Starters in 2014?

WANTED: Passionate Sycamore Fanatics. That You?

Register NOW to join our community of die-hard Sycamore fans.

Register Log in
sycamorebacker

sycamorebacker

The Nicks Level
Supporter
I can't find the previous thread we had on this but i figured out our starters for next year:

I've moved Smith into the 2g spot.

TBD pg
Smith 2G
Burnett SF
Gant PF
Moore C
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Next year's starters? Really? We have the Wichita State Shockers, one of the very best teams in the nation,coming to the Hulman Center Wednesday night. Indiana State has a reasonable chance to beat them. You are talking about next year's starters. Maybe I need a chill pill, but I get goosebumps just thinking about playing the Shox. Wait til Thursday to ponder next season. Concentrate on WSU--it's going to be a lot of fun.

Let's go Sycamores!!!
 
Last edited:
sycamorebacker said:
BB's getting better. Why can't Smith play guard?
Click to expand...

I think BB will be getting 25 or so minutes next year as long as he stays out of foul trouble. He is really improving and he is great at getting O-rebounds and putting it back or getting fouled. His jumper is getting better, he is a decent 3 point shooter, and he has an okay Jumper. I'd like to see him improve defensively though.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
GuardShock said:
I think BB will be getting 25 or so minutes next year as long as he stays out of foul trouble. He is really improving and he is great at getting O-rebounds and putting it back or getting fouled. His jumper is getting better, he is a decent 3 point shooter, and he has an okay Jumper. I'd like to see him improve defensively though.
Click to expand...

Defense will determine how much Burnett plays next year. He does enough on offense and the boards to earn him playing time, but he's not really big enough to guard the 4 on a regular basis and he's not quick enough to guard the 3 regularly (at this point). His jump shot is really improving and he's a relentless rebounder and hustler...it's just a matter of finding him a position. Tweeners like him generally come off the bench.
 
BrokerZ said:
Defense will determine how much Burnett plays next year. He does enough on offense and the boards to earn him playing time, but he's not really big enough to guard the 4 on a regular basis and he's not quick enough to guard the 3 regularly (at this point). His jump shot is really improving and he's a relentless rebounder and hustler...it's just a matter of finding him a position. Tweeners like him generally come off the bench.
Click to expand...

I guess if we have two guards good enough to start, then we have KS at forward and that would be fine. I'm hoping we get good guard play from the 3-4 we have.
 
BrokerZ said:
Defense will determine how much Burnett plays next year. He does enough on offense and the boards to earn him playing time, but he's not really big enough to guard the 4 on a regular basis and he's not quick enough to guard the 3 regularly (at this point). His jump shot is really improving and he's a relentless rebounder and hustler...it's just a matter of finding him a position. Tweeners like him generally come off the bench.
Click to expand...

That is how I see him. I think he'll be a rotation guy.
 
I've actually been thinking about this more and more. Next year is going to post some very different and unique challenges for this staff that they haven't had since they've been here. First, the program poster boy in Jake Odum will finally graduate so the team for all intents and purposes will have to form a completely new identity. Second, they will have to replace a lot of PT and production. Pretty exciting times.

Guards
Leaving: Cummings, Eitel, Odum
Returning: Brown (JR), Scott (FR)
Newcomers: Bennett (JR), Paige (FR)

This position grouping is going to be very interesting. You return Devonte Brown and he hasn't exactly shown that he is ready to play 30+ minutes a game at either the 1 or 2 spots. How he works on his game this offseason will likely set/seal his fate for his final two years. If Brenton is anything like his brother Bryson, he is going to get a lot of court time and if Bennett can score at the D1 level as he has in the JUCO ranks, he will play a ton, too. Paige is a possible redshirt if the staff wants to use Khristian/Etherington as a big 2 guard at times.

Wings
Leaving: Arop
Returning: Smith (JR), Burnett (JR), Etherington (FR)
Newcomers: None

You have some nice versatility here. I think both Smith and Etherington can play the SG spot and Smith/Burnett can give you minutes at the four when you want to play small ball. I think you see the former Kansas State commit Etherington early and often as he should be one of the better shooters we've had in awhile. I expect big, big things from Khristian in 2014. Burnett is likely the rotational glue guy.

Bigs
Leaving: None
Returning: Gant (SR), Kitchell (SR), Moore (SR), Samuels (SR), Bell (SO)
Newcomers: Murphy (FR)

It appears we will have a logjam of upperclassmen to play the 4-5 spot and it will be interesting to see if they're all here come next year. I believe Jake Kitchell will graduate this offseason so he could potentially be a fifth year transfer elsewhere. I hope that doesn't happen myself, but with how many kids do it in college hoops these days, I'd be naive not to mention it. Everyone will likely play since we love to rotate and keep guys fresh. Gant should be poised for a 16-18ppg season with the number of shot attempts coming off the board with Odum, Cummings and Arop leaving. Murphy will likely redshirt.
 
Last edited:

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Jason Svoboda said:
Bigs
Leaving: None
Returning: Gant (SR), Kitchell (SR), Moore (SR), Samuels (SR), Bell (SO)
Newcomers: Murphy.
Click to expand...

Samuels still has a year of eligibility after this season? Did they medical redshirt him last year?
 
Last edited:
Jason Svoboda said:
I've actually been thinking about this more and more. Next year is going to post some very different and unique challenges for this staff that they haven't had since they've been here. First, the program poster boy in Jake Odum will finally graduate so the team for all intents and purposes will have to form a completely new identity. Pretty exciting times.

Guards
Leaving: Cummings, Eitel, Odum
Returning: Brown (JR), Scott (FR)
Newcomers: Bennett (JR), Paige (FR)

This position grouping is going to be very interesting. You return Devonte Brown and he hasn't exactly shown that he is ready to play 30+ minutes a game at either the 1 or 2 spots. How he works on his game this offseason will likely set/seal his fate for his final two years. If Brenton is anything like his brother Bryson, he is going to get a lot of court time and if Bennett can score at the D1 level as he has in the JUCO ranks, he will play a ton, too. Paige is a possible redshirt if the staff wants to use Khristian/Etherington as a big 2 guard at times.

Wings
Leaving: Arop
Returning: Smith (JR), Burnett (JR), Etherington (FR)
Newcomers: None

You have some nice versatility here. I think both Smith and Etherington can play the SG spot and Smith/Burnett can give you minutes at the four when you want to play small ball. I think you see the former Kansas State commit Etherington early and often as he should be one of the better shooters we've had in awhile. I expect big, big things from Khristian in 2014. Burnett is likely the rotational glue guy.

Bigs
Leaving: None
Returning: Gant (SR), Kitchell (SR), Moore (SR), Samuels (SR), Bell (SO)
Newcomers: Murphy (FR)

It appears we will have a logjam of upperclassmen to play the 4-5 spot and it will be interesting to see if they're all here come next year. I believe Jake Kitchell will graduate this offseason so he could potentially be a fifth year transfer elsewhere. I hope that doesn't happen myself, but with how many kids do it in college hoops these days, I'd be naive not to mention it. Everyone will likely play since we love to rotate and keep guys fresh. Gant should be poised for a 16-18ppg season with the number of shot attempts coming off the board with Odum, Cummings and Arop leaving. Murphy will likely redshirt.
Click to expand...

I would add that I think Brown has done better the last several games. He now has 28 steals and his A/TO ratio is 47/28 and improving. I think he has made some nice passes.
Has not shown the ability to score much against good defenses, though.
 
sycamorebacker said:
I would add that I think Brown has done better the last several games. He now has 28 steals and his A/TO ratio is 47/28 and improving. I think he has made some nice passes.
Has not shown the ability to score much against good defenses, though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, his offensive game is a huge weakness. His best skill is being able to get to the rim but then he isn't a plus free throw shooter so it offsets it. I think his decision making has improved and he is a good on-the-ball defender. This Summer will be make or break for him.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
Yeah, his offensive game is a huge weakness. His best skill is being able to get to the rim but then he isn't a plus free throw shooter so it offsets it. I think his decision making has improved and he is a good on-the-ball defender. This Summer will be make or break for him.
Click to expand...

You mentioned getting to the rim. I've noticed that we have not been able to do that as much in the conference.

Even though I don't like what's going on in basketball now -- the current strategy of "good" teams is to shoot the 3 or drive to the hoop. And when I say drive to the hoop, I mean crash into the defense and "force" your way to the basket. An offensive foul is almost never called if you angle your drive so you are not hitting the defender in the middle of his body.

There is also no such thing as an offensive foul when the center gets the ball on the block and pushes the defender out of the way to create space for his shot.

In the old days, you would try to get to the open spot on the floor for a jumper. Now you take the ball right into the defense and get the foul.
 
Last edited:

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
PG. Scott, Brown
SG. Bennett, Brown, Etherington
SF. K. Smith, Etherington, Burnett
PF. Gant, Bell
C. Moore, Kitch, Samuels

Q and Murphy to redshirt.
 
Quabachi said:
Paige to redshirt, too?
Click to expand...

I think so... Be surprised if Lansing plays him ahead of a JC and Brown.

Not that Brown has done anything to solidify himself - however, Lanaing seems to still be a fan.

With respect to Q, I'd really like to see to him play before I pass judgement. Maybe I shoulda just left him and Murphy out but didn't want to leave anyone out. So he's redshirting until I see something that would suggest otherwise. I can't go based on HS production because I have no idea the level of play he is seeing night in and night out in Texas. It would be just as unfair to Brown for me to put Q ahead of him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top