Bradleyfans Offseason thoughts: JEREMY CROUCH

[MikeCash]

I am hoping to go through the entire roster and give each player his own thread at some point throughout this offseason. I would love to get everyone's thoughts, projections, predictions for the '06-'07 Braves.

I wanted to follow up the Tauai discussion with Jeremy Crouch. Was he ever good? Was he only playing last year because no one else took the job? Is he too slow to be a guard? Is he only a "three"? Is he really contempating a transfer?

Like Tauai, I'm hoping the offensive issues are exclusively mental. Was Crouch ever a pure shooter? I saw him miss unguarded shot after unguarded shot in warmup drills at the Savvis Center earlier this month. What are the chances of him returning as a Brave...and then as a possible starter? Discuss...

[Da Coach]

I think he'll be back. He will work on his shot a will be a valuable part of this team.

I think we all saw the kind of teams like Kansas, Pitt, Memphis State, Gonzaga, and UCLA that it takes to advance to the Final 16 and beyond. I believe Jim Les wants to keep improving the size and athleticism of Bradley to reach the level of those kinds of teams. But there will always be a place for skilled shooters.

[SFP]

I think he'll be back. He will work on his shot a will be a valuable part of this team.

I think we all saw the kind of teams like Kansas, Pitt, Memphis State, Gonzaga, and UCLA that it takes to advance to the Final 16 and beyond. I believe Jim Les wants to keep improving the size and athleticism of Bradley to reach the level of those kinds of teams. But there will always be a place for skilled shooters.

I hope he sticks it out and works on his shot this off season like no one else. It would be great to bring him in like the Bulls did with Steve Ker and John Paxon. Other teams will have to try and stop POB which will leave our outside shooters open. We do not have to many options right now so JC has to really step up. We can only hope it was a Sophmore jinx that held him back this year. If he works his butt off this summer I know he can do it.

Can coaches work with players individually during the summer?

[thefish7]

I really think that JC can turn his shot around. He was a useful offensive player as a freshman... I actually also kind of liked his inside game for a guard. My primary concern is with his other skills... can he handle the ball well enough? Can he defend to the level we need? Can he be an off guard for us or is he more of a 6th or 7th man who comes in to spell the starter and/or break the zone with some nifty outside shooting?

If he returns, and the rumors seem to be pointing towards him returning, I guess we'll all find out.

[bu fan 9]

I really think the speed of the game is to fast for him on defense and in his shooting.

[New Guy]

His 46 3's as a freshman made me wonder if he was ready for a breakout year in 05,06. I think his defense (or lack of) got him to the bench and took away the confidence in his shot. He can be an important cog in this machine but he has to improve in his defense to get minutes IMO. The shot should come back with reps and playing time. When he was starting in 04,05 he used to take guards inside and post-up. He quit looking for that in his limited role this year. He is a good rebounder for a guard and can make another team pay for a double team of POB hitting a few shots from the arc per game. I hope he does not transfer. I like the local talent doing well for the Braves

[BradleyBrave]

I hope that JC comes back, because I think he can be a MAJOR piece of the puzzle next season. I think JC can easily be a double-digit scorer and legitimate outside threat for this team. The kid was recruited by Big 10 schools and was an all-stater, so it's not like he doesn't have any skill or talent. He's got a TON of both. Programs like BU need big guards like JC.

Where I think Jeremy needs to dedicate himself this summer is to the weight room. Despite what many may think, he didn't lose his minutes this year because of his poor shooting. Sure, it contributed, but that's not why he got benched. He lost his minutes because he couldn't defend and rebound as well as JJ Tauai and Lawrence Wright. Regardless if Jeremy was hitting his shots, his minutes would have gone down because of those 2 deficiencies. Danny Adams didn't pass him on the depth chart because of his shooting. DA passed him because he was (pardon the cliche) bigger, stronger, and faster than Jeremy. JC needs to hit the weights and conditioning harder than he ever has before. Added strength will not only help his quickness and toughness defensively, it will also help his shooting.

Jeremy has a lot of basketball talent, and can maximize here on the Hilltop. I hope he stays positive, stays hungry, and has a burning desire to take BU back to where it was this year and beyond. I think everyone wants to see JC be a major contributor to a successful BU next year. I know I do.

[MikeCash]

I agree with the sentiments of wanting the local kids to be a huge part of the turnaround process for this program! It seems more satisfying that way...

[BradleyBrave]

I agree with the sentiments of wanting the local kids to be a huge part of the turnaround process for this program! It seems more satisfying that way...

I personally could care less where they are from, as long as we win. If the kid is local, then of course it's all the sweeter. I would be saying the same thing about JC if he was from Pekin or Peking.

[Chucky T's]

I would love to see JC stay on the Hilltop and give a solid contribution to next years team. We will need an outside shooter(s) more than ever next year to take the heat off of POB. (if he stays) As was already mentioned, JC needs to work his tail off on defense. Chuck Buescher has a huge influence on this team on the defensive end of the floor. I think CB kept Jeremy on the bench as much, if not more, than JL. If Jeremy works hard and improves his defense, he will be a great asset to the 06 - 07 Braves.

[Fetz86]

i think if JC is in class tomorrow i will just ask him what his plans for staying are.

[MikeCash]

Any word on that...?

[bigdaddystuck]

I see JC as being a specialty player. Need someone to bust up a zone....JC is your man. I agree his shot can/will come around. I don't see him improving much in the areas of defense or quickness. JC reminds me of Len Bertolini in the mid 80's. He can be a threat coming off the bench to bust a couple 3's. Every good team needs role players. IF JC can handle playing 5-10 mins a game and contributing in a back up role...then he can be very successful.

[it's boogie time]

I felt Crouch was better as a freshman when he was driving to the hoop going for the 3 point play instead of the three point shot.

[SFP]

I see JC as being a specialty player. Need someone to bust up a zone....JC is your man. I agree his shot can/will come around. I don't see him improving much in the areas of defense or quickness. JC reminds me of Len Bertolini in the mid 80's. He can be a threat coming off the bench to bust a couple 3's. Every good team needs role players. IF JC can handle playing 5-10 mins a game and contributing in a back up role...then he can be very successful.

Bertolini are you crazy. How did you bring that guy in the equation. Bertolini was a mop up time player except his Sr year. I expect more from JC. Bertolini? I'd rather see him baulk up and be more like Trevor Trimpe.