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Post by redbirdman on Mar 28, 2024 8:32:58 GMT -6
Blackmon leaves Stetson maybe Brown goes back to Stetson in Florida with NIL money. He was the man who got them a win over FSU. Also might look good to Oakland,
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Post by williamtsherman on Mar 29, 2024 7:54:41 GMT -6
What will emerge from the portal?  |
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Post by lmills72 on Mar 29, 2024 15:33:44 GMT -6
The big problem with the portal is it lacks marketing appeal.
Let's call it the "Stargate."
Regular players go in; potential stars come out.
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Post by CallingBS on Apr 3, 2024 19:02:56 GMT -6
Sparks should be very much improved. The guy practiced against one of the best big guys in the country. I cannot imagine Sparks would come back if Jihad was leaving. This has the making of an outstanding front court. Need to fill the gap at guard. If Watts can play and is healthy, you have to find a back up point guard, another shooter and a good back up big who could start in 2 years. It is amazing how one transfer can change your mood. You are way more of a talent expert than me, so I'm sure I'll be happily proven wrong, but count me in the extreme minority that is skeptical that he'll have the kind of impact you all think he will. He's an extremely poor FT shooter. I could see MAC coaches implementing hack a Shaq by putting their crappy players in to foul him early and often. He was a pretty poor defender while here. He has slow feet and seems too bulky now. He's quite foul prone. He's not super skilled offensively. He is a banger and fighter, so I'll take that. Who's to say IU didn't tell him there was no roster spot for him next year? Perhaps it's just my pride talking, but I'm surprised Lewis would want him back. Supposedly their family openly bitched about Lewis' language and treatment of players. And what does it say that Lewis' biggest recruit so far was taking a Big Ten bench dweller back? |
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Post by coastalcard on Apr 3, 2024 19:27:58 GMT -6
☝️⬆️☝️
Ditto
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Post by 00hmh on Apr 3, 2024 19:42:03 GMT -6
If I had a choice of Sparks or Jihad, it's Jihad.
Sparks has the limitations detailed above, but I do think he can be better than he was, and that's pretty good. And he was becoming a good passer from the post which is likely improved after practice and play against better big men.
In another thread I suggested that as good as Jihad is we can replace his outside shooting and improve defensively over a two post team with him by adding a good wing player(or two). With Ben and Doughty we have some size without him.
We're now an inside out team, not five out. Our P&R loses the pop out option, but we have a better post guy.
Biggest loss in the trade of Sparks for Jihad is the FT thing.
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Post by universityjim on Apr 3, 2024 19:43:56 GMT -6
I was excited to see Sparks and Jihad play together with Hendriks and Doughty coming off the bench. Not as excited now about things now. It was a short moment of optimism.
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Post by lmills72 on Apr 3, 2024 20:13:17 GMT -6
Sparks should be very much improved. The guy practiced against one of the best big guys in the country. I cannot imagine Sparks would come back if Jihad was leaving. This has the making of an outstanding front court. Need to fill the gap at guard. If Watts can play and is healthy, you have to find a back up point guard, another shooter and a good back up big who could start in 2 years. It is amazing how one transfer can change your mood. You are way more of a talent expert than me, so I'm sure I'll be happily proven wrong, but count me in the extreme minority that is skeptical that he'll have the kind of impact you all think he will. He's an extremely poor FT shooter. I could see MAC coaches implementing hack a Shaq by putting their crappy players in to foul him early and often. He was a pretty poor defender while here. He has slow feet and seems too bulky now. He's quite foul prone. He's not super skilled offensively. He is a banger and fighter, so I'll take that. Who's to say IU didn't tell him there was no roster spot for him next year? Perhaps it's just my pride talking, but I'm surprised Lewis would want him back. Supposedly their family openly bitched about Lewis' language and treatment of players. And what does it say that Lewis' biggest recruit so far was taking a Big Ten bench dweller back? I'd feel pretty certain IU told Sparks there wasn't a place for him there. If they didn't they should have. Doesn't mean I don't want him. He's a proven commodity in the MAC (but not without flaws, I'd agree.) Before Jihad's announced departure, my expectations for Sparks were not all that high. I expected him to be a good MAC player, but I also expected his role to be diminished this time around, more a physical presence and rebounder inside than a focal point of our game. I guess that might change with Jihad leaving. I do think Sparks was overweight and out of shape early in the season at IU, but I thought he looked a lot better at the end of the year. Makes me wonder if his injury didn't affect his early season conditioning. |
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Post by 00hmh on Apr 3, 2024 20:23:04 GMT -6
I was excited to see Sparks and Jihad play together with Hendriks and Doughty coming off the bench. Not as excited now about things now. It was a short moment of optimism. We weren't going to have many minutes for Doughty and Ben. Certainly they are not replacements for Jihad, but their size and activity gives us better depth at center than we've had. Jihad's place as a 4 is taken by some combination of Pearson, Jones and maybe good wing player. A loss on offense, probably a plus on D. Net a loss in pure talent, Lewis has use the scholarship to make up at least some of that. |
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Post by thebsukid on Apr 3, 2024 21:53:35 GMT -6
I believe we will see a lot of Jones now and I believe he has a lot of upside; he has the ability to knock down outside shots he simply needs a boost in confidence. His defense is solid and if we can find a solid PG I believe we will be improved.
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Post by williamtsherman on Apr 4, 2024 6:14:44 GMT -6
and if we can find a solid PG I believe we will be improved. Well, let's hope so. At this point, we are beginning to run out of room to get worse. |
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Post by coastalcard on Apr 4, 2024 6:21:09 GMT -6
I believe we will see a lot of Jones now and I believe he has a lot of upside; he has the ability to knock down outside shots he simply needs a boost in confidence. His defense is solid and if we can find a solid PG I believe we will be improved. I only have one memory of Jones |
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Post by cardfan on Apr 4, 2024 7:07:12 GMT -6
I believe we will see a lot of Jones now and I believe he has a lot of upside; he has the ability to knock down outside shots he simply needs a boost in confidence. His defense is solid and if we can find a solid PG I believe we will be improved. I only have one memory of Jones Sigh |
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Post by williamtsherman on Apr 4, 2024 8:08:27 GMT -6
I believe we will see a lot of Jones now and I believe he has a lot of upside; he has the ability to knock down outside shots he simply needs a boost in confidence. I'm not so sure. The ability to knock down outside shots is usually demonstrated by the ability to knock down outside shots. |
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Post by thebsukid on Apr 4, 2024 15:40:04 GMT -6
You wait; Jones I believe will show vast offensive improvement this next season! I said something similar about Sparks although several questioned. That’s okay.
Jones was solid defensively all season and to jab him over one bad play is in my opinion quite unfair.
Jones has good shot mechanics and will improve!
He needs to knock down a few and gain confidence
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