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Six Juco Transfers to Watch
- Thread starter shaunguth
- Start date
mexicobufan
New member
Is it possible that we are better and deeper at the guard positions this year than last year? I am not trying to diminish DR and JC but it would seem to me that it is possible? What do you think? I know we need to see it on the court first but it is a possibility.
Lakeview Brave
New member
I think we are deeper but Im not ready to say better just yet. The JC that played in the second half of last season was amazing. I'm not sure any of our guards can rise to that level this year. Since DD has playedl D1 ball in a major conference I am confident in saying he will be very good for us but Im not sure if he can shoot like Ruff. I dont think our guards will be the reason for not winning the valley. I think in total our guards will be right at the top of the conference. How our bigs rebound and play D and to a lesser extent score inside will determine our fate.
We'll be better BEACAUSE we're deeper. We shouldn't be in a position where if JC is shooting well we're fine (@ UVA, e.g.) while if he's off, we're toast (@Tulsa, e.g.). JL will have the luxury of pulling anyone having an off night and getting someone equally dangerous in there. Last year we saw that if either DRuff or Jeremy were out or off, we had no answer. I doubt we see that again with the depth this team appears to have.
VeveJones007
New member
I'm not ready to say deeper or better yet. I'm keeping my expectations low for McCain and Norris. If those guys can give us some decent ball-handling and good defense, I really like the outlook for our backcourt.
ser_solace
New member
Yeah, not sure if we can call it that we are deeper and better at the guard position than last year just yet. Really, we're almost in the same position as last year.
Last year, we had Ruffin, Crouch, and Warren as the veterans and known quantities at guard. This year we've got Maniscalco and Warren.
If Chris Roberts and Dodie Dunson really contribute like we think they can, then we should be deeper and better with our guards. But last year, we had high hopes for Tyrone Cole-Scott too, especially after that exhibition game. I'm hoping Roberts, Dunson, and one of the freshmen (Norris or McCain) are consistent contributors.
Last year, we had Ruffin, Crouch, and Warren as the veterans and known quantities at guard. This year we've got Maniscalco and Warren.
If Chris Roberts and Dodie Dunson really contribute like we think they can, then we should be deeper and better with our guards. But last year, we had high hopes for Tyrone Cole-Scott too, especially after that exhibition game. I'm hoping Roberts, Dunson, and one of the freshmen (Norris or McCain) are consistent contributors.
Bradleyguy10
New member
I agree completely. One thing that I hope happens and should happen, is with 2 quality guards backing up warren and SM I think a press through most of the game is more likely. We can sub in more often and from what we all hear everyone is in extremely good shape...all lead me to believe that it would not be a bad idea to get a defensive boost by doing a press the whole game; create more turnovers. I believe that our guards this year are more athletic than last year also. This will help with getting rebounds and just overall sticking hard on your mark. I fully expect defense to be better for those two reasons just from our guards. Defense should also increase because we have better big men. Even if they don't live up to our expectations it'll still be better than last season for the bigs situation. If our guards are indeed not as good (offensively) as last year then hopefully the anticipated defensive boost will make up for that.
I see what your thinking is ser solace, but I think we do have better depth at every position this year. When Daniel Ruffin went out with the sports hernia, we had to play a freshman (Sam Maniscalco) about 40 minutes a game because he was the only other PG we had.
Likewise, when Mat Salley went out of a game, there was a noticeable dropoff because of the limited experience of the backup big men.
This year, Sam has a lot of experience at PG, and is backed up by a quality backup in Dodie Dunson, and there are a couple more in Norris and McCain who will be adequate to play PG is needed.
And no matter how the rotation of big men comes out, there will be competetion and depth with Sam Singh, David Collins, Will Egolf, and Anthony Thompson. Though I don't see any All-MVC guys among that group, all those guys have experience and Coach Les won't be afraid to use any of them. I would be surprised if the offensive output of our big men doesn't double over what Salley gave us last year, without sacrificing anything defensively.
Likewise, when Mat Salley went out of a game, there was a noticeable dropoff because of the limited experience of the backup big men.
This year, Sam has a lot of experience at PG, and is backed up by a quality backup in Dodie Dunson, and there are a couple more in Norris and McCain who will be adequate to play PG is needed.
And no matter how the rotation of big men comes out, there will be competetion and depth with Sam Singh, David Collins, Will Egolf, and Anthony Thompson. Though I don't see any All-MVC guys among that group, all those guys have experience and Coach Les won't be afraid to use any of them. I would be surprised if the offensive output of our big men doesn't double over what Salley gave us last year, without sacrificing anything defensively.
Lakeview Brave
New member
Do you think DD is going to come off the bench? I think he may start at PG this year and SM will play off the ball at the other guard spot.
BradleyBrave
New member
It's impossible to say we're better at this point. Just because more guys are getting minutes doesn't mean those are going to be quality minutes. Let's wait and see this team practice and play some live competition first before we anoint them as the be-all and end-all.
With all due respect...WHY?
BradleyBrave
New member
We lost two 1,000 point scorers and our best low post defender. Not many people on here, if anyone, have seen our new guys play. None of us have seen them play against DI competition, with the exception of Dodie Dunson as a freshman at Iowa St. I think it's awfully presumptuous to assume that we're better than last year at this point.
If AW plays the 2 then yes we are better if not we are deeper with more potential as long as we play an in your face smothering D. I believe AW can make up most of JC's O and we should be a better defensive team. I would suspect that CR will play the 3 and we'll slide TW to the 4 more times then not. DD 'm sure will also play the 1-2 spot AW the 2-3 spot. We have more flexibility obviously and more fouls to give without to much of a drop off with the ability to own the last 8 minutes of the game.
I don't know who will start at PG, but I think SM is the most likely. I am not sure JL knows, yet.
We lost a bunch of games last year because of the lack of depth, especially at PG. I don't see that happening to Bradley this year. So despite losing the top 2 scorers, I think Bradley will be better this year.
We lost a bunch of games last year because of the lack of depth, especially at PG. I don't see that happening to Bradley this year. So despite losing the top 2 scorers, I think Bradley will be better this year.
I'd say the reverse is more likely. The things Sam gives us are the intangibles. He has great vision and doesn't rush things. Dodie is athletic and quick, and from what I here can get to the hoop, which is good, but those things are just as valuable in the 2 guard slot, though I have heard his shot is lacking. I honestly think he could bring the ball down court occasionally, but won't the offense won't run through, probably similar to the DRuff - WF scenario 2 years back, which I loved. In some ways better as Sam and Dodie run the offense much differently which will keep the D on their toes. Now, if Dodie can become as clutch as will... Though we've always got SM for those shots.
VeveJones007
New member
To be completely honest, the thing that peaked my interest the most in that article was the comment about how good of a rebounder Roberts is off the wing. 