Buffalo

[Southeast]

Re: Buffalo

I like Filbert's analogy about this year possibly being an appetizer for next year's main course, but I'll make sure I enjoy every bite of that appetizer.

We will be returning 7 guys who are getting significant minutes right now. All of them (in theory) should be at least a little better next year, and a couple could really progress. To that solid mix you need to add 1-2 more reliable guys to provide depth. The Zach's, the redshirts, and the AK kid seem like a good list of choices for producing a minimum of one or two contributors. A Juco transfer could even be added to that list. I don't think we have to count on this list of guys to produce a starter, just a quality roll player who can come off the bench for 10 good minutes.

Look at the progress made by guys going from their freshman to sophomore year recently (e.g., Wolters, Carlson, Dykstra, Fiegen). That shows you what is possible for next year. In the meantime, enjoy your appetizer!

[NoVaJack]

Re: Buffalo

+1I was just talking about this with another Jacks fan. We both agreed that this year is a pleasant surprise and that although a tournament championship would be great, but this year is more importantly about getting the groundwork in place for a dominating season next year.

Couldn't disagree more. Groundwork, schmoundwork. It is totally about the here and now. You take the opportunity when it comes, and you never presume the success of one year over another. If nothing else this mentality gives short shrift to the considerable things that Griffan Callahan has done for the Jacks' transition. Bet he's not in next-year mode. It's about right now.

[mr76]

Re: Buffalo

Couldn't disagree more. Groundwork, schmoundwork. It is totally about the here and now. You take the opportunity when it comes, and you never presume the success of one year over another. If nothing else this mentality gives short shrift to the considerable things that Griffan Callahan has done for the Jacks' transition. Bet he's not in next-year mode. It's about right now.

As my good friend Garth Algar said, "live in the now man!"

[witness]

Re: Buffalo

+1I was just talking about this with another Jacks fan. We both agreed that this year is a pleasant surprise and that although a tournament championship would be great, but this year is more importantly about getting the groundwork in place for a dominating season next year.

This team this year has the talent to make it to the tourney. I stated before the season the th jacks should win the tournament or I would be disappointed because they have the talent. Like somebody else said what about Griff? He's not waiting till next year. Sure next year might be a better team but they have the talent to make it this year and should make it this year. We as fans should almost demand excellence from the players and say it would be a disappointment if they don't make the tourney not o they are setting the groundwork for next year.

[Jacked_Up]

Re: Buffalo

Keith Benson, who was a 6-10 multi-year stud at Oakland, couldn't stick in the NBA as a second round draft pick. I doubt that Nate will be rushing off off early to play professionally. That's certainly not the impression he's left with reporters who have written about that possibility. I agree with poster named after a nut. Enjoy the year. And then enjoy looking forward to next year.

[SoDakJack]

Re: Buffalo

Couldn't disagree more. Groundwork, schmoundwork. It is totally about the here and now. You take the opportunity when it comes, and you never presume the success of one year over another. If nothing else this mentality gives short shrift to the considerable things that Griffan Callahan has done for the Jacks' transition. Bet he's not in next-year mode. It's about right now.

I guess i should have made myself a little more clear on this snowy President's Day. I don't know how anyone inferred that I didn't care about this season. What my post is about is the surprising success this team has had. Most of us on here probably assumed next year would be the Jacks' year in the conference. This has been one of those seasons that even the most ardent of fans wouldn't have expected. And, I really don't see how looking ahead is somehow slighting what Griffan has done for this team. Living in the now is great, but I also like to now, but I'm much more interested in sustained success.

[witness]

Re: Buffalo

I guess i should have made myself a little more clear on this snowy President's Day. I don't know how anyone inferred that I didn't care about this season. What my post is about is the surprising success this team has had. Most of us on here probably assumed next year would be the Jacks' year in the conference. This has been one of those seasons that even the most ardent of fans wouldn't have expected. And, I really don't see how looking ahead is somehow slighting what Griffan has done for this team. Living in the now is great, but I also like to now, but I'm much more interested in sustained success.

I guess I can be called an ardent fan, because I did expect this success and it is not that much of a suprise to me. They won 19 games last year and had a lot of young players last year that improved from last year to this year. In fact, I expected at least a Summit League Final and saw the NCAA tournament as a very possible and doable task this year. In fact I said in the "Fall Practice" thread that I saw them as one of the favorites in the league and that we should expect what they are doing out of them this season before the season started.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Buffalo

Keith Benson, who was a 6-10 multi-year stud at Oakland, couldn't stick in the NBA as a second round draft pick. I doubt that Nate will be rushing off off early to play professionally. That's certainly not the impression he's left with reporters who have written about that possibility. I agree with poster named after a nut. Enjoy the year. And then enjoy looking forward to next year.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Wolters declares for the draft, especially if we make the tournament. There is no downside for him doing so, as long as he doesn't contact an agent. Charlie Westbrook did this last year.

Players drafted in the first round get a contract guaranteed for two years, the salary is determined by the players draft position (7 figures at least).

Second round picks aren't guaranteed anything. Teams usually bring them into training camp, but they don't have to give the player a contract or a roster spot, nor is there any guarantee about what the player will be paid, beyond the NBA minimum salary.

Benson was drafted in the second round and is working to make an NBA roster. George Hill was drafted in the first round and has been on an NBA roster since, in part due to the fact that was in the Spurs interest for him to be successful (they are paying him anyway).

It really, really hurt Benson that Oakland never advanced in the tournament and he never played big against competent big men. If they would have advanced behind 20 point 10 rebound performances, he easily could have snuck into the first round on hype. If that had happened, he would be on an NBA roster right now instead of suiting up in Sioux Falls.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: Buffalo

It really, really hurt Benson that Oakland never advanced in the tournament and he never played big against competent big men. If they would have advanced behind 20 point 10 rebound performances, he easily could have snuck into the first round on hype. If that had happened, he would be on an NBA roster right now instead of suiting up in Sioux Falls.

I think what hurt Benson is that he got thoroughly outplayed by Tristan Thompson in the first round of the tournament.

[SoDakJack]

Re: Buffalo

I guess I can be called an ardent fan, because I did expect this success and it is not that much of a suprise to me. They won 19 games last year and had a lot of young players last year that improved from last year to this year. In fact, I expected at least a Summit League Final and saw the NCAA tournament as a very possible and doable task this year. In fact I said in the "Fall Practice" thread that I saw them as one of the favorites in the league and that we should expect what they are doing out of them this season before the season started.

I agree with that. What surprised me, as a loyal follower of SDSU, was they way they have dominated teams. I, like you, expected success. I never thought that this team would be winning by an average of 20 points at home. The defensive difference is what has really amazed me.

[SDSUAlum08]

Re: Buffalo

I think what hurt Benson is that he got thoroughly outplayed by Tristan Thompson in the first round of the tournament.

Bingo. He got his butt kicked and the announcers were calling him out on it.

[J.J.]

Re: Buffalo

Benson got exposed last year against Sullinger at Ohio State as well. The guy does not have an NBA body.

The Summit League has 2 NBA type talents: Alex Young and Nate Wolters.

Benson would do well to go make real money overseas. The D-League pays next to nothing. Guys like Caleb Green and Ken Tutt have made a good living in Europe and I think Hamilton and Morrison will also.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Buffalo

All this talk of NBA Drafts, the team two years from now, and even how we will be next year. I'm getting a little nausiaous (sp?) about this.

These guys are focused on what is happening right now! They know that they control their own path and have a chance to make history THIS YEAR!

As fans, we need do nothing more than realize how special a group we have right now and support them to the fullest. That means finishing out the regular season with a couple great crowds and JACKRABBIT NATION FILLING THE SIOUX FALLS ARENA for the tournament! I'm enjoying every last moment that is left of this season. Everything else will take care of itself. These guys and the staff deserve everything mentioned before. Let's make it happen!

Get your Summit Tix today if you haven't already!

SUPERBUNNY

[SDSUAlum08]

Re: Buffalo

All this talk of NBA Drafts, the team two years from now, and even how we will be next year. I'm getting a little nausiaous (sp?) about this.

These guys are focused on what is happening right now! They know that they control their own path and have a chance to make history THIS YEAR!

As fans, we need do nothing more than realize how special a group we have right now and support them to the fullest. That means finishing out the regular season with a couple great crowds and JACKRABBIT NATION FILLING THE SIOUX FALLS ARENA for the tournament! I'm enjoying every last moment that is left of this season. Everything else will take care of itself. These guys and the staff deserve everything mentioned before. Let's make it happen!

Get your Summit Tix today if you haven't already!

SUPERBUNNY

I know you're talking about RIGHT NOW, but SDSU really needs to take advantage of this success on the recruiting trail. Getting another successful class in with a JUCO big will go a long ways. An NCAA tournament bid would definitely speed things up.

[Southeast]

Re: Buffalo

I'm certainly enjoying every second of this awesome season and I bought my Summit tickets months ago. Does that mean I can engage in the entertaining aspects of speculating about next season? Do we have to shut down the 2013 and 2014 recruiting threads because they promote the heresy of looking down the road with optimism? Does talking about the kid from Alaska disrespect poor Griff? Oh the horrors! We should only be talking about the details of todays shoot-around and not looking ahead to tomorrow's 3-man weave drill at practice!

Sometimes I get a kick out of how some here seem to completely forget that this is entertainment. We talk about next season because our next game is days away and because doing so is actually fun (God forbid). Us message board nerds don't actually play the games. We're here for fun. It's actually ok if we overlook an opponent in anticpation for an upcoming game with a rival and it's ok if we look ahead with excitement to the coming year even though we are in the middle of a great year. It's entertainment folks - relax a little and enjoy it.