Not only our big guys, but our guards will need to get stronger. And they should after working in the weight room for another year. I think that being young is not just about experience. It's also about strength. I see those third, fourth and fifth year players in the tournaments, and they're all a lot stronger than our young kids.

Keeping this group together is imperative. Certainly we can add some components where needed, but continuity is what we need.
I see some teams with players who are very good role players. They don't score much, but play tough defense and rebound. And they get the ball in the hands of the scorers. But you have to have at least two good scorers on the floor at all times. You can't do it with defense only. But I believe we have the young talent that can develop into a pretty smooth unit in time.

We have a very good strength coach. I am thinking that will be the least of our problems.

If we can keep the players in school for four or five years. That's the key for a mid major to win. The BCS schools are plagued by the one and done rule. But good mid major programs have Juniors and Seniors starting nearly every year.
That's how you build a program. Steve was obviously given the time to begin doing that last year when we recruited all those young players. Now he has to prove he can keep them together and mold them into a strong unit.

(03-22-2013 11:19 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  Steve was obviously given the time to begin doing that last year when we recruited all those young players. Now he has to prove he can keep them together and mold them into a strong unit.

You have put the kernel of truth in a nutshell.

I remember what happened with Shane Edwards, how much better he looked from his first to second seasons.

If Will can stay healthy, get everything fixed that needs fixing, and have the entire off season to get stronger, he could be the player we thought he'd be when he came here. Isler will be a terrific player for us this next year. The player they really need to work on keeping is James White. His upside as a shot blocker and rebounder is unlimited when he gets bigger and stronger. Dillard might develop into being able to create his own shot, and if he can do that, he could be close to another Solo in the next couple of years.

If Kemy can lose some weight and work on his ball handling, he could be a really good player for us before he's through.
He'll shoot a much better percentage from three point range next year. At least 35%, and better the next two years. If Javes stays and Joe really works hard with him, he could be a more than adequate post player with his shot blocking ability. Gus needs to work on his footwork and hopefully increase his jumping ability. Stetson could develop into a really good defensive player and can improve his scoring ability.

Taggart is still a question mark, but if he plays, he will be a solid performer. Hagins and Gillon will certainly get stronger and with more experience should do well. New guys, Isom and Poulter might contribute in spots. Need a really strong 6'7 or 6'8 inside player who has the ability to block out and rebound. I would assume Western will be the team to beat next year. I think we'll be competitive with all the other teams. Just depends on the bounce of the ball as to how we'll do. Could we hit the 20 win mark? Maybe, but I'd say 18 would be optimistic right now.

(03-22-2013 02:31 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  If Will can stay healthy, get everything fixed that needs fixing, and have the entire off season to get stronger, he could be the player we thought he'd be when he came here. Isler will be a terrific player for us this next year. The player they really need to work on keeping is James White. His upside as a shot blocker and rebounder is unlimited when he gets bigger and stronger. Dillard might develop into being able to create his own shot, and if he can do that, he could be close to another Solo in the next couple of years.

If Kemy can lose some weight and work on his ball handling, he could be a really good player for us before he's through.
He'll shoot a much better percentage from three point range next year. At least 35%, and better the next two years. If Javes stays and Joe really works hard with him, he could be a more than adequate post player with his shot blocking ability. Gus needs to work on his footwork and hopefully increase his jumping ability. Stetson could develop into a really good defensive player and can improve his scoring ability.

Taggart is still a question mark, but if he plays, he will be a solid performer. Hagins and Gillon will certainly get stronger and with more experience should do well. New guys, Isom and Poulter might contribute in spots. Need a really strong 6'7 or 6'8 inside player who has the ability to block out and rebound. I would assume Western will be the team to beat next year. I think we'll be competitive with all the other teams. Just depends on the bounce of the ball as to how we'll do. Could we hit the 20 win mark? Maybe, but I'd say 18 would be optimistic right now.

One more win, with everybody back, doesn't sound particularly optimistic- especially with some solid teams leaving the Belt.

A lot depends on our OOC schedule. If we can win our share of those, we could have a good season. At least until tournament time.

Mjs, you DO remember who our coach is, right? 17 or 18 wins and a first round loss in the conference tourney next year. Book it.

(03-22-2013 02:31 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  I would assume Western will be the team to beat next year.

I am not assuming that. They will be good, but I am more afraid of USA than them.

(03-22-2013 03:42 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(03-22-2013 02:31 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  I would assume Western will be the team to beat next year.

I am not assuming that. They will be good, but I am more afraid of USA than them.

ASU had 3 transfers sitting out. I know one was a high school 4 star who played at Ole Miss. Like always, no matter who is in the league it will be tough to win the whole thing.

We've done well with transfers. Shane Edwards, Mike Smith, Brandon Patterson, Solomon Bozeman come to mind, not to mention Allen Barksdale. You would think we'd work hard to find players in this area. Maybe we do, and just can't find or sign them.

(03-22-2013 03:42 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(03-22-2013 02:31 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  I would assume Western will be the team to beat next year.

I am not assuming that. They will be good, but I am more afraid of USA than them.

With no false modesty, WKU will be and should be preseason number 1 next year. The only guy we lose is Crook (and Akol who we had already lost).

USA loses Anderson, Wright, Goldstein, and Carter. That's 3 of their top 5 scorers and 2 of their top 3. That's also about a third of their rebounding that they lose.

Its true that they return Rubit... or do they? I think I read that Rubit will graduate early and will be eligible to transfer without sitting out to attend graduate school. With the new coach there could definately be transfers for them. The loss of Rubit or Ammons would a fatal blow. But either way they were not a deep team this year and the four graduations will make it tough for them to make a big improvement. Personally I would pick UALR over USA.

WKU on the other hand has a lot of sophmores that will become juniors next year. We also have a transfer point guard coming in from Butler, and a transfer two guard coming in from Texas Tech. Both will be eligible in December.

With out the injuries this would have been a different season for us. I think we could have been the three seed, maybe even the two seed. Pick USA at your own risk.

(03-23-2013 08:41 AM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  

(03-22-2013 03:42 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  

(03-22-2013 02:31 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  I would assume Western will be the team to beat next year.

I am not assuming that. They will be good, but I am more afraid of USA than them.

With no false modesty, WKU will be and should be preseason number 1 next year. The only guy we lose is Crook (and Akol who we had already lost).

USA loses Anderson, Wright, Goldstein, and Carter. That's 3 of their top 5 scorers and 2 of their top 3. That's also about a third of their rebounding that they lose.

Its true that they return Rubit... or do they? I think I read that Rubit will graduate early and will be eligible to transfer without sitting out to attend graduate school. With the new coach there could definately be transfers for them. The loss of Rubit would a fatal blow. But either way they were not a deep team this year and the four graduations will make it tough for them to make a big improvement.

WKU on the other hand has a lot of sophmores that will become juniors next year. We also have a transfer point guard coming in from Butler, and a transfer two guard coming in from Texas Tech. Both will be eligible in December.

With out the injuries this would have been a different season for us. I think we could have been the three seed, maybe even the two seed. Pick USA at your own risk.

I think WKU is usually the safe pick to win the league even without a whole lot of information.

I always consider Western when trying to determine the favorites in our league. And Ray Harper, as someone mentioned, is a very good tournament coach. In our league that seems to be what counts. Although we did get two bids this year to the NCAA, that has been pretty rare for the SBC. You normally have to win the tournament to get to the NCAA tournament.

(03-23-2013 08:46 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  I always consider Western when trying to determine the favorites in our league. And Ray Harper, as someone mentioned, is a very good tournament coach. In our league that seems to be what counts. Although we did get two bids this year to the NCAA, that has been pretty rare for the SBC. You normally have to win the tournament to get to the NCAA tournament.

Yes, he looked pretty good last night. Not sure how he kept WKU in the game, until the end, when they couldn't shoot a lick from the outside. They shoot anywhere near their normal percentage, in the second half, the win going away.

A team that has the potential to impress next year is Georgia State. They play in a conference with George Mason so you know they have seen some good basketball and they return most everybody from this year's team.

Georgia state will do good in the belt next season. I think they will finish in the top 4.

(03-23-2013 08:41 AM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  Its true that they return Rubit... or do they?

That is who scares me. If they return Rubit, I am most scared of them. If they don't I am not scared of them at all.

Rubit was really a nice player. Maybe the best big man I saw this season in the SBC.