PJ Star's Preview 12/14 - More Freshmen?

[BradleyBrave]

Sounds like it from what Dave Reynolds writes. Fine with me. I agree with JL in that it seems like they want to be coached. Some of our more experienced players seem to have their own agenda at times when they're on the floor.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x776485676/Young-trio-can-give-Bradley-fresh-look

Reynolds predicts a starting lineup of McCain, Maniscalco, Norris, Brown, and Singh. My god, that might be the smallest backcourt in DI history. However, I will say it looks like we're playing more of a true 4-5 combo as opposed to 4 guards, which is encouraging.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports_bu/x1720693500/Southeast-Missouri-State-at-Bradley

[Braves4Life]

Benching a captain (DD) would be quite a statement . I just don't see it.

[BradleyBrave]

Benching a captain (DD) would be quite a statement . I just don't see it.

Les benched a co-captain who was also his most prized recruit in 2006, so it wouldn't be the first time. I think TW's absence is more notable.

[SaintLouBrave22]

Benching a captain (DD) would be quite a statement . I just don't see it.

I don't like it myself...


Benching Sam would be more appropriate than Dodie...


Dodie has been the best player most times out on the floor as well as the best defender and sometimes the only defender...

I enjoy his heart, his toughness, and his never give up attitude....he kept playing hard until the final buzzer Wed.



IMO, I just can't agree w/ that idea, and not only that, playing 3 guys that aren't 6'0" tall....and no, I don't believe Sam is 6'0"....that just puts you at an extreme disadvantage....and it would be hard enough playing w/ 2 that size let alone 3....

I want Norris to get more minutes, but I can't see how he deserves the start at this point...



That being said, I will reserve my judgement to see what is done to the rotation and the minutes...and comment at a later date.

[scout4126]

DD has been the team's best player and hardest worker on both ends of the floor so hard. I don't see what statement benching him would make.

[thefish7]

DD has been the team's best player and hardest worker on both ends of the floor so hard. I don't see what statement benching him would make.

I can't disagree with this assessment. If DD doesn't start it wouldn't appear to be related to something on the court.

[shaunguth]

I want Norris to get more minutes, but I can't see how he deserves the start at this point...

I completely agree. I mean, why not start AT if you're going to start Norris? I'll be happy to see Singh get the start, but I believe we need to have DD or TW in the starting lineup with SM. Two of those three should be starting.

[mexicobufan]

Here is what I would like to see...it wont happen but its what I would like to se.

Starting
E.M.
T.W.
S.S.
D.D.
T.B.

second team, we have not developed a second team that plays together and is in the game at the same time.
S.M.
C.R.
D.N.
A.T.
D.C.

I think this gives us size on each and scoring as well. ????

[dogsrus]

I can't disagree with this assessment. If DD doesn't start it wouldn't appear to be related to something on the court.

Perhaps he isn't practicing hard enough....

[ser_solace]

Maybe Dodie is the leadership for the second unit? The stable guy who's the spark for us? Otherwise, if you put everyone who you didn't think performed well on the second unit, that's a really bad second unit.

[tornado]

Dodie Dunson has been our most consistent newcomer and is our leading scorer
Chris Roberts hustles, has showed he deserves to start, and been one of our few 3-pt options
Theron Wilson is solid, gives 100%, is our leading rebounding, and has carried us at times - he is obviously a starter
Taylor Brown has been a pleasant surprise
David Collins, although not always solid, has given some good moments, and we'd really be shallow in the paint without him

but weren't we told that we have too many jucos and that this is bad!!

[dogsrus]

Maybe Dodie is the leadership for the second unit? The stable guy who's the spark for us? Otherwise, if you put everyone who you didn't think performed well on the second unit, that's a really bad second unit.

But its not like Hockey where you have line changes......you sub a player here and there with a mix of starters and bench players.

I do agree DD is a good "spark" and leader though when he comes in.

[Beninator]

Even if this is supposed to send a message, I dont like this starting lineup! We might as well forget about rebounds.... I am all for sending a message to this team, but I am afraid that the message sent needs to be a starting lineup that makes sense! If we at least remove SM from this lineup and start TW, then I would be OK with this but still leary.... I am not a JL or SM basher, but SM does not deserve to start! It's early,... I hope that I am very wrong about this....but now I am officially fired up

[romar]

Who cares who starts??? It's who finishes & how they finish that matters!!

I don't get all this talk of who deserves what, the coaches decide who gets to play not the fans and they are given the responsibility of putting the best line-up to win on the floor. This appears to be a game when JL can afford to shake things up and send a message to get what he is absolutely looking for out of certain players. I feel it's JL's team to coach the way he sees fit and we will see which of the players reacts in what manner on the floor.

Plus who knows if Reynolds knows this is the starting line-up or if he is speculating just like everyone else here on the board.

[real fan]

I hate to see us scrambling to figure out who our best players are after this many games into the season. When Egolf began starting our team was a lot better so it shouldn"t be that hard to figure out what position is hurting us the most.