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Post by iona05 on Apr 14, 2015 5:44:03 GMT -5
Shaping up to be better than before:
F - Washington F - Williams G - Amayo G - English G - Casimir
F/C - Bessick G - McGill G - Much F - Hines G - Muhammad G - Bebis C - Robinson (?)
Would imagine at least one of the above will not return, so as long as we upgrade at that position we'll be in great shape for another special run next season.
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Post by ic59 on Apr 14, 2015 7:16:33 GMT -5
iona05, welcome back. Roster does have much better depth, but Bessick said, last October, that he thought he was in good shape, but had to get into Iona shape. So I think that Jordan has a lot of work to do before he becomes a starter. Also, I could see Taylor and Jordan playing together, since Taylor, while he was at James Madison, said that he wanted to play outside.
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Post by GuyF on Apr 14, 2015 7:27:57 GMT -5
All true, I59, but Cluess plays his best players regardless of position. Not saying you'd never see both bigs out there simultaneously, but he'll still run with his four horsemen + 1 more often than not.
And now that I've said that, I hope Cluess doesn't do this. If we learned anything each of the past two years, it's that we need to find a way to go 9-10 deep.
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Post by jb on Apr 14, 2015 7:43:33 GMT -5
I think we may add one more, just a guess.
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Post by iona1970 on Apr 14, 2015 8:04:13 GMT -5
All true, I59, but Cluess plays his best players regardless of position. Not saying you'd never see both bigs out there simultaneously, but he'll still run with his four horsemen + 1 more often than not. And now that I've said that, I hope Cluess doesn't do this. If we learned anything each of the past two years, it's that we need to find a way to go 9-10 deep. agree 100% we need a bench!!! every team that runs usually presses and subs a lot, 2 things we didn't do in the MAAC championship no reason with this roster we don't use the bench, some kids on the bench have played a lot of minutes at Iona already and with the others hopefully we have over recruited over some of the bench players
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Post by tau on Apr 14, 2015 8:07:04 GMT -5
I think we may add one more, just a guess. I agree with this. 1 more on the way
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Post by chelseadal on Apr 14, 2015 8:11:41 GMT -5
If Hines (as a big) or Robinson worked out, we actually would have size.
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Post by ic1983 on Apr 14, 2015 8:39:11 GMT -5
Hines needs an off season weight training program and regular minutes to start the season. Same for Bebis. As many have pointed out, I too hope that Cluess doesn't revert to past practice and play 6 guys to the point of exhaustion. Playing the core group 30 to 32 minutes most nights will open up the bench. If several bench players get into a regular rotation we can expect their confidence to grow.
I doubt that Washington is going to be capable of playing Cluess style starter's minutes right off the bat anyway; there will be a conditioning gap, even with summer workouts. So we are going to need early season production/minutes from Hines and possibly Robinson anyway.
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Post by gregcrow on Apr 14, 2015 8:41:52 GMT -5
If Hines (as a big) or Robinson worked out, we actually would have size. Why not both! Although I always have trusted this coaching staff (5 straight post-season appearances and counting!) I have joined the camp that believes we need more depth (I know, nothing like stating the obvious). I also thought we had depth going into last season. My hope is that we do next season, but I won't believe it until I actually see the team play. Last couple of years the bench has looked great on paper going in, but dissapointed once the season began. Mostly what we need are solid minutes, not spectacular play. Hold the lead or don't fall further behind while the starters rest. Starting five should once again be solid.
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Post by Super on Apr 14, 2015 13:20:15 GMT -5
Team is already one player deeper than last year with Bessick/Washington replacing Laury. Would love to see Amayo off the bench, giving him a chance to see the game flow. Amayo, McGill, Hines, Bebis, Ibn, Much, (and likely one other) --already a stronger bench than last season.
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Post by IONA86 on Apr 14, 2015 13:20:33 GMT -5
So far, what we have lost and what we have replaced them with:
Lost Laury - Stud player... unique skills and one of my favorites all time. I love this kid. Ellis- in the doghouse his whole career. Never seemed able to grasp what little defensive scheme we played. Dublin - Some nice moments... never got the shot I thought he would get. Najeal Young - disappeared before the season.
Replacements Much - I think you will find him a big improvement over Ellis. Much is reported to be a better overall shooter and much better defensively. Bessick - Athletic player who I would say has better tools than Dublin and has at least stayed longer than the two weeks that Young hung around for. Washington - A big who is a less flashy version of Laury. In AAU he spanked Top 50 Arizona/LSU player Craig Victor and dropped 25 points and 14 rebounds on Victor and he outplayed McDonalds All American and Top 20 player Kevon Looney (UCLA) in the same tournament. If anyone can fill David's shoes, it is Washington. He will also give us toughness down low that we have been missing. McGill - A true combo that can score and run the point. An upgrade over existing PG's and will be an important pier of the puzzle down the road.
We still have at east one scholarship to fill. I would say that we have improved our depth significantly.
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Post by sharkey on Apr 14, 2015 13:32:38 GMT -5
As of today there is one open scholarship, though I am in the group that believes one more might open. Just wondering what most think the staff should do with the one remaining scholarship if nobody else leaves. Hold it? Recruit a wing or another big? HS kid, Juco or 5th year senior? The commitment from Washington is obviously huge for next season. In my opinion I would like to see the final scholarship used for an athletic wing who can shoot. Need to look at the future as we lose IW and AJ after next season. I know Mitchell is part of the '16 class, but of the couple games I have seen of him, his skill set would not fill any perimeter shooting concerns.
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Post by IONA86 on Apr 14, 2015 13:44:05 GMT -5
As of today there is one open scholarship, though I am in the group that believes one more might open. Just wondering what most think the staff should do with the one remaining scholarship if nobody else leaves. Hold it? Recruit a wing or another big? HS kid, Juco or 5th year senior? The commitment from Washington is obviously huge for next season. In my opinion I would like to see the final scholarship used for an athletic wing who can shoot. Need to look at the future as we lose IW and AJ after next season. I know Mitchell is part of the '16 class, but of the couple games I have seen of him, his skill set would not fill any perimeter shooting concerns. Mitchell actually can shoot well out to the three but on his high school team and AAU he was used inside, as they already had options on the perimeter. I see him playing in the paint as an undersized 4 for us when he arrives. I guess we need to see who is (or if) leaving before we can decide on where we use the scholarship. With that said, I would recommend using the one open scholarship be used for a combo forward who can fill IW's shoes. Someone who can can play the 2 thru 4 when needed.
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Post by tau on Apr 14, 2015 13:54:44 GMT -5
So far, what we have lost and what we have replaced them with: LostLaury - Stud player... unique skills and one of my favorites all time. I love this kid. Ellis- in the doghouse his whole career. Never seemed able to grasp what little defensive scheme we played. Dublin - Some nice moments... never got the shot I thought he would get. Najeal Young - disappeared before the season. ReplacementsMuch - I think you will find him a big improvement over Ellis. Much is reported to be a better overall shooter and much better defensively. Bessick - Athletic player who I would say has better tools than Dublin and has at least stayed longer than the two weeks that Young hung around for. Washington - A big who is a less flashy version of Laury. In AAU he spanked Top 50 Arizona/LSU player Craig Victor and dropped 25 points and 14 rebounds on Victor and he outplayed McDonalds All American and Top 20 player Kevon Looney (UCLA) in the same tournament. If anyone can fill David's shoes, it is Washington. He will also give us toughness down low that we have been missing. McGill - A true combo that can score and run the point. An upgrade over existing PG's and will be an important pier of the puzzle down the road. We still have at east one scholarship to fill. I would say that we have improved our depth significantly. 86 great job as usual. Thought on Bebis? I think he should have a role
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Post by IONA86 on Apr 14, 2015 13:59:28 GMT -5
So far, what we have lost and what we have replaced them with: LostLaury - Stud player... unique skills and one of my favorites all time. I love this kid. Ellis- in the doghouse his whole career. Never seemed able to grasp what little defensive scheme we played. Dublin - Some nice moments... never got the shot I thought he would get. Najeal Young - disappeared before the season. ReplacementsMuch - I think you will find him a big improvement over Ellis. Much is reported to be a better overall shooter and much better defensively. Bessick - Athletic player who I would say has better tools than Dublin and has at least stayed longer than the two weeks that Young hung around for. Washington - A big who is a less flashy version of Laury. In AAU he spanked Top 50 Arizona/LSU player Craig Victor and dropped 25 points and 14 rebounds on Victor and he outplayed McDonalds All American and Top 20 player Kevon Looney (UCLA) in the same tournament. If anyone can fill David's shoes, it is Washington. He will also give us toughness down low that we have been missing. McGill - A true combo that can score and run the point. An upgrade over existing PG's and will be an important pier of the puzzle down the road. We still have at east one scholarship to fill. I would say that we have improved our depth significantly. 86 great job as usual. Thought on Bebis? I think he should have a role Yeah.. Bebis showed signs of being able to shoot early on. He also was a good wingspan for his size and showed the desire to play D at the top of the key... I like the kid and would love to see him do well. He should be better adjusted to the speed of the game here and I would expect him to have developed by next season. The students at the games seem to love him.
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