How many

[real fan]

Anthony Thompson may help us some next year but I do not see any other names that we are currently recruiting other then a bunch of guards; I totally understood why we played 4 guards last season but if this is our plan forever then we will have a hard time competing for any championships as you need to have both an inside game and an outside one.I also don"t understand why we did not play more zone defense as Ind.State kept driving down the lane and creating layups or fouls.

[Double D]

What bigs for next year. We need some to commit. AT needs help and all I see we are recruiting is guards. We need 2 good bigs with our remaining schollies.

How were Anthony Slack and Dinma Odiakosa performing last year at this time? IMO they are as good as any big in the league including supposed Superman Randall Falker. A lot can change in a year.

I don't like the way our bigs play and I am dissapointed in their performance like everyone else. But, next year could be a different story.

As I have said before many times year two (esp. from a jc player) will show a big difference in a players performance.

[ER3]

If the bigs aren't very good to begin with, why should Merf be run out of town? I personally don't think they're overly talented. Good enough to play better than we are? Maybe. It's game to game with them. Unfortunately, the best big man on the roster is redshirting.

Well, I guess I was giving the benefit of the doubt to the guy(s) that recruited all of these bigs....or maybe I still have the nonsensical statements about Salley dominating and looking like Falker in pre-season practices in my head.
I don't know...maybe they are all lost causes and Merfeld has nothing to work with...in that case, I guess the recruiters are to blame.
In the end, where the blame lies is not all that important...we're still stuck with a bunch of bigs this year that give us nothing most nights. And now we are left to pin all of our hopes for an improved inside "presence" next year on a redshirt freshman that is 6'10" but weighs less than Andrew Warren? He may have all the offensive ability in the world, but if he comes in next year weighing 195 lbs., I don't see how we can expect him to be much of a physical presence in the post defensively or on the boards...two areas where we need a ton of help.
I don't know, maybe some combination of Austin and Thompson next year will give us what we are looking for.

[SFP]

I did not watch the game or hear it last night and if I'm reading the threads correctly we had zero inside game again. My belief is that JL knows that we have no inside game so he is preparing the team for March with what he believes is the only way to make it to the NCAA. Regardless of how much we want the team to go inside if they do not have the bigs to it consistantly then we'll never have an inside game.

On recruiting I wish we could recruit a 6'10" 260 lbs stud but in reality players like that rarely go to mid-majors. We need to win with small ball and get the best basketball players for that type of system. When we get the occasional jewal like POB we'll make our run. Until we can recruit like Memphis and Gonzaga do not expect us to be a top 20 team just be really happy when it happens.

Let's be patient and see what the new facility and a little more time with JL brings us. After all our players are graduating, we have a fun style of ball that eventually will attract the right players and Rome was not built over night.

[BradleyBrave]

Well, I guess I was giving the benefit of the doubt to the guy(s) that recruited all of these bigs....or maybe I still have the nonsensical statements about Salley dominating and looking like Falker in pre-season practices in my head.
I don't know...maybe they are all lost causes and Merfeld has nothing to work with...in that case, I guess the recruiters are to blame.
In the end, where the blame lies is not all that important...we're still stuck with a bunch of bigs this year that give us nothing most nights. And now we are left to pin all of our hopes for an improved inside "presence" next year on a redshirt freshman that is 6'10" but weighs less than Andrew Warren? He may have all the offensive ability in the world, but if he comes in next year weighing 195 lbs., I don't see how we can expect him to be much of a physical presence in the post defensively or on the boards...two areas where we need a ton of help.
I don't know, maybe some combination of Austin and Thompson next year will give us what we are looking for.

Again, not to sound like a broken record, but it goes back to last year's class not having any real quality bigs in it. If we had a capable big instead of Xavier Crawford, we would be in much better shape and perhaps Matt Salley would be in more of a defensive reserve role, where I think he could have excelled.

As far as AT and his weight issues, I will take his height, athleticism, and skill over bulk any day of the week. This is the MVC, and there aren't many skilled bigs to begin with, let alone ones that are 6'10". Even if he comes in at only 200-210, he will give us a significantly improved inside presence.

Some might disagree, but it's looking like Will Egolf should have been the big to redshirt rather than Thompson. But, early on it looked like WE might be able to contribute, so who knows.

[BradleyBrave]

Let's be patient and see what the new facility and a little more time with JL brings us. After all our players are graduating, we have a fun style of ball that eventually will attract the right players and Rome was not built over night.

We're in year 6, not year 2. I don't think us as fans are asking too much. We looked like we were on the verge of our 3rd 20 win season in a row and our best league finish in this regime, and instead it looks like we could be trending downward or leveling off as a middle-of-the-pack program. I hope the new facilities have the impact on recruiting that many think it will, but I don't think our talent has ever been an issue.

[ph]

Again, not to sound like a broken record, but it goes back to last year's class not having any real quality bigs in it. If we had a capable big instead of Xavier Crawford, we would be in much better shape and perhaps Matt Salley would be in more of a defensive reserve role, where I think he could have excelled.

As far as AT and his weight issues, I will take his height, athleticism, and skill over bulk any day of the week. This is the MVC, and there aren't many skilled bigs to begin with, let alone ones that are 6'10". Even if he comes in at only 200-210, he will give us a significantly improved inside presence.

Some might disagree, but it's looking like Will Egolf should have been the big to redshirt rather than Thompson. But, early on it looked like WE might be able to contribute, so who knows.

Weight also depends on tenacity. Bogut was a top NBA pick at 7'1" (or 7'0?") and 242, and people thought a 7'0" 260 POB was skinny...

[BradleyBrave]

Weight also depends on tenacity. Bogut was a top NBA pick at 7'1" (or 7'0?") and 242, and people thought a 7'0" 260 POB was skinny...

That's a great point. Tenacity and desire can and will make up for a lack of bulk on the body. Heck, sometimes even height and skill alone can do that. POB lost 20-30 pounds during his freshman season, but was still dominating games on both ends at the end of the season.

[Braves4Life]

My belief is that JL knows that we have no inside game so he is preparing the team for March with what he believes is the only way to make it to the NCAA. Regardless of how much we want the team to go inside if they do not have the bigs to it consistantly then we'll never have an inside game.

On recruiting I wish we could recruit a 6'10" 260 lbs stud but in reality players like that rarely go to mid-majors. We need to win with small ball and get the best basketball players for that type of system. When we get the occasional jewal like POB we'll make our run. Until we can recruit like Memphis and Gonzaga do not expect us to be a top 20 team just be really happy when it happens.

Let's be patient and see what the new facility and a little more time with JL brings us. After all our players are graduating, we have a fun style of ball that eventually will attract the right players and Rome was not built over night.

Thanks Pete for adding a voice of reason.............You're my kind of fan!

[ER3]

That's a great point. Tenacity and desire can and will make up for a lack of bulk on the body. Heck, sometimes even height and skill alone can do that. POB lost 20-30 pounds during his freshman season, but was still dominating games on both ends at the end of the season.

True...and my worry in that area stems back to early season comments about how AT was such a nice kid...almost nice to a fault on the basketball court...and how he and all of the new big guys were sorely lacking that mean streak that they need to win those physical battles in the paint and on the boards.
Don't take my comments on AT the wrong way...he sounds as though he has a ton of offensive potential and I think he can provide some help next year...I guess I just see him as a freshman being a guy that runs the floor and provides more of a mid-range game...I just don't see him having the physical or mental makeup as a freshman next year that could provide that tough, true post presence that we need on both ends of the floor. I think Austin is more likely to provide that post toughness next year...but hopefully Anthony can grow into that type of presence.

[Lakeview Brave]

I did not watch the game or hear it last night and if I'm reading the threads correctly we had zero inside game again. My belief is that JL knows that we have no inside game so he is preparing the team for March with what he believes is the only way to make it to the NCAA. Regardless of how much we want the team to go inside if they do not have the bigs to it consistantly then we'll never have an inside game.

On recruiting I wish we could recruit a 6'10" 260 lbs stud but in reality players like that rarely go to mid-majors. We need to win with small ball and get the best basketball players for that type of system. When we get the occasional jewal like POB we'll make our run. Until we can recruit like Memphis and Gonzaga do not expect us to be a top 20 team just be really happy when it happens.

Let's be patient and see what the new facility and a little more time with JL brings us. After all our players are graduating, we have a fun style of ball that eventually will attract the right players and Rome was not built over night.

How is it that Creighton is good every year and SIU has made it to the tournament the last 6 years. How about a new coach at Drake who is going to win the Valley in his first year, something our program hasnt done in 12. How about a new coach at ISU who has his team poised to finish in the top 3 something we havent done for years.

[Beninator]

I hope the new facilities have the impact on recruiting that many think it will, but I don't think our talent has ever been an issue.

I for one think that the new facilities will have a direct impact on our recruiting. I think that we are currently capable of landing the 3 star recruit, but if we want to compete for the go to 4 star and higher player to take us to the next level, then we need to show the kids coming here something more than what our current facilities offer.

[SFP]

How is it that Creighton is good every year and SIU has made it to the tournament the last 6 years. How about a new coach at Drake who is going to win the Valley in his first year, something our program hasnt done in 12. How about a new coach at ISU who has his team poised to finish in the top 3 something we havent done for years.

Creighton has some of the best facilities in the NCAA, SIU success is just recent historically speaking and let's see Drake maintain this success past this year.

We can always find a school that is doing better then us right now but the questions is do you believe that we are going in the right direction as a program? I do!

So what if ISU finishes 3rd and does not make the NCAA. We may finish 5th and guess what we still have the same chance as they do to make the Tourney. I think Bradley is on to the cusp of greatness with the likes of Memphis and Gonzaga. If we had a decent big guy we would be 1 or 2 this year. The only downside to JL's career as our coach is the high turnover of players due to the JUCO or with POB leaving early otherwise we would already be great. He fixes that and get's a big can you just imagine. PATIENCE by everybody will be neded.

[ER3]

I think Bradley is on to the cusp of greatness with the likes of Memphis and Gonzaga.

Really??? WOW.
The kool-aid is flowing freely in San Fran.
Sure...I think the BU program is better off than it was 5 years ago, but I don't see how anyone can say that we're on the cusp of becoming what Memphis or Gonzaga is. There's nothing here to support that opinion.
We're on our way to another 5th or 6th place Valley finish this year...we are losing two senior guards that comprise what is arguably the best guard tandem at BU since Hawkins-Manuel. And we are replacing them with a recruiting class that, for now, consists of a couple two-star guards that were not recruited by any big-time basketball programs. This is not meant to be a knock on them...but the fact is, programs like Memphis are bringing in guys like Derrick Rose and they basically have their pick of any number of 4-star guys that they want to sign...
We are nowhere near that point...not even close. And I really don't think all the patience in the world is going to help that cause...

[Lakeview Brave]

Really??? WOW.
The kool-aid is flowing freely in San Fran.
Sure...I think the BU program is better off than it was 5 years ago, but I don't see how anyone can say that we're on the cusp of becoming what Memphis or Gonzaga is. There's nothing here to support that opinion.
We're on our way to another 5th or 6th place Valley finish this year...we are losing two senior guards that comprise what is arguably the best guard tandem at BU since Hawkins-Manuel. And we are replacing them with a recruiting class that, for now, consists of a couple two-star guards that were not recruited by any big-time basketball programs. This is not meant to be a knock on them...but the fact is, programs like Memphis are bringing in guys like Derrick Rose and they basically have their pick of any number of 4-star guys that they want to sign...
We are nowhere near that point...not even close.

Thanks for saying it for me. We are closer to being Evansville than we are to being Memphis or Gonzaga