Which One of Our Newbies Will Break-Out in NCAA Tourney???

[60Shock]

We can certainly hope after a full regular season behind them that one or more of our freshmen will suddenly see the light and make some key plays to help the team, even if it is only simply not screwing up while a starter gets a short rest. Unfortunately, other than perhaps for Shaq, we only saw this on very limited occasions throughout the entire year. Assuming we beat Indiana, the key is, what help do you realistically think they are going to bring against KU?

For it is extremely unlikely that we can beat KU with only six players contributing.

[another shocker]

shaq attack

[ShockerPrez]

This is my train of thought on this.

1. If my mind serves, FVV was pretty erratic his freshman year until the tournament. So not gonna look at past performance to predict future outcomes too much.

2. Ron Baker would have broke out earlier, but was hurt all year.

3. The NCAA tourney is a different animal. The games are different than MVC games. MVC games are riding a merry go round. The NCAA is a roller coaster.

4. We recruit players/athletes to compete in the NCAA tournament.

5. We got our taste of the finality of a post season loss against Ill St. And I don't think we liked it.

6. The 3 main candidates to breakout based on opportunities I think will be Shaq, Brown and Kelly.

7. All 3 are athletes and built to play in the NCAA, I believe whole heartedly.

8. All 3 will break out!!

[ShockerPrez]

Just think they get to be athletes and show off. A chance to stretch their legs and play ball.

[WillieJeffJeffries]

Yeah, I completely agree. That's why I said other than Ron or Fred, we haven't had freshman become major contributors--it's not normal beyond those two guys.

I guess the point I'm trying to make (poorly) is that if we're looking for a freshman to step up in the next couple of weeks, we may be disappointed. However, if we do see it happen, that is a great omen for the next 3 years.

When we went to the FF a lot of players had to step up as the season progressed because we lost so much the year b4. Baker and V Vleet came on thelast half of the season but also Cle went nuts in the tourney and Cotton was starting to get minutes as well. The problem this year is that none of the JC guys really have established any consistent production.

[jocoshock]

Brown, Morris, and Wamukota (defense).

[jocoshock]

This is my train of thought on this.

1. If my mind serves, FVV was pretty erratic his freshman year until the tournament. So not gonna look at past performance to predict future outcomes too much.

2. Ron Baker would have broke out earlier, but was hurt all year.

3. The NCAA tourney is a different animal. The games are different than MVC games. MVC games are riding a merry go round. The NCAA is a roller coaster.

4. We recruit players/athletes to compete in the NCAA tournament.

5. We got our taste of the finality of a post season loss against Ill St. And I don't think we liked it.

6. The 3 main candidates to breakout based on opportunities I think will be Shaq, Brown and Kelly.

7. All 3 are athletes and built to play in the NCAA, I believe whole heartedly.

8. All 3 will break out!!

Fred has never been erratic..

[ShockerPrez]

Fred has never been erratic..

Freshman year prior to the postseason?

[jocoshock]

Freshman year prior to the postseason?

No. His playing time was carefully controlled, and he played within his limitations. I remember significant concern over Malcolm's erratic play mid-season. In fact, it was when Marshall inserted Fred at point and moved Malcolm to the two spot temporarily, that Malcolm got untracked and became Armstud instead of Armdud..

I remember no such concern over Fred. If you can provide previous threads supporting that in a significant way, I will stand corrected.

[kochHead]

Yes, I do basketball. Do you even English?

Lol, sorry I didn't mean to get personal with my original post. I just disagree with your assessment of Shaq's athleticism and defensive capabilities. I think Shaq is better than either Lufile or Coleby right now, not will be.

I hope you know the "do you even basketball, bro?" is a joke. That aside, I didn't take anything you said personally. Defensively and as overall athletes Lufile and Coleby were better than Shaq now. Offensively Shaq might have a better skill set.

I even English, bro! Just not well.

[choida]

I hope you know the "do you even basketball, bro?" is a joke. That aside, I didn't take anything you said personally. Defensively and as overall athletes Lufile and Coleby were better than Shaq now. Offensively Shaq might have a better skill set.

I even English, bro! Just not well.

On that note..."do you even lift brother?"

[WstateU]

On that note..."do you even lift brother?"

[Jhook89]

We are going to need Bush if we make it far in the tourney. Most the top teams have great bigs.

[ShockerPrez]

No. His playing time was carefully controlled, and he played within his limitations. I remember significant concern over Malcolm's erratic play mid-season. In fact, it was when Marshall inserted Fred at point and moved Malcolm to the two spot temporarily, that Malcolm got untracked and became Armstud instead of Armdud..

I remember no such concern over Fred. If you can provide previous threads supporting that in a significant way, I will stand corrected.

You may be confusing my memory of inconsistency with concern. I don't think there was concern. However I know there were threads discussing Fred's progression and being ready for the reigns. He had a learning curve. He didn't become AA with his regular season play in his Frosh year. He did in his freaking unreal breakout on our way to the Final 4 and daggering the Buckeyes. And the rest is history.

That's my point.

[wusphlash]

You are going to see nine players for the rest of our season. The starters + ZB, SM, RK and BW. The rest of them will not see game time during the next 3 weeks unless something really unexpected happens.