These are all relevant questions Joe and a postive answer to many will be the key to Valley success. My take:
Here are five questions that need to be answered before Santa starts his chimney tour:
1. Can this team score? I don't think there is any doubt that this team, with this offensive scheme, will live or die by its outside shooting ability. There is no reason why Maniscalco, Egolf, Warren, or Milos should not get going by league play. It is up to Les and staff to make sure they put in the shooting time on off days and, more importantly, up to the coaching staff to make sure they get good, open looks through PG drives to the basket with the dish out, efficient passing on the perimeter, and feeds in and out of the post (ala POB and Sommerville days). Plus, our defense will be the key this year. Players who have not learned to be shooters by college probably never will be.
2. What happened to Eddren McCain? McCain has totally lost confidence in his shot. Both at the free throw line and from the outside. Somebody on the staff needs to work one on one with him on his shot or hire a shooting coach. If EM's shot does not develop he will never develop as the PG that we all had hoped for.
3. Is Andrew Warren 100%? He seems to be as close to 100% as can be expected. Most players seem to have one minor ailment or another. I think he is still rusty from lack of game time over the last year or two and this, in turn, has hurt his confidence. A few good games and he could be back in form. I also wonder if maybe he just isn't who we thought he was or would become. Remember, when he was successful he had a supporting cast that took attention off of him. We also had a high-low game that got him open looks. Much of the game-planning was done to stop BU's other great players. Not freshman Warren.
4. Who should be in the starting lineup? Without adequate outside shooting it may not really matter. Les needs to play whichever lineup that can provide the best defensive lineup on a night to night basis until one unit gels. Hopefully, this will happen by league play.
5. Will Sam Singh and Anthony Thompson offer quality minutes off the bench? Remember, our bigs are AT LEAST as good as last year's bigs..... and they were somewhat adequate in Valley play. I don't expect much difference this year. However, I think we have better athletes ready at this position than last year in Egolf and Thompson. Singh will play a role against the UNI's and MSU's who have bruisers inside.
Just my take. Let's hear other opinions.
