State of Men's Basketball

[JACKGUYII]

There is a lot of doom & gloom discussion regarding the Men's Basketball program based on how we have played and our poor record. I for one think the future is very bright. It's been well documented that we have played a brutal schedule. In the short term we have taken our lumps and probably lost some confidence, but in the long term we have a young roster who has gained a tremendous amount of experience. We will return everyone from this years squad next year and will add some pieces. Next year if Holdren is granted the medical redshirt as expected we will start 3 sophmores with Holdren,Cadwell and Gilbert and two seniors in Berte,Beran. We have four redshirt freshman who will add depth. Hornby may be that point guard playmaker we are lacking and Engren,Bilitz at 6'10 will bring some much needed size and depth to the post position. I have never seen Yackley play, but he has some wonderful credentials and has had a year to hone his game. I'm hoping he is a player similiar to Holdren. On top of that we add two very athletic players in Cordova/Bassett who may be able to contribute right away or go the redshirt route. I also think there might be another roster spot that could open up with someone leaving the team and I'm sure Larson and Nagy have there eyes on some players in the junior colleges or high school seniors who can help us. I think we will begin to see some much better play next year that equate to more wins and excitement in 2006/2007.  

[Rabbitden]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

Here, Here! Or should I say Hare, Hare! ;D

[filbert]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

(Edited to correct the inexplicable omission of Michael Loney at the forward spot, mea maxima culpa!)

Wait 'til Next Year!
2006-07 Jackrabbits
Starters:
(So.) Cadwell
(So.?) Holdren
(Sr.) Beran
(So.) Gilbert
(Sr.) Berte

Guards:
Starters: Cadwell (So.) and Holdren (So.?)
Off the bench: Kleinjan (Sr.), Heien (Sr.), Casey (Jr.), Hornby (RSFr), Frias/Keller
Both Cadwell and Holdren are developing into solid D-I guards. Hopefully Holdren comes all the way back from his knee injury. I expect much better guard play next year than this year but we'll still struggle at times, I think. Hard to believe that Casey will be a junior. Added depth with Hornby will be a plus. If Frias and Keller aren't getting on the floor this year (8.5 and 0 minutes per game respectively so far), they're probably not going to get any more playing time next year unless their game improves significantly over the summer.

Forwards:
Starters: Beran (Sr.) and Gilbert (So.).
Off the bench: LONEY (Jr)!!!, Yackley, Engen, Bilitz.
Beran especially will benefit from additional depth at the center spot as well as a successful return of Holdren. Gilbert's game has almost unlimited upside due to his athletic ability, but he needs to continue to develop a more disciplined but still explosive game.
Michael Loney will get a lot of time at the 4 spot. I've no excuse for leaving him of the analysis. Sorry, Michael!
(remainder of Forward analysis deleted, 'cause I'm just an idiot sometimes)

Centers:
Starter: Berte (Sr.)
Off the bench: Engen, Bilitz
Mohamed is a competent starting center. Having a couple of true centers playing behind him will allow him to play more aggressively at both ends of the court, which will only make him a better player. It will be intgeresting to see which of the freshman twin towers for the Rabbits emerges first. Or, maybe they'll both play like worldbeaters.

I see both Cordova and Bassett being redshirted. One of the two (probably Bassett) might play as a true freshman to give a bit more depth at forward, although the program in general would certainly benefit from Sioux Falls native Cordova getting on the floor ASAP.

I don't see any available scholarships are open right now unless someone leaves, so the above players are who we'll have for next year.

[Jacks99]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

I'm upbeat about the future. Also I'm optimistic that the Jacks can end this year strong. The season is only half over and since there is no postseason they can only go up. For this squad to gel even the last 5 games would be huge going into next year. With a lighter schedule next year we could start off on a roll.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

I too would agree, that this team is more about the future than the past and the present. I was surprised with last night's game in that we looked like we could win. I really have not given up on the rest of the season. We do have more winable games on the schedule.

Just the fact that the team gets two practices in before Saturday will help the team progress.

[JACKRP]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

Coach Nagy has alluded to the fact that our schedule was way to difficult this season in his last few post game comments. I have said that from the get-go. There is a saying out there that to be the best you have to play the best. I am not sure that you have to "play the best" your first two years of Division I competition. These young Jacks have taken a beating both emotionally and physically from all the tough road trips. I am very proud of the way they fought back against Montana State and am looking forward to the rest of the season. Am also looking forward to a more realistic schedule next season. Go Jacks!!!

[filbert]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

We're struggling, but it could be worse.

We could be UMKC . . .

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13543510.htm

For the third game in a row, UMKC is facing a team with just one victory, and that could mean more bad news for the Kangaroos.

UMKC, 4-7 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-Continent Conference, plays at 7:30 tonight at Chicago State. Chicago State is 1-12 and has lost its last 10 games.

The Kangaroos’ two-game losing streak is modest by comparison but alarming at the same time. It started Friday when 1-8 Eastern Illinois came to Kemper Arena and left with a 72-67 victory.

It got even worse for UMKC on Monday, when the Kangaroos lost to Southern Utah 97-63. The Thunderbirds entered the game 1-11.

At least we're not getting blown out by 1-11 teams . . .

(Yeah, this is borderline smack, but them's the breaks)

[jackmd]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

Coach Nagy has alluded to the fact that our schedule was way to difficult this season in his last few post game comments. I have said that from the get-go. There is a saying out there that to be the best you have to play the best. I am not sure that you have to "play the best" your first two years of Division I competition. These young  Jacks have taken a beating both emotionally and physically from all the tough road trips. I am very proud of the way they fought back against Montana State and am looking forward to the rest of the season. Am also looking forward to a more realistic schedule next season. Go Jacks!!!

We're not likely to see an early season schedule like this years ever again. Nagy has said that himself.

As for this year, I don't think the results are unexpected at all. Young team in a new division, every game is going to be a battle. 10 wins would be great. 8 seems more likely.

As for the future, I'm looking forward to it.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

I agree that we could not expect to win very many games given our early season schedule. I do feel like we could have played better. That is what bothers me the most is the mistakes we have been making all year, and they don't seem to be getting better.

Did anyone else hear Mack Brown's quote about Vince Young during last nights game? He said that the turning point in Young's career was when they quit bothering him and started encouraging him. Interesting concept, no?

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

I agree that we could not expect to win very many games given our early season schedule.  I do feel like we could have played better.  That is what bothers me the most is the mistakes we have been making all year, and they don't seem to be getting better.

Did anyone else hear Mack Brown's quote about Vince Young during last nights game?  He said that the turning point in Young's career was when they quit bothering him and started encouraging him.  Interesting concept, no?

Interesting comment yes, but if you are comparing Vince Young's athletic ability versus his competitions ability to anyone on our men's bball team versus their competition, we have nobody even close. :-/

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

You're right, we don't have anybody close to Young's ability. That game last night was awesome, to bad someone has to lose.

Part of a coaches job is to find a way to get the players playing to their best ability. I just thought it was an interesting way for a DI coach to get the best out of his/her players.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

Sometimes it involves TLC and sometimes a kick in the ass just like Nagy has been doing his whole career with a lot of success I might add. If you think Mack Brown has got his team to this point with all group hugs than you don't understand the art of coaching very well. You can't motivate by being a nice guy all the time.

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

Watching ESPN last night i caught an interesting comment by one of the college bball analysts. He was referring to the Villanova-Loiusville game and specifically the success Villanova is having the past few years. A lot of the success he attributed to their two senior guards, Ray and Foye. The analyst then said he remembers four years ago watching the same team, with the same two guards as freshman struggling in many games, even citing an example of them being down 43-8 in a game he broadcast.

Definately puts an emphasis on how important experience is in college bball and especially at the guard position. Nagy has been stressing this all year, it might be time we start to buy in.

[Cadsev]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

Ray and Foye as freshman were still better than the current guards at SDSU......... Why does it take a new coach at a new school at least 4 to 5 years to make an impact, in most cases? It takes the coaching staff that long to recruit their own athletes and give those athletes time to mature and develop. SDSU is in a similar situation and will make steady progress in the next 3 to 5 years, however they need to address glaring problems. Most notibly they do not currently have a Division I calibar piont guard on the roster. Until that is address they will struggle against quality opponents.

[Rabbitden]

Re: State of Men's Basketball

Cadsev,
I'm not here to harp on you but you seem to have all the answers and nobody else does.

Why dont you apply for the state job since you have such great insight and knowledge on talent levels, recruiting, other institutions, etc...?

If you are so sure of yourself as far as point guards or lack of? Why are you not in the administrations ears steering them in the right direction?

I have stayed away from here lately because I do not know you and can not figure out who you are. Eventhough I do not agree with some of the things you have to say, I have no facts to discredit you so I will not. My problem is that you never cease to correct everyone else.

I am begining to believe I should be contacting you before I make all of my college picks because the way it sounds you have a leg up on everyone...maybe I can become a rich man using you as my muse?