(09-08-2021 02:29 PM)emu79 Wrote:  CMU s roster is up and I can confirm they have 5 players 6'10 or taller with various levels of D1 experience. But let's look at the backcourt. Kevin Miller 6'0 and Jack Webb 6'4 are true frosh. They have Ann Arbors Ryan Wade 6'2 who played in 48 games at Holy Cross Jermaine Jackson Jr. 6'0 who has 79 games of D1 experience and averaged 15 points per game for LIU last year Cameron Heaney 6'3 who played 70 games for Albany NY little used Dylan Huber 6'0 and Oscar Lopez 6'4 who played 25 games for DePaul.

In the backcourt, 6’ transfer Jackson is probably the best of the lot as he hits 2’s and three’s. Wade is ok, Heaney is not. Lopez is a very good 2-point shooter, but doesn’t shoot three’s.

Three-Man Weave believes that in the MAC, the five best teams are Ohio, BG, Buffalo, Toledo, and Kent State. One broadcaster pointed out that even though each team lost one of it’s best players in the conference, that
last season top teams will be better this season. Another broadcaster disagreed.

EMU was not mentioned in the podcast.

I’m looking forward to seeing if EMU over the course of conference play is better than some of the 5 projected top MAC teams. Barring injuries, I think so.

(09-08-2021 02:29 PM)emu79 Wrote:  CMU s roster is up and I can confirm they have 5 players 6'10 or taller with various levels of D1 experience. But let's look at the backcourt. Kevin Miller 6'0 and Jack Webb 6'4 are true frosh. They have Ann Arbors Ryan Wade 6'2 who played in 48 games at Holy Cross Jermaine Jackson Jr. 6'0 who has 79 games of D1 experience and averaged 15 points per game for LIU last year Cameron Heaney 6'3 who played 70 games for Albany NY little used Dylan Huber 6'0 and Oscar Lopez 6'4 who played 25 games for DePaul.

In the backcourt, 6’ transfer Jackson is probably best of the lot as he hits 2’s and 3’s. Wade is ok, Heaney is not. Lopez is a very good 2-point shooter, but doesn’t shoot three’s.

Three-Man Weave believes the five best teams in the MAC are Ohio, BG, Buffalo, Toledo, and Kent State. One podcaster pointed out that although each team lost ir’s best player that each top team will be better this season. Another podcaster said he not so sure. . EMU not mentioned in podcast.

I think Buffalo and Ohio will again be strong teams.

Do believe that Toledo lost two players who provided firepower (33 ppg) and even though the added a good freshman shooter, hose shooter scoring will not be replaced.

BG lost Justin Turner their leading scorer. Their experienced returning backcourt has few good shooter. They won games last season by winning the turnover differential which gave them more scoring opportunities and opponents less.

I’m looking forward to seeing if EMU over the course of conference play is better than some of the 5 projected top MAC teams. Barring injuries, I think so.

(09-08-2021 07:32 PM)Miggy Wrote:  

(09-08-2021 02:29 PM)emu79 Wrote:  CMU s roster is up and I can confirm they have 5 players 6'10 or taller with various levels of D1 experience. But let's look at the backcourt. Kevin Miller 6'0 and Jack Webb 6'4 are true frosh. They have Ann Arbors Ryan Wade 6'2 who played in 48 games at Holy Cross Jermaine Jackson Jr. 6'0 who has 79 games of D1 experience and averaged 15 points per game for LIU last year Cameron Heaney 6'3 who played 70 games for Albany NY little used Dylan Huber 6'0 and Oscar Lopez 6'4 who played 25 games for DePaul.

In the backcourt, 6’ transfer Jackson is probably best of the lot as he hits 2’s and three’s Wade is ok, Heaney is not. Lopez is a very good 2-point shooter, but doesn’t shoot three’s.

Three-Man Weave believes that in the MAC, the five best teams are Ohio, BG, Buffalo, Toledo, and Kent State. One podcaster pointed out that even though each team lost one of the best players in the conference, that last season top teams will be better this season. Another podcaster disagreed.

EMU was not mentioned in the podcast.

I’m looking forward to seeing if EMU Omer the course of conference play is better than some of the 5 projected top MAC teams. Barring injuries, I think so.

I am more interested if we sign any recruits for 2022 in the early signing period.

(09-01-2021 06:32 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(09-01-2021 06:01 PM)Miggy Wrote:  Akron has lost Leon Jackson who averaged 19 ppg. He was a high volume 3-point shooter but just ok shooting three’s. Don’t see Akron averaging 77 ppg again this season. Should be an average conference team this season.

Akron will rely on 4 guards who are not impressive. Three are transfers.

In evaluating a player, it’s best not to look at how many games the player played in, but instead look at his shooting percentages on 2’s and 3’s. Un

New Akron transfer Walton shot well on two point shots, but did not shoot three’s well. Had high turnover rate.

Akron’s returnee Bryan Trimble averaged 28 mpg and 13 ppg last season. He’s an average guard as he shot 2’s poorly at 38 percent but shot a high volume of three’s three’s and shot them well at 39 percent.

St.John’s transfer guard Greg Trimble from averaged 18 mpg and 2.7 ppg at St.John’s in conference games. He hardly ever shot two’s, but is a good three-point shooter.

South Florida point guard Castaneda from averaged 25 mpg and 5.5 ppg in conference play. He’s is a good three point shooter but shot 2-pointers shooter at only 35 percent . He shot as many two’s as he did three’s. Overall, he’s not a good shooter. And nowhere near the Akron’s PG who departed.

Maybe one of Akron’s new young PG’s will contribute.

Many MAC teams back courts have extensive D1 playing experience. I discounted players on the roster without that experience.

Will be interesting to see if Farrakhan, M. Scott, and McBride start in the backcourt, and if Rice gets significant playing time coming off the bench and provides EMU with scoring.

Luka S.should get playing time as he adjusts to a faster game.

EMU’s 7-foot Center Axel Okongo is coming off an injury is in the mix to back-up freshman Mo Njie. Okongo played sparingly last season. Heard that he’s presently playing very well on the defensive end. Such matches up with a video and a scouting report.

Report said that Okongo is a good rim protector, and a very good shot-blocker. His limited stats also support that. Video shows him using his quickness to block shots of inside strong side shooter by his coming from the weak side. He’s also a good rebounder.

Did fans see Okongo play enough last season as to make a judgment as to his defense?

Report also says he communicates very well with his teammates when playing defense. Similar reports say the same thing about Njie.

EMU coaching staff will need to get him to decrease his excessive turnovers and fouling so he can stay on the court. Don’t know if his turnovers are more off his dribble, catching or passing the ball, or both.

Hoping Njie’s and Okongo’s strength, athleticism, and height, that both are going to be effective defensively. If they stay healthy, and can defend the rim, conference opponents scoring should be kept in-check, and wouldn’t be surprised to see opponents averaging somewhere between 65-72 ppg.

Will be interesting to see if HC Heath will at times play small ball with four guards.

Do believe EMU has good shooters in both the back and front court who are fully capable of averaging 75 ppg plus. EMU players are a mixture of athletic, quick, tall, and strong players. As such, EMU is a strong well-balanced team with depth. Can’t wait for the season to start.

EMU opens conference play at Ohio on Dec. 28th, followed by playing Buffalo at home on Jan 1st.

I see EMU’s depth chart as follows:

PG: Farrakhan, M.Scott, McBride,
Wing: M.Scott, McBride, Rice, N. Scott, Golson
Wing:Spottsville, Golson N. Scott, Rice.
PF:N.Scott, Binelli,, Ballard, Jihad
Center:Njie, Okongo, Ballard, N. Scott

In HS, Farrakhan was the starting PG for IMG Academy in Florida that won the National HS tournament. He’s a good shooter and driver to the hoop. M. Scott played PG last season at Portland State. Although I prefer N. Scott starting at PF, can see Binelli starting.

EMU’s roster is filled with players who have length, brawn, quickness, can score from deep and at the rim, play good defense. Should be an exciting team with some depth to watch.

Just listened to a Eastern Michigan Insider interview with HC Heath that took place shortly after he was hired, and apparently before he signed any recruits.

Heath did say in the interview that he was first and foremost a defensive coach, and that his previously coached college teams had been very good defensively.

I did a cursory look at when he last Head Coach for six seasons at USF. He coached USF for two seasons when they were in the Big East, and then four years in the AAC.

What stood out is that in five seasons, conference opponents averaged less than 70 ppg, including one in which opponents only averaged less than 55 ppg. In one season, conference opponents averaged 73 ppg.

I can’t see Buffalo, Ohio, and Toledo, nor any other NAC team l, scoring 80 plus points when they play EMU this season.

Heath went on to say that he fully expects this year’s EMU squad to be among the best in the MAC, and he said that before signing any players. EMU appears to have both returning players and new signed players who can both defend the perimeter and the inside.

I suspect his prediction will come true, and if EMU can keep the top MAC team to scoring in the low 70’s or less, EMU should not only be competitive, but should do quite well on the offensive end, as EMU, in my view, has both players who can supply offensive fire power., and an pro offensive system that will lead to many easy hoops.

Keep drinking the Kool Aid. Hey updated weights on some of the players has been updated. Glad to see many bulked up and they will need that extra muscle in the front court to match other MAC teams. Noticed Luka is 6'3 150 and may be overpowered by stronger more experienced guards.

(09-15-2021 06:52 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Keep drinking the Kool Aid. Hey updated weights on some of the players has been updated. Glad to see many bulked up and they will need that extra muscle in the front court to match other MAC teams. Noticed Luka is 6'3 150 and may be overpowered by stronger more experienced guards.

You don’t believe Heath’s prediction that EMU will be among the best defensive teams in the MAC this year will prove to be true. Just say that. No need for “Kool Aid” put-down.

Regardless of whether EMU will be as good defensively as the best three teams in the MAC, EMU should be able to compete with those team, and and EMU will notvblown-out as they were last season.

If HC Heath wants to go tall in the backcourt, he can play Scott, 6’5”, Rice, 6’5”, and N.Scott, 6’8” together.

EMU’s centers (Okongo,7’ and Njie, 6’10”) are taller and stronger than most other MAC centers.

EMU’s forwards (Binelli, 6’10”, Golson, 6’7,”Ballard, 6’8,” and Jihad, 6’8”) are as tall and equally as strong as other MAC forwards And that’s before they started lifting weights at EMU.

Don’t know how often Luka S. will play. But doubt that he’ll be overpowered by 6 foot guards on other MAC teams. He’ll have the advantage over those players shooting jumpers, and driving to the hoop.
He’ll have a better chance blocking their jumpers than they will his.

Wow, that is light. Luka will need to hit the weight room to play in the MAC.

(09-15-2021 09:14 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Wow, that is light. Luka will need to hit the weight room to play in the MAC.

The weight room will help as well as Luka getting use to playing a faster game.

I question whether Luka being listed as weighing 150 lbs. is even accurate. Regardless of his weight, he should have no trouble shooting jumpers as he knows how to create separation, has nifty quick moves to get by the defensive player guarding him. By EMU playing man to man he’ll be able to guard 3-point shooters. Good fit for a up-tempo offense.

Wes Miller, one of the nation’s best young (38 years old) Head Coaches at UNC Greensboro first recruited and secured a commitment from Luka. Afterwards, Miller accepted the HC position at Cincinnati. and Luka withdrew his commitment, and signed with EMU.

Believe Williams iked Luka’s 11 point scoring average, 37.5 shooting percentage on three’s, 8 assists, 5 rebound, and 2 steals per game. Doubt Miller was concerned about his weight.

I guess NBA players like Steph Curry should bulk-up as well.

Two things this AM.

Noah Morgan has transferred to Morehouse.

Here's the roster with updated weights and height.

https://emueagles.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

HC Heath also said in Eastern Michigan Insider interview that he wants EMU players to push the ball up the court, and make good decisions. Believe he has the backcourt to do that.

He said he wants EMU to shoot within 6 seconds. He wants to see fewer passes and thus avoid opponent interceptions and forced EMU turnovers.

He’s putting in various options for players to chose from. He calls this his flow offense. Implementing an early offense is wise as it will cut-down on EMU turnovers. The turnover differential between teams often determines the outcome of games.

As a newly reconstituted team, EMU needs to keep it’s turnovers down and Heath’s up-tempo early offensive scheme should accomplish that.

He also intends to play a pressure defense that will force turnovers and lead to easy EMU hoops. His backcourt is full of players who have the quickness to make steals and force opponent turnovers. Will be fun to watch.

(09-16-2021 08:27 AM)Miggy Wrote:  HC Heath also said in Eastern Michigan Insider interview that he wants EMU players to push the ball up the court, and make good decisions. Believe he has the backcourt to do that.

He said he wants EMU to shoot within 6 seconds. He wants to see fewer passes and thus avoid opponent interceptions and forced EMU turnovers.

He’s putting in various options for players to chose from. He calls this his flow offense. Implementing an early offense is wise as it will cut-down on EMU turnovers. The turnover differential between teams often determines the outcome of games.

As a newly reconstituted team, EMU needs to keep it’s turnovers down and Heath’s up-tempo early offensive scheme should accomplish that.

He also intends to play a pressure defense that will force turnovers and lead to easy EMU hoops. His backcourt is full of players who have the quickness to make steals and force opponent turnovers. Will be fun to watch.

bring on the fun and gun

(09-16-2021 08:41 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  [quote='Miggy' pid='17641813' dateline='1631798879']
HC Heath also said in Eastern Michigan Insider interview that he wants EMU players to push the ball up the court, and make good decisions. Believe that he has in Farrakhan, Scott, McBride, and Luca S, the backcourt players to do so.

He said he wants EMU to shoot within 6 seconds. He wants to see fewer passes and thus avoid opponent interceptions and forced EMU turnovers.

He’s putting in various options for players to chose from. He calls this his flow offense. Implementing an early offense is wise as it will cut-down on EMU turnovers. The turnover differential between teams often determines the outcome of games.

As a newly reconstituted team, EMU needs to keep it’s turnovers down and Heath’s up-tempo early offensive scheme should accomplish that.

He also intends to play a pressure defense that will force turnovers and lead to easy EMU hoops. His backcourt is full of players who have the quickness to make steals and force opponent turnovers. Will be fun to watch.

bring on the fun and gun

Fun and gun sounds like non-structured and non-cerebral bb.

I see EMU’s early offense as a structured cerebral style of bb in which EMU players will chose from options that will result in EMU players shooting a much higher shooting percentage then they otherwise would have. Players will have structured plays that flow from one to another that players can chose from that creates open shots and easier scoring opportunities at the the rim.

Would’t call stealing the ball and getting easy hoops on the other end as exactly fun and gun, nor would I describe an early flow offense that way, as there will be many play options for the players to pick from.

Looking forward to seeing what EMU adjustments are made when EMU is facing opponents who play a zone defense rather not a man to man defense.

(09-16-2021 05:01 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Two things this AM.

Noah Morgan has transferred to Morehouse.

Here's the roster with updated weights and height.

https://emueagles.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Glad Noah found a home. Not to be negative, but I wish he stayed at EMU. He played mostly small forward here, and that is the one position EMU never really addressed in recruiting. I think they will be fine playing a 3 guard offense given the players they have coming in. But seems like would have been best for everyone had he stayed.

Nonetheless, best wishes to Morgan! He was a good player for EMU

Miggy,

You have seemingly replaced Steve as the EMU basketball fan wearing rose pedaled glasses :-)

Question for you: Is your projection of the success the team is going to have this year based on watching the players scrimmage against each other or entirely from highlight YouTube videos?

I believe Luka’s stock has fallen a bit based on your latest analysis on him. His highlights look very promising but he will definitely need to add some muscle to play in the MAC.

I am going to try to watch a basketball scrimmage when practice can start back up.

Meanwhile, although we have a couple veteran transfers and returning players, looks like Heath recruited a great foundation of players to build his program on that should be very competitive in years 2-4. Freshman just typically do not contribute that much their first year due to the adjustment required from high school to D1 basketball. I remember watching Brian Tolbert as a freshman and telling myself this kid has huge potential but he was a minor role player his freshman year on an average team.

When I look at our returning players: Kongo, Binelli, McBride, Spottsville, and Ballard, I only see average MAC players. However, admittedly so my analyses of these players are in Murphy’s street ball system. I do believe that these players will definitely perform much better in a structured system. Binelli could be one of the top shooters in the MAC if a coach set up plays to run him off screens. In Murphy’s system, Binelli had to create his own shots which meant a long 3 ball off the dribble with a defender on him. Heck even pros would struggle in Murphy’s offensive system

Ballard reminds me of Draymond Green - a guy who scraps every possession and every team needs this type of player.

McBride - he’ll be a nice guard where he should average 7-10 ppg.

Okongo- jury’s out on him due to injury and playing time but from I have seen his foot speed is not there to be anything more than a role player.

It’s too bad that our potential All-MAC forward transferred to Butler.

Since freshman are pretty much role players, and we don’t have all returning all MAC players on the roster , I believe this team may achieve 1-2 games over 0.500 in the conference.

I have a lot of faith in Coach Heath because of his previous coaching success. Next season EMU will be a force in the MAC. However this season will be used to see what pieces are needed to win the MAC.

I do believe that EMU is a sleeping giant to attract players because 1) We have a very successful coach 2) a coach who runs an exciting system, 3) We are adjacent to an amazing city to our west with many things to do, 4) EMU has one of the top MAC facilities, and 5) our campus is looking pretty damper these days.

It will take awhile for the fans to return but they will because Heath will reinstate an exciting brand of basketball with exciting players. We’re a SLEEPING GIANT that will begin to awake !!!!

(09-16-2021 02:36 AM)Miggy Wrote:  I guess NBA players like Steph Curry should bulk-up as well.

Put the hash pipe down. A comparison betwwen Curry and Luka isn't apppropriate and you know it. My new name for you is Miggy the Hypester.

(09-17-2021 07:50 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Miggy,

You have seemingly replaced Steve as the EMU basketball fan wearing rose pedaled glasses :-)

Question for you: Is your projection of the success the team is going to have this year based on watching the players scrimmage against each other or entirely from highlight YouTube videos?

I believe Luka’s stock has fallen a bit based on your latest analysis on him. His highlights look very promising but he will definitely need to add some muscle to play in the MAC.

I am going to try to watch a basketball scrimmage when practice can start back up.

Meanwhile, although we have a couple veteran transfers and returning players, looks like Heath recruited a great foundation of players to build his program on that should be very competitive in years 2-4. Freshman just typically do not contribute that much their first year due to the adjustment required from high school to D1 basketball. I remember watching Brian Tolbert as a freshman and telling myself this kid has huge potential but he was a minor role player his freshman year on an average team.

When I look at our returning players: Kongo, Binelli, McBride, Spottsville, and Ballard, I only see average MAC players. However, admittedly so my analyses of these players are in Murphy’s street ball system. I do believe that these players will definitely perform much better in a structured system. Binelli could be one of the top shooters in the MAC if a coach set up plays to run him off screens. In Murphy’s system, Binelli had to create his own shots which meant a long 3 ball off the dribble with a defender on him. Heck even pros would struggle in Murphy’s offensive system

Ballard reminds me of Draymond Green - a guy who scraps every possession and every team needs this type of player.

McBride - he’ll be a nice guard where he should average 7-10 ppg.

Okongo- jury’s out on him due to injury and playing time but from I have seen his foot speed is not there to be anything more than a role player.

It’s too bad that our potential All-MAC forward transferred to Butler.

Since freshman are pretty much role players, and we don’t have all returning all MAC players on the roster , I believe this team may achieve 1-2 games over 0.500 in the conference.

I have a lot of faith in Coach Heath because of his previous coaching success. Next season EMU will be a force in the MAC. However this season will be used to see what pieces are needed to win the MAC.

I do believe that EMU is a sleeping giant to attract players because 1) We have a very successful coach 2) a coach who runs an exciting system, 3) We are adjacent to an amazing city to our west with many things to do, 4) EMU has one of the top MAC facilities, and 5) our campus is looking pretty damper these days.

It will take awhile for the fans to return but they will because Heath will reinstate an exciting brand of basketball with exciting players. We’re a SLEEPING GIANT that will begin to awake !!!!

Hey a step into reality out of fanasty island. Guess what lots of new talented coaches in the MAC West. I believe the 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes will be critical for Heath. Hence I am curious to see if we sign anyone in the early signing period this year. Yes I agree we have some potential on the current squad but it will take time.