I am in football mode but the recent signing, potential signing, schedule release, Canada trip in a month and fact that the players are on campus and working together has me excited.
FRESH START...
I get a feeling already that this is a new beginning. I appreciate the contributions made by the guys who just left but I also wonder if it's best that they are gone. "They" would be the 6 upperclassmen who even Nagy himself wondered aloud if they were too broken to fix. Too much accustomed to losing. When bragging that we were returning all our players last year someone asked if it was a good thing we were returning so many guys from such tough times. Good point. I already feel that team is closer and is gonna be closer.
SCHEDULE...
Very managable. Seven in a row, at our level, is amazing. And to have just 2 road trips in those 5 non-conf games is awesome. I give us a good shot against everyone save for Minnesota.
Ten toughest games (in order)...
@Minny, @Iowa, vs. Nevada, @ORU, @Oak, vs. Wisc-Milwaukee, @IUPUI, Oakland, @Central Michigan, @Western Michigan. I say...17-12. 18-13 after Summit Tourney. A great stepping stone to what should be a team who challenges for the conference the following year.
ROTATION....
PG-Wolters 6'3 So......Stephenson 6'1 Jr
SG-Sargent 6'4 Sr......Callahan 6'4 Jr
SG-Moss 6'4 Sr..........White 6'6 Fr / Carlson 6'4 Fr
PF-Dykstra 6'8 Fr.......Fiegen 6'7 So
PF-Jurich 67 Jr.........Heemstra 6'9 Fr
That's pretty solid...and long (for low-major). Few things need to happen for success...
1. Jurich needs to come. A 4-man rotation w/ 4 solid bigs is HUGE at our level. Would be one of the best/deepest in conference (easily top 3).
2. Someone, besides Sarg, needs to make jumpers. Callahan? White? Carlson? Nate? Stephenson? Heck, if even a couple could be respectable it would help. Nate and Dale can drive, the inside guys should be able to take care of business in there, but it's the jump shooting that worries me most.
3. Maybe the biggest...we need a leader and to play w/ passion and to be united. I know it was their personalities but Kai and Mike and AC and Garrett just weren't vocal, passionate guys. I would love to see that in the future...and for them to be a united group. That is one of the most underrated ingredients for a good team.
These go w/ the obvious hopes of health and to play dee and rebound and FOR US FANS TO SHOW UP!
SUMMIT AT THE FALLS....
A very early prediction...
1. Oakland vs. 8. SUU...Oak wins
4. IUPUI vs. 5. NDSU...IUPUI wins
3. SDSU vs. 6. IPFW....SDSU wins
2. ORU vs. 7. UMKC....ORU wins
Oak vs. ORU in Final in a great game. ORU to the Big Dance as a 14 seed.
FRESH START...
I get a feeling already that this is a new beginning. I appreciate the contributions made by the guys who just left but I also wonder if it's best that they are gone. "They" would be the 6 upperclassmen who even Nagy himself wondered aloud if they were too broken to fix. Too much accustomed to losing. When bragging that we were returning all our players last year someone asked if it was a good thing we were returning so many guys from such tough times. Good point. I already feel that team is closer and is gonna be closer.
SCHEDULE...
Very managable. Seven in a row, at our level, is amazing. And to have just 2 road trips in those 5 non-conf games is awesome. I give us a good shot against everyone save for Minnesota.
Ten toughest games (in order)...
@Minny, @Iowa, vs. Nevada, @ORU, @Oak, vs. Wisc-Milwaukee, @IUPUI, Oakland, @Central Michigan, @Western Michigan. I say...17-12. 18-13 after Summit Tourney. A great stepping stone to what should be a team who challenges for the conference the following year.
ROTATION....
PG-Wolters 6'3 So......Stephenson 6'1 Jr
SG-Sargent 6'4 Sr......Callahan 6'4 Jr
SG-Moss 6'4 Sr..........White 6'6 Fr / Carlson 6'4 Fr
PF-Dykstra 6'8 Fr.......Fiegen 6'7 So
PF-Jurich 67 Jr.........Heemstra 6'9 Fr
That's pretty solid...and long (for low-major). Few things need to happen for success...
1. Jurich needs to come. A 4-man rotation w/ 4 solid bigs is HUGE at our level. Would be one of the best/deepest in conference (easily top 3).
2. Someone, besides Sarg, needs to make jumpers. Callahan? White? Carlson? Nate? Stephenson? Heck, if even a couple could be respectable it would help. Nate and Dale can drive, the inside guys should be able to take care of business in there, but it's the jump shooting that worries me most.
3. Maybe the biggest...we need a leader and to play w/ passion and to be united. I know it was their personalities but Kai and Mike and AC and Garrett just weren't vocal, passionate guys. I would love to see that in the future...and for them to be a united group. That is one of the most underrated ingredients for a good team.
These go w/ the obvious hopes of health and to play dee and rebound and FOR US FANS TO SHOW UP!
SUMMIT AT THE FALLS....
A very early prediction...
1. Oakland vs. 8. SUU...Oak wins
4. IUPUI vs. 5. NDSU...IUPUI wins
3. SDSU vs. 6. IPFW....SDSU wins
2. ORU vs. 7. UMKC....ORU wins
Oak vs. ORU in Final in a great game. ORU to the Big Dance as a 14 seed.
Comment