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Thompson & Egolf

  • Thread starter Thread starter georgethedog
  • Start date Start date
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georgethedog

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This message board got me all excited over the summer when posters were talking about how great AT had become and that he would be a dominate "4" in the MVC. Last night... zero minutes. What's the deal? Too much summer Kool-Aide or what? Also, it is appearing to me that Will may... What's missing in his game that he doesn't get time? I mean, several new players have come in and just blown by him. It's too bad that neither of those players can be an effective "4" because we still lack size. TW is no "4" but Les continues to insist that is his position. I think it is because Coach Les does not have anyone else to turn to because WE and AT have not developed as expected.
 
I remember threads about how much weight AT had gained, but I honestly don't recall anyone saying "how great he had become" and I am sure nobody ever used the word dominate in any post about AT.

The coach had hinted that his playing rotation would not be a large as it was during the preseason, since he believes teams stand a better chance of winning when they play 8 or 9 players.
So I think WE and AT were simply the 2 odd guys out. I am sure they still play a large part in his plans for this team's future.

And I think TW has played the 4 pretty well. Maybe he is not a classic NBA 4, but he has a chance to be All MVC.
 
georgethedog said:
This message board got me all excited over the summer when posters were talking about how great AT had become and that he would be a dominate "4" in the MVC. Last night... zero minutes. What's the deal? Too much summer Kool-Aide or what? Also, it is appearing to me that Will may... What's missing in his game that he doesn't get time? I mean, several new players have come in and just blown by him. It's too bad that neither of those players can be an effective "4" because we still lack size. TW is no "4" but Les continues to insist that is his position. I think it is because Coach Les does not have anyone else to turn to because WE and AT have not developed as expected.
Click to expand...

It's starting to look that way to me as well, it could have just been that Les wanted to go with more experienced players last night though. I don't think we can make a call about a players development after just one game. There could be other reasons they didn't play. Now, if they don't see more than 5 minutes a game in the next 4 games after Florida against the likes of FGCU and UMCK, I would be very worried.
 
I'm not convinced that either AT ot WE will ever be major contributors at BU. Both were at least expected to contribute this year and last night did not even play. Since AT redshirted he's still a bit of an unknown, and you can't coach somebody to be 6-10, so I'll give him a pass so far. But WE not playing last night says a lot about his future.
 
AT is at least a year away from any solid contribution on the floor. Even though he is a 4, we need WE to fill in at the 5 this year behind DC and SS.
 
I have to believe that neither WE or AT have shown enough in practice to merit any playing time at the moment, unless we're sporting a significant lead.

As for TW at the 4 spot, I actually like him there a lot. I know a lot of people want a more traditional big playing there, but that's just not how it works in the system Les started running a couple of years ago and I don't expect to see that changing this year.
 
Folks it is a very long season, things change, contributions come out of nowhere sometimes and sometimes those who play early do not play late when it counts. No one should give up on either Thompson or Egolf and I guarantee no one on the BU staff or team has written either off.

I also firmly believe that JL will NOT continue to play a center who gives half hearted efforts and does not play with passion a full season of action just because. I bet he keeps telling both Egolf and Thompson there are minutes to have but you have to bust it in practice. Would not be surprised if by the end of our season one if not both are solid nightly contributors.
 
Disturbed said:
I'm not convinced that either AT ot WE will ever be major contributors at BU. Both were at least expected to contribute this year and last night did not even play. Since AT redshirted he's still a bit of an unknown, and you can't coach somebody to be 6-10, so I'll give him a pass so far. But WE not playing last night says a lot about his future.
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...and who's the 5 next year?
 
Just keep in mind that it was a long summer (and summers are filled with "fun") and that this was the first official game of the season. There could have been "other" reasons why neither saw the floor.
 
amettrick said:
I have to believe that neither WE or AT have shown enough in practice to merit any playing time at the moment, unless we're sporting a significant lead.

As for TW at the 4 spot, I actually like him there a lot. I know a lot of people want a more traditional big playing there, but that's just not how it works in the system Les started running a couple of years ago and I don't expect to see that changing this year.
Click to expand...

You are probably right. Too bad Les started that system a couple years ago and seems to believe it is the way to go. I hope he lets it go someday. Basketball is still a BIG man's game and I want to see BIG players on the floor someday. I guess it is kind of like being a Cub fan and wanting to see a team with a couple good left-handed hitters. Probably not going to happen...
 
I do not think it is too unreasonable for (3) 6-8+ guys at the same time in this system in the not too distant future: say JW, TB, AT/WE/JP
 
georgethedog said:
You are probably right. Too bad Les started that system a couple years ago and seems to believe it is the way to go. I hope he lets it go someday. Basketball is still a BIG man's game and I want to see BIG players on the floor someday. I guess it is kind of like being a Cub fan and wanting to see a team with a couple good left-handed hitters. Probably not going to happen...
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I don't know GTD.

I don't think Coach Les is set and done.

I think he is still building something.

The 3-4 guard line-up has created more exciting basketball and fan interest for Peoria. He is selling that excitement to supporters. And with the new facilities is trying to get even better players to fill the system. His best success was not under the 3-4 guard system, but some of his best excitement has been with the 3-4 guard system.

I think it is a work in progress and we are not seeing the final result yet.

Hang tight. Gonna have some bumps along the way. But after it is all said and done - the journey will be a good one.
 
Not many midmajors that depend on their big men. The ones that do, usually aren't that good. I can't remember the last MVC that won the conference because of dominating big men. Maybe Harstadt and Gallagher in the early 90's?
 
I think that it is clear that JL intends to keep the system we have in place, but that he wants to use bigger players in the same system in the future. That article about Prosser the other day indicated he is expecting to play the 4, and that he is working on his 3pt shooting and ball-handling to do so. Therefore, I expect he will soon be playing a similar role to TW, but with an extra 4 inches. Likewise, it sounds like Wilkins will be a big 3 or 4. I don't think the "4-guard offense" will change, but our lineup is going to get bigger as we get bigger players who can handle the ball and shoot well enough to play a guard-type role.
 
Disturbed said:
I'm not convinced that either AT ot WE will ever be major contributors at BU. Both were at least expected to contribute this year and last night did not even play. Since AT redshirted he's still a bit of an unknown, and you can't coach somebody to be 6-10, so I'll give him a pass so far. But WE not playing last night says a lot about his future.
Click to expand...



at one of the fund raisers prior to the start of we freshman year, coach Les referred to
will as having a BOAT LOAD OF TALENT in his introduction - does any one else remember
this evening - if my memory serves me correctly the event took place at the itoo hall
 
bigger-stronger-faster said:
at one of the fund raisers prior to the start of we freshman year, coach Les referred to
will as having a BOAT LOAD OF TALENT in his introduction - does any one else remember
this evening - if my memory serves me correctly the event took place at the itoo hall
Click to expand...


All those events are "fluff" for 'insiders'.

As far as I can recall, Coach Les has always said playing time is dictated by how players practice.
 
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