Kalif young to providence

[Galway Eagle]

Villanova was not small. Their center out weighed Fischer by 45 pounds and at every position they were significantly stronger than MU.

We've done great in the past playing small in 2008, 2009 we were super small, 2010 we were super small, in 2011 we only had one player who was truly large, in 2012 we were smaller than now.

Not expecting lazar Jimmy or Jae to walk through the door but as Chicos says it's a guards game.

[Jay Bee]

The tweet right after was a picture of Young crystal ball which was 100% for MU. I think that's what the laughter was aimed at. Does Jay Bee control the AE twitter account?

Did Jerry Meyer do one of his "___ to ____. Cristal bowel had it at 100%" type tweets on Young yet?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

No, another (occasional) poster/lurker on the board does.

Sorry shoulda used teal

[MUWarrior4Life]

Ya win some, Ya lose some.

[GGGG]

But wait, we have heard it here that Wojo  always gets his man.

No we haven't.

[mu03eng]

Sorry shoulda used teal

No, you shouldn't, I got what you were doing....my response was more for the less nuanced poster that maybe went after Jay Bee

[Dawson Rental]

Villanova was not small. Their center out weighed Fischer by 45 pounds and at every position they were significantly stronger than MU.

And next year Marquette takes a big step up from being what? the 8th youngest team in Division I?

[Dawson Rental]

Villanova at least had one banger/lane protector in Ochefu on the floor, not to mention a coach who has coached that way for a long time and built his roster accordingly.  I like Luke and he is a nice low post offensive option, but he is hardly a rim protector or a beast on the boards, and who knows if Heldt is even good enough to get minutes?  So what I worry about is who is going to protect the lane and where are the rebounds going to come from?   

Luke's rebounding does need work, but I disagree about him not protecting the rim.  He can be effective doing that. 

[mu03eng]

Style of play will change, but that was likely to happen whether Young or Wally were on the roster. We're going to have to crash the boards with the whole team a lot more meaning less runouts and transition buckets. Also, Sacar will have to step up

[CTWarrior]

Luke's rebounding does need work, but I disagree about him not protecting the rim.  He can be effective doing that.

I just think he fouls too much to be an effective rim protector. 

I hope you turn out to be right.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Last year, we looked like a good high school team playing against men.  Our players need to beef up to compete in the BE.

[MUEng92]

Well, obviously all Wojo is going to have to do is institute a "3 Point/No Misses" offense and the lack of rebounding will take care of itself.

[Jay Bee]

I just think he fouls too much to be an effective rim protector. 

I hope you turn out to be right.

I can think back to some dumb and early fouls...

..but, really.. the numbers don't tell me this to be true.

[Jay Bee]

Bentil confirms he's staying in the NBA draft

[Herman Cain]

Bentil confirms he's staying in the NBA draft

In the short run it hurts Providence and the Big East to lose a quality player. In the medium and long term it will be very helpful if he is a first round draft choice and sticks in the league with some successful years.

[naginiF]

I can think back to some dumb and early fouls...

..but, really.. the numbers don't tell me this to be true.

plus, and i could be totally off my rocker or just remembering the fouls that irked me, but IIRC weren't the games when he got in foul trouble the games where he picked up 2/3 fouls getting caught out of position after having to help on the perimeter?  Therefore a more experienced and deeper perimeter will have him in position more, avoiding those fouls, and able to play more aggressively in his position.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Bentil confirms he's staying in the NBA draft

Mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I always want to keep talented players in the Big East. On the other hand, I think there are about 8 teams in the Big East who are good enough to make the  tournament next season. Bentil leaving drops Providence to the bottom of that list. Gotta be in top 6 to make the dance.

[MU82]

Biggish picture: Bentil leaving weakens the Big East overall somewhat.

Main picture I care about: Glad we won't have to deal with Bentil twice this season.

[bilsu]

Mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I always want to keep talented players in the Big East. On the other hand, I think there are about 8 teams in the Big East who are good enough to make the  tournament next season. Bentil leaving drops Providence to the bottom of that list. Gotta be in top 6 to make the dance.

Big East will get four bids.

[wadesworld]

Big East will get four bids.

The next time the Big East gets 4 (or fewer) bids will be the first.  I'll take the over on that.  More likely to get 7 than we are to get 4.

[HoopsterBC]

The next time the Big East gets 4 (or fewer) bids will be the first.  I'll take the over on that.  More likely to get 7 than we are to get 4.

Depaul,  St. Johns,  Providence, no chance, then there is group that will make it, X and Villy, and Hall will make it.  That leaves 4 teams in the middle, all have issues.
Creighton might be the best of this group, with MU, Butler, and GTown all have a chance.  Conference will be good and challenging.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Big East will get four bids.

You obviously are just gut reacting. There is no way the Big East gets four. X, Nova, and Hall are locks. Butler will be about the same level this year and they made the tourney last season. Marquette, Creighton, Georgetown will all improve significantly. Only Providence will drop significantly.

Look at the landscape of college basketball. Most of the top teams are losing a TON of talent. The Big East, not as much.

[dgies9156]

What I am intrigued about is that Wojo is building the team he wants to run the kind of game he wants and to coach the way he wants.

We have a guard based team, no doubt, and with the exception of Fishy and Heldt, no one over 6'6". There's some depth this year which allows us to rotate people in and out of our line-up more effectively than ever before -- or at least since the H'billy left.

I actually think next year will tell a lot about our future. The challenges are:

   1) Can JJJ step up and shoot, block out and, yes, rebound?
   2) How deep will we really go next year?
   3) Will Hannif step-up and be the team leader. It may be a lot to ask, but it is something needed.

We'll see but I think this is a potentially exciting team and I like the thought one poster already made that we could run our opponents out of the gym!

[fjm]

What I am intrigued about is that Wojo is building the team he wants to run the kind of game he wants and to coach the way he wants.

We have a guard based team, no doubt, and with the exception of Fishy and Heldt, no one over 6'6". There's some depth this year which allows us to rotate people in and out of our line-up more effectively than ever before -- or at least since the H'billy left.

I actually think next year will tell a lot about our future. The challenges are:

   1) Can JJJ step up and shoot, block out and, yes, rebound?
   2) How deep will we really go next year?
   3) Will Hannif step-up and be the team leader. It may be a lot to ask, but it is something needed.

We'll see but I think this is a potentially exciting team and I like the thought one poster already made that we could run our opponents out of the gym!

Truth. My only concern is Luke is the only rock inside. If he has an off day we are living/dying with jump shooting and 3's. (Granted JJJ and Hani, and I guess even the Engine showed some good slashing last year)

[dgies9156]

Truth. My only concern is Luke is the only rock inside. If he has an off day we are living/dying with jump shooting and 3's. (Granted JJJ and Hani, and I guess even the Engine showed some good slashing last year)

Bottom line -- our defense is going to have to take the pressure off Big Fishy. If it does not, Big Fishy and the  bench will know each other better than an old married couple.

Last year, Big Fishy got in foul trouble because he was the last line in a porous defense.