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Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/25/2019 in all areas

  1. 1 point
    I would say nearly every team in the CAA has those ifs with so many gone due to transfers and graduation. So while "next year" might seem to be our best chance of finally breaking through, I'm expecting a major improvement in 2019-20 due to several factors. Freshmen normally make their biggest improvements from the rookie to their sophomore seasons, the addition of Gray should be a solid addition (hopefully a lot better than Sanders) and Gibson. There are two huge keys for MBB and one starts at point guard with Gibson. The other is with Gray. Neither has to be great but they do need to be productive. I've given up on Sanders producing 12ppg though 7rpg is possible. He shouldn't even be guaranteed the center job. If Tunstall is strong enough to play the 5, go with him, though you lose some in offense. If Charles Thompson is legit as a freshman and that's probably asking too much, then he should at least play minutes. He's big, strong and has great length. Hell, maybe Solly, if as Skerry says "has had a great offseason", can be an undersized 5, may the best center win. I just think having a 6-8, 225-pound power forward who can face the basket and shoot is a luxury we haven't had in many years. Actually never. We've had power forwards who can shoot but they weren't that big. For example, Brian Barber was only about 6-6, 210 but was long and athletic. Lawrence Hamm was about the same size. Both could face and shoot it decently though neither was a huge three-point threat. Actually, Barber never made a 3 and Hamm was about a 28% shooter. Benimon was 6-8, 250 and basically an old-school power forward with point guard skills. Not saying Gray is remotely close to JB but he's different than Moto as well, who was shall we say an erratic shooter. I would take what Moto did in his junior season and that was 13.9ppg, 8.3rpg and 29.3% 3pt, 44% FG. I expect better shooting numbers from Gray but fewer rebounds. Well, a lot fewer as he only averaged 4.7rpg for his career in about 25mpg. His numbers below are not eye-popping but look at his conference numbers in 2017-18. Shot 51.7% from the field and 36% from 3pt in just 21mpg with 6.8ppg. Probably not even their third option. Now he'll be the second option most likely. The bigger concern is FT shooting, which was only about 60% in conference play but around 67% overall. He doesn't get there a lot but likely will now that he's going to be a major focus of the offense. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/juwan-gray-1.html I want to see these guys over the summer but watching drills won't be enough. I can basically see if guys like Timberlake and Betrand have gotten bigger and have improved their skill levels. Same with Dottin, who we know needs to shoot about 500 jumpers a day but also has to run the offense and manage the game better. I need to see them in October in 5x5. I've said this before about Timberlake. I want to see this kid come back (I know he's put on 12-14lbs), much more confident. If he's physically stronger, he should be able to put the ball on the floor and drive. We have him for four years. He can be as good as he wants because of his speed and leaping ability. I also think he can take some pressure of o Gibson because he has some PG instincts. The good thing is that we have many options up front. Not as many in the backcourt though I think having T.J. Howard at the 2 allows him to come off the bench at the 1 or 2, depending on Timberlake and Dottin's progress. But these are huge ifs. Very few proven players means a mid-level prediction. I really do want to see Gibson, Thompson and Gray play along with the two transfers and hope that Solly, Betrand, Timberlake and Dottin (or two of them) have made the next step.

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