Looking Ahead to 2011-2012 Season

[Eleven]

According to Jason's Eligibility Guide, here is how we are going to look for the coming year:

Senior Eligibility (4)
G Jordan Printy *
G Dwayne Lathan
F Carl Richard
C Myles Walker

Junior Eligibility (1)
F Koang Doluony *

Sophomore Eligibility (5)
G Jake Odum *
G Lucas Eitel %
G Logan Eitel %
G Steve McWhorter
F RJ Mahurin *

Freshman Eligibility (4)
G Devonte Brown
G Brandon Burnett
F Jake Kitchell*
F Justin Gant

Legend
* Denotes Redshirt
# Denotes Medical Redshirt
% Denotes Walk-On

My question is this...
If you look at all non-incoming-freshmen players, you have a total of 11 players eligible

11 players is a pretty short bench (especially considering 2 of them are walk-ons with limited playing time so far - and one is a redshirt freshman) .. I would imagine that at least one of the incoming freshman will play. Looking over the positions available and the talent coming in, who do you think is best fitted to come in and give some quality minutes this year?

 

[Eleven]

I was hoping that Gant would be able to redshirt this year... just to get stronger and quicker... but looking over the depth chart, my guess is that he plays this year.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Here is my projected line-up for next year:

PG: Odum
SG: Printy
SF: Lathan
PF: Richard
C: Walker

Bench
RJ (in for Printy), that moves Lathan to the 2 and Richard to the 3
Steve
Kitchell
Gant
Burnett

Now obviously this asks for big minutes out of your freshman (Kitchell, Gant and Burnett), they are really going to have to step in and play right away - I don't see how it would work any other way. Especially since we graduate 4 players this year - those guys are going to be vital to our success in 2012-2013. As much as it will hurt losing the likes of JP, Richard, Walker and Lathan adding Manny Arop, R. Smith and K. Smith is pretty darn solid.

With that said, I think between the 3 of them you have to assume that Kitchell is the most D1 game ready as he red-shirted a year and knows what to expect. But Gant and Burnett will be viable options if Kitchell is not ready go.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Fast Forward to 2012-2013

Senior Eligibility (1)
F Koang Doluony

Junior Eligibility (5)
G Jake Odum
G Lucas Eitel
G Logan Eitel
G Steve McWhorter
F RJ Mahurin
F Manny Arop

Sophomore Eligibility (4)
G Devonte Brown
G Brandon Burnett
F Jake Kitchell
F Justin Gant

Freshman Eligibility (2)
F Rhett Smith
F Khristian Smith

What you have here is a recipe for success, the Sycamores will be an experienced team this year. The only problem as 11 point out, could lack some depth. But 2012 -2013 looks really promising and 2013 -2014 looks to me like a sweet 16 team - just saying. At that point we will be looking at like 4 consecutive years (if all goes as planned) of winning basketball. The Hulman Center will be full by that time...

 

[sycamorebacker]

I was hoping that Gant would be able to redshirt this year... just to get stronger and quicker... but looking over the depth chart, my guess is that he plays this year.

I think we'll be ok at PF with RJ, KD, and Richard. Burnett has the size for it too. I guess it depends on how Gant looks in practice, but I suspect he is going to get burned defensively.

 

[give me heart]

How are RJ and Kitch coming along? Should be some great practices. Hopefully, Koang and DL's rehab is on track and going well.

Looking at starters means less to me than minutes and quality minutes.

Oh, and minutes will be hard for Coach to spread around which is a good problem to have. Gant's time will depend on RJ's play. I truly believe that Burnett will get minutes. Who's minutes is the question. I also think Brown will redshirt.

 

[bigsportsfan]

I think we'll be ok at PF with RJ, KD, and Richard. Burnett has the size for it too. I guess it depends on how Gant looks in practice, but I suspect he is going to get burned defensively.

I am confident that Gant's defense will improve under Coach Lansing and his staff. He'll be fine.

 

[sycamorebacker]

I am confident that Gant's defense will improve under Coach Lansing and his staff. He'll be fine.

I know it will. I'm just saying that we will have other PF's with experience.