RN

[1972Shocker]

RN will play spot minutes next year just like this year.

Considering we will most likely have Shaq, Darrlyn and Eric available for the next two years it is hard to see Rauno getting more than spot duty the following year either although I guess he is currently sitting ahead of Eric in the depth chart. But who doesn't think Eric has substantially more upside than Rauno over the next two years?

Eric has shown glimpses that he may actually be able to contribute at the 4 as well as the 5. Rauno not so much. Now whether Eric can be saddle broken or not remains to be seen as well.

I think Rauno will be faced with a decision at the end of this year similar to what Jake White faced after his sophomore year. Will hanging around for spot duty for 2 more years be enough for him or does he want to find a program that would provide him with a much better opportunity for significant playing time.

[_kai_]

Nurger redshirts his Junior year?

[shock-it-to-me]

RN will play spot minutes next year just like this year.

I agree. If he wants 20 to 30 minutes a game, he's going to have to go somewhere else. I like the kid a lot, but that's just the reality of the situation. Who knows, maybe he'll prove me wrong.

[1972Shocker]

Nurger redshirts his Junior year?

I suppose he could but he could also transfer like Jake did and use his redshirt year to sit out under the transfer rules or he could opt to go D-II and finish out his career without sitting out a year. A lot will depend on whether 3G wants to tie up a scholarship on Rauno for 3 more years and how Rauno feels about things as well. Once this season concludes I am sure 3G and Rauno will have a very honest discussion about Rauno's prospects, his options and what he has to do to become more than a spot player for the Shocks and then go from there.

And RN may not be the only one that will be faced with the same considerations. Actually a very common occurrence in this day and age.

[WSUwatcher]

You must think Willis is really good.

Well, Marshall seems to think so, or he wouldn't have signed him in the early period.

There's generally someone available late (e.g., Darius Carter) -- but the Shocks really wanted Willis, enough that they didn't want anyone else getting a shot at him after his season. How much he'll play at the 5 isn't yet clear, but he definitely seems likely to be above Rauno on the depth chart.

[asiseeit]

Just my opinion but I just don't see EH playing the post much. I see him as a STRONG stretch four.
I've watched him defend the post and I think it is why RN plays in front of him. Unless Willis can play
D at the five spot RN will be the back up center behind SM who we know normally has two fouls ten
minutes into most every game. Now, having said that I think the fact we will have THREE very strong
power forwards next year ( Willis, EH and RK ) I could see those three all playing together to form a
very strong and athletic front line without a true center and each taking turns at opposing teams five
man. I believe EH's post defense will have to improve dramatically for him to play center very much. Yes,
he is built like a beast but seems to like hanging around the perimeter. So far, it looks to me like he has
the mindset of a stretch four not a center.

[OregonShocker]

For a lot of these players, the reality is that they need to decide what they REALLY want; NBA is not going to happen,so what's the goal? I told my oldest son his Jr year in HS that he wasn't going to get a college scholarship and, due to circumstances, wasn't going to probably see more playing time his Sr. year. He decided what he wanted, just to hang out with the guys, was goal enough. Maybe RN is content to pick up small minutes and hang with a Top D1 program.

[choida]

You must think Willis is really good.

You don't?

[1972Shocker]

I am hoping that Shaq will be able to increase his stamina and decrease his rate of fouling next year so that he can stay on the floor for more than the 15 to 16 minutes a game he his getting this year. Hopefully, Darrlyn Willis proves to be the real deal as well and is at least the equal of Anton but I suppose that remains to be seen. Perhaps both Darrlyn and Eric are capable of flexing between the 4 and 5 spots. Again that remains to be seen as does whether or not Rauno can make the need improvements to his body and in his game. I he can and if Willis and Hamilton are able to play at the 4 effectively that could give 3G some interesting options. Lot of ifs and buts in that mix however.

[Dan]

It's up to Rauno if he wants to be the main guy to rotate with Shaq at the 5. He has got to increase his strength and speed. In an ideal world, we would be able to play Willis and Hamilton at the 4 or 5, depending on need (kinda like Carter). There will be minutes at the 4 with Wessel leaving. We may also see McDuffie sliding down there a bit. Either way, I think our front court will be solid next year with lots of options.

[1972Shocker]

I was looking at Darrlyn's stats: http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/201...rlynwillistnqr

Seems to be a guy who does most of his damage in the paint considering he is shooting 59.3% from the field this year and is 0-2 from 3-point range. He is also averaging 7.3 FT attempts per game hitting a solid 72.5%. It would certainly seem like Pearl River is not using him in a stretch 4 capacity. In any case, I hope he makes a quick transition from the Juco game to the D-1 game. Looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds next year.

[1972Shocker]

I wonder if we will be taking an international tour this summer. That might be particularly beneficial next year considering we will have seniors outside of our 2 walk-ons. I can see that extra work being very valuable for the group that will be here next year.

[Dave Stalwart]

You don't?

I'm sure he's very good. I was speaking more to your faith in those four guys being enough. In my opinion, for those four guys to be enough, Willis will have to be awfully good because I don't think Shaq, Nurger and Hamilton are a formidable front court. Shaq is close though.

[Stickboy46]

I wonder if we will be taking an international tour this summer. That might be particularly beneficial next year considering we will have seniors outside of our 2 walk-ons. I can see that extra work being very valuable for the group that will be here next year.

I believe they passed on taking the international trip this year in order to take it next year

[Dave Stalwart]

he definitely seems likely to be above Rauno on the depth chart.

No doubt about that