Totally disagree with your assessment of Mo and Mike. Mo has performed slightly better statistically over last year and it is clear that defenses are keying in on him with double teams and traps much more than they did last year. I would argue we need to get him the ball in more favorable positions on the floor. You're not watching the games if you don't see anything from Mike. I see a hustler, a guy who battles for offensive rebounds, dives for loose balls, gets sneaky steals. What were you expecting out of the kid? Aaron Harrison? It's clear his role is to do the dirty work and not be relied upon for offense, and he is excelling.

"Best record we can logically expect is .500."

Explain, because that's not how logic works.

71' -I wouldn't be so quick to cast Wadley aside. If memory serves me correctly, both DeVaughn and KVK were works in progress thru their Soph years. They turned out to be pretty significant pieces to the puzzle by their Junior years.

You see nothing out of Laster? Really??????? Being only a freshman! Really, you see nothing??????

Mo, while acknowleding may be suffering from BBall fatigue, remember with the FIFA thing has essentially had NO break from the grind in well over a year now, gets swarmed every time he touches the ball. I think he's more than carrying his weight.

The key to me remains getting Stevie out of his funk. IF he gets the ship righted, the other pieces have a chance to fit alot better.

Laster had offers from Buffalo, BGSU, and others. R. Taylor had serious late interest from Michigan nd Wisconsin.

I certainly see Laster as a work in progress, but he is certainly progressing. I paid special attention to him while watching the Nebraska replay. He certainly seems to hustle. Also seems he is also matched up with their best player on the Defensive side. I could be wrong, but seemed like a is our most active defender.

Saul says we aren't athletic enough? Ndour, Taylor and Laster? Throw in Campbell and Setty and harley? I question that assessment. They mat not be his players but they are athletic. We have good MAC level talent.

The problems are twofold: Bball IQ and valuing each and every possession! The pg takes at lest 4 3-point shots in the first 5-8 seconds of the shot clock? That shot is there anytime. He also rolls the ball to nobody and out of bounds when double teamed? He may be our best shooter, but... Oh, and seriously, we want setty and Campbell to take that many 3s? Yikes!! And, we still do not hedge well? I still say it is round pegs in square holes or vice versa.

Probably a long year!

Right now the choice seems Stevie or Bean at PG. Bean shooting 44+% versus 28% for Stevie. From 3's it's Bean again 41% to 16%. And one thing that's always bothered me is Stevie on F's .. he's 52% .. Bean over 94%. Bean producing 16+ points versus Stevie at 6 ppg. And Bean has better numbers on assists and rebounds. Wish Stevie would step up so Bean could revert back to shooting guard. But until Stevie's numbers improve we may be forced to stay as we are at PG.

SENIORS
Bean: He has stepped up and become our go-to scorer and I'm ok with it. Against Nebraska yes he forced some shots but I don't see too many MAC guards who are going to be better than him this side of Juice Brown. I am ok with him taking his shots as long as they're not forced.
Stevie: If he is able to come to grips with his new role we'll be fine. If he pouts and does his "stevie thing" we are screwed. He has to be an energy guy and he isn't even giving us that right now.
Mo: How can you argue with four double doubles already after only four last year? Our non-con losses are sneaky good teams. Mo will not have anyone who can handle him now that Tree is gone.
JUNIORS
Chandler: Waste of space. Why did Saul give this guy a scholly if he wasn't going to use him?
Treg: He was one of my favorite players last year and is my true favorite this year. What a breath of fresh air. Aggressive at the basket, energy, emotion, loves the game, loves OU, loves his teammates. I don't even mind an occasional 3-pointer.
SOPHOMORES
Wadly: Come on Wadly. What is going on? I fear that he will be gone by season's end. Probably playing D-2 somewhere in Florida. Could be serviceable but probably not.
Tony: He can be however good he wants to be. I don't see too many MAC players beating him 1 on 1. He has stepped up this year.
FRESHMEN
Khari: I will not count on him at all due to his injury problems. He has shown great signs but he's another one who should go the D-2 route somewhere in New York.
Laster: Anyone who doubts this guy is ridiculous. All he's doing is starting as a freshman, guarding guys like Petteway of Nebraska and hustling his butt all over the court. What a great late recruit by Saul. Outside shot will only improve.
Ryan Taylor: Stud. Absolute stud by the time he graduates. What a great complement he will be to Kaminski, Simmons and Tony next year in our starting lineup. Kid is poised. Another great late get.

This team feels like our surprise Georgetown-beating team. some young guys mixed with old guys. And if it doesn't work out this year remember, Saul is a true system guy and we have three seniors who are JC system guys (Stevie is a JG system guy).

I wouldn't call any kid a 'waste of space', though I do concur with the question asked about giving Thomas a scholly and not playing him. I've been wanting to ask this for awhile, so here goes:

What are the chances that Thomas' scholly becomes available around the spring signing period? The idea of adding a PG that could add to future seasons has to be appealing to the coaching staff after what they've seen the first part of this season. Nick Rogers anyone?

I wasn't trying to say that Thomas was a waste of space, I meant that his scholarship being filled is a waste. And as for Holmes of BG, we'll see. I think we've, other than Buffalo, had the toughest non-con sked. Holmes is good but I think Mo will win that one.

My biggest concern with Mo is that he still gets into foul trouble too much. That said, I still believe he is going to pretty much dominate the entire MAC at will. Outside of Richaun Holmes (he IS very good) there just aren't many guys who can matchup with Mo.

That is a big reason I think it is silly to give up on this year. We CLEARLY have a special talent in Ndour. We have struggled while trying to put it all together so far... We were forced to throw some young guys into the fire... Me thinks their early experience will pay dividends for us as we continue into MAC play.

Saul's comments about how close we are sums it all up for me. I'm excited.

Correct. There are not many "guys" that can match up with Mo. That's why they have been, and will continue to, "match up" two to three "guys" on him............

The other 4 need to figure out how to take advantage of that.

You guys need to listen to Jimmy V's words more closely. ;)


That said, this team isn't anywhere close to that team from DJ's freshman year. My reasoning is that the talent at guard isn't nearly as good.