AT Starting Next Year?

[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!!!

 

[Da Coach]

The reason the centers in the MVC are usually 6'6" to 6'8" has more to do with the relative lack of good big men that are available to be recruited by midmajors like the MVC.
But with a quality bigger man, it would be a big advantage, like when BU had POB. I think we will see Rashad play the 5 next Year, but Sam Singh, Will Egolf, and AT should also see some time there.

 

[Out of Balance]

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"

We played the 6'7"s this year and a 6'5" at the 4 spot and got killed on the boards. Maybe, Just Maybe, if we go larger (like the year we had PO) we may just be successful!!! My ? to you is, why do we bother with bigs over 6'7" if the answer is what you say it is (above). Also does this mean AT won't play because he is 6'11" and is gaining weight. He won't be mobile and there for will not Play or be the answer JL and some of us are hoping for!!!!

 

[Beninator]

We played the 6'7"s this year and a 6'5" at the 4 spot and got killed on the boards. Maybe, Just Maybe, if we go larger (like the year we had PO) we may just be successful!!! My ? to you is, why do we bother with bigs over 6'7" if the answer is what you say it is (above). Also does this mean AT won't play because he is 6'11" and is gaining weight. He won't be mobile and there for will not Play or be the answer JL and some of us are hoping for!!!!

Maybe just maybe you should try to recruit 6'11 plus players who are decent players when you are recruiting at a mid-major level? And please dont bring that DC should have had more pt this year.

 

[Out of Balance]

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.

Motivate you say!!! I cannot think of anything less motivating than to be told that the job you are seeking is filled. (Don't Apply) OR Would you rather be told that every posion is open and will be filled by the person who earns it!! YOU READ TO MENY FICTION STORIES!!!

 

[Out of Balance]

Maybe just maybe you should try to recruit 6'11 plus players who are decent players when you are recruiting at a mid-major level? And please dont bring that DC should have had more pt this year.

You sound like Digger from two years ago about mid -major. DC who?

 

[Out of Balance]

I agree with you. If we do that it will be the same as this year - not enough rebounds. We moan and groan about the BCS schools every year but if we want to compete we need a big presence inside to block shots and get rebounds. We have the players on the team now to do that, so I hope JL thinks a little bit different next year and the players get better over the summer. For now, I hope we make the post season - that would give us some more experience

You sound like a person who knows some B-Ball!!! Thanks

 

[thefish7]

I'm just gonna head over to that 6'11 post player with skills and an outside game and shotblocking ability who wants to play at a mid-major tree I have growing out back, and get such a player for Bradley.

 

[Out of Balance]

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.

INCREDIBLE,,,,, I'm not sure what the hell you are smoking but please stop before you hurt yourself anymore. BUT I do agree about D to MS.
Light them up!!!

 

[Rusty 54]

I'm just gonna head over to that 6'11 post player with skills and an outside game and shotblocking ability who wants to play at a mid-major tree I have growing out back, and get such a player for Bradley.

Can you please tell me where that tree is, a money tree is sure to be nearby and I could use some cash

 

[ER3]

We played the 6'7"s this year and a 6'5" at the 4 spot and got killed on the boards. Maybe, Just Maybe, if we go larger (like the year we had PO) we may just be successful!!! My ? to you is, why do we bother with bigs over 6'7" if the answer is what you say it is (above). Also does this mean AT won't play because he is 6'11" and is gaining weight. He won't be mobile and there for will not Play or be the answer JL and some of us are hoping for!!!!

6'7" to 6'9" guys generally play in the post on Valley teams because athletic guys that are 6'10" or bigger and are skilled offensively and defensively will aim higher than the Valley 99 times out of 100. That's just the way it is, and it will not change anytime soon. For Valley teams to get guys that are 6'10" or bigger, they will generally be immobile, less athletic guys or projects that need to gain weight or need serious development with their skills...
Of course AT will play here...you completely missed my point...