Will this team be able to mesh?

[Southside]

Maybe someone who has a little more insight than me can answer. Also, with all the new faces, what kind of style will we see next year? BU finally has some bigs, will we see more of a half court game, or with a few athletic bigs and lots of guards, will we some more trapping and pressing?

[BradleyBrave]

That is touched on in this thread -

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7350

Williams was my wildcard in not being able to gel. Now that he's gone, I would say our chances are better of being able to come together for a successful campaign.

[dogsrus]

That is touched on in this thread -

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7350

Williams was my wildcard in not being able to gel. Now that he's gone, I would say our chances are better of being able to come together for a successful campaign.

Yes but with all the jucos who only have 2 years you just never know what reduced or limited roles will do to a player. Wilson comes from a program where he played 30+ minutes a game.

I'm seeing a redshirt more and more likely and it still keeps coming up Thompson.....I dunno.

In Les I have faith. I can't wait.

[tornado]

Re: Will this team be able to mesh?

Maybe someone who has a little more insight than me can answer.

AAU teams get together with little more than a couple weeks of practice and play together, and tend to do just fine.
Jim will have enough time to get them to "mesh", although maybe even JL will need a lineup card to know who he's hollering at!!

[houstonbrave]

This is my only real worry with this team. They have great talent but we have a lot of new faces to integrate into the mix.We now have 8 new faces (9 if you count the rumored walk on) and only 5 returning players + one new assistant. That is a lot of new players to get on the same page in a few weeks of practice. Remember one of our great strengths the last two years was that we played "together". I am sure they are all good young men and I have faith in the staff but this is going to be a big/challenging job for both the staff and the returning players.

[georgethedog]

Re: Will this team be able to mesh?

Maybe someone who has a little more insight than me can answer. Also, with all the new faces, what kind of style will we see next year? BU finally has some bigs, will we see more of a half court game, or with a few athletic bigs and lots of guards, will we some more trapping and pressing?

My real worry about the team "gelling" was when we still had DW and Fears.

[Da Coach]

This is my only real worry with this team. They have great talent but we have a lot of new faces to integrate into the mix.We now have 8 new faces (9 if you count the rumored walk on) and only 5 returning players + one new assistant. That is a lot of new players to get on the same page in a few weeks of practice. Remember one of our great strengths the last two years was that we played "together". I am sure they are all good young men and I have faith in the staff but this is going to be a big/challenging job for both the staff and the returning players.

The single strongest oncourt factor that determines how well a team like this (made up of so many new players) can become next year is the strength of the point guard. And I feel Bradley is in the best hands there with Daniel Ruffin. His leadership will have this team playing at a high level by conference time.

But I hate to think of what would have happened if DR decided to leave, or Jeremy didn't recover by the beginning of next season.

[MacabreMob]

Speaking of Ruff, he IS all clear to play next year, right? No 'blind-side' bs from the NCAA.

[IheartBU]

Speaking of Ruff, he IS all clear to play next year, right? No 'blind-side' bs from the NCAA.

All he's got to do is graduate, right? And everyone's been vocal about him being "on track" to graduate in '07... right?

[Da Coach]

being "on track" to graduate in '07

This is what is assumed by everyone I have talked to. So I believe it will happen.

[audacious_aficionado]

The single strongest oncourt factor that determines how well a team like this (made up of so many new players) can become next year is the strength of the point guard. And I feel Bradley is in the best hands there with Daniel Ruffin. His leadership will have this team playing at a high level by conference time.

But I hate to think of what would have happened if DR decided to leave, or Jeremy didn't recover by the beginning of next season.

i completely agree. ruffin is a very solid point guard and will be the best returning pg in the valley. i'm hoping that his leadership will allow the new guys to fall into place in HIS offense.

crouch is an enormous key too. we definitely need him recovered from surgery so he can help lead this team.... they need leadership a lot.

[Stryker]

The single strongest oncourt factor that determines how well a team like this (made up of so many new players) can become next year is the strength of the point guard. And I feel Bradley is in the best hands there with Daniel Ruffin. His leadership will have this team playing at a high level by conference time.

But I hate to think of what would have happened if DR decided to leave, or Jeremy didn't recover by the beginning of next season.

i completely agree. ruffin is a very solid point guard and will be the best returning pg in the valley. i'm hoping that his leadership will allow the new guys to fall into place in HIS offense.

crouch is an enormous key too. we definitely need him recovered from surgery so he can help lead this team.... they need leadership a lot.

Maybe Warren or some other younger player on the team will step up into more of a leadership position. I can see Warren being more of a leader, he will be eventually, and this year would be a good time for him step up some more as he will probably be starting at PG his junior year.

[BradleyBrave]

This team is going to go as far as Ruffin and Crouch will take them. Warren will be a ton next year, and Salley isn't going to give up anything very easily. Those 4 core contributors can and will provide the foundation for the other JUCO contributors to transtion smoothly into the BU system. I don't think chemistry is going to be as big of an issue as some thing. With Fears and Williams, it may have been.

[ph]

I would not expect next year's team to be much different in overall scheme's and style of play than last year.
Yes, the 4 and 5 spot may have greater size and ability. There will still be lots of pick-n-roll's and plenty of pass-outs for the bigs. Plus BU may be adding what was it's greatest offensive weakness, individual slashing with inside finishing.

[MacabreMob]

I got a feeling Ray Brown may play a big role next year.