2016-17 Predictions and Expectations

[shockmonster]

Think we will end up seeing Reaves supplant Frankamp as the starting point guard staying around the time we play in Atlantis. Will be much more suited to guard quicker guards, something we struggled with last year. Not that most teams don't struggle with that a bit, but I think it improves our chances in games.

But that's a bold prediction.

Did you get this "feeling" because you watched Reaves play against Division 1 college talent? He was recruited by the WSU coaches because he had a lot of potential. But facts are that Reaves
1. Was not highly recruited by Division 1 teams (Arkansas State was another of his offers)
2. Was a 3 star recruit
3. Was from one of the smallest classes in Arkansas
4. Frankamp was Top 40 4 star recruit, recruited by everyone, and played in the largest high school class in Kansas

I don't care who ends up starting, and admittedly have not seen Reaves play yet. However, let's talk about facts that we know, and let it play out on the court.

[WuShock16]

For point guards, it isn't weight, powerlifting or wrestling that's important, but rather athletic ability, quickness and technique. Ernie Moore was 6-foot and about a hundred and sixty pounds, but he played with ambidextrous athletic ability, smoothness, and extreme quickness from the time he first stepped on the court as a freshman. I haven't seen Austin, accept for a short clip, but I believe he can play as a freshman. FM

Random...but you don't have relatives in Ark City by chance, do you?

[Aargh]

Reaves is going to have to make the adjustment from small school HS ball in Arkansas to high-level D1 ball. He looked great in the highlight videos, but that was against guys without anything resembling the speed and quickness he's going to be facing.

I think it's unrealistic to expect much, if anything, from Reaves this year. VanVleet didn't have any significant production until post-season of his Fr year, and his highlights were against several of the top 5 HS PG's in the nation before his Sr year.

Production from Reaves this year (and possibly next year) will be a bonus, and should not be an expectation. Between Smith and Frankamp, we better have PG covered for the next 2 years. All Reaves has to do is be the 3rd option at PG for the next 2 years. Give the kid a chance to adjust to D1.

[Fred Marrs]

Random...but you don't have relatives in Ark City by chance, do you?

Don't know. Last name is Scottish. Might be if spelled the same.

[Kel Varnsen]

Did you get this "feeling" because you watched Reaves play against Division 1 college talent? He was recruited by the WSU coaches because he had a lot of potential. But facts are that Reaves
1. Was not highly recruited by Division 1 teams (Arkansas State was another of his offers)
2. Was a 3 star recruit
3. Was from one of the smallest classes in Arkansas
4. Frankamp was Top 40 4 star recruit, recruited by everyone, and played in the largest high school class in Kansas

I don't care who ends up starting, and admittedly have not seen Reaves play yet. However, let's talk about facts that we know, and let it play out on the court.

I agree that it sounds a little crazy on the surface. But the reports I'm hearing indicate that Austin is doing quite well and has a chance to be playing a lot. And I have had the chance to watch a practice where Austin performed quite well.

[shockmonster]

The best case scenario is for him to be that good. However, I've been under the impression that with his injury, he's only competed in controlled practice situations and not in a physical environment where his lack of strength and size would be a factor.

[jdshock]

1. Was not highly recruited by Division 1 teams (Arkansas State was another of his offers)
2. Was a 3 star recruit
3. Was from one of the smallest classes in Arkansas

I think it's good to temper our expectations for all incoming freshmen, but solely because they're freshman. A similar list of three facts could be said about Ron Baker. The facts you listed appear not to have much correlation with the success of HCGM players.

[shockmonster]

I think it's good to temper our expectations for all incoming freshmen, but solely because they're freshman. A similar list of three facts could be said about Ron Baker. The facts you listed appear not to have much correlation with the success of HCGM players.

The fact you left out was that I said that I hadn't seen him against Division 1 competition (even his own team except in controlled practice situations where injury couldn't be made worse).

When Ron was a Redshirt, I heard early comments that the coaching staff was excited. However, he still redshirted. It's great to be excited about Reaves ( and proclaim that one is excited), but to proclaim him a starter prior to seeing anything except controlled scrimmages, goes beyond the facts as we know them. However, we do know that he was a good small school player in Arkansas.

[Kel Varnsen]

Merely an aside, but I'm pretty sure Austin dunked on the entire state of Arkansas in one of the highlight videos he had.

[Cdizzle]

Merely an aside, but I'm pretty sure Austin dunked on the entire state of Arkansas in one of the highlight videos he had.

Ahh, the ole' family reunion weekend basketball tournament. Good times.

[WstateU]

I think it's good to temper our expectations for all incoming freshmen, but solely because they're freshman. A similar list of three facts could be said about Ron Baker. The facts you listed appear not to have much correlation with the success of HCGM players.

The fact you left out was that I said that I hadn't seen him against Division 1 competition (even his own team except in controlled practice situations where injury couldn't be made worse).

When Ron was a Redshirt, I heard early comments that the coaching staff was excited. However, he still redshirted. It's great to be excited about Reaves ( and proclaim that one is excited), but to proclaim him a starter prior to seeing anything except controlled scrimmages, goes beyond the facts as we know them. However, we do know that he was a good small school player in Arkansas.

Wasn't Ron a redshirt 'preferred' walk-on his first year? I recall we didn't have a scholarship for him. I believe he could have been the next LeBron and would have still redshirted. I may be all wet? CRS disease is here.

[shockmonster]

Wasn't Ron a redshirt 'preferred' walk-on his first year? I recall we didn't have a scholarship for him. I believe he could have been the next LeBron and would have still redshirted. I may be all wet? CRS disease is here.

I think you are partially correct but part of the reason that he didn't play is bacause of the number of wings we had, Ron felt he would play sparingly. Murray, Williams, (kid from Utah forget his name), I don't remember them all but we played 10-11 players.

Whatever the case with Baker, I'm not saying Reaves should redshirt. He may be good enough to start at some point this year. However, for anyone to ANOINT him a starter NOW is ridiculous. He has to EARN it. Now, quit twisting my words. :)

[shock]

I think you are partially correct but part of the reason that he didn't play is bacause of the number of wings we had, Ron felt he would play sparingly. Murray, Williams, (kid from Utah forget his name), I don't remember them all but we played 10-11 players.

Whatever the case with Baker, I'm not saying Reaves should redshirt. He may be good enough to start at some point this year. However, for anyone to ANOINT him a starter NOW is ridiculous. He has to EARN it. Now, quit twisting my words. :)

Baker was in the middle/end of baseball season and had a visit with North Dakota and KU back to back. After the NDSU visit he felt like practicing at Kansas would only embarrass himself. iirc it took some convincing on marshalls end to get him to visit. They put a deal in front of him and he felt that he needed to work on his body to be a D1 player. Armstud told Marshall during their redshirt season that Baker was the best player on the team. It had nothing to do with the amount of players. Baker would have started over everyone but Toure.

[shockmonster]

They put a deal in front of him and he felt that he needed to work on his body to be a D1 player.

Interesting. Ron was probably 6'4 and 200 lbs. or more (a HS Line Backer) and he thought he needed to put on more muscle. When Reaves grows into his 6'5 body, with his handles, athleticism, and first step, he will be a match up problem for others.

[ShockdaWorld]

Let's be real honest about it. If Austin had been recruited by Dook or FUUK or FUKU, he'd not be a 3 star. He'd be minimum 4 and more likely 5, until he committed to WSU, at which point he'd go back to being a 3 star. That's just the way the system works.