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I would agree with that most of the time. However, JC is getting the team ready for the season and Detroit next week. He doesn't want to play a zone. He needed to play his style this week and get the new guys like Woods and Fisher ready.

There should only be 10 or less games that KSU will need one of the two mountains this season.

Since quality big men are difficut to get, I think that recruiting 6-8 or 6-9 players that would have an impact in the program would help better than having 6-10 or 7-0 players that look like they will be projects-let alone recruiting one as a jr transfer. That is my only complaint about our recruiting. We always seem to get the guards and small forwards but lack the bulk that can handle other power players in the league. Maybe Woods will help in that area but again he is only 6-5 235, the same as Sullinger that we asked to play in the middle last year.

Anyway, as the season progresses, Coach always seems to have the team ready for the run and the team plays exciting bball.

Here's kind of a lame question, but an important one nonetheless...

How'd we look from the foul line? Our free throw shooting killed us more than often last year.

8 of 16 for the game. Parks was 1 of 5 though so the rest of the team was 7 of 11. Garcia was 0 for 2.

Q 2-3
Scott 2-2
Fisher 0-1
Woods 2-2
Knight 1-1
Garcia 0-2
Parks 1-5

Total 8-16

38-78 FGS
8-19 3 FG

24 Assists
50 Reboounds

Bball Wrote:Since quality big men are difficut to get, I think that recruiting 6-8 or 6-9 players that would have an impact in the program would help better than having 6-10 or 7-0 players that look like they will be projects-let alone recruiting one as a jr transfer. That is my only complaint about our recruiting.

this is a valid complaint, but at the same time its an even better point.

We are at the top of the MAC because we go after impact players regardless of size.

sure there are other teams that snatch up quality bigs, but dont have much else on the roster to back them up. I like our plan better, you get players that can make impact regardless of size.

my dad's take on the game:

Just returned from exhibition game vs Hiram. As expected, KSU won 92-65 while giving everyone liberal playing time.

My observations:

New guys.....Most impressed with Rashad Woods....a good athlete...smooth and effortless style of play...makes thing look easy....all around player.....shooter, aggressive rebounder....seems always to be in the right place.....6'5 and strong...good ball handler......didn't keep exact stats but believe he was high scorer....approx 16 pts......combo of driving layups, putbacks
and 3's.....reminded me a bit of Cutley.......should be able to contribute immediately. Listed as a forward but I see him playing as a swing man G-F.

Antonio DeMaria (dee-ma-ria) at 6'7 with stong upper body (and loaded with tatoos) is definitely a scorer from inside and out. Some strong put backs with 3/3 on 3's.....Weakness will be defense...
let his man score easily a few times....a litlle slow on his feet vs. quick Forwards.....will need work on D b4 Christian lets him have playing time.....

Al Fisher ....solid point guard....seems steady but not
flashy......quick/fast....good defender.

Back court should be solid with lots of options for mix/match depending on opponent with Mincy
(looking improved)....Rod Sherman (looks stronger)....Fisher....and Mike McKee for breaking zones with 3's. and don't forget possible swingman (G-F) Woods vs big teams.

Unfortunately, Garcia may be a bit of a project.....played about 5 mins and picked up 3 quick fouls. Maybe trying too hard in his debut......definitely will need to be more aggressive for play in the MAC, Seems to have the moves and basic skills for good improvement (unlike Parks who is still sluggish).

Scoot, Singletary and Sullinger look very good....strong, steady and
confident. "Q" looks more relaxed and should be ready to assume more of the scoring burden....He and Scott can leap out of the building! The most improved veteran, however, is Isaac Knight.....He has put on some upper body muscle over the summer and is playing with confidence and authority ...at both ends....
slamming putbacks and starting breakis...excellent power blocks today. Seems to display much more enthusiasm for the game than last season.

I see the #1 strength for KSU as true depth......should be able to rotate good players at EVERY position keeping fresh legs and pressing defense going over long periods......ability to change
tempo with zone and man defenses and force turnovers resulting with fast breaks.....definitely set for up tempo play.

They will need it with a tough schedule and some strong competition in the MAC.......

Summary:

I see a possible starting line up of : Mincy, Woods, "Q", Scott and
Sullinger with plenty of rotating help off the bench.....can go with "big" guard lineup and/or qucik forward lineup or Heavy front line with Scott, "Q" and Knight.

I'm very optimistc due flexibility of lineups vs differnt teams.....

Dad

flashgrad03 Wrote:

Bball Wrote:Since quality big men are difficut to get, I think that recruiting 6-8 or 6-9 players that would have an impact in the program would help better than having 6-10 or 7-0 players that look like they will be projects-let alone recruiting one as a jr transfer. That is my only complaint about our recruiting.

this is a valid complaint, but at the same time its an even better point.

We are at the top of the MAC because we go after impact players regardless of size.

sure there are other teams that snatch up quality bigs, but dont have much else on the roster to back them up. I like our plan better, you get players that can make impact regardless of size.

I think a lot of the reason that we don't see the big men (Parks and Garcia) is because of the make-up of the rest of the team. They are so quick and athletic that you don't want a big man camped under the basket on the offensive end; they'll just get in the way of Scott or Q slashing to the basket. Even if you want to back someone down, Sullinger and Knight can do that without slowing down transistion offense. The problem I see with this approach is that a team with a good center can chew through the smaller guys (like that Duke kid last year or even Reitz (I don't think it's a coincidence that Kent's worst loss came at WMU)). I hope JC has a solution for this the couple of times they face it.

I am still hopeful that Parks will be a contributor his last couple of years when Scott and Q graduate.