Where I Think We Stand

[amckillip]

DSE was Washington"s point guard with M.Roth the shooting guard his jr. season in high school, he led them to state and he was our back up point guard last season and did a good job , he is a better shooter then most people believe, just like everyone else he needs open looks in order to be successful.

I think DSE, can play point, no doubt, but is truly a little more like WF. He's that combo guard kind of role that can thrive in JL's system. I was doing some thinking on what to do with the point guard and I actually think it comes down to having DSE and WL share starting PG duties (SFP, you can chime in and say I told you so, I'm caving on my opinion ) and bring Dodie off the bench. I started thinking about personalities and such and I don't think Dodie would have any problem coming off the bench and can be a firestarter. A lineup of DSE, WL, AW, WE, JP may be worth a shot. Have DSE and WL take turns running the O with DSE being the primary (think DRuff and WF). I think this would take pressure off DSE and also give him an opportunity to play off the ball and get a chance to spot up and find the open shot. WL might bring some energy to the point and spark something. I'm not sold on this and think we would seriously be sacrificing some D but at this point I think some experimenting is order.

The other thought I had was that Dodie ran the point for Iowa State and was fairly successful, though that was 4 years ago.

[AZ BU Fan]

An incisive, thoughtful post.

Thank you. With all the gravity of the threads now, I thought I'd provide comic relief. I just hope all the could be's, ought to be's, might be's, must be's, why can't it be's, and need to be's listed in all the posts flying around here right now about the future of BU and individual players this season come true.

Pardon me if I take a different look at where BU stands.

The team apparently doesn't have a point guard on the roster recruited by any other Div I Mid Major right now with SM out. BIG PROBLEM. Solution Future Recruits...

As for great advances in player abilities, people more knowledgeable than I with basketball have written that players these days are who they will be after 1-2 years in college ball. IE, don't expect all conference performance from a player who hasn't shown it by the end of their So year. I think this is because most players today have spent so much more time playing bb before they get to college in HS and Summer Teams pretty much defines their upside after a year or two in college. I am sure others will disagree and point out exceptions, but these will be exceptions and not the rule.

"Game Changing" leaps in improvement from WE, AT, DD not in the cards. DSE, MK, and JE are iffy. BU's hope for big jumps in talent (aside from AW, SM and TB) rests with WL, AD, and new recruits next year. WYSIWYG right now.

The trouble with being in season, is time to develop fundamental skills, either individual or team concepts, is very limited, due to the need to game prep, play games, travel, and maintain school obligations. It will be very difficult for BU to make quantum leaps in individual improvements since they have to spend most of the time available to them in game prep and recovery. This is why after season, and summer/preseason, are so important to developing improvements in individual skills and integrating new team concepts in offense and defense.

If a player hasn't displayed their leadership skills by now, not real reasonable to think they will be forthcoming. AW or DD would seem to be the logical choices, unless WL wants to show off his stones and start driving the team if these guys don't want to do it!

As far as JL and his coaching ability/style, again, after 8+ yrs, WYSIWYG...Not rating him, but I wouldn't bet on, or expect, major changes in modus operandi or personality/style.

All we should realistically look for the rest of this season is mental toughness, discipline and, effort by the players. Wish I could be more upbeat like the true believers....

BU Players, of course, are encouraged to prove me wrong

[thefish7]

I think DSE is a combo guard for sure, just think he's closer to point end of the continuum than WL, for example. He is a bit like WF or maybe even more like Tony Bennet, though I think he's quite a bit more explosive than either of those guys, albeit without having demonstrated the shooting yet. I like SFP's call for straight up pick and roll because I think DSE is a good candidate for that. I also think he could create well off dribble drive if he shifted his focus to creation instead of actually trying to get to the hoop (only be looking to score maybe 1/3 of the time-- otherwise plan to dribble out or pass into paint if the opportunity presents).

Regarding WL, I think he'll start for us one day, but not sure he'll ever be a PG or not. He's certainly got ALL of the physical tools necessary, but he really REALLY wants to score. Not sure I want to try to break him of that habit, he might make a really nice SG in a year or two.

DD is an interesting case. He's got the experience in the past, but Les has never really played him much there (until our game against Utah anyway). He's a great deal less flashy than guys we usually try to play there, but I don't care about that. I don't think he has a great first step, so I feel like you'd have to set a lot of screens to free him up. I dunno, I'd have to see it. He's one of my favorite players, so I don't mean this as criticism, but I think he'd make a great 6th man, because he's pretty good at almost everything and he plays really hard. Thing is, he doesn't really stand out anywhere except for maybe the grit/guts factor. If DSE continues to struggle, DD would be my second choice.