My thoughts

[MacabreMob]

I just wanna say... for all the sheeyat Eddren is taking on this board... that guy is a tough sob... and if he knew any of you personally that said any "crap" about him - he'd beat the crap out of ya. The guy IS a fighter and he will endure. And he will not only get better in everyone's eyes - he'll make you eat your words.

Go get 'em Eddren!

[tornado]

of the true PG's in the league, the guys who regularly bring the ball up against the defense and intitiate the half court offense...
here are some comparative stats...and recall our SOS...the teams we've been playing, are better than all the other teams except InSU.

Eddren......- assists 24, turnovers 10, A/T=2.4, assists per minute played 0.163
Young (CU)- assists 25, turnovers 14, A/T=1.8, assists per minute played 0.104
Phillips(ISU)- assists 38, turnovers 21, A/T=1.3, assists per minute played 0.104
Kelly (InSU)- assists 10, turnovers 17, A/T=0.6, assists per minute played 0.039
Kwadzo(UNI)-assists 21, turnovers 25, A/T=0.8, assists per minute played 0.081
Dillard(SIU) - assists 37, turnovers 16, A/T=2.3, assists per minute played 0.187
Hannah(WSU)-assists 33, turnovers 16, A/T=2.1, assists per minute played 0.185


I also applaud Eddren for such an improvement since last season...keep it up...

[Bradleyguy10]

I want more than a good assist to turnover ratio; we need him to be a threat. I don't think I've ever seen anyone say that he has a bad A/T ratio. The argument is that he is one dimensional. And you have repeatedly tried to side-step it. You are starting to sound like a broken record in all honesty...just "my thoughts" lol.

[Braves4Life]

McCain is our best option for success at PG. Sammy is good but he does not have EM's potential, quickness, and ability to drive by a defender deep into the paint. If we are to win the Valley we need EM to continue to progress and gain confidence; I think he will. He has proven in high school that he is a scorer; the guy can definately get to the basket. I just hope his outside shot progresses this year where we can say it is at least respectable. I have NO doubt the coaches are working on this with him. I think we will look back on this year as an early-season sophomore slump, but I think (at least hope) he will break out of it by league play. Just MY thoughts

[lefty]

McCain is our best option for success at PG. Sammy is good but he does not have EM's potential, quickness, and ability to drive by a defender deep into the paint. If we are to win the Valley we need EM to continue to progress and gain confidence; I think he will. He has proven in high school that he is a scorer; the guy can definately get to the basket. I just hope his outside shot progresses this year where we can say it is at least respectable. I have NO doubt the coaches are working on this with him. I think we will look back on this year as an early-season sophomore slump, but I think (at least hope) he will break out of it by league play. Just MY thoughts

Even though they played dfferent positions JC went through his soph season the same way where he played his way out the rotation and then had a great finish tohis career....maybe EM will do the same. I think he can

[SFP]

Em is our PG option guys. That I am sure of. SM is just not quick enough on the defensive end with the soft bigs we have. I honestly would love to see a different lineup and rotation in order to put the players in their best possible position to succeed. TB at the 3 would be a superstar! WE at the 4 could be all conference, AW at the would be fantastic, SM becoming a 6th man threat, just imagine, CR coming in to jack up the energy!!!

[BUfan14]

Em is our PG option guys. That I am sure of. SM is just not quick enough on the defensive end with the soft bigs we have. I honestly would love to see a different lineup and rotation in order to put the players in their best possible position to succeed. TB at the 3 would be a superstar! WE at the 4 could be all conference, AW at the would be fantastic, SM becoming a 6th man threat, just imagine, CR coming in to jack up the energy!!!

Who would be at the 5 that is actually deserving of starting at the 5?

[SFP]

Who would be at the 5 that is actually deserving of starting at the 5?

Good question! That is really our big hole in recruiting and I do not see any change in that with next year. We need a big guys that can play the 5. He does not need to be this quick athletic scoring machine, just someone that can dunk, hit the bunnies, get in there in get a few offensive rebounds, throw his weight around, own the defensive paint every which way. Could you imagine how good we would be with one of those. Some will say they hard to get but I remember a UW-M big guy last year that did just that to us not to mention Oakland and ODU.

[BUfan14]

Good question! That is really our big hole in recruiting and I do not see any change in that with next year. We need a big guys that can play the 5. He does not need to be this quick athletic scoring machine, just someone that can dunk, hit the bunnies, get in there in get a few offensive rebounds, throw his weight around, own the defensive paint every which way. Could you imagine how good we would be with one of those. Some will say they hard to get but I remember a UW-M big guy last year that did just that to us not to mention Oakland and ODU.

As far as recruiting for the future, I think JP seems like he can be a post threat. If WE doesn't play a little stronger by next year a lineup of SM,AW,JW, TB, JP could be reasonable. For all the talk of TB going to the 3, I guess people are assuming JW won't come, but I have seen no indication of that. If he doesn't then SM, AW, TB, WE, JP would be ok as long as TB improves his ball handling. I don't know if JP will be ready next year, but I hope he can be that "Bruiser" so to speak if WE does not play stronger.

As far as this year I think as I have said our lineup is what it should be, at least our 3,4,5 players have the athletic ability to make up for height differentials.

Also I think SM has not played great but has stilled outplayed EM and has had a bad ankle all year. He is a little quicker than he has shown so far I believe. Being a point is also about leadership and SM has that for sure. I like him as our point for now. I am a big SM fan for his toughness. Really if EM continues to not improve (I believe he can be very good if he lives up to his potential), then my point guard after SM graduates would be DSE right away. He has shown toughness and quickness and actually is taller than 6-0! EM has the ability, but I don't think he has put it together enough yet to be our point in the beginning or the end of games.

[amckillip]

Also I think SM has not played great but has stilled outplayed EM and has had a bad ankle all year. He is a little quicker than he has shown so far I believe. Being a point is also about leadership and SM has that for sure. I like him as our point for now. I am a big SM fan for his toughness. Really if EM continues to not improve (I believe he can be very good if he lives up to his potential), then my point guard after SM graduates would be DSE right away. He has shown toughness and quickness and actually is taller than 6-0! EM has the ability, but I don't think he has put it together enough yet to be our point in the beginning or the end of games.

Agreed. It's hilarious that every time BU isn't doing perfect, somehow the SM takes heat. When EM gets minutes it's clear he is inferior to Sam. Sam has his drawbacks, for sure, but he is most definitely the best option at pg right now. EM cannot score. And offensively we cannot afford to have that out of our PG. When EM is in the game he gets a few assists because it is much harder for players to create their own shot and the D can back off of him to help out if anyone drives or has the ball in the paint, making the offense stagnate even more than it does currently.

As far as a '5' I don't know if we'll be lucky enough to get a true 5 any time soon. With a guard oriented league, and officials that call the tackiest fouls I've ever seen, big men aren't coming to the MVC. If you use your @$$ and back into the basket its nearly a guaranteed foul! It's just not happening. Until the MVC figures out it's referee situation the conference post will be dominated by guys like Taylor Brown, athletic players who play face to the basket.

[ph]

Good question! That is really our big hole in recruiting and I do not see any change in that with next year. We need a big guys that can play the 5. He does not need to be this quick athletic scoring machine, just someone that can dunk, hit the bunnies, get in there in get a few offensive rebounds, throw his weight around, own the defensive paint every which way. Could you imagine how good we would be with one of those. Some will say they hard to get but I remember a UW-M big guy last year that did just that to us not to mention Oakland and ODU.

I think Merf got those sorts of bigs into Evansville, of all places. Its not impossible. Our problem it thinking a big must be quick enough to set high screens, then jump back quickly enough to get a board, or jump out on a defender (because our guards are going for steals) and getting back to cover their guy. It's a system that needs an exceptionally rare big (much like the exceptionally rare left tackle as described in the "Blind Side") We need, at least, another POB with great height and length, and/or hyper strength and athleticism like Zach.
WE is hyperathletic enough, but I do not think he is designed to be hyper-strong. SS has adequate slow strength, but is not athletic.

I wish we could design a system that actually used our bigs strengths instead of forcing them into an impossible mold. I almost wonder what head assistant EB is now thinking that he is the "bigs" coach?

[amckillip]

I think Merf got those sorts of bigs into Evansville, of all places. Its not impossible. Our problem it thinking a big must be quick enough to set high screens, then jump back quickly enough to get a board, or jump out on a defender (because our guards are going for steals) and getting back to cover their guy. It's a system that needs an exceptionally rare big (much like the exceptionally rare left tackle as described in the "Blind Side") We need, at least, another POB with great height and length, and/or hyper strength and athleticism like Zach.
WE is hyperathletic enough, but I do not think he is designed to be hyper-strong. SS has adequate slow strength, but is not athletic.

I wish we could design a system that actually used our bigs strengths instead of forcing them into an impossible mold. I almost wonder what head assistant EB is now thinking that he is the "bigs" coach?

I am no UE expert but something doesn't add up. He gets true bigs, into UE, is a GREAT big man coach according to some here, and is the laughing stock of the MVC during his tenure? Come on now... I know some don't like that Merf didn't work out and many blame JL (IMO wrongly so), but using UE as an example of what Les should be doing... No thanks.

[BUfan14]

Agreed. It's hilarious that every time BU isn't doing perfect, somehow the SM takes heat.

Well I think more of SM is what this team is lacking. No not the player, but his toughness and drive. That aggressive, I'm not gona lose attitude. If everyone on the team played like SM I don't think we'd have a problem right now. I think that this team will get instinct when they gell together a little more and will eventually be a very good team, but I don't think SM or the PG position is the problem right now. Toughness especially in the post is our problem, and toughness is definitely something SM does not lack. This team showed toughness against Illinois, so they CAN and I believe they WILL show it again.

[SFP]

BUfan14 I hope you are not insinuating that I am jumping on SM. All I said is I would like us to go bigger put EM at the 1 where I believe he is better then SM in the important aspects of the game at that position. Sm is a much better offensive player but he is also not as good on the defensive end. Who would you rather have at the 2 AW or SM? I'd take AW. I love SM's heart and believe he would be great off the bench. SM's D though right now is a liability. How many times does he get beat a game and turns into an easy basket or one of our bigs pick up another foul. I'm not saying I do not want the ball in his hands at the end of the game, it's just a matter of when we use him. On getting a real big. How does Oakland get a big and we do not. The MVC thing is a crock. Also having our bigs set those picks throughout the game is also not working that great especially with SS. Why continue that play. I can go on with some of this but we all have a difference of opinion. Also, JW will not change the fact that we still do not have a legitimate 5 that can get dirty in the paint. I'm not going to say JP is that guy because I have not yet seen him play but last I read his height and weight was more in line of a 4. Did you see the guys at Texas eat the paint up against UNC? They have some real bigs that play in the position their height requires. Right now I'd take even DC playing our 5 position over WE if WE could move down to the 4 where he belongs. What 5 takes fadeaway jumpers from the key? I here that we should go big but with what? We need a real 5 if we want to be better. Jl is doing a lot with what we have IMHO.

[BUfan14]

I never insinuated anything, amckillip described it as him always taking the heat not me. I was just stating my opinion on the point guard situation is all.