Update of the recent Valley roster changes

[Da Coach]

Illinois State just lost Sead Odzic and landed verbals from Jackie Carmichael & Austin Hill for next fall
They are hosting a visit from Tony Lewis in hopes of landing him also.

6'7" junior college player Tony Lewis has decided to attend ISU as a walkon next year. He is from Division 2 Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.--

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/05/05/usports/doc4a00f65a151e7521935954.txt

[tornado]

interesting comment from Lewis...
"“I think I might have a chance to start (for ISU). It’s something I can work on,” said Lewis."
interesting...and there were some who said last year that Kellen Thornton, Jeremy Robinson, and Ty Modupe would be battling for serious playing time and maybe even be starters by now...
..and he is being promised a scholarship for the following year, 2010-2011...

[RedbirdFan21]

interesting comment from Lewis...
"“I think I might have a chance to start (for ISU). It’s something I can work on,” said Lewis."
interesting...and there were some who said last year that Kellen Thornton, Jeremy Robinson, and Ty Modupe would be battling for serious playing time and maybe even be starters by now...
..and he is being promised a scholarship for the following year, 2010-2011...

n/m

[tornado]

it wasn't bait, it was fact...

[RedbirdFan21]

it wasn't bait, it was fact...

Landon Shipley started 5 games last year

[RedbirdFan21]

Ahh.... edited your post before I had a chance to reply... well done!

I was just "getting back to you when ISU started a walk-on"

[tornado]

Shipley started because you had no PG...
if an undersized PF starts because you have have no paint presence even though your roster has a bunch of guys who ought to be more experienced by now, then you're in trouble.


btw--- interesting story on all the roster changes at the schools in Iowa...

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090505/SPORTS13/905060340

[RedbirdFan21]

Shipley started because you had no PG...
if an undersized PF starts because you have have no paint presence even though your roster has a bunch of guys who ought to be more experienced by now, then you're in trouble.


btw--- interesting story on all the roster changes at the schools in Iowa...
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/art...TS13/905060340

Lewis said he has a chance to start at ISU... far cry from saying he is going to start...

And undersized? Really? The PF's in the Valley aren't exactly 7 footers...

And Lewis will have as much or more CBB experience then all front court players other than Dinma... Kellen and J-Rob have one year and Bobby has 2 years of CBB experience...

Last year our front court was basically Champ, Dinma, Sampay (J-Rob and Kellen only played when needed because of injury or foul trouble).

Next year it will be Dinma, B. Hill, Lewis, J-Rob, Kellen...

I guess you can spin it however you like, but ISU just got a commit to walk-on at ISU for a year over taking a full ride to SIU... that is impressive.

[bufan73]

As an unbiased opinion...I like this commit for ISU. Anytime you can get a division 1 recruit to walk on you have to like that scenario.

[cpacmel]

if an undersized PF starts because you have have no paint presence even though your roster has a bunch of guys who ought to be more experienced by now, then you're in trouble.

Who started for Bradley at the PF position for the last 2 years?

How tall was he?

[tornado]

I knew it..you guys have always wanted to be like Bradley.........

[RedbirdFan21]

I knew it..you guys have always wanted to be like Bradley.........

Sure I would have loved to have had a player like Theron Wilson... (minus the chest bumping after every point scored)... I assume you would have loved to have a player like Osiris Eldridge (since you were recruiting him rather hard)

[tornado]

I don't disagree...OE is a great competitor..but we have a 13 ppg guy coming back from a redshirt year so I hope we can compete with the Redbirds this year...

[RedbirdFan21]

I don't disagree...OE is a great competitor..but we have a 13 ppg guy coming back from a redshirt year so I hope we can compete with the Redbirds this year...

I'm sure it will be two battles like this year... next year

[tornado]

6'7" junior college player Tony Lewis has decided to attend ISU as a walkon next year. ...

from the reports, it looks like this came down to a battle between SIU and ISU for this kid.
nice that he must like the Valley and want to play in the MVC...
both SIU and ISU are looking to get as strong as they can in the paint.
Both lose a bit and have some uncertainties...

-Tony Boyle is gone for SIU and Fay seems to like playing the perimeter...
Both Evans and Booker lack experience and I can't see any of the other new guys like Myers getting much PT.

-ISU loses Sampay, and a few comments lead one to wonder if Bobby Hill will be up to playing 20-30 minuites...so they need help in the frontcourt and the kid could get some PT.
As for Lewis possibly starting....I say go for it...but what does that say about the kids who put their time in last year....like Robinson & Thornton....are they still just not ready?

My take on ISU...and please don't get too riled up, it's just opinion....
that the loss of Oguchi, a big guard who could hit the open 3-pointer, forced defenses to spread out trying to guard 3 and 4 different guys that were good 3-point shooters (Eldridge, Phillips, Holloway, and Champ).
I think the loss of Oguchi (plus Holloway) hurts them more than anything else.
Now the opponents' biggest and best defender can hound OE, and won't have as much else to worry about...