I am very frustrated with the usage of Ray Lee. He posted to twitter yesterday,
"Got to be able to get into a rhythm than everything will be okay.
13 hours ago - Twitter"

Who knows what this twitter post actually means or refers to. But could it be his own frustration with his reduced role after these first 2 games?

This is a player who was predicted as a MAC player of the year candidate. He was named to the Lou Henson award watch list- an award that goes to the top mid major basketball player. These are not based on hype, but on actual performance over his time at EMU- which is now in his 4th year.

I like the addition of Toney and Mangum a lot. They are solid talents. They can both create on the offensive side. I think Toney plays defense extremely well. But neither seems capable of the consistent offensive performance Lee produces. Or the ability to single handedly carry the team as Lee did in several games last year.

Does Murphy think Toney and Mangum are better players than Lee? Is he trying to shore up the bench by bringing in his best player with that unit? Is Lee being demoted based on off court issues?

No one knows what Murphy is thinking. I will respect what he has done at EMU and take the good with the bad. Regardless, these kids are young adults who have committed themselves to EMU. They too should be treated with respect. And I feel Ray Lee has been treated like Rodney Dangerfield. If he does not get 30+ minutes a game this season, than I would advise he graduates this spring and transfers.

(12-06-2015 10:34 AM)rayEMU Wrote:  I am very frustrated with the usage of Ray Lee. He posted to twitter yesterday,
"Got to be able to get into a rhythm than everything will be okay.
13 hours ago - Twitter"

Who knows what this twitter post actually means or refers to. But could it be his own frustration with his reduced role after these first 2 games?

This is a player who was predicted as a MAC player of the year candidate. He was named to the Lou Henson award watch list- an award that goes to the top mid major basketball player. These are not based on hype, but on actual performance over his time at EMU- which is now in his 4th year.

I like the addition of Toney and Mangum a lot. They are solid talents. They can both create on the offensive side. I think Toney plays defense extremely well. But neither seems capable of the consistent offensive performance Lee produces. Or the ability to single handedly carry the team as Lee did in several games last year.

Does Murphy think Toney and Mangum are better players than Lee? Is he trying to shore up the bench by bringing in his best player with that unit? Is Lee being demoted based on off court issues?

No one knows what Murphy is thinking. I will respect what he has done at EMU and take the good with the bad. Regardless, these kids are young adults who have committed themselves to EMU. They too should be treated with respect. And I feel Ray Lee has been treated like Rodney Dangerfield. If he does not get 30+ minutes a game this season, than I would advise he graduates this spring and transfers.

Ray, I am 100% on board with you. My friends and I who go watch the games noticed Ray always had a short leash starting his freshman year. At times, Ray is the only guy on the floor who could score in Murphy's 3-man weave non-structured discombobulated offense. The rationale for reduced minutes since he got here is that Ray doesn't play defense well. Come on Murphy, get out of his way so EMU can win some games. I will tell you one thing, when Ray is done with EMU ball, he will make three times more than Murphy playing professionally in Europe - maybe that thought scares Murphy.

His name is Raven Lee.
Raven is the best player that Eastern has had since Boykins. This young man needs to be able to show his God given talents. Eastern could have won lets say 7 more games if Raven's talents were used more effectively my Murphy and company while he was here. Let him shoot! Let him drive! Let Raven loose! The whole team will be better (including Thompson) and we could make a run the MAC title. Maybe a Freshman of the Year (Thompson) and First team all Mac (Lee). I smiled for a week when Raven decided to attend Eastern Michigan University. Raven came to play. Lets play him! And trust me the ball will not lie! You know that Snow Day Commercial? I would want Raven on my team all day long. Lets show him some more respect and play this young man. Play him more.... Play him...

(12-06-2015 11:01 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 10:34 AM)rayEMU Wrote:  I am very frustrated with the usage of Ray Lee. He posted to twitter yesterday,
"Got to be able to get into a rhythm than everything will be okay.
13 hours ago - Twitter"

Who knows what this twitter post actually means or refers to. But could it be his own frustration with his reduced role after these first 2 games?

This is a player who was predicted as a MAC player of the year candidate. He was named to the Lou Henson award watch list- an award that goes to the top mid major basketball player. These are not based on hype, but on actual performance over his time at EMU- which is now in his 4th year.

I like the addition of Toney and Mangum a lot. They are solid talents. They can both create on the offensive side. I think Toney plays defense extremely well. But neither seems capable of the consistent offensive performance Lee produces. Or the ability to single handedly carry the team as Lee did in several games last year.

Does Murphy think Toney and Mangum are better players than Lee? Is he trying to shore up the bench by bringing in his best player with that unit? Is Lee being demoted based on off court issues?

No one knows what Murphy is thinking. I will respect what he has done at EMU and take the good with the bad. Regardless, these kids are young adults who have committed themselves to EMU. They too should be treated with respect. And I feel Ray Lee has been treated like Rodney Dangerfield. If he does not get 30+ minutes a game this season, than I would advise he graduates this spring and transfers.

Ray, I am 100% on board with you. My friends and I who go watch the games noticed Ray always had a short leash starting his freshman year. At times, Ray is the only guy on the floor who could score in Murphy's 3-man weave non-structured discombobulated offense. The rationale for reduced minutes since he got here is that Ray doesn't play defense well. Come on Murphy, get out of his way so EMU can win some games. I will tell you one thing, when Ray is done with EMU ball, he will make three times more than Murphy playing professionally in Europe - maybe that thought scares Murphy.

I'm undecided at this point, inconsistent talent is more like it.

(12-06-2015 01:31 PM)greenandwhiteeagle Wrote:  His name is Raven Lee.
Raven is the best player that Eastern has had since Boykins. This young man needs to be able to show his God given talents. Eastern could have won lets say 7 more games if Raven's talents were used more effectively my Murphy and company while he was here. Let him shoot! Let him drive! Let Raven loose! The whole team will be better (including Thompson) and we could make a run the MAC title. Maybe a Freshman of the Year (Thompson) and First team all Mac (Lee). I smiled for a week when Raven decided to attend Eastern Michigan University. Raven came to play. Lets play him! And trust me the ball will not lie! You know that Snow Day Commercial? I would want Raven on my team all day long. Lets show him some more respect and play this young man. Play him more.... Play him...

Agree 1000 %

Although I think it may be a toss up between Raven, Brandon Bowdry, and Calvin Warner as the best players since Earl.

79, I agree with the inconsistency of Toney and Mangum. I still think they are good pickups. Just not sure why they have jumped ahead of Lee on minutes.

Luckeyone and Greenandwhite, glad to see I am not alone on this one. Not that it makes a difference for Lee's minutes.

I like the phrase you use Luckeyone, "kept on a short leash". It does seem like Lee in particular has had to endure this. I don't think it is warranted.

I want to see Ray Lee start this game- however meaningless.

(12-07-2015 06:22 PM)rayEMU Wrote:  I want to see Ray Lee start this game- however meaningless.

I am with you, Ray. It is time to set the starters and find three bench players to make a run at the MAC.

Raven came into the season with a second best player in the MAC ranking and promptly got suspended for 6 games. Murphy has sat him down in the past for not being "into it". I think we all hoped that Raven would be the team leader and mature both as a player and person this season. So far I've disappointed in all of it. Raven Lee's worst enemy to reach his potential is Raven Lee. I applaud Coach Murphy for trying to get Raven to grow in all aspects and not just on the basketball court.