100% agree...we will have plenty of talent next year and if they have the basketball IQ like Niang did as a freshman I think that makes up for experience we're losing...I mean really did our experience help us win a lot of close games this year?
3 4 stars (although those don't matter), a top 125 player and Ejim in the starting lineup?
That's impressive for a 4th yr coach who took over with 3 scholarship players.
That's impressive for a 4th yr coach who took over with 3 scholarship players.
If the numbers look something like this i'll be happy.
Monte Morris. 8ppg 5ppg
Matt Thomas 10 ppg
Hogue 7-8 ppg
Ejim 13 ppg 10 rpg
George Niang 17 ppg 9 rpg
SDW 5-6 ppg
I'll say that those two juco bigs are foulers that average about 5 ppg and 8 rpg combined.
I think 20 wins would be a pretty remarkable season.
Monte Morris. 8ppg 5ppg
Matt Thomas 10 ppg
Hogue 7-8 ppg
Ejim 13 ppg 10 rpg
George Niang 17 ppg 9 rpg
SDW 5-6 ppg
I'll say that those two juco bigs are foulers that average about 5 ppg and 8 rpg combined.
I think 20 wins would be a pretty remarkable season.
Baylor. Kansas State. at Baylor. Oklahoma State. Oklahoma in Kansas City.
The basketball IQ was fairly good thisyear. It took quite a bit of it to come back against the #6 team down by 13 without a starter today.
I've written this in other threads, but I'll give it another go.
Fred plays an 8-man rotation by conference play most of the time. I think it's unlikely we end up with a bigger rotation next year. The biggest key on the season - to me - even bigger than the freshman stepping up, is keeping Niang and Ejim on the floor 5 minutes more a game each. They averaged 25 and 28 this year, if they average 30 and 33 next year, we will be a good team.
Also, Fred bases his offense off of creating mismatches. Clyburn, Ejim and Niang playing together all at ~6'7" and quick created a bunch of mismatches for us this year.
Looking at next years team, one way I can see us creating mismatches is by playing Ejim at the 3, if (and its a big if) Percy or Amardi can be a complete player at the 5.
My prediction by conference is this:
Morris
Thomas
Ejim
Niang
Gibson
with the rotation adding:
Bubu
Hogue
Amardi
I do think SDW and Bluford have a chance to play their way into that rotation in the non-conference.
Fred plays an 8-man rotation by conference play most of the time. I think it's unlikely we end up with a bigger rotation next year. The biggest key on the season - to me - even bigger than the freshman stepping up, is keeping Niang and Ejim on the floor 5 minutes more a game each. They averaged 25 and 28 this year, if they average 30 and 33 next year, we will be a good team.
Also, Fred bases his offense off of creating mismatches. Clyburn, Ejim and Niang playing together all at ~6'7" and quick created a bunch of mismatches for us this year.
Looking at next years team, one way I can see us creating mismatches is by playing Ejim at the 3, if (and its a big if) Percy or Amardi can be a complete player at the 5.
My prediction by conference is this:
Morris
Thomas
Ejim
Niang
Gibson
with the rotation adding:
Bubu
Hogue
Amardi
I do think SDW and Bluford have a chance to play their way into that rotation in the non-conference.
That top 125 player also had offers from schools like Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. Not too shabby
I haven't heard much about Okoro. Are people expecting him to be the next Babb?
I really doubt we see a dramatic decrease in our turnover numbers in this system. I think it will just be this way. I compare Thomas to Stauskas. He was a starter day one on a team with more spots solidified and over a guy who played quite a bit last year. I see Thomas being the same and I think Morris starts day 1 as well assuming his shooting is in order. Ejim, at this point is out "non scorer" in that he isn't likely to create a lot and if you throw Bubu in the lineup then you have two of them. I could easily see SDW starting as well. I do think we will have more guys to throw out there next year but I don't know if we will shoot it as well.
he only had offers from Pitt, Arizona, Rutgers, St. Johns, Seton Hall so he's a bit of a slouch.
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I remember bubu and ejim both shooting well from 3 their freshman years. So i was seething when the last 2 years people were saying that they werent good shooters. You saw it with ejim this year, you will see it with bubu next year.
I think we will have an NCAA team next year. I am convinced we have the talent, but I think lots depends on Percy getting to be a better passer. I think his defense will improve, but he needs to pass. If he learns to pass and move better without the ball, we will be a very good team. We need him to take lessons from Niang on passing and moving without the ball. I am not worried. Fred has shown amazing coaching abilities. We have enough talent next year for him to put together a really competitive team.
I agree with the 8-man rotation, but until they all get on campus nailing it down will be tough.
I really like the competition
Niang and Ejim are givens
Morris and Palo will handle the point; Morris' minutes will hopefully increase as the season goes on.
Amardi,Gibson,Edozie battle for one spot: I'd give Amardi the edge, to play about 20min/game.
Hogue and Okoro for one spot as SF; to me it's 50/50 and expect them to lose time to the SGs if their shots aren't consistant, we need their size at the three but not if they can't hit the three.
Thomas, Bluford, Dorsey-Walker, Long for a starting and reserve spot in the rotation at SG; just a guess at this point but I'm thinking Thomas and Bluford with a constant push from SDW
Core4: ejim, niang, morris, thomas
99% likely to play decent minutes: bubu, SDW
who the heck knows: gibson, amardi, hogue, bluford, edozie, okoro, long,
99% likely to play decent minutes: bubu, SDW
who the heck knows: gibson, amardi, hogue, bluford, edozie, okoro, long,
He's pretty athletic, a slasher who can finish at the rim and hit the three. IMO he'll play major minutes at the SF for ISU next year.
Dustin Hogue - YouTube
He did have offers from Iowa, Missouri, and Washington State among others.
Dustin Hogue - Yahoo! Sports
Great post! I think that Percy and Amardi will play less if we can find a way to play better team defense with smaller players. Fred seems pretty content on putting the most skilled basketball players on the floor regardless of size. It does seem unlikely that we will go deeper than 8. I am interested to see what role SDW and Bluford will have.
We will be just as good if not better IF
1. Morris is ready to start day one.
2. Hogue is as athletic as advertised.
We need a SF who can play D, and finish at the rim. And we need a PG who can drive, dribble, dish, and score. I think Hogue and Morris can be those guys. SG, and shooting in general should always be a strength with Fred here.
Ejim and Niang should only be better next year, and Fred will take care of the guards.
1. Morris is ready to start day one.
2. Hogue is as athletic as advertised.
We need a SF who can play D, and finish at the rim. And we need a PG who can drive, dribble, dish, and score. I think Hogue and Morris can be those guys. SG, and shooting in general should always be a strength with Fred here.
Ejim and Niang should only be better next year, and Fred will take care of the guards.
