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(10-06-2014 04:15 PM)ODUR8R Wrote:  Good observations but nobody in that starting five is considered among our best defenders.


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Fair enough but that doesn't mean that starting five is a bunch of bull fighters on defense. This might be the deepest (or most well-rounded) ODU team of the past 5+ years. I'm not sure anyone will average over 30 minutes a game. I could easily see an 8 or 9 man rotation.

Arledge, Bacote, Douglas, Freeman, Moseley, Palmore & Ross should see significant minutes. It's very possible, in my mind, that Baker, Biberaj, Ebondo and Taylor will factor in regularly as well.

Sure, can't wait.

Don't forget about Taylor. He's the best post defender on the team and one of the best in the conference.

He will play a lot. I'm also high on Jordan Baker.


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With this many players available I hope to see the ball pushed up the court AND a swarming defense. Tire the other teams out. I can't remember another time that the one problem we might have is TOO many good players.

My wish is that we out VCU VCU on November 29

I think NIT is possible, and I believe we will be just fine SOS wise. I think we only get to the tournament if CUSA end up with several teams that are at large worthy (which I don't think is far fetched this season).

Thanks for the link to the Ed Miller article .

I'm really excited. I imagine that the first couple months will be a bit rough as the team gets some chemistry. The team will hit it's peak in February, where we do well in the C-USA tournament, but probably not win it all. I'm hoping for an NIT bid.

But man, I'm excited.

I just have a feeling that we're going to be really legit this year. We managed to get 18 wins with lack of depth and height. This year those two issues have been addressed. We have shooters, we have people who can drive, and we have depth on the inside. From the pics everyone looks athletic; even the big guys. I expect us to wear teams down with our speed.

I just can't wait for us to kick the rams in the nads. My coworker and I made a bet that the loser would have to decorate their office with the winning team's paraphernalia for a week. I CANNOT do that! I'd quit...

After the golf tournament at Bayville, I left even more convinced that we are going to have a cohesive and successful team this year.

Isn't it like old times to actually be looking forward to men's hoops season!!

The triple B's, Brose, Baker, and Bacote could be deadly this year with Freeman and some bigs in the mix!

ODU's best hope for an at-large bid is if the Paradise Jam has better teams than it appears it does right now. Otherwise, VCU, Richmond and Georgia State are about the only way the Monarchs can impress voters/committee members.

An NIT bid is certainly a reasonable goal. But the conference is such that predicting an NCAA bid is tough because who knows who'll come out of the tournament? And you know there's almost no chance CUSA produces an at-large bid unless like La. Tech or UTEP get ridiculously hot.

I'll be curious to see what happens with the starting lineup. I think you have to assume Freeman, Bacote, and Ross will start. I think we might see Palmore and Taylor out there with them, as they provide some valuable defense. Sure, that team would be small, but it would be relatively quick.

Against teams with some size, I think a lineup of Freeman, Bacote, Ross, Taylor, and Arledge could work.

I know many are excited about the addition of Arledge because of his size, but this staff loves what Denzell Taylor does on the defensive side in the post. And, personally, I thought he made some big offensive strides throughout the season as well.

(10-07-2014 08:48 AM)ODUCoach Wrote:  I'll be curious to see what happens with the starting lineup. I think you have to assume Freeman, Bacote, and Ross will start. I think we might see Palmore and Taylor out there with them, as they provide some valuable defense. Sure, that team would be small, but it would be relatively quick.

Against teams with some size, I think a lineup of Freeman, Bacote, Ross, Taylor, and Arledge could work.

I know many are excited about the addition of Arledge because of his size, but this staff loves what Denzell Taylor does on the defensive side in the post. And, personally, I thought he made some big offensive strides throughout the season as well.

That's exactly what I have Coach!


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Do we expect anything from Deion Clark this year?

I love that we have so many guards to throw at them this year while still have at least a few guys that are 6-7. Ross should thrive without having to be the only big man in the paint or fearful for his life that he get in foul trouble.

I don't see Moseley mentioned anywhere, but I have to give him a shout out. Really came around to be one of our most valuable players in the 2nd half of last season. I expect he will have a big role this season. I see anywhere from 18 (floor) to 26 (ceiling) wins, barring injury and depending on coaching the kids into a cohesive team.

(10-07-2014 09:02 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Do we expect anything from Deion Clark this year?

I love that we have so many guards to throw at them this year while still have at least a few guys that are 6-7. Ross should thrive without having to be the only big man in the paint or fearful for his life that he get in foul trouble.

With Bacote, Moseley, Freeman, Palmore, and Baker already in the backcourt, I guess it depends on playing time. It will be tough to earn much. If Clark earns it, I would expect he will be impactful just by the mere fact that he is getting PT in a stacked backcourt. As far as how he is progressing, I don't know. I wasn't all that impressed with his freshman performance, but it was also in the midst of the Blaine train wreck so I think we can throw that one out.

Clark is a 6-5 guard who showed the ability to shoot over defenses as a freshman. This gives ODU two legitimate snipers this year (Baker is reportedly improved as well). Teams should not be able to pack the paint this year which should allow Palmore and Ross (and Bacote and Freeman) more open lanes to the basket.

At this point, given 2 serious injuries and the amount of time it takes to come back to 100%, I'm thinking Clark is going to be one of those kids people wind up saying things like "he could have been good..." Time will tell, but my feeling is he's very injury prone and will never contribute much. Hope I'm wrong.

(10-07-2014 09:41 AM)bigblue78 Wrote:  Clark is a 6-5 guard who showed the ability to shoot over defenses as a freshman. This gives ODU two legitimate snipers this year (Baker is reportedly improved as well). Teams should not be able to pack the paint this year which should allow Palmore and Ross (and Bacote and Freeman) more open lanes to the basket.

He is 10-34 (29%) from 3. I wouldn't brand him a "sniper". Then again, as I said before, it was during the Blaine meltdown so I am not ready to judge him as a bust either. I am kind of in wait and see mode with Deion.

It's always hard for me to take some time off from football this time of year, but I just went back to the ODU web site to review the roster, and I have to say that I think this team looks incredibly strong. If JJ keeps the substitutions going and this team runs -- lord help the teams we play.

I think Deion will have a good Senior year. It'll be him, Ambrose and Baker leading the backcourt that year as 3 senior shooters. But since we only have his Freshman year to go off of, I'm going to withhold judgement on how he'll be this year til we see him play.

I think that we should be able to mix and match our styles more this year. We have the guards and athletic forwards to play up-tempo, and enough size and range to play a straight half court game. As always, defense and rebounding will key to our success.

I like that JJ seemed to be able to continue the trademark Blaine defense/rebounding success, while opening up the offense and letting shooters find their rhythm. I hope that continues this year.