Id say its fair to say we have a lot of unanswered questions. That doesn't mean we wont get good answers to those questions, but anyone who thinks they know how the Sycamores will fare should start a business predicting winning lottery numbers.
Key positions getting their first taste of Div 1 basketball.....and how they react to this. The last competitive games a few of the Sycamores have played were against High School players.....there is a learning curve...a very steep one. The early games will be all over the map IMO. With pre conference games against Butler, St Louis, Illinois and either Baylor or Memphis.....whew..
So it doesn't bother me right now to see us listed by some as a play in team on Thursday, or a top 3 team...because they are both possible.
A few keys, most obvious
!. Gant and Smith have to be consistent scorers each night, and should feed off each other. No 4 pt games from Gant or Smith will do
2. Kitchell needs to be solid in the post, play well enough that Gant can stay at the 4 and Kitch has shown ability to make plays
3. PG, Obviously...No one will be Jake Odum and we don't need Tre or Scott to try and be like him. Just get us into our sets and make good decisions in the open court.
4. Burnett, Etherington, Bell need to be able to be solid when they get in, and this will expand their minutes...earn the trust of the coaches and that will help our rotations late in games.
5. Prusator....We need a knock down threat from deep.....it opens up driving lanes and helps keep posts from being doubled....
6. Brown. Devonte has been given the banner of our best defender by Coach.....he is going to have his hands full this year, but Im looking for a big step forward for his whole game this year.
7. Rebounding...Gant has to get more than 4rpg....Smith can be a solid rebounder. Our guards seem to have a nose for the ball and that will need to continue.
I hope to see some of you at the Liberty game Sat
