The comparisons between players are a stretch, to say the least, but this is a fun thread.
I just wonder if this delirious level of optimism will be around in the likely event that EMU's zone completely exposes us again tomorrow. I guess time will tell.
An enormous stretch. To compare Stevie to DJ and Bean to Armon is frankly an insult to how good those two were for that 2 1/2 month stretch that season. Armon could beat ANYONE off the dribble one on one. And he knew how to get to the foul line - A LOT. And he could shoot like Bean can now. We all know about what DJ was - the best PG to come through this program at least in my memory. Despite his speed and infectious enthusiasm, Stevie is not DJ. This would also require shot selection of both for every game to be like it was against Akron. And it would require these guys to get into the paint to create foul trouble for other teams. And that doesn't even count the lack of a Tommy Freeman like 3-point sniper that this year's team does not have.
The X-Factors in this conversation are Campbell and Mo, and perhaps Ryan Taylor. Campbell and Mo have the capability to offer more than KVK and Devo did on the floor in terms of scoring and rebounding. But it would take a lot of "ifs" to go right for that to happen IMO. For starters, IF they both stayed out of foul trouble (because guards and wings didn't give up the lane) every game for 4 games in 6 days, we'd have a chance. Look at the track record to know how likely that is. On the plus side, Mo can truly take over in the paint, and can get to the line. Down the stretch, it'll take 20 and 10 production from him to get to the "remember where we were in 2009-10" sort of territory. I'd love to see it from him, because it's exciting to watch when he gets on a roll!
I'm not saying they can't do it this year. I'm saying the two guards that powered OUr team in 09-10 were a notch or two above this year from what I've seen thus far in 14-15....AND I'm saying that 2009-10 team probably under-achieved up until they went nuts starting around mid February of 2010. Maybe this team has too. That part remains to be seen, and it's why we'll watch the games.