Replacing Malcolm and Carl

[TheDover1018]

I would also argue that this season Fred is the most crucial player on the team this year. It would be near impossible to replace what he brings every night. Kid just fills up the stat sheet. He could set the steals record and assist record (I know its early, just saying he has the ability).

[pogo]

Well Mr CLove certainly was correct in his assessment of FVV before any of us had ever seen him.

[BostonWu]

I predict Fred will take Ron's place as all-conference (and that in no way diminishes what Ron brings to the table). And no matter the case no way we're getting more than two players on first team.

[another shocker]

they (hall, armstead) will be very difficult to replace! last years ncaa tournament team would do a number on this team (as of now). i'm starting to think that carter will be very good.. next year, that is (*you know how the juco's go). i trust in marshall, and i can envision 23-24 wins, but the shockers need to crash the boards much, much better. once again, i sense that st louis will NOT be a cakewalk, foregone conclusion.

[wufan]

I wouldn't knock Baker from first team after one game. I wouldn't put FVV on first team after he schooled a freshman walk on midget from the sunbelt.

[60Shock]

Our two previous JUCO guards and our one year Div 1 transfer have been truly amazingt. But the obvious point is that we only had them for such a very short time.

The great thing about Fred is that he has virtually three more full years, counting this one, to fully mature and only get better.

And Baker too!

As most of you by now know, I usually lean only a wee bit past a glass half full. But I am convinced by now that we are seeing a BB dynasty being built step-by-step by our outstanding coach. It will take two-three more years for the majority of the BB world to finally recognize it, but it is coming and they had better be scared.

[Dave Stalwart]

they (hall, armstead) will be very difficult to replace! last years ncaa tournament team would do a number on this team (as of now).

To be clear, that is saying:

Hall, Early, Cotton, Baker and Armstead

Would do a number on:
Coleby, Early, Cotton, Baker and FreshVV

It's pretty close to the same team...

EO's defensive presence is still somewhat there with the current guys. Wessel is back. Wiggins is improving, etc.

I say it would be a 5-10 point loss for this team... Probably not a clinic.

It will be very difficult to REPLACE those two, but I think the team will be DIFFERENT this year. We may not have a rebound gobbler or another Malcolm, but this team will win its games in its own signature way.

Better shooting percentage, kadunk city, block party, Early taking over games with his greater skill/experience/consistency.

I'm rambling

[Good News]

With all due respect to Fred, who has a realistic shot at being one of the 10 best 4-year players in the history of the program...

It would be disrespectful to Joe or Malcolm to pretend that we don't have a bit of a downtick at PG this year.

I hope FVV proves me wrong, but we were truly among the most fortunate college basketball programs in history to have not one, but TWO left-handed, senior, top-20 PGs that could slash and torch and singlehandedly break a press in back-to-back years.

In fact, I can't even name another program offhand in the last 25 years that had that luxury of a senior understudy.

Nothin' but optimism.

ETR.

[Kung Wu]

nm

[pie n eye]

Have you guys lost your minds?

[MadaboutWu]

they (hall, armstead) will be very difficult to replace! last years ncaa tournament team would do a number on this team (as of now).

Pretty tough standard for November. Is this team currently one of the 4 best teams in April? Clearly not. A better comparison would be with the 2012-13 team in November. Cle has come along way from his experiences last year. Tekele has made himself into a scoring threat to complement his defense. I think FVV marches up nicely w/ early season Armstead. So I like 2013-14 chances. Does that mean this team will catch lightning in a bottle and find the combination of leadership, drive, skill, and luck to be one of the best teams in the country come March. Nope but it could happen. And in the meantime I like our chances to have a better overall regular season than last year.

[another shocker]

Pretty tough standard for November. Is this team currently one of the 4 best teams in April? Clearly not. A better comparison would be with the 2012-13 team in November. Cle has come along way from his experiences last year. Tekele has made himself into a scoring threat to complement his defense. I think FVV marches up nicely w/ early season Armstead. So I like 2013-14 chances. Does that mean this team will catch lightning in a bottle and find the combination of leadership, drive, skill, and luck to be one of the best teams in the country come March. Nope but it could happen. And in the meantime I like our chances to have a better overall regular season than last year.

there's not many teams anywhere in the country as good as the shockers were last april.

i'm starting to worry about carter and coleby on the boards (like when we play, say, tennessee, alabama and st lew here real quick).

[wufan]

Two games in is too early to draw conclusions about a JUCO and a guy who hasn't played in a year. Talk to me at Christmas. Those two do need to be better, but I think they will be.

[Steeleshocker]

there's not many teams anywhere in the country as good as the shockers were last april.

i'm starting to worry about carter and coleby on the boards (like when we play, say, tennessee, alabama and st lew here real quick).

I will worry about rebounding when Marshall retires.

[Bluzrover]

Pretty tough standard for November. Is this team currently one of the 4 best teams in April? Clearly not. A better comparison would be with the 2012-13 team in November. Cle has come along way from his experiences last year. Tekele has made himself into a scoring threat to complement his defense. I think FVV marches up nicely w/ early season Armstead. So I like 2013-14 chances. Does that mean this team will catch lightning in a bottle and find the combination of leadership, drive, skill, and luck to be one of the best teams in the country come March. Nope but it could happen. And in the meantime I like our chances to have a better overall regular season than last year.

Totally agree. Even the ESPN announcers commented that FVV has taken up the PG role quite well in MA's absence. And I think Coleby is showing that he can be as effective on both sides of the court as Carl although he's probably not quite as "angry" that Mr. Hall was last year.

I think HCGM will fix the rebounding and we'll see a more focused team in the next few games. But I would especially like to see better play from Carter and Wessel.