Five questions after five games

[electricmayhem]

Not sure how much of this has been covered on the boards, but I just put some thoughts together about AW, EM, etc.

http://www.examiner.com/x-7020-Bradley-Braves-Examiner~y2009m11d28-Five-questions-after-five-games

[shaunguth]

2. What happened to Eddren McCain?

I'm not sure anything "happened" to him. He only averaged 5.6 points in 25 minutes all of last season and was one of our worst all-around shooters. At least this year he is one of our leading rebounders, given his limited number of minutes on the floor.

[Braves4Life]

These are all relevant questions Joe and a postive answer to many will be the key to Valley success. My take:

Here are five questions that need to be answered before Santa starts his chimney tour:

1. Can this team score? I don't think there is any doubt that this team, with this offensive scheme, will live or die by its outside shooting ability. There is no reason why Maniscalco, Egolf, Warren, or Milos should not get going by league play. It is up to Les and staff to make sure they put in the shooting time on off days and, more importantly, up to the coaching staff to make sure they get good, open looks through PG drives to the basket with the dish out, efficient passing on the perimeter, and feeds in and out of the post (ala POB and Sommerville days). Plus, our defense will be the key this year. Players who have not learned to be shooters by college probably never will be.

2. What happened to Eddren McCain? McCain has totally lost confidence in his shot. Both at the free throw line and from the outside. Somebody on the staff needs to work one on one with him on his shot or hire a shooting coach. If EM's shot does not develop he will never develop as the PG that we all had hoped for.

3. Is Andrew Warren 100%? He seems to be as close to 100% as can be expected. Most players seem to have one minor ailment or another. I think he is still rusty from lack of game time over the last year or two and this, in turn, has hurt his confidence. A few good games and he could be back in form. I also wonder if maybe he just isn't who we thought he was or would become. Remember, when he was successful he had a supporting cast that took attention off of him. We also had a high-low game that got him open looks. Much of the game-planning was done to stop BU's other great players. Not freshman Warren.

4. Who should be in the starting lineup? Without adequate outside shooting it may not really matter. Les needs to play whichever lineup that can provide the best defensive lineup on a night to night basis until one unit gels. Hopefully, this will happen by league play.

5. Will Sam Singh and Anthony Thompson offer quality minutes off the bench? Remember, our bigs are AT LEAST as good as last year's bigs..... and they were somewhat adequate in Valley play. I don't expect much difference this year. However, I think we have better athletes ready at this position than last year in Egolf and Thompson. Singh will play a role against the UNI's and MSU's who have bruisers inside.

Just my take. Let's hear other opinions.

[ph]

In regards to EM, DSE and SS, I kinda like what we are doing. In past years I kept thinking that we should be developing players more in the non-con, both for added conference depth and the inevitable injury.

Now, we seem to be developing DSE, EM, AT and WE (why we do not see SS more) and I think this will be good for us later in the year...

[shaunguth]

As far as the starting lineup is concerned.....I'm not sure it really matters who is on the floor to start the game, considering the substitution patterns we've seen. I really began noticing this pattern last year and it seems to be the same so far this season.

[SaintLouBrave22]

I have a better one...



When will Coach Les realize WHO his players are?



Most of us have figured it out, yet he apparently has not.



When will the coaching staff scrap the poor offensive sets that leave one of our threats (Will) out at the 3-pt line setting poor screens when he should be under the basket catching the ball at the post...

AND

When will the coaching staff scrap the poor defensive man to man overplays that has the D collapsing into the post 95% of the time while leaving wide open 3's and jumpers that 12 year olds can hit in open gym?

[Bradleyguy10]

This team tries desperately to run an offense similar to the phoenix suns. That is all well and good but they have something that we don't. A pg that is one of the all time bests at creating things from pretty much nothing. I've said it from the beginning I don't think this is the year for Bradley but they should improve, obviously, as the year goes on. The only way this team works is if we can get someone, anyone, to break down defenses and find an open guy. Our guards now just run around and pass around the perimeter and then we rely on someone to just run around their defender...doesn't work well. Ruffin was good at shaking his defender or getting near the basket and then throwing it back out to someone open...I can't remember seeing that happen yet this season.

[thefish7]

I think that's a great article hitting on all the points that are weighing on my mind these days.