PJ Star's take on UMKC disaster - 'A Step Backward'

[Guinness]

Cant wait for 2009/2010.

This ones already over.

[Rusty 54]

Lastly, there are some saying that WE and AT can't contribute this year, and I'm TIRED of hearing people say it so matter of factly. How in the world can you know if they aren't ready? They have played hardly at all. Practice is different then games and if they bring more intensity than DC then I say bring them on and take your chances because we now are certain of what we are getting from DC in game situations......not much.

Devil's advocate, what if DC and Singh are dominating in practice? Is Les supposed to throw WE or AT out in a game if they are getting beat by their own teammates? From what little I have seen from AT, it still looks to me like everyone on the court can push him around. He may have phenomenal post moves but cant use them if he gets pushed all the way back to the three point line. WE looks more like he could contribute, and I feel like he may get more minutes tonight. But I have no idea.

Maybe I was expecting too much out of a redshirt freshman and a sophomore. Lots of kool-aid to drink in the offseason.

[SaintLouBrave22]

Devil's advocate, what if DC and Singh are dominating in practice? Is Les supposed to throw WE or AT out in a game if they are getting beat by their own teammates? From what little I have seen from AT, it still looks to me like everyone on the court can push him around. He may have phenomenal post moves but cant use them if he gets pushed all the way back to the three point line. WE looks more like he could contribute, and I feel like he may get more minutes tonight. But I have no idea.

Maybe I was expecting too much out of a redshirt freshman and a sophomore. Lots of kool-aid to drink in the offseason.

As I previously stated, there is no one in their right mind who thinks DC could be dominating anyone in practice unless its the high school JV squad...especially not on the defensive end...

Then again, I will use the addage that sometimes there are practice players and some guys turn it up for games...

DC= Reggie Hall

Plain and simple!

[SaintLouBrave22]

I don't understand why some are calling for WE to be a 3 all of the sudden. Was it not this board that was soooo bitter and angry about Will playing around the 3pt line last year so much? He NEEDS to be a 4 and it's ridiculous to think that guy should be a 3. I agree he can't be a 5 and be the only "big" out there but a 3??? Really?

Secondly, I have been one to say that TW needs to be a 3 over and over again. However the more he plays this season the more I'm starting to disagree. The man is our top rebounder why can't he be a 4? Because of his size?? Who cares he's pulling in more rebounds than a 7 footer he can play the 4 and get a double double if his offense is on. Which leads me to my last point about him NOT being a 3. I do not think he has taken a 3pt shot YET this season. A 3 needs to have an overall skill and overall threat. He clearly isn't confident and isn't trusted to take 3pt shots so why should he play the 3 if he's making all his points in the paint or 10-15 feet out anyway. I'm not sure why he isn't taking 3's this year since he wasn't terrible last year, but the fact of the matter is...he isn't taking them.

Lastly, there are some saying that WE and AT can't contribute this year, and I'm TIRED of hearing people say it so matter of factly. How in the world can you know if they aren't ready? They have played hardly at all. Practice is different then games and if they bring more intensity than DC then I say bring them on and take your chances because we now are certain of what we are getting from DC in game situations......not much.

Bring on the firing squad.

On your 1st point - I wasn't advocating for Will to play the 3, I was just simply alluding to the fact that he is closer to a 3 than a 5....I certainly am all for him getting the majority of the minutes at the 4...I truly believe he should be ready, and what better to do than throw him right into the fire and see if he has it in him...

2nd - Theron is not a 4 simply because yes he's a leaper and can rebound well, but a legit 4 will take him to the cleaners...and as you noticed, it completely takes him out of his rhythm when he gets into foul trouble, and that would happen night in and night out against a true 4....(which coincidentally, most teams play)...look at UNI for example...would you really want Theron guarding Koch all night? We need someone bigger i.e. Will

3rd point - I couldn't agree w/ you more...Its time...actually it was time yesterday, last week...so on...

[Rusty 54]

I haven't seen practice, I wouldn't know. I don't think that Les would keep running players out on the court while better players sit on the bench. That does not make sense. You tell me what the reason is.

[SaintLouBrave22]

I haven't seen practice, I wouldn't know. I don't think that Les would keep running players out on the court while better players sit on the bench. That does not make sense. You tell me what the reason is.

Not to take a shot at Sam M. but he did run him out there when he hadn't practiced in over a week...

16 points was good BUT his man scored 20....

Its really difficult for me to put that on Sam too because yes he does have defensive deficiencies, BUT the coaches should know this by now and play more zone when he's out there to cover that up...

They don't so I put much of the blame on them...

DC has had well 3 really poor games....how many games have we played? 3 Yes? Well, you can't honestly tell me Will couldn't have at least matched that? That being said, I'm calling for Will to be on the floor in ADDITION to Sam or David...so thats a different story in itself...

Oh, and to finish...I hate to be the bearer of this, but recall we spent 11 years w/ the former regime starting and playing, but mainly starting players that had absolutely no business being in there and he was very famous for the "practice players" syndrome...

So you can't really say that doesn't happen...

What I had always learned from actually playing is that your guys that worked the hardest in practice were not your star players...they were usually your role players and guys that gave the occasional timeout to timeout spark off the bench...while your star players are generally toning it down, but simply preparing themselves for what they will face come tip-off...

Matt Salley, Dan Adams, Reggie Hall are just a few names that come to mind...and each of those players are simply role players on GOOD teams...

Who is to say that DC isn't one of these players?

The reason I know all of this...yeah, I was one of the practice players...

[ph]

I haven't seen practice, I wouldn't know. I don't think that Les would keep running players out on the court while better players sit on the bench. That does not make sense. You tell me what the reason is.

The only logical reason to bring Will out slowly would be a confidence issue (I have no inside info, just my guess) I think they killed Will's confidence early last year, so perhaps they bring him in slowly?

Unfortunatley, I think Will's future is set as a 5.
Next year's 5 is ???? AT? JP? We desperately need to build some experience at 5.

[georgethedog]

The only logical reason to bring Will out slowly would be a confidence issue (I have no inside info, just my guess) I think they killed Will's confidence early last year, so perhaps they bring him in slowly?

Unfortunatley, I think Will's future is set as a 5.
Next year's 5 is ???? AT? JP? We desperately need to build some experience at 5.

You may be right and that would be fine as long as he plays with at least another big player like AT and/or JP (but JP probably won't be ready as a freshman). Maybe Wilkins will finally be here and we will see a lineup with 3 players over 6'8" on the floor at the same time. Sorry, I am in BCS dreamland here with that last thought...