It was announced at the Men's Basketball Roundball Social tonight that freshmen Keshaun Saunders and TJ Smith will redshirt this season. Coach K said that both players thought it was the best option for them with the depth of the team this season.

I expected Smith would. Saunders sounded much more D1 ready.

Saunders has a ton of natural talent and athleticism and a lot of room for development. A diamond in the rough as they say. TJ Smith is a mystery to me, like Gordon when he first came into the program

AJ Edu may be too talented to redshirt but an extra year of development for big men always seems like a good idea to me. Knapke certainly benefitted.

(11-02-2018 01:54 AM)Sleepy Wrote:  Saunders has a ton of natural talent and athleticism and a lot of room for development. A diamond in the rough as they say. TJ Smith is a mystery to me, like Gordon when he first came into the program

AJ Edu may be too talented to redshirt but an extra year of development for big men always seems like a good idea to me. Knapke certainly benefitted.

Edu could be gone in a few years. Play him now.

I don't think we have enough depth at the 4 and 5 positions to redshirt both Hill and Edu. We have plenty of guard/small forward types, so redshirting Saunders makes more sense.

I don't get the above comment that Edu could be gone in a few years. Of course that could be true of any player, but if you're suggesting that he will be in the NBA before his senior season, that seems like a prediction with no factual basis. Who's the last MAC player to leave school early for an NBA career? If Edu already is good enough to warrant such a prediction, why wasn't he recruited by big-name schools?

The difference between Edu and Saunders is playing time this year.

I think having Chris Darrington eligible this season instead of next season was the main reason Saunders and the coaches decided on the redshirt. Coach K also said last night that, while Edu will need time to develop physically, he thinks he has enough skill to be able to help the team coming off the bench this season.

One interesting take away from last night's speech from ESPN's Seth Greenberg, was that after watching practice yesterday, he thinks Toledo is going to be an outstanding shooting team. He also mentioned that he was very impressed with how the players practiced and how they interacted among themselves and with the coaches. He said that type of "culture" is imperative to having success on and off the court, especially in times of adversity which they will face during the season.

(11-02-2018 09:41 AM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  I think having Chris Darrington eligible this season instead of next season was the main reason Saunders and the coaches decided on the redshirt. Coach K also said last night that, while Edu will need time to develop physically, he thinks he has enough skill to be able to help the team coming off the bench this season.

One interesting take away from last night's speech from ESPN's Seth Greenberg, was that after watching practice yesterday, he thinks Toledo is going to be an outstanding shooting team. He also mentioned that he was very impressed with how the players practiced and how they interacted among themselves and with the coaches. He said that type of "culture" is imperative to having success on and off the court, especially in times of adversity which they will face during the season.

As much as I like what Seth had to say about the team, all 4 years I have gone to this event the guest speaker has said that we would be in the NCAA tournament in March.

Will Edu be subbing in for Knapke or Navigato? Isn't he more suited to the wing?

(11-02-2018 11:56 AM)UTNORTH Wrote:  Will Edu be subbing in for Knapke or Navigato? Isn't he more suited to the wing?

But somebody has to sub in for Knapke. Our guys who play more like post players are short.

(11-03-2018 05:07 AM)Dwight Wrote:  

(11-02-2018 11:56 AM)UTNORTH Wrote:  Will Edu be subbing in for Knapke or Navigato? Isn't he more suited to the wing?

But somebody has to sub in for Knapke. Our guys who play more like post players are short.

Willie Jackson does a nice job inside.

After seeing these two live for the first time and given our guard heavy roster. I agree 100% with the redshirt year.

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