'16-'17 Hoops Predictions

I’m just going to focus on the non-conference portion of the schedule.

I think we, unfortunately, start the season 0-6. I think we have a shot in 5 of the games, not @ Xavier. But, heavy lift to win any of the road games, and Princeton will be really good, and tough at Stabler. So, I see 0-6.

Then, I see a complete reversal, and we win the next 5, and close out the OOC at 5-6. Anything worse than 5-6 is a disappointment. I think if we play really well, we could get as good as 7-4, and could steal a couple early games. But, I’m happy with anything over .500 in the OOC. Really happy at 7-4 and thrilled at 8 or higher. Like I said earlier, the only game where I would say we are completely outclassed is the opener.

This is a team that basically ran the table in the PL in the second half of last season. So, I’m hoping that carries over into this season. I think the 4th and 5th starters will be KL and BA to start. I think MH gets worked in and potentially starts later in the OOC schedule (BA sliding to a 6th man role). As I said earlier, DC getting a starting spot would not shock me, but we already have senior leadership in the starting lineup, and a lot of veterans.

Most improved, I think is going to be BA. I think the year of being away and watching will be really helpful. I think we will see real improvement from KR and KL as well, and those guys could elevate to premier PL players. BA needs to learn to defend and be a complementary player in this lineup, which has a lot of scoring.

I’m really positive going in this year. Just one major concern for me. Finding some big men (at least 2) to give us steady minutes in a backup role. Definitely not to score the ball, but to defend in the paint, rebound and take up some fouls. If we get 30+ minutes out of TK, we will need a couple bigs to play 10-15 a night. But, I expect us to run pretty small, most of the season. My big fear, is any injury to TK, where he misses significant action. He has been injury free to date, but we saw what happened to CJM in his senior year, when we expected to have a top notch team. Fingers crossed on health.

Reed hasn’t started too many freshman. I realize MH is a sophomore, and has been around for a year, but has never played a college game. Even CJM was not a day one starter. But, some bigs certainly were, like GK and TK. I hope MH is developed enough to be a day one starter. Would like his frame on the floor with TK up front.

I guess Shane Whitfield would probably be our starting 4 man, if he stuck around.

Think SB has the right mix for starters. BA first off bench. DC will get mins here also. Up front Andree and Lieb. Guess Lieb and CS will spell TK. Think we are set at both Gs with KR AP and KL. BA JC and DC backing.

Scary number of the day: 0

As in, the total combined minutes of front-court experience among players not named Tim Kempton. Ouch.

I completely get the point that BA has not played the 4, nor shown us post play or a nose for boards. But the staff may feel that they don’t have much choice. I hope that’s not true – I hope we have a few new bigs who are ready to contribute immediately. But if not, we may be looking at a whole-new level of “small ball”.

A bit of consolation on that point: JC started at the 4 full time last year, while we played 3 guards with him. Don’t think we ever really saw paint play become a big part of his game either. However – and this may be the key – he could defend a legit 4, and do it well. That is the biggest concern right now, for me.

Todd, I think you are 100% correct in your post. We are hoping, but we have no clue what we have in frontcourt, outside of TK. We know BA is a player, from what we saw 2 years ago. He’s a guard, but they may be forced to start there and go small. The other guys, who knows. I’m not sure many of them can give us quality minutes, and I think many of them are probably projects. I would put CS, JW and JL in the project category. They have length, but not sure if they are progressed enough at the point in their careers to be reliable contributors. Hoping for contributions, but 1 is a walk-on, so he probably gives us nothing.

To call PA a big man is a real reach. He’s tall, but not a big man. In high school, he was a primarily a perimeter shooter, not a traditional big man. He was more like JC, without the body, spending a great deal of time outside the arc. He is very good shooter, but didn’t show “big man” skills, defending the post, shot blocking and rebounding.

I think MH is our best hope of the bunch up front to be a factor. But, again, hard to access a guy you have only seen in street clothes and a boot. For this team to be good, he needs to be solid and play significant minutes.

Oh we recruit bigs travis. As do all PL teams. At the mud major level top bigs are rare and even scarcer in the PL. Most tall recruits are for one reason or another flawed or a hopeful project.

Agree TMH. 6’10 stars are rare for PL TK and Muscala only 2 ICR. We’ve done pretty well otherwise with Z Gabe and Holden. MH may be the highest rated front court recruit LU has ever had. A 6’7 F who can handle, shoot rebound and play D. Excited ladt yr, dont get not being excited now. Andree a scorer and an outside shooter. That alone makes him a plum for us to take pressure off TK. Harder to double him with either MH or PA on the court. Cs am JW may be projects. Expect CS will be able to eat some minutes for TK. Lieb a big body and athletic. Not sure where he will fit but having him is not a detriment.Lieb is also a PG and a year older.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by  RichH.