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Topic: Previews

Topic: Previews

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

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Previews

Posted: 9/12/2024 9:33:45 AM

Let's keep this thread up to date on previews as they come in. I'm reading the Blue Ribbon preview which is now available as a digital download. Print ships later this month. Nuggets from Blue Ribbon.

-AJ Clayton is on the NBA's radar. Scouts are approaching Boals. He's up to 245 pounds.

-Paveletzke should fit right in. More physical than we might think. Can get in the lane. A better shooter than Jaylin Hunter.

-AJB the X-factor. Some MAC coaches think he's the league's best NBA prospect right now. Finally getting back into 5v5 action.

-Hadaway up to 210. "Filled the void (from AJB injury) and didn't look back."

-Elmore probably came back from injury too early, but he's healthy now. Will compete with AJB for a starting wing spot.

-Searls was 4th in the nation in D2 for FG%, despite being double and triple teamed "all the time".

-Nicol will be a backup 4.

-The crew of Pavaletzke, AJB, Elmore, Mitchell, Clayton, Hadaway, Searls, Sheldon, and Nicol is probably the initial core rotation. Anything they get from freshmen will be a bonus, though Boals "really likes" all of them. He prefaced that with saying "this might sound crazy, but..." so he's trying to make it not sound so much like coach-speak. Not sure when Ayden Evans will help. Kuany will redshirt.

Victory
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Member Since: 3/10/2012
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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/12/2024 10:58:13 AM

I got the feeling watching some of Boals spring and summer interview that he was acting like a poker player with a straight flush. I hope that's right and we stay healthy.

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,421

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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/12/2024 1:27:28 PM

Personally, I'm very bullish on Paveletzke. Seems like an assertive offensive player that can score at multiple levels. With AJB back, I think we could actually see a net better backcourt despite losing a very, very good lead guard.

GreenAndWhitePride
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Member Since: 9/12/2024
Post Count: 2

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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/12/2024 2:15:05 PM

I've enjoyed Jaylin's contributions the last 2 years but his efficiency dipped last year and his 3 point shot absolutely cratered. I'm high on Paveletzke as well and think he can at worst, step in and give us what we got from Jaylin last year. If not be an upgrade, at least offensively.

GoCats105
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Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 6,986

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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/12/2024 4:39:37 PM

Great updates from that preview, but I can't get over the first thing. Clayton? On NBA radars? What? I don't think he's quick enough for that.

Buttttt, he could make a really good living as a 3 and D type player. I also didn't realize how much he improved his overall FG and 3PT percentages last year. His FT percentage took a hit, but a kid his size who still shoots around 80% from the stripe is never a bad thing.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/aj-clayton-1...

For advanced stat heads:

-his Win Share total ballooned to 4.1 (tied for 3rd in MAC with Jaylin Hunter)

-had the highest offensive rating in the MAC last year at 127 (almost a full 3 points ahead of Akron's Enrique Freeman)

-4th in the MAC in PER (player efficiency rating).

I'm curious to see what he'll do now that Searls could take away some of the action he was seeing in the paint. If he's less concerned about being a "big man" maybe he'll be even more efficient at what seems to be a natural stretch 4 or even big 3 position.

Last Edited: 9/12/2024 4:39:57 PM by GoCats105

FJC31
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Member Since: 3/31/2022
Post Count: 1,367

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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/12/2024 9:45:20 PM

Tough to not be giddy about the ceiling potential of a healthy squad this season.

That�s an encouraging note about Searls, I didn�t know that (I don�t think it was mentioned in his signing article). Between the physicality that we�ve seen in practice clips and his offensive efficiency, I think we can feel confident about his ability to contribute as a role player at the mid-major level.

Surprised to hear Nicol as the backup 4. I have no clue what to expect out of him at all, but I remember thinking he was more stout than I initially thought he was up close in the Bahamas.

A little bit of a bummer Kuany is redshirting but it�s making more sense if he�s having visa issues.

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Member Since: 7/30/2010
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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/13/2024 9:04:42 AM

GoCats105 wrote:

Yeah, my thought is that NBA scouts aren't doing their job if they're not asking about a first team all conference guy. I suspect that's pretty much the standard across every conference in the country.

But it's gonna be a tough path for him with the NBA, because he would be forced to switch positions. Even in a 3 and D role, he'd be asked to guard wings in a way he hasn't in college. He's got decent athleticism for his size though, so it wouldn't surprise me if teams could see a shooting specialist who isn't a massive liability on D if they squint hard enough.

100%Cat
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Member Since: 1/17/2013
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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/13/2024 9:10:04 AM

I love the options this roster affords, granted they stay relatively healthy. And that's a big "if," as we all know. We're running out of time to see AJB and EJ4 healthy and playing to their potential together. AJB's injury last year maybe put Hadaway into a bigger than expected role, but that should pay dividends this year. I was really pleased with his performance last season from an unknown/unexpected standpoint. I'm excited to see this group on the floor.

Last Edited: 9/13/2024 9:11:10 AM by 100%Cat

Bobcat1998
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Member Since: 11/7/2012
Post Count: 2,275

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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/13/2024 9:39:01 AM

100%Cat wrote:

You could just see the confidence grow with Hadaway last year. By the end of the year he was our engine and our glue guy. He played some of the most minutes and always found a way to contribute. If he had 2 points, he would have 9 rebounds. If he had 10 points, he'd also have 4 assists or a key loose ball grab. Dude didn't ever disappear. I think that's what Boals has put together, a team that if one guy is off, he can step up in other ways. I think Searls is going to piss a lot of MAC bigs off with his old school game and I think Paveletzke is going to make opposing fans angry because they'll think he's a walk-on by how he looks but when it comes time for the game, he will be driving to the hole, dishing dimes and hitting treys.

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,056

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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/13/2024 11:10:34 AM

Sky is the limit with two Marin Bota-NBA-talent-type players on the team. Final Four, baby!

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

M.D.W.S.T
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Member Since: 12/23/2021
Post Count: 2,017

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RE: Previews

Posted: 9/13/2024 11:34:22 AM

Victory wrote:

I got the feeling watching some of Boals spring and summer interview that he was acting like a poker player with a straight flush. I hope that's right and we stay healthy.

Always the keyword for this team. Maybe it's recency bias, but I feel like we've been hammered with injuries with this crew more than previous years.

AJB should be MAC POY candidate.

Elmore is a SG body in a linebackers body.

A lot of good shooters on this team. If Jackson and Reek can distribute... Hadaway + AJC + Searls + Ayden can hold it down inside...

Big things coming.

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