Austin...

[BUconnorD]

Good post MM

I think one thing to keep in mind is the fact that the game was a big deal
and the nerves were probably running wild with Theron.

During the calling of the starting line up when they were in the middle as Ruff, JC, Salley were all being introduced...he was jumping up and down and getting really into it...moreso than I have seen in the other games.

the point i'm trying to make is that the games Will and co. played in were probably not as big as the games that Theron just played in.

[it's boogie time]

I had to look back too to see what these other Juco guys mentioned did during their first nine games. I know it doesn't tell the whole story, but here are their scoring averages:

Tony Bennett 11.5 ppg
Lawrence Wright 9.4 ppg
Will Franklin had yet to score though the first nine games (sat 6 for suspension)

The first two had the benefit of a Canadian trip. I think this team really could have used something like that this year.

[Chico]

In 33 minutes TW took 4 shots and 3 rebounds. I don't call that living up to the hype. SM had the same amount of shots and rebounds in 23 minutes and made things happen, good and bad, when he was in there. I hope eventually he lives up to the hpye, but right now he's just close.

[ph]

OK TW is doing following closely enough on the Boogie path. But, I will take that Bennet line last night, please!

I do clearly remember the higest ranked opponent home game of the season Boogie's first year was the much later in the season WSU game. Boogie's near game ending (heck it was practically WSU's season ending...) dunk on a career night would of been the college play of the day if a better camera angle was available....

[georgethedog]

I dont think playing RA in the MSU game would have been a good idea.

he's played 1 game and we were up what 30 points?
he has not had time to get used to playing at Carver. He's only watched the games.
The crowd was NUTS (which is great), but that does very little to help the nerves.
This was a big game that was close. That ALSO doesn't help with the nerves.

Not playing him was a good choice.
Playing him in the earlier games to get some time under his belt would have been a good choice.

it's an If then statement

IF Austin played more than just one game that was already sealed THEN we could have utilized his skills against MSU.

I NEVER suggested playing Austin in the MSU game. What I stated was that if he was the player that was advertised he would have played and made an impact. But he is not yet that player and it is too bad that it has turned out this way so far. If this were professional sports, I would demand an answer from the coaches about Austin. However, these are college kids and I just want to see them all succeed in and out of the classroom. On the flip side of that argument, I do pay a hefty price for 4 season tickets and it would be nice to know a little more about what is going on!

[bu fan 9]

I was told he is not working hard enough to see playing time.

[it's boogie time]

I do clearly remember the higest ranked opponent home game of the season Boogie's first year was the much later in the season WSU game. Boogie's near game ending (heck it was practically WSU's season ending...) dunk on a career night would of been the college play of the day if a better camera angle was available....

I agree. Boogie had 26 that night along with that phenomenal dunk to basically win that game himself. I think that is the difference between the first group and second group of jucos listed. Boogie was the main reason BU won against NIU on the road.

Bennett and Wright had the ability to score big as the third and forth options on the offense. This current team hasn't had the big nights yet to carry the team. It's basically all Crouch and Ruffin.

[real fan]

Austin is too slow to play on our fast pace team.
Collins needs to be more physical and play better defense but has potential .
Egolf has a huge upside but needs to slow down a little and quit taking 3 point shots; by the way he did make one to put us over 100 points in one game.
Cole-Scott needs to play under control and quit making so many turnovers as he has the talent to play at this level.
Singh has done well and probably deserves more time.
Maniscalco is getting better and really adds the extra effort and toughness are bigs could use to rub off on.
Salley needs to rebound and score better as he is constantly missing layups.
Wilson has gotten better each game and has really helped the team.
Crouch has been outstanding the last 3 games.
Ruffin has played great but he needs to quit trying to win the game by himself.
Warren has to realize that he has to score more and can do this by driving by his man and hit the 12 to 15 foot jumper in the lane as I believe he could do that all night long.
When we pass the ball like we did in the 1st half are offense looks unstoppable; it is time for our inside players to play like men.

[Beninator]

In 33 minutes TW took 4 shots and 3 rebounds. I don't call that living up to the hype. SM had the same amount of shots and rebounds in 23 minutes and made things happen, good and bad, when he was in there. I hope eventually he lives up to the hpye, but right now he's just close.

Wow... Did you by chance see Sam Maniscalco's defense on Neitzel last night? I was watching that matchup in the second half and was impressed as the MSU bigs were screening to get open looks for Neitzel and Sam was fighting through the screens and still managed to blanket Neitzel. Not everything Sam did last night will show up on the score sheet. I am not saying Sam was perfect last night but there was a lot of positives there.........

[dogsrus]

In 33 minutes TW took 4 shots and 3 rebounds. I don't call that living up to the hype. SM had the same amount of shots and rebounds in 23 minutes and made things happen, good and bad, when he was in there. I hope eventually he lives up to the hpye, but right now he's just close.

When a player doesn't "live up to the hype" who's fault is that? Is it the players or those that hyped him.

[Beninator]

I NEVER suggested playing Austin in the MSU game. What I stated was that if he was the player that was advertised he would have played and made an impact. But he is not yet that player and it is too bad that it has turned out this way so far. If this were professional sports, I would demand an answer from the coaches about Austin. However, these are college kids and I just want to see them all succeed in and out of the classroom. On the flip side of that argument, I do pay a hefty price for 4 season tickets and it would be nice to know a little more about what is going on!

GTD, I agree with you. I'll post here what I posted on the MSU post game thread last night.

I like Will Egolf's potential, but is Austin that much worse than what Will showed us last night? Again, I am not saying Austin would have made a difference... Maybe someone on the staff needs to light a fire on Austin???

[thefish7]

RealFan,

I agree with most of what you said up there player-by-player.. but I was really puzzled when you called Austin slow. In the very limited time I've seen him in the two games he got in for on garbage time, I thought he ran the floor great and looked like he was really really quick for his size. He looked lost, but not slow, to me.

[Chico]

Beninator, I meant I hope TW lives up to the hype, not SM. SM is the closest of all of the new recruits.
Dog, not blaming the players for the hype. And Realfan, how do we know Austin is too slow. Haven't seen that much of him.

[buballer82]

It was interesting to get an outsiders view so to speak of the Bradley program. I attended the game Saturday against SEMO with a coworker who moved here from New York about a year ago. My coworker played four years at Stoney Brook and then played professionally overseas. He was very impressed with David Collins and commented on how he felt DC could make something happen every time he touched the ball inside but questioned why he only played a small portion of the game. He also asked about Rashad Austin and why he wasn't getting any playing time. After seeing RA's body in the few garbage minutes he played, my coworker made a great point. With the lack of toughness Bradley has been showing inside, why is no one working with Austin since he has a big, physical, bruiser type body? I couldn't give him an answer. Maybe Austin doesn't try hard enough in practice, but I think it is imperative that someone lights a fire under him and create a beast that no one in the Valley wants to face if Bradley hopes to have another successful postseason like they did two seasons ago.

[real fan]

I was watching him run down the floor during the last game he played in and he looked like he was playing in quicksand ; I had high hopes for him at the start of the season but for whatever reason he does not seem to be giving his best effort; I also get to the games very early and watch the players shoot and from what I see he has a nice shot so for some unknown reason he has not fit well into the program.