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Post by thetulsawarrior on Mar 21, 2013 11:57:21 GMT -6
You got to wonder how far this team could have gone with any level of normal continuity.
Injuries, illnesses, suspensions and Cerroni's early departure absolutely killed continuity, momentum and depth.
The talent and depth should be there in 2013-14. Have all the dues been paid to make a statement?
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Post by FunDmentals on Mar 21, 2013 13:05:08 GMT -6
Honestly, I feel they are all in for next year. For the last three years we've all been leading up to the 2013-14 season.
If they don't make the NCAA Tournament count me off the Wardle bandwagon. I'll take a break from this team for a few years. The last time they made the tournament I was in 6th grade, and as an alumnus the heart break is getting to be a little too much.
That being said, I think GB is the favorite in the Horizon next year. But it would be nice if they could have a good road record and get into the bubble discussion. Putting all your chips on winning the Conference Tournament makes me extremely nervous.
Brown needs to continue to develop strength, confidence, and the understanding of how to avoid foul trouble. Sykes needs to have that killer instinct we saw in the Conference Tournament all the time. Fouse needs to develop a jump shot. Stephan needs to get into the flow with the rest of the team.
I really think Mays and McKinnie are going to be the wild cards next year. If they can provide big minutes at the 4, this could be a dominant team. As always the disruptions you talked about (injuries, illnesses, and suspensions) can doom any team.
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Post by barnzoboy on Mar 21, 2013 16:15:34 GMT -6
I think I have lost some optimism for next year, given how frustrating this year's team was at times. Can you say there was huge improvement from last year to this year with essentially the same cast?
The long stretch of being unable to win on the road being one of those frustrations. It seems our best finisher around the basket is Sykes - that shouldn't be the case. As much as we all pay homage to Alec Brown, he gets manhandled around the basket offensively. Last night Cougill and Brown had the team's only 3 point baskets, with 2 each, that's not right either.
Sorry for the negativity, I'm kind of that way. Certainly there were phases where the team did fantastic - home against Detroit, and a great battle against Valpo and of course beating Marquette. But sometimes they can look not so fantastic. Last night's game was a frustrating example.
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 21, 2013 16:15:57 GMT -6
Sometimes this team was maddening to watch.....Lose to last place in the MVC Southern Illinois, beat Marquette, then when GB was putting a run together to finish the season, they crap themselves at home against Valpo and then lose to a bad Drake team in the Bracketbusters....Despite all of the distractions/injuries during this season, GB was a close loss at UIC and a heartbreaker against Wright State at home in 2OT away from winning the HL.....
Hope the returning players understand that next year that they will be the favorite to win the HL; No more knuckleheadedness, no skipping class, and no quitting on your team at midseason......With some consistency, this team can win the HL in 2013-2014.
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Post by fightphoe93 on Mar 21, 2013 16:16:40 GMT -6
I tend to agree that next year is sort of a benchmark type year. They have 3 really talented guys in Sykes, Fouse, and Brown. They'll need some help, particularly in the backcourt if they want to take the next step.
I really had high hopes for Stefan this year, but he just didn't seem like he had the coaches' confidence at all. Until a 2nd top notch guard emerges, I think this team could be held back a bit. College basketball is a guard's game nowadays and if you don't have a couple good ones, you'll be at a disadvantage against the better teams. Hopefully one of those guys steps up next year, because we really didn't see a consistent running mate for Sykes.
There's hope for a good year next year, but the team was so wildly inconsistent this year, I can't really get my hopes up too high. All these guys (including coaches) need to focus on truly playing as a team and being more fundamentally sound. If they don't improve on those 2 things, they'll waste their fairly high level of talent.
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 21, 2013 17:55:38 GMT -6
I agree 93, GB needs an improvement at the 2 position.....Either by hard work or in the off-season, or if there is a departure by a current player, then BW needs to bring in a shooting guard or combo guard type.
I have a feeling that there will be a departure (no inside information, just a hunch)......Either Humphrey or Turner.......
I also think it would be a big mistake for Alec Brown to go to the NBA. He still needs to get stronger, have a dominant season, and a possible appearance in the NCAA's next season could help his stock.....If he left now, his career will consist of playing games in Rio Grande Valley, Erie, or Bakersfield and will never see the inside of an NBA arena.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Mar 22, 2013 7:29:09 GMT -6
There is no doubt in mind Alec Brown is coming back next year. He came on strong to end the year but there is no real buzz about him. Plus when scouts were present he didn't really play his best.
Humphrey traveled to a lot of road games this year and seems to be a guy the other players like a lot. I don't see him leaving. I thought I saw Turner at Bradley in a dark warm up suit. Nick Arenz is the guy who I see leaving. He wasn't very good and there are other big men in front of him.
I wasn't happy that Cole was sick at Bradley but at least that explained why he didn't play much. This team needs shooting. Cole and Sultan need to really step up or they need to get a better JUCO transfer/hardship transfer who can play the 2 guard next year.
C Love is another guy who needs to take a big step. It hurts when he and Fouse can't shoot and the defense lays back. However Fouse consistenly brings other things to the game. C Love was inconsistent offensively most of the year (he looked good at Bradley though). His defensive did get pretty good as the year went on.
I agree with the comment about 13-14 is NCAA tournament or it's time to bounce Coach Wardle. If he can't get the job done with next years team he isn't ever going to get the job done.
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Post by stillaphoenixphan on Mar 22, 2013 9:39:03 GMT -6
There is no doubt in mind Alec Brown is coming back next year. He came on strong to end the year but there is no real buzz about him. Plus when scouts were present he didn't really play his best. Humphrey traveled to a lot of road games this year and seems to be a guy the other players like a lot. I don't see him leaving. I thought I saw Turner at Bradley in a dark warm up suit. Nick Arenz is the guy who I see leaving. He wasn't very good and there are other big men in front of him. I wasn't happy that Cole was sick at Bradley but at least that explained why he didn't play much. This team needs shooting. Cole and Sultan need to really step up or they need to get a better JUCO transfer/hardship transfer who can play the 2 guard next year. C Love is another guy who needs to take a big step. It hurts when he and Fouse can't shoot and the defense lays back. However Fouse consistenly brings other things to the game. C Love was inconsistent offensively most of the year (he looked good at Bradley though). His defensive did get pretty good as the year went on. I agree with the comment about 13-14 is NCAA tournament or it's time to bounce Coach Wardle. If he can't get the job done with next years team he isn't ever going to get the job done. I've refrained from making a comment about the end of the season(frustration). But everything that gbphoenix1 said seems to be correct. To many times this year we were able to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. "To many TO's we're working on it." Bad timing on timeouts at crucial moments. Yes I'm frustrated and only a NCAA final with some WINS will help. The one thing I will say is I love to watch Fouse play. If you saw him in HS you would see how he's developed. This year was rebounds and quickness(defense and steals), next year will be the shooting touch. He was so raw in HS this year was already a big step. In HS his only playing was around the basket. I'm confident next year he'll have a 10-15' jumper. He has great hands and timing while jumping so it's just alot of practice to get the shot.
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Post by Nix on Mar 22, 2013 22:05:14 GMT -6
I'm definitely looking forward to next year. I don't see any way they don't make the dance. Valpo loses everyone and Detroit loses 3 key players, even if Ray comes back, they'll be taking a step back. Whereas GB will be taking a step forward. They just missed out this year. If everyone is back and good to go for the year, they will no doubt make the tourney. A starting 5 of Keif, Su/Cole, Fouse, Al McKinnie, and AB could do some damage. I really hope Alfonzo gets the start over Mays, as I feel Mays needs to come in for AB and then stick in a little for Al. It could be a very nice rotation with Mays coming off the bench. Plus McKinnie could play the 3 if Fouse is in foul trouble, hell they could play monstrous with Keif, Jordan, Al, Greg, and AB. Either way I'm excited to see how well Al steps in, and how well Josh Humphrey bounces back. With a starting 5 of Keif, Cole, Jordan, Al, and AB with Greg, Su, and Josh coming first off the bench, this team will make some noise next year, no question about it.
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Post by fightphoe93 on Mar 23, 2013 9:27:20 GMT -6
Wright State really impressed me this year. They do alot of the little things right and makes their team better as a whole than the sum of its' parts. That team might be the best competetion for the conference.
GB will need to improve in many areas before I'll get too excited about them. They do have the individual talents to win it, will they develop the TEAM to win it?
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Mar 25, 2013 16:00:42 GMT -6
Lets not forget that in theory one of Wright States best players, Chrishawn Hopkins, sat out as a transfer this year. That is a pretty good talent to add to the WSU mix.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Mar 25, 2013 16:14:39 GMT -6
I don't know where else to put this but I have three thoughts related to this seasons NCAA tournamant.
1. Valpo didn't give Michigan State nearly the game I thought they would or could.
2. I wonder if Cole Stefan wishes he was still at LaSalle and playing in the sweet 16? I doubt he would have played with the guards LaSalle had but still being part of the experience would probably be exciting.
3. Can GB play a similar game to FGCU next year? They are so much fun to watch. They get up and down and play above the rim, in theory GB should be able to play like that with their athletic ability. I do think FGCU has better outside shooting than GB has.
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Post by gbphanatic on Mar 26, 2013 14:13:30 GMT -6
I agree with most on this board that we desperatley need a 2/combo guard for next year and from watching Stefan I saw flashes of brillance every once in a great while. I believe with an off season to work he will find his place on the team and hopefully compliment Sykes well. If not, do we look to have Sykes and Love play more together? Love to me could become a capable shooter and he has no problem directing the offense, I see no reason as to why Sykes can't go almost the entire 40 minutes every night, in that respect we wouldn't even need to bring Love in for him. The kid is a competitor who never wants to come out anyways. Lastly, we have Botz coming in. Perhaps he could fill that roll, not sure how he would do actually running the offense here and there but maybe there is a chance that he could fill that combo guard spot.
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Post by wannabeaphan on Mar 27, 2013 14:49:11 GMT -6
I also agree with most everything on the board. The one thing to add is this: if we expect players other than Brown and Sykes to score, they need to get open shots and that's not how the coach is running this offense. If you look at just the guards (other than Sykes) their shooting percentages are all pretty similar: Muhammed - 39%, Love - 35%, Stefan - 34% so they are all effective. Sykes is 43%. But he played 1175 minutes compared to Muhammed at 797, Love at 538 and Stefan at 265. Next year when they are all eligible for the whole season it will be interesting to see how the stats work out. I would sure like to see these other guards get some open looks. Not to pick on the guy, cause I really like him as a player, but Muhammed played 33 minutes in the Bradley game, only took 3 shots, and missed all of them. Poor use of players on the coaches part in my opinion. These guys all need to get more shots in. I love Sykes, but if we are to go all the way to the tournament next year we cannot rely on him to be our only guard who scores.
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 28, 2013 6:43:46 GMT -6
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