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Topic:  SQUAD

Topic:  SQUAD
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shabamon
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Member Since: 11/17/2006
Location: Cincinnati
Post Count: 6,343

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  Message Not Read  SQUAD
   Posted: 7/12/2024 4:58:30 PM 
Now that Kuany is signed, the squad is officially set. Let's talk about it.

It is a SQUAD! Are there question marks? Of course, but the potential is through the roof. If the answers to those questions trend to the favorable sides, I think we may be in for a James Madison/Indiana State kind of year, hopefully without that Sycamores screw job in March.

Questions:

1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
7) Will EJIV be back to form?

I think we have the potential to be an elite three point shooting team. Sheldon and Clayton were above 40% last year. AJB was 38% as a freshman. EJIV was over 40% as a freshman. Pavaletzke is career 40%. Hadaway and Reef have had their streaks. Nicol by some accounts may be the best pure shooter on the team.

I'm also excited about the different combinations we can throw on the floor together. We can go one big with a lot of guards. We can space with shooters. If Searls and one of the freshman forwards are ready to go, we can pair one of those guys with Clayton for a two big lineup, something I don't think we saw at any point last year. We can put Hadaway at the three and have a "height" lineup. We could go Shereef, Elliott, EJIV, Hadaway, and Clayton for a defensive lineup. HAVOC anyone?

I'm on the hype train this year. I'm drinking the Ricky beer. I see a team that should not only be picked to win the MAC but has the makings to win in the dance.
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Victory
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/12/2024 9:13:26 PM 
shabamon wrote:
Now that Kuany is signed, the squad is officially set. Let's talk about it.

It is a SQUAD! Are there question marks? Of course, but the potential is through the roof. If the answers to those questions trend to the favorable sides, I think we may be in for a James Madison/Indiana State kind of year, hopefully without that Sycamores screw job in March.

Questions:

1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
7) Will EJIV be back to form?

I think we have the potential to be an elite three point shooting team. Sheldon and Clayton were above 40% last year. AJB was 38% as a freshman. EJIV was over 40% as a freshman. Pavaletzke is career 40%. Hadaway and Reef have had their streaks. Nicol by some accounts may be the best pure shooter on the team.

I'm also excited about the different combinations we can throw on the floor together. We can go one big with a lot of guards. We can space with shooters. If Searls and one of the freshman forwards are ready to go, we can pair one of those guys with Clayton for a two big lineup, something I don't think we saw at any point last year. We can put Hadaway at the three and have a "height" lineup. We could go Shereef, Elliott, EJIV, Hadaway, and Clayton for a defensive lineup. HAVOC anyone?

I'm on the hype train this year. I'm drinking the Ricky beer. I see a team that should not only be picked to win the MAC but has the makings to win in the dance.


How much will Ayden Evans or Kiir Kuany be able to contribute early?
Will any freshman be redshirted?

We gave eight forwards counting two walk-ons. I think that's the most in a while.
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/13/2024 8:36:09 AM 
I’m on the hype train with this season’s team as well. Even with the questions, I think it’s the most complete roster we’ve had since 21/22 — prior to losing DW3 and McDay.

AJB is the biggest question mark for me and the difference between being a 20+ win team to having a James Madison/Indiana State season as you put it.

If we get AJB from 22/23 MAC tourney through last season’s Troy game, the ceiling is very high imo. Experience is on our side with a lot of upperclassmen and continuity among returnees. I really like the starting lineup of AJC, Hadaway, AJB, Shereef, and Paveltzke.

Based on Boals comments about Kuany adding depth to the front court, I’m guessing that means he expects contributions right away. If we can get 8-10 mins from him and Evans each, along with 10-15 from Searls, we’ve really solved our biggest issue from a year ago.

A lot to look forward to going into this season.
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OUcat
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/14/2024 2:05:11 PM 
FJC31 wrote:
I’m on the hype train with this season’s team as well. Even with the questions, I think it’s the most complete roster we’ve had since 21/22 — prior to losing DW3 and McDay.

AJB is the biggest question mark for me and the difference between being a 20+ win team to having a James Madison/Indiana State season as you put it.

If we get AJB from 22/23 MAC tourney through last season’s Troy game, the ceiling is very high imo. Experience is on our side with a lot of upperclassmen and continuity among returnees. I really like the starting lineup of AJC, Hadaway, AJB, Shereef, and Paveltzke.

Based on Boals comments about Kuany adding depth to the front court, I’m guessing that means he expects contributions right away. If we can get 8-10 mins from him and Evans each, along with 10-15 from Searls, we’ve really solved our biggest issue from a year ago.

A lot to look forward to going into this season.


Early Outlook, MAC 2025

1. Ohio
2. Akron
3. Toledo
4. Bowling Green
5. Central Michigan
6. Kent State
7. Miami

8-12. The rest.

The Top 3 battle for regular season title.
The next four battle for that No. 4 seed

Wildcard ... Ball State
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FearLeon
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Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 4,209

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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/14/2024 4:51:59 PM 
shabamon wrote:
Now that Kuany is signed, the squad is officially set. Let's talk about it.

It is a SQUAD! Are there question marks? Of course, but the potential is through the roof. If the answers to those questions trend to the favorable sides, I think we may be in for a James Madison/Indiana State kind of year, hopefully without that Sycamores screw job in March.

Questions:

1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
7) Will EJIV be back to form?

I think we have the potential to be an elite three point shooting team. Sheldon and Clayton were above 40% last year. AJB was 38% as a freshman. EJIV was over 40% as a freshman. Pavaletzke is career 40%. Hadaway and Reef have had their streaks. Nicol by some accounts may be the best pure shooter on the team.

I'm also excited about the different combinations we can throw on the floor together. We can go one big with a lot of guards. We can space with shooters. If Searls and one of the freshman forwards are ready to go, we can pair one of those guys with Clayton for a two big lineup, something I don't think we saw at any point last year. We can put Hadaway at the three and have a "height" lineup. We could go Shereef, Elliott, EJIV, Hadaway, and Clayton for a defensive lineup. HAVOC anyone?

I'm on the hype train this year. I'm drinking the Ricky beer. I see a team that should not only be picked to win the MAC but has the makings to win in the dance.



1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
(Considering he was also hurt his freshman year, we haven’t seen the true AJB (except for Ball State MAC Tourney game. Based off the Boals summer interview with Russ, I’m not so sure he’ll be ready to go in November 2024. My expectations are very tempered for November/December).

2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
(Short answer: YES).

4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
(Great question. I hope so, but wouldn’t be surprised if one of them doesn’t crack the rotation come January.

5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
(The big mystery. People keep saying good things. We need him to contribute).

6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
(I believe so. If not, a defection would have happened).

7) Will EJIV be back to form?
(Really hope so. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt due to injury for his struggles after he got hurt. Need him to hit the corner 3 again.

Last Edited: 7/15/2024 9:22:00 AM by FearLeon

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/15/2024 7:42:39 AM 
I like this team quite a bit and definitely see us as the favorites to come out of the MAC. Not saying anything others haven't already covered, but in my view there are are a few keys:

1) I think Elmore is, in some ways, the most important guy next year. If he can shoot like he did as a Freshman, that changes a lot. Of the guards (Reef, AJB, Paveletzke, Sheldon, Elliot, Nichols) Elmore's the best bet to be able to guard up a position given his strength, and if he can do that and justify the minutes by shooting well, that unlocks the ability to play more 3 and 4 guard lineups.

2) No idea what to expect from Evans & Kuany, but I like the way that lineups with either at the 5 for stretches should let us run the floor a lot.

3) Still suspect rebounding and protecting the rim is going to be our biggest challenge; will be very interested to see how Searls adjusts to this level.
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/15/2024 9:02:55 AM 
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

3) Still suspect rebounding and protecting the rim is going to be our biggest challenge; will be very interested to see how Searls adjusts to this level.


I'm hoping (and think) rebounding will be improved with the additional size, but you're right about protecting the rim. That profile doesn't exist on our roster.
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M.D.W.S.T
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Post Count: 2,017

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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/15/2024 10:12:35 AM 
shabamon wrote:
Now that Kuany is signed, the squad is officially set. Let's talk about it.

It is a SQUAD! Are there question marks? Of course, but the potential is through the roof. If the answers to those questions trend to the favorable sides, I think we may be in for a James Madison/Indiana State kind of year, hopefully without that Sycamores screw job in March.

Questions:

1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
7) Will EJIV be back to form?

I think we have the potential to be an elite three point shooting team. Sheldon and Clayton were above 40% last year. AJB was 38% as a freshman. EJIV was over 40% as a freshman. Pavaletzke is career 40%. Hadaway and Reef have had their streaks. Nicol by some accounts may be the best pure shooter on the team.

I'm also excited about the different combinations we can throw on the floor together. We can go one big with a lot of guards. We can space with shooters. If Searls and one of the freshman forwards are ready to go, we can pair one of those guys with Clayton for a two big lineup, something I don't think we saw at any point last year. We can put Hadaway at the three and have a "height" lineup. We could go Shereef, Elliott, EJIV, Hadaway, and Clayton for a defensive lineup. HAVOC anyone?

I'm on the hype train this year. I'm drinking the Ricky beer. I see a team that should not only be picked to win the MAC but has the makings to win in the dance.


I've said AJB will be MAC POY every year since he signed. Nothing changing this year. If he plays to that upper level similar to Hill last season, OU will win 25 games.

1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
- If AJB is half as good as I think he can be, I hope Boals has some shelf space cleared and ready.

2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
- If he can set a screen, and put his hands straight up in the air without fouling I think we've got a big upgrade, especially with Evans now as well.

4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
-Evans is too good not to be on the floor. If we can get 8-5 from him, skys the limit. I think he is another MAC PoY caliber player. Get him minutes early. If he can adjust to the (usually) smaller, quicker inside players, it will be hard to keep him off the floor.

5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
- In my mind he could develop some minutes behind AJC, but honestly, he might be the odd man out of this group.

6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
- I think they could all eventually play a complimentary role, but who is gonna be THE distributor? Bunch of shooters again. Desperately need someone who is a QB directing the traffic and letting everyone else get buckets.

7) Will EJIV be back to form?
-Fingers crossed. Could be a big year or could be the year he decides to transfer to Cleveland State.

A LOT of IF's, but I'm double fisting the kool-aid as well.

Last Edited: 7/15/2024 10:13:03 AM by M.D.W.S.T
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Victory
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/15/2024 11:14:46 AM 
THE Distributor is almost certainly going to have to be Jackson Paveletzke. Reef is a pretty good ball handler but he has a scorer mentality. Burris and Elliot come in as shooting or combo guards in high school. Sheldon's role is mostly as a shooter. James and Brown certainly aren't point guards.

I think that Paveletzke is probably going to be at least good and possibly great as the starting point guard. I don't think that it will happen but I think the most credible way that we end up close to the "floor" end of win total predictions other than injuries is that Paveletzke just never develops chemistry in running this offense.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/15/2024 3:41:12 PM 
Victory wrote:
THE Distributor is almost certainly going to have to be Jackson Paveletzke. Reef is a pretty good ball handler but he has a scorer mentality. Burris and Elliot come in as shooting or combo guards in high school. Sheldon's role is mostly as a shooter. James and Brown certainly aren't point guards.

I think that Paveletzke is probably going to be at least good and possibly great as the starting point guard. I don't think that it will happen but I think the most credible way that we end up close to the "floor" end of win total predictions other than injuries is that Paveletzke just never develops chemistry in running this offense.


Agreed with Paveletzke. He had a solid but not spectacular assist rate as a freshman at Elon. A bit less of a distributor than Jaylin -- more in line with Sears (though still a bit lower than Sears).

No idea what he was asked to do at Elon though and what his role was in the offense, so it's entirely possible he's capable if asked.

That said, I am very bullish on him given his numbers at both Iowa State and Elon. He was excellent as a freshman at Elon, and his rate stats were solid enough at Iowa State. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he's the leading scorer in our backcourt.
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bobcatsquared
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/15/2024 4:12:10 PM 
I'm not going to predict who will lead this team in assists. However, I will say that Hadaway will be among the top 2 Bobcats in assists.
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Andrew Ruck
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 8:31:18 AM 
I am excited for the roster. I'm willing to call us one of the favorites but not THE favorite. Even though Boals has had great retention (by today's standards) there are still a lot of unknowns. The fall practices and how guys perform against each other will go a long way in determining the playing time. It is definitely tight...

Clayton, Reef, Hadaway & Paveletke are probably 30+ min guys, right? Then AJB, EJ4 & Sheldon are probably all hopeful to return as regulars. In many of our minds, a healthy AJB is also a 30+ min guy. Doesn't leave much for the 5 freshmen & the new grad student Searls. And some of these freshmen are pretty highly regarded and won't be content with a role limited to junk time. Just thinking about keeping all these guys happy stressing me out, good luck coach.

My guess is Searls is an insurance policy and will have to really prove himself to be in the rotation. I know he had success as Ashland, but it's Ashland. Coach knew he wasn't going to get a proven D1 big in the portal in this NIL environment so he just took a guy for size. I could be wrong but I don't think he just plugs into Wiz's role. If things are close, I would prefer minutes go to guys who could be here the next 3 years.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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M.D.W.S.T
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 9:49:38 AM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
I am excited for the roster. I'm willing to call us one of the favorites but not THE favorite. Even though Boals has had great retention (by today's standards) there are still a lot of unknowns. The fall practices and how guys perform against each other will go a long way in determining the playing time. It is definitely tight...

Clayton, Reef, Hadaway & Paveletke are probably 30+ min guys, right? Then AJB, EJ4 & Sheldon are probably all hopeful to return as regulars. In many of our minds, a healthy AJB is also a 30+ min guy. Doesn't leave much for the 5 freshmen & the new grad student Searls. And some of these freshmen are pretty highly regarded and won't be content with a role limited to junk time. Just thinking about keeping all these guys happy stressing me out, good luck coach.

My guess is Searls is an insurance policy and will have to really prove himself to be in the rotation. I know he had success as Ashland, but it's Ashland. Coach knew he wasn't going to get a proven D1 big in the portal in this NIL environment so he just took a guy for size. I could be wrong but I don't think he just plugs into Wiz's role. If things are close, I would prefer minutes go to guys who could be here the next 3 years.


Boals has rarely been a heavy 30+ min type of coach, would be great if we could get a tighter line-up similar to 20 + 21 with some true leaders and everyone knows/fills their role around Reef, AJB and potentially Jackson P (If we get Wofford JP, he could maybe be that 25-30 min guy). AJC will probably be near 30. Hadaway around 25. Elmore probably similar. Like you mentioned, doesn't leave a lot of meat left on the bone.

Boals Era 30 min Guys:
2023: Jaylin/Reef
2022: Jaylin (29.3)
2021: Sears/BVP/Miles
2020: Preston/BVP/Mcday (29.6)

2024: Reef/AJB/AJC/JP... Hadaway/Elmore: 25.... leaves minimal time for maybe 10 mins for AJS, Evans, Searls... Nicol, Kuany, Burris end of bench minutes at best? Redshirts this day and age are a death wish, but minutes don't look abundant.

Last Edited: 7/16/2024 10:02:50 AM by M.D.W.S.T
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 10:25:48 AM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:

My guess is Searls is an insurance policy and will have to really prove himself to be in the rotation. I know he had success as Ashland, but it's Ashland. Coach knew he wasn't going to get a proven D1 big in the portal in this NIL environment so he just took a guy for size. I could be wrong but I don't think he just plugs into Wiz's role. If things are close, I would prefer minutes go to guys who could be here the next 3 years.


I think you're really underselling Searls, especially in comparison to Wiz. I'm not exactly convinced the latter could put up Searls' numbers at the D2 level.

It's becoming the norm for D2/D3 guys to transfer up all across CBB. Especially those with size and going from D2 to the MAC isn't exactly an astronomical leap.

I'm not an expert of the D2 landscape as far as top teams are concerned, but Ashland was 17-11 and 22-10 in both seasons Searls was key contributor. Not necessarily a scrub team.

It's not like we're plugging him into the starting rotation. We just need him to give AJC and Hadaway a breather.


Last Edited: 7/16/2024 10:30:27 AM by FJC31
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Andrew Ruck
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 1:38:55 PM 
I am NOT at all suggesting Searls isn't as good as Wiz. I just think Wiz was a necessary evil based on the roster we had. With Kuany & Evans, I am hoping we no longer feel the need to play a guy solely on the basis of being tall. Unless he wows in practice, I would prefer he not be in the rotation so we can develop the freshmen for the future.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 1:43:43 PM 
My guess is that there's such a big physical difference between 18 year olds and 22 (23?) year olds that a 22 year old with 4 years of college ball -- even at a D3 level -- is probably more likely to be able to slot in as a replacement level player in the MAC than an 18 year old. 18 year olds probably have a higher ceiling, but also are more likely to need time to contribute at all.

If Searls can't contribute, I think that lowers the ceiling for this team quite a bit. Maybe I'm overstating how rare it is for a true freshman big to be an impact player in the MAC though. Are there a lot of examples?
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Bobcat1998
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 2:34:35 PM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
I am NOT at all suggesting Searls isn't as good as Wiz. I just think Wiz was a necessary evil based on the roster we had. With Kuany & Evans, I am hoping we no longer feel the need to play a guy solely on the basis of being tall. Unless he wows in practice, I would prefer he not be in the rotation so we can develop the freshmen for the future.


I will guess Searls will kill Evans and Kuany early on in practice with a keen sense of post play as well as an IQ only earned by playing 4 years and starting 3 at any level. Will Evans and/or Kuany pass him? Maybe. But Searls is going to get 8 to 10 mins per game and be a 6 and 6 guy at the very least.
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 3:21:57 PM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
I am NOT at all suggesting Searls isn't as good as Wiz. I just think Wiz was a necessary evil based on the roster we had. With Kuany & Evans, I am hoping we no longer feel the need to play a guy solely on the basis of being tall. Unless he wows in practice, I would prefer he not be in the rotation so we can develop the freshmen for the future.


Sure, but it sounds like you're deeming Searls a necessary evil already because he came from D2?

Let's compare Searls with another D2 player we recruited out of the portal a year ago in TJ Nesmith.

Final D2 Season Credentials

Searls (6'9, 245) - 15.4ppg, 7.5rpg, 68% FG. 2nd Team All-Conference
Nesmith (6'9, 220) - 16.7ppg, 5.3rpg, 60% FG. 2nd Team All-Conference

Nesmith landed at Radford, which is in the Big South. The Big South finished 24th in NET rankings and the MAC finished 19th. He averaged 9ppg and 5rpg in 16 mpg, only playing 7 games overall due to injuries. He did have 9pts and 8 rebs against James Madison.

I'd probably give Nesmith the leg up in athleticism having seen highlights, but I'm still failing to see how Searls won't and can't be a positive contributor at this level.




Last Edited: 7/16/2024 3:25:04 PM by FJC31
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greencat
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 5:56:14 PM 
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:
Victory wrote:
THE Distributor is almost certainly going to have to be Jackson Paveletzke. Reef is a pretty good ball handler but he has a scorer mentality. Burris and Elliot come in as shooting or combo guards in high school. Sheldon's role is mostly as a shooter. James and Brown certainly aren't point guards.

I think that Paveletzke is probably going to be at least good and possibly great as the starting point guard. I don't think that it will happen but I think the most credible way that we end up close to the "floor" end of win total predictions other than injuries is that Paveletzke just never develops chemistry in running this offense.


Agreed with Paveletzke. He had a solid but not spectacular assist rate as a freshman at Elon. A bit less of a distributor than Jaylin -- more in line with Sears (though still a bit lower than Sears).

No idea what he was asked to do at Elon though and what his role was in the offense, so it's entirely possible he's capable if asked.

That said, I am very bullish on him given his numbers at both Iowa State and Elon. He was excellent as a freshman at Elon, and his rate stats were solid enough at Iowa State. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he's the leading scorer in our backcourt.


He was at Wofford (league freshman of the year).

But right part of the country.
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FearLeon
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 6:15:35 PM 
Bobcat1998 wrote:
Andrew Ruck wrote:
I am NOT at all suggesting Searls isn't as good as Wiz. I just think Wiz was a necessary evil based on the roster we had. With Kuany & Evans, I am hoping we no longer feel the need to play a guy solely on the basis of being tall. Unless he wows in practice, I would prefer he not be in the rotation so we can develop the freshmen for the future.


But Searls is going to get 8 to 10 mins per game and be a 6 and 6 guy at the very least.


Love the optimism here, but if you project your Searls numbers over 40 minutes....that's 24 points and 24 rebounds per game. Unless Vic is Gary Trent, I don't see how he averages 6 points and 6 rebounds in 10 minutes per game.

I just want the guy to catch the ball and set a screen without moving his feet. He checks off these boxes and he's already a big improvement over what we had the last two years.


Last Edited: 7/16/2024 10:20:10 PM by FearLeon

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

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OUcat
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 8:25:35 PM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
I am excited for the roster. I'm willing to call us one of the favorites but not THE favorite. Even though Boals has had great retention (by today's standards) there are still a lot of unknowns. The fall practices and how guys perform against each other will go a long way in determining the playing time. It is definitely tight...

Clayton, Reef, Hadaway & Paveletke are probably 30+ min guys, right? Then AJB, EJ4 & Sheldon are probably all hopeful to return as regulars. In many of our minds, a healthy AJB is also a 30+ min guy. Doesn't leave much for the 5 freshmen & the new grad student Searls. And some of these freshmen are pretty highly regarded and won't be content with a role limited to junk time. Just thinking about keeping all these guys happy stressing me out, good luck coach.

My guess is Searls is an insurance policy and will have to really prove himself to be in the rotation. I know he had success as Ashland, but it's Ashland. Coach knew he wasn't going to get a proven D1 big in the portal in this NIL environment so he just took a guy for size. I could be wrong but I don't think he just plugs into Wiz's role. If things are close, I would prefer minutes go to guys who could be here the next 3 years.


I think just the opposite on Searls. Even though its D2, he is experienced, which puts him ahead of the young guys. If his game translates to D1, he gets minutes, at least into January as the young guys develop. If his game does not translate, he's like you say, insurance.
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shabamon
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/16/2024 11:28:41 PM 
D2 is scholarship basketball. There is a difference between Ashland and the guys at Otterbein and Heidelberg who look like they couldn't lift a gallon of milk. Besides, all that's being asked of Searls, at least on this forum, is to do the fundamental things right like hold onto a rebound and set a legal screen. You don't get to Searls' numbers at any level of college basketball without those fundamentals in place.

Agree though, if Evans or Kuany is close enough to Searls in D1 readiness, go with the younger player with the higher ceiling.
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/17/2024 8:49:07 AM 
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:
My guess is that there's such a big physical difference between 18 year olds and 22 (23?) year olds that a 22 year old with 4 years of college ball -- even at a D3 level -- is probably more likely to be able to slot in as a replacement level player in the MAC than an 18 year old. 18 year olds probably have a higher ceiling, but also are more likely to need time to contribute at all.

If Searls can't contribute, I think that lowers the ceiling for this team quite a bit. Maybe I'm overstating how rare it is for a true freshman big to be an impact player in the MAC though. Are there a lot of examples?


I thought maybe Zeke Marshall off the cuff, but he was at 16.8mpg 5.1ppg 3.9rpg his freshman year.

A good baseline combo comp for Evans and Kuany could be Ivo and Keely.

Keely’s freshman year he played 16mpg and averaged 5ppg and 4rpg. Ivo played 11mpg and averaged 3ppg and 3rpg.

I do think Evans and Kuany have more upside coming in as freshman, however.
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CatsUp
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/17/2024 9:28:54 AM 
FJC31 wrote:
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:
My guess is that there's such a big physical difference between 18 year olds and 22 (23?) year olds that a 22 year old with 4 years of college ball -- even at a D3 level -- is probably more likely to be able to slot in as a replacement level player in the MAC than an 18 year old. 18 year olds probably have a higher ceiling, but also are more likely to need time to contribute at all.

If Searls can't contribute, I think that lowers the ceiling for this team quite a bit. Maybe I'm overstating how rare it is for a true freshman big to be an impact player in the MAC though. Are there a lot of examples?


I thought maybe Zeke Marshall off the cuff, but he was at 16.8mpg 5.1ppg 3.9rpg his freshman year.

A good baseline combo comp for Evans and Kuany could be Ivo and Keely.

Keely’s freshman year he played 16mpg and averaged 5ppg and 4rpg. Ivo played 11mpg and averaged 3ppg and 3rpg.

I do think Evans and Kuany have more upside coming in as freshman, however.


Trent, 19 and 9.8. Chris Kaman, 9.8 and 4.8.
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FJC31
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  Message Not Read  RE: SQUAD
   Posted: 7/17/2024 10:04:21 AM 
CatsUp wrote:
FJC31 wrote:
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:
My guess is that there's such a big physical difference between 18 year olds and 22 (23?) year olds that a 22 year old with 4 years of college ball -- even at a D3 level -- is probably more likely to be able to slot in as a replacement level player in the MAC than an 18 year old. 18 year olds probably have a higher ceiling, but also are more likely to need time to contribute at all.

If Searls can't contribute, I think that lowers the ceiling for this team quite a bit. Maybe I'm overstating how rare it is for a true freshman big to be an impact player in the MAC though. Are there a lot of examples?


I thought maybe Zeke Marshall off the cuff, but he was at 16.8mpg 5.1ppg 3.9rpg his freshman year.

A good baseline combo comp for Evans and Kuany could be Ivo and Keely.

Keely’s freshman year he played 16mpg and averaged 5ppg and 4rpg. Ivo played 11mpg and averaged 3ppg and 3rpg.

I do think Evans and Kuany have more upside coming in as freshman, however.


Trent, 19 and 9.8. Chris Kaman, 9.8 and 4.8.


I thought Trent was a given, but good call out with Kaman. Payton Sparks is another. All three are around 250+ lbs. I'd guess having that type of weight to throw around played a role in their success.

If I recall, Tony Campbell finished the last 8-10 games averaging around 10ppg and 5rpg his freshman year. Similar build as Trent and Sparks.

Last Edited: 7/17/2024 10:04:51 AM by FJC31
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