Keys to the season

[MEM]

Here are my keys to the season:

1: Kelly will have to score 12 to 15 ppg with 5 assists

2: Lathan will have to stay healthy

3: Odum must prove he can shoot (at least a little) and be able to handle a
MVC season

4: Martin must contribute on a regular basis in regards to rebounding and
defense

I believe if these four things happen everything else will take care of itself.

 

[Jon]

I'll add Mahurin to that. He needs to show growth through the season to help the rotation inside.

 

[Sycamore Proud]

And Walker must learn how to avoid foul trouble.

 

[region rat]

Agree about Kelly, Lathan needs to also not try to do it all and he did more of that with some nice feeds to Mahurin and others, Martin does need to do this in relation to Walker staying out of foul trouble. It seemed Walker gets some cheap fouls and leans into the offensive player under the basket--maybe too aggressive? We also need some scoring from others under the basket to open up the outside shots.

 

[MEM]

And Walker must learn how to avoid foul trouble.

I totally agree, but I haven't seen any indication he will be able to. This is why Martin is so important. Kitchell is not ready to make a big impact (imo) and Mahurin was getting pushed around by d-3 players. Both of these guys will have to help, but I hope they don't have to play too big of a roll.

 

[landrus13]

IMO, the referess called Walker on a lot of those fouls because RHIT and Wabash aren't really up to the physicality of Indiana State. RHIT was not that physical at all, and that is probably why the referees called a lot of fouls on us. I don't know much about Wabash, because I wasn't at the game.

 

[Southgrad07]

IMO, the referess called Walker on a lot of those fouls because RHIT and Wabash aren't really up to the physicality of Indiana State. RHIT was not that physical at all, and that is probably why the referees called a lot of fouls on us. I don't know much about Wabash, because I wasn't at the game.

The Rose players were not nearly as big but Wabash's center was walkers height and size. Not as cut, actually the guy was kinda fat but still walker played against a guy his size and he still got into foul trouble. It is going to be a theme all year. Kitchell should not be redshirted because we need that body. I think by the middle of valley play he should be ready to help out off the bench and that is worth burning the redshirt to me. We have gant in the pipeline waiting to come in and Rhett Smith looks to be heavily leaning towards ISU so we can afford to spare Kitchell's last year. Bottom line though is Mr. Martin its time to produce for your team! I would just take his production from his freshman year that would be great ray:

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

You know it would be one thing if all of those fouls called on Walker were clearly fouls, but that just wasn't the case... The fact that he is not protected by another other bigs in our entire roster is a problem in and of itself, don't you think that teams are going to attack Walker from the opening tip?

I am suggesting that his foul troubles are going to have more to do with the referees and other teams going at him, more so than it will have to do with him being a "hack", the guy is a physical player and if they are not going to allow him to bang like big time college basketball is played then he's going to get in some troubles.

But his type of physical play is the same type of physical play that will give guys like JuJuan Johnson hell, because he can step away from the hoop and defend and he will not let you push him around and get position inside like a guy like Johnson so often does. If allowed to play and rough it up a bit he can be effective, but teams will attack him because our lack of depth at that position. Martin has never turned into the player that many of you thought he might. What makes us think that is going to happen now?

 

[landrus13]

I'd rather have Walker and Martin than Brant Leitnaker. That guy was absolutely terrible.

 

[Eleven]

Bottom line though is Mr. Martin its time to produce for your team! I would just take his production from his freshman year that would be great ray:

Still haven't seen him be given the chance.
Maybe I've missed it.... he sure doesn't get in very much or for very long...

 

[Eleven]

Martin has never turned into the player that many of you thought he might. What makes us think that is going to happen now?

Put him in regularly and see what happens...

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I'd rather have Walker and Martin than Brant Leitnaker. That guy was absolutely terrible.

I wasn't really taking this as an opportunity to knock any other player, especially a guy who is not on the team anymore. What's going to happen next year and or what happened last year really doesn't concern me at this point. Brant Leitnaker did anything and everything that was asked of him and he's gone now, no reason to take a shot at him. I was simply pointing out that Martin has not lived up to expectations, can anyone tell me what we should expect out of Martin? Because at this point I am not sure what he provides us outside of some rebounding, hustle and he is a plus, plus shot blocker.

 

[Eleven]

I was simply pointing out that Martin has not lived up to expectations, can anyone tell me what we should expect out of Martin? Because at this point I am not sure what he provides us outside of some rebounding, hustle and he is a plus, plus shot blocker.

We will never know until he is given some minutes. Has anyone seen him get abused while he's been on the floor? There must be something about practice or something... he just can't stay on the floor... and when he is pulled out, he hasn't really done anything wrong that *I* can see. Biggest knock that I can find is that he helps on penetration too much at times, and leaves his guy open for the bunny.... but come on, can't that be coached out of him??

I just want to watch a game and be able to say: "NOW I know why he doesn't get any minutes. Now I understand."

That just hasn't happened yet.. at least to my limited basketball knowledged eye.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Put him in regularly and see what happens...

Ok so that's your argument? I don't have the ability to do that, do you? What makes you think that is going to happen either, he's had 2 or 3 coaches now right? Lansing hasn't played him very much in the pre-season, but again it's just pre-season.

Hey, he's probably going to get "regular" minutes because Walker is going to get in foul trouble, that's just the way it's going to be. Look my post was more so defending Walker than it was a knock on Martin. I don't know what he can do, because I haven't seen it. I was simply asking what he can do? I know expectations were high when he arrived, do you still think he can live up to those?

 

[landrus13]

You are basically knocking on Martin. You don't get to play a lot when you are behind Tunnell, Yelovich, and Crawford. Those were 3 good 5's that we haven't had the early parts of this decade.

 

[Southgrad07]

Seem to remember him being pretty servicable his freshman season. 5.4 points 3.6 boards and 2 blocks a game. I'd take that in a heartbeat. If Tunnell could turn it on for his last half of his sr season why couldnt he? Not saying he will produce like Tunnell did but we dont need him to. What I mean by step up is 5 pts 4 boards and 1 or 2 blocks a game. I think that is obtainable for him and greatly needed if we want to succeed. EIther him or Kitchell needs to provide that stat line for us this yr to be a NCAA contender.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I am not going to argue with you Landrus, if you think I was knocking Martin then fine... I think you are the one that came out and called someone that is not on the team anymore "absolutely terrible" or something to that effect, really classy.

Not to mention that Crawford and Mic should not be put in the same class as Tunnell, in no way, shape or form were those guys near as good as Jay and while we are on the topic Jay never really played like we expected he would until his SR. year. He battled some injuries and conditioning issues because of those injuries, but come on Landrus Crawford and Mic in the same sentence as Tunnell? In the words of the late Harry Carry, Holy Cow!

 

[Southgrad07]

You are basically knocking on Martin. You don't get to play a lot when you are behind Tunnell, Yelovich, and Crawford. Those were 3 good 5's that we haven't had the early parts of this decade.

You lost me with Yelovich and Crawford lol. They were far from good 5's. Yelovich was one of the worse wastes of size ive ever seen and Crawford other than like 2 games his sr year was a huge disappointment. Martin should of played more in front of those guys IMO but im not a coach maybe he didnt put the effort in day in and day out i dont know :meditate:

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Seem to remember him being pretty servicable his freshman season. 5.4 points 3.6 boards and 2 blocks a game. I'd take that in a heartbeat. If Tunnell could turn it on for his last half of his sr season why couldnt he? Not saying he will produce like Tunnell did but we dont need him to. What I mean by step up is 5 pts 4 boards and 1 or 2 blocks a game. I think that is obtainable for him and greatly needed if we want to succeed. EIther him or Kitchell needs to provide that stat line for us this yr to be a NCAA contender.

Good deal and thanks for response, that's all I was really looking for. I hope he's able to produce! Again, just point out that the way things are shaping up Walkers foul troubles are going to be more attributed to being a product of the system than his own personal inability to defend without fouling, that's the only point I was really trying to make. Simply because Martin has yet to step up and make his presence known, you can say that's because he hasn't got a chance or whatever you want. Fact is, it hasn't happened yet and that's all I have to go by. Not what he did his freshman year, at this point that means very little to me.

 

[Southgrad07]

Good deal and thanks for response, that's all I was really looking for. I hope he's able to produce! Again, just point out that the way things are shaping up Walkers foul troubles are going to be more attributed to being a product of the system than his own personal inability to defend without fouling, that's the only point I was really trying to make. Simply because Martin has yet to step up and make his presence known, you can say that's because he hasn't got a chance or whatever you want. Fact is, it hasn't happened yet and that's all I have to go by. Not what he did his freshman year, at this point that means very little to me.

I concur. Thats what the ray: sign was for. lol I hope he can play like his freshman season, but in all reality i think we might have a better chance seeing it out of Kitchell. And I agree about the Walker statement. He is the lone ranger on front court and couple that with is physical play he will be riding the pine a lot this season with foul trouble.