Look Ahead - MVC 2008-2009

[ShockerKhan]

If HCGM can pick up a power forward bookend oposite GS then I think next years team compares favorably to the 79-80 team. The newcomers were AC, Goodnews and Ozell (all freshmen). Mike Jones and Randy Smithson (a transfer and a juco). The seniors on that team were Ray Shirley, John Kobar and Richard Willams. That team went 17-12 and went to the NIT and lost to UTEP. There are a lot of similarities. Hawkins and Hanna (a transfer and a Juco) and some excellent freshman in G Stutz, D Kyles, T Murry and EO. The returning players might be a little better (Gal, JT, AE and GH). Deja Vu...I hope so.

[RoyalShock]

On paper, SIU has a very nice (better than WSU) class coming in, with a few decent to good players coming back (Mullins, Bone, Fay). I suspect our two teams will be similar in their composition.

We are starting to see if Lowery brings a full briefcase to the table (recruiting and coaching). Right now he's coaching the pre-season favorite to a middle-of-the-pack finish. The next two years will be very telling in Carbondale.

Here are my guesses for next year, which I think will be another down year for the MVC (Drake is making the league look good, but top-to-bottom we are down this season, IMO):

Clear Favorite
CU - Good talent plus the Altman factor.

Top Tier
ISU (blue) - Wins the war of offseason attrition.
DU - Can Keno replicate this season? If so, will he bolt?

Middle Tier - Could challenge for top tier
WSU - Young and exciting. Comes on late.
SIU - Not a huge dropoff if newcomers produce.
ISU (red) - Osiris will need help. Decent recruits coming in.

Almost Middle Tier
UNI - Can Eglseder and Koch absorb the loss of Coleman?
BU - No Ruffin. No Crouch. Maniscalco solid.

The Rest
MSU - Lose a lot, but Burrah could be back. He is a Title IX favorite (works for peanuts, err, a women's coach's salary).
UE - They will need a year or two to purge the old and get some new.

[ShockerInKC]

If HCGM can pick up a power forward bookend oposite GS then I think next years team compares favorably to the 79-80 team. The newcomers were AC, Goodnews and Ozell (all freshmen). Mike Jones and Randy Smithson (a transfer and a juco). The seniors on that team were Ray Shirley, John Kobar and Richard Willams. That team went 17-12 and went to the NIT and lost to UTEP. There are a lot of similarities. Hawkins and Hanna (a transfer and a Juco) and some excellent freshman in G Stutz, D Kyles, T Murry and EO. The returning players might be a little better (Gal, JT, AE and GH). Deja Vu...I hope so.

Holy cow, if we could be 1/2 as good. I think this is the team that scored 100 pts 4+ times including a 125 pt effort against Drake (I still have the ticket stub from that game). (If it wasn't 125 pts it seemed like it).

[pinstripers]

PG- Hannah & Beckham
2G- Murry, Kyles & Preadom
Wing- Hawkins, Griskenas & Kyles
PF-Clemente, Ellis
C- Flowers & Stutz
RS-Orupke

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

PG- Hannah & Beckham
2G- Murry, Kyles & Preadom
Wing- Hawkins, Griskenas & Kyles
PF-Clemente, Ellis
C- Flowers & Stutz
RS-Orupke

You forgot Gal. I still think he will be back this year. He is learning a lot this year (typical for a Sophomore getting a lot of playing time), and has handled it well. He starts at the 1 or 2 next year.

[pinstripers]

No, I didn't

[WuDrWu]

PG- Hannah & Beckham
2G- Murry, Kyles & Preadom
Wing- Hawkins, Griskenas & Kyles
PF-Clemente, Ellis
C- Flowers & Stutz
RS-Orupke

Wow, Pin, getting rid of Durley, eh?

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Doc,

You think with the growth he has shown that Mekel will be back? Coach has said he is one of the hardest workers, takes coaching well, and is really showing a better understanding of the game. He would greatly benefit from a big guy inside, as well as a couple of guys who can drive and dish to help his shot. He hasn't been able to create his own, but with those pieces in place I see him lighting it up next year.

[WuDrWu]

While this isn't the perfect system for Gal, HCGM does like the effort and fight that Gal has, plus he is a leader.

Gal will be welcomed back without question. The real decision will be whether or not he chooses to return, which will be a question mark every year (as it has been so far).


If he returns, Gal will start at the 2 imho.

[newshock1234]

I have a qustion, if EO shows up for next season, can he still Redshirt next year, since he was techincally on our roster this year.

[pinstripers]

yep, no motor

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

I really think he likes Marshall's system. It gives him some freedom. Marshall is trying to instill in him to play smart, but without handcuffing him. I think his game would expand greatly with another season, and with the other pieces we have coming in, I hope he does choose to stay.

I know many have issues with Mekel, but he is playing well for a Sophomore, especially considering the circumstances.

[WuDrWu]

I have a qustion, if EO shows up for next season, can he still Redshirt next year, since he was techincally on our roster this year.

He has 5 years to complete 4 seasons. This one is 1.

[wu_shizzle]

I have a qustion, if EO shows up for next season, can he still Redshirt next year, since he was techincally on our roster this year.

He has 5 years to complete 4 seasons. This one is 1.

How can you count this as one year when he's not even enrolled?

We don't even know if he has a passing grade to enroll in a US university (I have no doubt he'll qualify).

[Smooth007]

Dr WU,
Why does this year count? Wouldn't the coaching staff have given his scholarship to a walk-on for the current year since he isn't even a student? He in no way is a part of shocker basketball other than being on the roster. Does him being on the roster factor into this?