More Guards????

[zooropa]

Re: More Guards????

I got called out on another board for being optimistic about the Jacks' chances this year...

According to that Jacks fan, the men are going to get 'destroyed' in the post this year.

The only argument in favor of that conclusion appears to start and end with "Jacks didn't sign any bigs"---which would be a concern if, say, the Jacks had *graduated* bigs.

Nobody has explained how Dykstra, Heemstra & Fiegen will be greater defensive liabilities this year. I'm waiting for that explanation, and I'm certain that I'll never get it.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: More Guards????

Bottom line is it wasn't lack of bigs last year that caused us to struggle defensively and on the boards. It was a commitment on the players to becoming a defensively solid team.
SUPERBUNNY

Disagree.

I think it was the lack of size and interior defense.

And Zoo, to your last post:

Yes, we didn't graduate anybody, but the players we return got "destroyed" in the post last year. Of course they will improve but I don't think it will be enough to show drastic improvement. Maybe I'll be wrong though.

[witness]

Re: More Guards????

Disagree.

I think it was the lack of size and interior defense.

And Zoo, to your last post:

Yes, we didn't graduate anybody, but the players we return got "destroyed" in the post last year. Of course they will improve but I don't think it will be enough to show drastic improvement. Maybe I'll be wrong though.

personally i think that our true posts werent ready last year no matter what. i.e. Heemstra. I am interested in Heemstra more than anything. as posted earlier Dykstra is up to 240 and Fiegen is up to 230, so they got bigger which will help. Dykstra had like an 89 rating coming out of high school, whereas Heemstra had an 87 rating so its not like Heemstra is terrible or can't compete at this level

[JACKGUYII]

Re: More Guards????

I think we are going to have a pretty good team whether we add a "big" or not. I was looking at your projections and it just kind of hit me. Does everyone remember when we made the move to D1 how there was a lot of fear that we would be almost forced into recruiting big-city kids, players that may have some questionable character, and get away from the type of kid that made us succesful at the D2 level?

Well, here we are in 2011 with what will almost certainly be our best D1 team to date and look at where the players are from. From South Dakota you have a couple from Madison, Brookings, Viborg, N. Sioux City, and Winner. A couple kids from Rock Valley and one from Council Bluffs in Iowa. A lone Minnesotan from St. Cloud. Seneca (IL), Brookfield (WI), and Palatine (IL) don't strike me as huge places. I believe Merriville (IN) has a Honda vehicle plant so it must be decent sized. No idea on Silistra, Bulgaria. The lone "Big City" kid is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Just thought it was interesting that we are doing what we are doing with a bunch of fine young men that we can be proud to have wearing the Jackrabbit uniform. Sure, there have been a couple bumps along the way but that happened back in the day as well.

Keep up the great recruiting! Looking forward to the coming year!

SUPERBUNNY

This kind of post makes my skin crawl. Too imply kids that come from outside the region or from a big city have "questionable character" is a broad generalization and may speak to your own lack of character. I remember Nagy getting a question that insunated this very thing and he met it head on with a lot of emotion that they would go get players no matter where it took them. I have had my issues with the recruiting but, don't care if they come from a big town or little town or if they are green or blue. If they are good citizens, make grades and make a contribution on the court than that's what counts. Once they commit to the Jacks they are part of the family. We haven't proven anything yet by are recruiting footprint.

[Prairiehaas]

Re: More Guards????

"Always with the negative waves Moriarity, always with the negatives waves."

[zooropa]

Re: More Guards????

You know, the relentless negativity from some on this board has finally convinced me.

The only sensible thing to do at this point is drop men's basketball.

[smoothjack]

Re: More Guards????

I like the recruits, Wolters won't be around forever. I'm not as concerned about our bigs as some of you. Benson is gone and there isn't a similar dominate center in our league. I'm more concerned about us finding a consistent third scoring option, I hope White can fill the void left by Sargent.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: More Guards????

You know, the relentless negativity from some on this board has finally convinced me.

The only sensible thing to do at this point is drop men's basketball.

Dammit. I read your first sentence and I thought your second was going to be you saying you were going to quit coming here.

No such luck.

You should stop getting my hopes up :/

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: More Guards????

This kind of post makes my skin crawl. Too imply kids that come from outside the region or from a big city have "questionable character" is a broad generalization and may speak to your own lack of character. I remember Nagy getting a question that insunated this very thing and he met it head on with a lot of emotion that they would go get players no matter where it took them. I have had my issues with the recruiting but, don't care if they come from a big town or little town or if they are green or blue. If they are good citizens, make grades and make a contribution on the court than that's what counts. Once they commit to the Jacks they are part of the family. We haven't proven anything yet by are recruiting footprint.

Completely agree. Odd post, Superbunny.

[zooropa]

Re: More Guards????

I'm more concerned about us finding a consistent third scoring option, I hope White can fill the void left by Sargent.

I agree. The Jacks need a catch-and-shoot player.

I think that was a bigger concern with Sargent graduating than any other.

[NoVaJack]

Re: More Guards????

This kind of post makes my skin crawl. Too imply kids that come from outside the region or from a big city have "questionable character" is a broad generalization and may speak to your own lack of character. I remember Nagy getting a question that insunated this very thing and he met it head on with a lot of emotion that they would go get players no matter where it took them. I have had my issues with the recruiting but, don't care if they come from a big town or little town or if they are green or blue. If they are good citizens, make grades and make a contribution on the court than that's what counts. Once they commit to the Jacks they are part of the family. We haven't proven anything yet by are recruiting footprint.

Reps on this and I'd double Rep if I could. This is as vital a point as anyone has made on this board in a long time. Good people come from all places.

[NoVaJack]

Re: More Guards????

You know, the relentless negativity from some on this board has finally convinced me.

The only sensible thing to do at this point is drop men's basketball.

Or convince the NCAA to give Keith Benson another four years' of eligibility and then convince him to come play for the Jacks. Either way, we're in a bad fix* - not much to look forward to after a 19-win season last year with highly rated freshmen bigs who by all reports are working hard to make themselves stronger and better, a plethora of underclass 3-4s who are said to be doing the same thing, and as deep pool of young guards as we've ever had. Yes sirree, it is always best to focus on what you didn't get or don't have.
*double secret sarcasm alert

[Nidaros]

Re: More Guards????

I think we are going to have a pretty good team whether we add a "big" or not. I was looking at your projections and it just kind of hit me. Does everyone remember when we made the move to D1 how there was a lot of fear that we would be almost forced into recruiting big-city kids, players that may have some questionable character, and get away from the type of kid that made us succesful at the D2 level?

Well, here we are in 2011 with what will almost certainly be our best D1 team to date and look at where the players are from. From South Dakota you have a couple from Madison, Brookings, Viborg, N. Sioux City, and Winner. A couple kids from Rock Valley and one from Council Bluffs in Iowa. A lone Minnesotan from St. Cloud. Seneca (IL), Brookfield (WI), and Palatine (IL) don't strike me as huge places. I believe Merriville (IN) has a Honda vehicle plant so it must be decent sized. No idea on Silistra, Bulgaria. The lone "Big City" kid is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Just thought it was interesting that we are doing what we are doing with a bunch of fine young men that we can be proud to have wearing the Jackrabbit uniform. Sure, there have been a couple bumps along the way but that happened back in the day as well.

Keep up the great recruiting! Looking forward to the coming year!

SUPERBUNNY

Palatine Ill is a middle class suburb of Chicago. Its not located in the middle of a cow pasture so I guess being from Palatine would make one a Big City Kid.

I dont recall any questionable characters recuited at the D2 level. I think we have always looked for academic fits when recruiting and more so at the D1 level since requirements are higher and require progress towards a degree. Some did not work out at the D2 level, but some were very plesant surprises such as Chris White. I believe the staff works hard at finding the right fits at the JUCO level since that is where most of the "BIG CITY" kids end up due to rotten public school systems often found in the Big city. You should remember every recruit is a product or reflection of the school system that they came from. Grizzled Jack, some time back, brought up a private school in Cinncinati that preps student athletes for college, maybe we need more of these institutions in order to help the BIG CITY kids with talent. After all SDSU is in the business of education and not recruiting pure athletic talent. Best we not forget that.

[SDSUAlum08]

Re: More Guards????

I agree. The Jacks need a catch-and-shoot player.

I think that was a bigger concern with Sargent graduating than any other.

Anyone can catch and shoot, although some are obviously better than others. I think the team needs someone else, besides Nate, that can create their own shot. No one besides Nate was able to do that last year and it really hurts your offense when the shot clock is running down and there's no where to go. Sargent was great, but he needed a screen or a kickout to get his shot off. I'm hoping one of the new international freshman are able to do this, specifically Francis. He looks like someone that can get to the rim.

[bub94]

Re: More Guards????

The two seniors were Clint and Moss. Griff is still around for another year.

My hope is one of these players can be a true scorer and can create his own shot. Nate was really the only one that could do that last year and having someone else on the floor will be a big help. Also, I hopefully one of them can play some defense and lockdown a scorer from the other team. Those two things will help a ton. Francis looks more fluid as a player compared to Prince. However, he's going to have to learn to drive with his right hand. You can tell he LOVES to cross over to his left and drive. Teams will easily pick up on that.

I think you can basically guarantee Stephenson is done at State and won't contribute much. A true PG was needed so Nate could get some rest and it will let him sit off the ball at the 2 spot once in a while. I think it will help him.

If the coaching staff can sign a JUCO big and/or another freshman big man for next year, this team will hopefully start to call into place. Redshirting Heemstra would have been so beneficial for him to just get in the weight room and add some weight. Hopefully the coaching staff can redshirt a few of these freshman coming in.

I was talking about the 2 seniors we are losing this year. That is why I included the comment at the end regarding the 2 added guards to this years roster and not next year.