by day.

speaking of Jake Prescutti (sp?), that dude is automatic from 5 feet behind the arc. too bad he doesn't have any remaining eligibility.

(10-30-2012 09:50 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Also, it's hard to watch Lee's highlights, plus see what some of the assistants have said about him on twitter, and imagine him not getting significant minutes at either guard spot. He's a BCS level talent who appears to be a pretty hard worker. Jake Presutti, our strength and conditioning coach, has singled him out a couple times (Bryant is also a regular mention of his) as a guy who is improving day by day.

Next year (even more than this year) the guard situation will be like tag team wrestling where one participant slaps the others hand and comes in to do mayhem...

Can you imagine next year Ross, Lee, Talley, Harrison, etc.

Maybe I'm getting too giddy, but next year we'll have enough talent for TWO MAC starting backcourts.

Each of the four might be good enough to start for many MAC teams.

If Ross is as good as has been reported, we'll have quite the log jam, although Murph can tinker with the lineups to put Harrison at 3 and Bryant at 4 in certain cases. Our depth will be a massive weapon for the next couple of years.

Don't forget Karrington Ward for next season as well. He's a wing too.

(10-30-2012 10:18 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  If Ross is as good as has been reported, we'll have quite the log jam, although Murph can tinker with the lineups to put Harrison at 3 and Bryant at 4 in certain cases. Our depth will be a massive weapon for the next couple of years.

Don't forget Karrington Ward for next season as well. He's a wing too.

Good problem to have - all of these interchangeable parts.

Injuries, slumps, etc. happen and the best teams are those who have the parts to overcome them by moving the parts around.

I'm psyched!!!

(10-30-2012 10:18 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  If Ross is as good as has been reported, we'll have quite the log jam, although Murph can tinker with the lineups to put Harrison at 3 and Bryant at 4 in certain cases. Our depth will be a massive weapon for the next couple of years.

Don't forget Karrington Ward for next season as well. He's a wing too.

and this is why I can't share Hoopster's fears and anxiety about recruiting.

Add a big man for next year and this team will be as deep as one can hope at the MAC level.

I might be getting too giddy but the problem might not be too LITTLE talent but getting enough PT to keep everyone happy.

I wonder if say next season if Murphy doesn't play one big man (Riley OR Still) and then play 4 players who can run like a bunch of greyhounds?

This may eliminate the need for FOUR PF / Centers.

Bryant has a PF's defensive game anyway. His block numbers at Arkansas (per 32 minutes) were ridiculous. It speaks to his athleticism that he'll probably be a SF this year.

I'll worry about next year when the time rolls around, but the lineups this year can get really creative, with basically everyone except Riley and Thompson being able to play multiple positions.

(10-30-2012 10:52 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Bryant has a PF's defensive game anyway. His block numbers at Arkansas (per 32 minutes) were ridiculous. It speaks to his athleticism that he'll probably be a SF this year.

I'll worry about next year when the time rolls around, but the lineups this year can get really creative, with basically everyone except Riley and Thompson being able to play multiple positions.

You are right. I should have remembered that Bryant is also a skinny '4', part of Murphy's long and lean defenders at 3 and 4.

Next year, Bryant can move to the four, Ward to the three, etc. etc. and once again Murphy has a bunch of greyhounds who are long and lean.

From what I've seen of Still, he is a very good fit. He can play the 4 and 5 and is long and lean (he gives away what 50 or 60 to Matt B.).

BTW, I'm starting to wonder how Matt B. fits on this team. It is long and lean and designed to run.

(10-30-2012 11:11 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(10-30-2012 10:52 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Bryant has a PF's defensive game anyway. His block numbers at Arkansas (per 32 minutes) were ridiculous. It speaks to his athleticism that he'll probably be a SF this year.

I'll worry about next year when the time rolls around, but the lineups this year can get really creative, with basically everyone except Riley and Thompson being able to play multiple positions.

You are right. I should have remembered that Bryant is also a skinny '4', part of Murphy's long and lean defenders at 3 and 4.

Next year, Bryant can move to the four, Ward to the three, etc. etc. and once again Murphy has a bunch of greyhounds who are long and lean.

From what I've seen of Still, he is a very good fit. He can play the 4 and 5 and is long and lean (he gives away what 50 or 60 to Matt B.).

BTW, I'm starting to wonder how Matt B. fits on this team. It is long and lean and designed to run.

ways i can see Balkema getting on the floor:
- totally masters the 2-3 zone
- is the only one out of him, Riley and Still with effective post moves
- regular foul trouble for Riley
- Still is not ready to play at this level

if none of these happen, i don't think he'll get much playing time as a senior.

Balkema will almost certainly get some minutes, since Riley and Harris can be a bit too aggressive and get into foul trouble. JStill will probably be the first big man off the bench, but I can see Matt getting 10-15 minutes a night.

Steve has a point though...he's a bit of a square peg in a round hole. This is a very athletic team that can play some up-tempo basketball. Lots of ball handlers too (did you see Harrison in the video? He looked like a PG bringing the ball up the court on a press break) at many positions. I'm guessing Matt will still have a role, though.

(10-30-2012 01:46 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Balkema will almost certainly get some minutes, since Riley and Harris can be a bit too aggressive and get into foul trouble. JStill will probably be the first big man off the bench, but I can see Matt getting 10-15 minutes a night.

Steve has a point though...he's a bit of a square peg in a round hole. This is a very athletic team that can play some up-tempo basketball. Lots of ball handlers too (did you see Harrison in the video? He looked like a PG bringing the ball up the court on a press break) at many positions. I'm guessing Matt will still have a role, though.

He might be a match up center. Someone to play against another big plodder type center.

Go in there and bang and give some fouls.

Honest assessment of Balkema.

Wide body who doesn't mind being physical and is very very limited on offense. IMO, the only reason he got in the game against WMU was because we had Stainbrook, who needed someone with beef guarding him.

There isn't much need for Balkema this year, except your game against Akron. He's got 5 fouls to give and he should use all of them against Zeke.

If you guys are really long, athletic and loaded this year...I don't see how he fits into the equation unless a certain matchup requires it.

I will say this, it was a sobering sight to see him celebrating when you guys beat us at UA last year. Never did I see that coming.

Neither did we. Still unsure how we swept you and got swept by CMU. Last year was a bizarre one, but in a good way (for us, at least...sorry EA).