Center?

[bu fan 9]

If POB does not come back who will be the man in the middle?Will Sam be ready to play next year?Crawford is no center he is a forward and Zack had trouble playing the 5 spot last year so who does it leave?

[dogsrus]

POB was a rarity...the MVC usually doesn't have true centers. We will be drawn back down to the MVC in that regard/position.

The MVC has mobile 6'7' guys like at CU and SIU. We could use a solid JUCO (Sikes) or similar to help.

Andrews is best served, IMO, coming off the bench. A healthy Sam will help. Crawford is a HUGE unknown....I refuse to count on freshman at all.

JL really has something to sell at the center position now.

He can say...look what POB did for himself with our help at BU.......

[Braveman]

With no POB, here is what I see as starting lineup now... could change if Sikes says yes...

Ruff
Will
JJ
Zach
Sam

[it's boogie time]

Wow. That isn't a good lineup. With very little post presence to dump the ball into, I think you need more of a scorer at the 3 spot.

[georgethedog]

Wow. That isn't a good lineup. With very little post presence to dump the ball into, I think you need more of a scorer at the 3 spot.

Yea, with a lineup like that we can watch our team back in the play in round again. I think POB leaving is a big step back. We no longer have anything that differentiates us from anyone else. Think about it... we didn't even finish in the top 4 with POB, Cellus, Bennett and Wright, now we do not have any of our 4 best players and the rest of the Valley did not lose much. I am glad we had fun for a half of year at least. Sorry to rain on any parade, but the parade just left the building.

[brocks]

I'm going to keep on enjoying BU, and although I don't expect any Sweet 16 next year, I trust JL to get BU into position to reload every year rather than rebuild.

Next year we return the league's best point guard, the league's toughest off guard (JJ) who was the key to turning BU's season around, one of the most athletic big men in the league (ZA), two more kids who saw significant minutes in the NCAA tourney and contributed (DA & WF), and a potentially explosive soph in RB.

I have heard nothing from the BU staff except great excitiment about Warren & Crawford. As for Crawford, look for BU coaches sitting with him at every meal and force-feeding him large pizzas and super-sized value meals.

Let's not have unrealistic expectations for next year, but let's not jump ship quite yet either. I like the direction this program is going. Will be fun when DeAaron Williams gets here, too!

[georgethedog]

I'm going to keep on enjoying BU, and although I don't expect any Sweet 16 next year, I trust JL to get BU into position to reload every year rather than rebuild.

Next year we return the league's best point guard, the league's toughest off guard (JJ) who was the key to turning BU's season around, one of the most athletic big men in the league (ZA), two more kids who saw significant minutes in the NCAA tourney and contributed (DA & WF), and a potentially explosive soph in RB.

I have heard nothing from the BU staff except great excitiment about Warren & Crawford. As for Crawford, look for BU coaches sitting with him at every meal and force-feeding him large pizzas and super-sized value meals.

Let's not have unrealistic expectations for next year, but let's not jump ship quite yet either. I like the direction this program is going. Will be fun when DeAaron Williams gets here, too!

I am not jumping ship. I have been going to games since the 70's like many of you. I even went to all the games during the sad years following Hersey. I am just being realistic. I actually think that replacing all of the things that Wright did is going to be the biggest challenge! There were some games where he was all we had for long periods of time. I really wish we had him back for another year. That is the bad thing with JUCO players. Andrews will probably just start to bloom when it is his time to go too.

[MacabreMob]

I asked Sam when he would be ready to start pacticing. He said July. He spent all of his first year shooting FT's 'cause that was all he could do. Imagine he is spending a lot of time at the line this year.

I think he is very talented. He has great hands and a solid head for the basket. Good moves. He will be a very good Center in this league. Add to that, 2 years of just FT shooting - which might also add to his mid-range shot that can add to his overall game.

Remember - P O'B wasn't even supposed to be the starting Center his freshman year - it was gonna be Sam.

Yes, Sam is gonna need a few games to adjust to game speed and DI level of play in the MVC. I think he will adjust and by the end of the season, we will be excited to know we will have 3 more years of him.

[Da Coach]

I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I do not see Sam starting or playing very much in the early part of next season. Did anyone else see him limping around at the banquet? He almost needed help to get up the stairs to receive his watch. I know there are 6 more months until the start of practice, but Sam will miss a lot of summer play, and will probably not be in game shape by the start of the season. He will likely need to start next year by coming off the bench for short stretches and building up his endurance. That leaves Zach and anyone else who comes in at the 5.

[MacabreMob]

I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I do not see Sam starting or playing very much in the early part of next season. Did anyone else see him limping around at the banquet? He almost needed help to get up the stairs to receive his watch. I know there are 6 more months until the start of practice, but Sam will miss a lot of summer play, and will probably not be in game shape by the start of the season. He will likely need to start next year by coming off the bench for short stretches and building up his endurance. That leaves Zach and anyone else who comes in at the 5.

I agree - Sam is gonna need a little time.

Don't expect too much early on.

By the end of the season, IMO, I think we will all be happy to know we will have him for 3 more years.

[Braveman]

Wow. That isn't a good lineup. With very little post presence to dump the ball into, I think you need more of a scorer at the 3 spot.

So tell me your lineup then.. who do we put at a 3?

[it's boogie time]

I wish I had a good answer. There's a bunch of potential guys that could fill that spot, but nobody differenciated themselves last year. I think JJ filled the void well in the second half of the season because there were plenty of scorers on the floor then and he moved the ball around well. I don't think that same situation exists. I guess he could be the guy if he learns to score like he did in high school.

[BUBravesMan]

I'm anxious to know what a lineup might look like, but it also might be a good idea to wait to see what recruits we get. I know dogsrus doesn't want to count on freshmen, but what about a juco or two?

I think right now, JJ Tauai and Daniel Ruffin are the only ones who you can say will start next season.

[Mikovio]

I think right now, JJ Tauai and Daniel Ruffin are the only ones who you can say will start next season.

I'd have a hard time believing Andrews won't start as well....

[Braveman]

And Will Franklin...