AT Starting Next Year?

[Beninator]

I was listening to that JL show in question. A caller asked about what type of player AT will be. Coach Les said something to the effect that he will start out as a 4 and might develop into a 5. That is how I remember it. I apologize if I'm wrong. I can't recall minutes or starting rotations being discussed. You can probably go back and find that thread on here.

I heard this on the JL show as well which is completely different from Les stating that AT would start next year. The minutes are there if AT can step it up though.

[ph]

The way I heard the comments on Jim Les Live:
"Offensively AT is the 2nd best big man he's ever coached" "He has equally good moves right, left, hookshots."
Jim never mentioned AT's Defense being at that level, it will probably be a big focus of this summer
Jim has also mentioned that right now his skill set is currently best developed as a 5, but could see AT moving out to a 4 after his outside game is developed They are working inside out. (Coaching staff has been having AT work exclusively on his inside game this redshirt year)

in my personal opinion, unsubstainiated by anything said, Jim is saying AT could move to the 4 as to not hamper recruiting another 5. I think BU is trying to not get into another POB situation due to injury, or whatever else may happen in the future and AT showed enough of an outside game in HS to merit those comments.

Personally, I hope AT starts. AT has the highest ceiling of any of our existing post players. WE has a similiar ceiling, but is not a 5. For all purposes RA=MS (similiar #'s since HS). With DC's juco #'s, hopefully he'll develop into a quality bench guy (~10 min /game) SS has all of the heart and desire in the world, but is limited athletically. To be a better team we need more than RA SS or DC can give us exclusively.

[J Money]

I'm not ready to crown Anthony Thompson as the second coming of Patrick O'Bryant, but based on what little I have seen of him, I think he could turn into a devastating player in the Valley. Even the small minutes he played in the Red/White game this year you could tell he was on another level athletically. He plays above the rim and had a pretty good stroke from the line.

That being said, if he starts and turns in quality minutes next year it's a bonus. I'm still looking at SS and RA to bridge the gap next season before AT and WE are ready to assert themselves in two seasons.

[J Money]

And by the way RA certainly DOES NOT equal Matt Salley. Rashad Austin is so much stronger and plays with so much more tanacity it's unreal. He finishes through contact and going towards the basket, something you never saw MS do.

[Out of Balance]

I thought I saw somewhere that Les said Anthony Thompson will be our starting center next year. Is that true? If so, when did JL say it? It seems a little early to make that decision, but if AT is ready to start as a redshirt freshman that would be great.

I'd assume that would mean the starting lineup would be something like SM, AW, TW, RA, AT, which would give us a few more inches in the paint than we've had the last couple of seasons.

Lets get serious!!! If JL said anything like this, he is out there somewhere!!!
As a coach you never start a season with a set line up, let along a year out!
I sure wouldn't want to play for a coach that I wouldn't have a chance to show what I could do or complete for a starting spot! If LS has done this, it would be worse than what we had to endure this year with his small lineups and getting our ************ kicked on the boards, game after game and not adjusting the line up.

[BradleyBrave]

Lets get serious!!! If JL said anything like this, he is out there somewhere!!!
As a coach you never start a season with a set line up, let along a year out!
I sure wouldn't want to play for a coach that I wouldn't have a chance to show what I could do or complete for a starting spot! If LS has done this, it would be worse than what we had to endure this year with his small lineups and getting our ************ kicked on the boards, game after game and not adjusting the line up.

Well, JL has seen AT play and practice against every post player on the roster currently, and every post player who will be on the roster next year barring a late recruit. I don't think it's out of line for a coach to say something like that, especially if he's trying to motivate some players (i.e. David Collins). It's not like AT is an unknown commodity to JL.

[ph]

And by the way RA certainly DOES NOT equal Matt Salley. Rashad Austin is so much stronger and plays with so much more tanacity it's unreal. He finishes through contact and going towards the basket, something you never saw MS do.

I will give you that RA appears to play better than MS, I just do not see it in his #'s The difference may be to the team instead of him.

Last summer, T pointed out that RA and MS had nearly identical JUCO #'s.

This year RA
## Player GP-GS Min--Avg FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct FT-FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
32 Austin, Rashad..... 24-4 250 10.4 24-40 .600 0-0 .000 13-23 .565 23 33 56 2.3 47 2 5 19 6 5 61 2.5
Last year MS
## Player GP-GS Min--Avg FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct FT-FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
22 Salley, Matt....... 35-13 740 21.1 101-200 .505 4-12 .333 44-85 .518 51 117 168 4.8 95 5 22 46 23 26 250 7.1

[ph]

Here is Adjusted 40 minute production This year RA vs Last Year MS:
Points Boards Blocks Steals
RA 9.76 8.96 0.96 0.80
LY MS 13.51 9.08 1.24 1.41

[thefish7]

I have high expectations for AT... He's very athletic, and every time I see him do anything he just looks very very skilled to me. He is, I believe, the highest rated of our recruits also, so I think that makes him a player we should have high expectations for.

Regarding RA and MS... I think RA is a bit better offensively, while MS is quite a lot better on D... Rebounding wise they seem to be kinduva push for me.

[pfunk880]

I'm excited to see what we got out of RA when he gets more minutes next year.

[J Money]

Numbers aside, he is just so much stronger and such a bigger presence inside it's incredible. He also doesn't need Daniel to drop him a dime offensively to get a bucket like MS does.

[Out of Balance]

And by the way RA certainly DOES NOT equal Matt Salley. Rashad Austin is so much stronger and plays with so much more tanacity it's unreal. He finishes through contact and going towards the basket, something you never saw MS do.

Someone please tell me why, just why, we are even talking about 6'7" in our 5 spot!!!! RA is no more the answer than MS was!!! Neither one are a good fit at the 4 spot let alone the 5. Get real!! You say RA finishes through contact maybe he should be a running back for Illinois. NO, No, NO I think Linebacker would be better!

[J Money]

Someone please tell me why, just why, we are even talking about 6'7" in our 5 spot!!!! RA is no more the answer than MS was!!! Neither one are a good fit at the 4 spot let alone the 5. Get real!! You say RA finishes through contact maybe he should be a running back for Illinois. NO, No, NO I think Linebacker would be better!

If you have watched Bradley play basketball you know what I'm talking about. RA is strong with the ball and can take a hit while still gettin it to the basket. While you or I may not like the 6'7" in a starting 5 spot we are working on what we have not what we want. That is why everyone is hopeful that AT can play right away because we can't count on DC based on this year and WE is less of a 5 than RA is. Sorry to burst your bubble but I doubt a 6'11" recruit that can play is going to magically decide to come to Bradley this summer.

[ER3]

Someone please tell me why, just why, we are even talking about 6'7" in our 5 spot!!!! RA is no more the answer than MS was!!! Neither one are a good fit at the 4 spot let alone the 5. Get real!! You say RA finishes through contact maybe he should be a running back for Illinois. NO, No, NO I think Linebacker would be better!

Because we play in the MVC...Look around, most successful teams in the Valley play a 6'7" or 6'8" guy that is mobile at the 5 spot.

Jonathan Cox - 6'8"
Anthony Slack - 6'7"
Dane Watts - 6'8"
Randal Falker - 6'7"
Jay Tunnell - 6'8"

[Out of Balance]

And by the way RA certainly DOES NOT equal Matt Salley. Rashad Austin is so much stronger and plays with so much more tanacity it's unreal. He finishes through contact and going towards the basket, something you never saw MS do.

Someone please, just please, tell me why we even would talk about another 6'7" player at the 5 spot. RA just like MS, is not the answer. You say RA finishes through contact, then maybe he should play running back for Illinois, NO, NO, I mean Linebacker!!!