Austin...

[BradleyBrave]

We just need a solid 8-10 minutes from him until the Valley play starts. I hope by then he is ready to provide a solid 20-25 minutes and can actually push for more based on his play. Right now we just need to see imnprovement from him game to game.

He's going to have to jump over Sam Singh, Will Egolf, and David Collins to get those minutes. Singh only had about 8-10 minutes against Quincy, so I would say Austin has his work cut out for him. The fact that they were considering a redshirt for Austin I think says a lot as to where his development is at right now.

[ph]

He's going to have to jump over Sam Singh, Will Egolf, and David Collins to get those minutes. Singh only had about 8-10 minutes against Quincy, so I would say Austin has his work cut out for him. The fact that they were considering a redshirt for Austin I think says a lot as to where his development is at right now.

Based on the last pre-game comment by Jim Les, the 4 will primarly be Wilson Egolf, with the remaing bigs being the 5 (so at least Austin "only" has to fight with Salley, Collins and Singh) and I'm sure there will be some times where Salley may need to be a 4 if Bradley needs a bigger lineup.

Since JL mentioned that last year's exhibition games purposely downplayed the 3 ball (to suprose DePaul), will there be a suprise among the bigs this year?

Can a juco transfer redshirt (non-medical) now? Would a team really want to use a scholarship for an extra year when the PT is only 2 years? We got 3 years out of Sommerville, which I believe would be impossible due to a rules change.

[Da Coach]

Yes, a juco could redshirt now. I believe anyone can redshirt, as long as they haven't played in a game yet. The exception would be a player who has already used a redshirt year.

[it's boogie time]

I think only a freshmen can play in exhibition games and still redshirt. I think that is what Rick Majerus was talking about earlier in the week when he was thinking about redshirting a sophomore.

[BradleyBrave]

Jim Les basically repeated in verbatim what I have been saying all along...the summer matters!

Good to hear that Austin is staying after practice to get caught up. Hopefully by year end he can contribute.

[Garland 22]

I think that Austin will be on his way back to Cali in a month or 2.

[BradleyBrave]

I think that Austin will be on his way back to Cali in a month or 2.

That would be really unfortunate. Unless he plans on finishing at a DII school, he really doesn't have many basketball options, so I would think that is pretty unlikely.

[real fan]

The good thing is that he is doing extra work after practice so hopefully he can get caught up by the end of november.

[bu fan 9]

There is no reason way a kid would come in out of shape unless he is lazy.If he didn't work out to stay in shape this summer I don't think he worked much on his game either.

[MacabreMob]

There is no reason way a kid would come in out of shape unless he is lazy.If he didn't work out to stay in shape this summer I don't think he worked much on his game either.

I think there is a difference from being in shape and being 'game ready' shape... that may be what many have tried to convey here. RA is IMO very athletic and looked to be in good shape... but I am guessing he isn't in 'game ready shape' yet.

[bu fan 9]

He has been here for all most 3 months if he was in any kind of shape at all he would have been in game shape a long time ago.

[MacabreMob]

He has been here for all most 3 months if he was in any kind of shape at all he would have been in game shape a long time ago.

Yes - you have a good argument. And you may very well be right. I was just throwing out that maybe... he wasn't in 'game ready' shape. Which includes not just the conditioning/strenth/wind... it includes the mental aspect and familiarity with everyone on the team along with game speed of Div1.

I wonder if any recall how 'great' Boogie and Will Franklin were when they got their first dose of Div1.

All I propose, just give it a little more time.

I don't believe we will be disappointed with RA and this years team.

I have said it before in the past... I won't trade W's with any game. I take 'em as they come. (not saying BU will, but if they win at Butler... what will people say then? But trade the W for a L with the UIC game... so you get the 'expected' win at UIC and the 'expected' L at Butler... what have you gained?.... but if you lose at UIC, then win at Butler... the UIC game becomes just a distant memory)

The season is a journey. Savour it and enjoy it (and really, no matter the outcome).

[BradleyBrave]

Yes - you have a good argument. And you may very well be right. I was just throwing out that maybe... he wasn't in 'game ready' shape. Which includes not just the conditioning/strenth/wind... it includes the mental aspect and familiarity with everyone on the team along with game speed of Div1.

I wonder if any recall how 'great' Boogie and Will Franklin were when they got their first dose of Div1.

All I propose, just give it a little more time.

I don't believe we will be disappointed with RA and this years team.

I have said it before in the past... I won't trade W's with any game. I take 'em as they come. (not saying BU will, but if they win at Butler... what will people say then? But trade the W for a L with the UIC game... so you get the 'expected' win at UIC and the 'expected' L at Butler... what have you gained?.... but if you lose at UIC, then win at Butler... the UIC game becomes just a distant memory)

The season is a journey. Savour it and enjoy it (and really, no matter the outcome).

Some numbers on some great past JUCO's in their first D1 game -

Lawrence Wright had 10 pts, 6 rebs, and 1 block in his first D1 game.

Tony Bennett had 15 pts, 5 rebs, and 5 asts in his first D1 game.

Will Franklin had 0 pts, 1 reb, and 1 ast in his first D1 game.

Zach Andrews had 5 pts, 6 rebs, and 3 asts in his first D1 game.

So, let's not overreact one way or the other to initial performances from our new JUCO's. Some have made big splashes, some have gradually become stars. From what I have seen, all of our JUCO's have the ability to become very important players.

[MacabreMob]

Some numbers on some great past JUCO's in their first D1 game -

Lawrence Wright had 10 pts, 6 rebs, and 1 block in his first D1 game.

Tony Bennett had 15 pts, 5 rebs, and 5 asts in his first D1 game.

Will Franklin had 0 pts, 1 reb, and 1 ast in his first D1 game.

Zach Andrews had 5 pts, 6 rebs, and 3 asts in his first D1 game.

So, let's not overreact one way or the other to initial performances from our new JUCO's. Some have made big splashes, some have gradually become stars. From what I have seen, all of our JUCO's have the ability to become very important players.

In total agreement with you BB.

Thanks for providing that info. Let me also add... the stats may also be relative to the opponent and site for the game.

I recall when BU put Wright St on the schedule like 1 1/2 years ago... I thought what the heck... but they turned out pretty good last year.

Now maybe UIC won't turn out as well (and for BU's sake)... but there is too much hoops to be played before writing off opponents and the season.

[BradleyBrave]

In total agreement with you BB.

Thanks for providing that info. Let me also add... the stats may also be relative to the opponent and site for the game.

I recall when BU put Wright St on the schedule like 1 1/2 years ago... I thought what the heck... but they turned out pretty good last year.

Now maybe UIC won't turn out as well (and for BU's sake)... but there is too much hoops to be played before writing off opponents and the season.

Correct. Wright and Bennett played big minutes in a close home opener against SEMO. ZA played a few key minutes against a much larger DePaul team in a game where we were missing POB. WF got his first action with 8 minutes in a blowout against Delaware St.

Tony and LW didn't have veterans in front of them the way TCS and DC do, which is a big reason why they logged so many minutes from the start. Remember how critical ZA and WF ended up being by the end of that season, despite looking very green in their openers? I expect that DC, TCS, TW, and even RA will progress the same way.