Looking at 2015-2016

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Wes, Bo, Morgan, and Paul will start. Koch most likely will start. I think you see Wyatt and Aarias as your guards off the bench consistently, with a 4 guard (if considering Paul a guard) lineup. Carlson and Ted should play consistent inside minutes. I expect all the freshmen to redshirt. Biggest question mark for me is what role does Robert Knar play going forward? After 2 knee surgeries can he give this team good minutes?

[Kyle]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I really wish we had an open scholly to use on a transfer this offseason. I thought Jake was going to make this a priority moving forward?

Maybe Knar sees the writing on the wall and hangs it up or transfers?

[Zakelsta]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Wes, Bo, Morgan, and Paul will start. Koch most likely will start. I think you see Wyatt and Aarias as your guards off the bench consistently, with a 4 guard (if considering Paul a guard) lineup. Carlson and Ted should play consistent inside minutes. I expect all the freshmen to redshirt. Biggest question mark for me is what role does Robert Knar play going forward? After 2 knee surgeries can he give this team good minutes?

I just don't see Jake using exclusively a 4 guard lineup. He never has. And he knows that he can't defend other teams the way he wants to without 2 true post players on the court.

I can't see McDonnell and Dahl both redshirting. They both have the size and skill to contribute right away. And on a team with 3 really good seniors, I don't see us redshirting good players to look toward the future.

[BCPanther]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I don't see a scenario where we redshirt all three.

Haldeman redshirts for sure. Austin plays for sure. I think Dahl ends up sitting and McDonnell's skill set forces Jake's hand, like Lohaus did.

[strike00]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

McDonnell is really, really skinny. I think all three redshirt.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Let me clarify: I don't expect Jake to go 4 guard lineup exclusively. I do expect him to start 4 guards (counting PJ as a guard), but with Carlson, Friedman, and Koch getting lots of minutes (60 mpg between the 3).

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

My general reason with that lineup is that there a aren't any proven options of a 4 man that can stretch defenses to knock down the 3. I'm not sure McDonnell or Dahl can fill that role.

[ProwlingPanther]

Robert Knar will be a good panther. There is no writing on the wall that needs to be seen. He has overcome a lot with two knee surgeries. He had good offers besides is coming out of High School and he didn't play his senior season. I heard he is a lights out shooter. Let's give him a chance before we dismiss him.

[achrist70]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I also think Haldeman redshirts, I will say the kid can shoot, saw him score 23 in a 3 point shooting contest on Saturday night, 3 money balls, so it was 20 out of 25 picking the ball up from the rack which most kids struggle to do and find their shot.

I am really interested in who we are able to get in the classes of '16 and '17 those will be very key to our continued growth as a program.

[Final4PantherChica]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

NIT...is my guess for next year. Illinois State seems like the team to beat. With the cyclical nature relating to rare opportunities to make runs this was our year. I think having a hall of Fame coach really helped Louisville. Our guys were mentally out of it. We were favored for a reason in this game. Thanks to the team for a great regular season. Dreams are made in March so I am disappointed. Best of luck to our leader ST. It hurts knowing this was his best opportunity to showcase his game to scouts against BCS comp and now the opportunity ends.

[otter]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I think next year will be rough.

-Tough to replace Tut obiviously...hes a big reason why the 3s are open on the outside. Drew the double teams and when he didn't he would normally make them play by taking it to the basket.
-Wes shouldn't have any problems replacing Deon and I was impressed with Wes at the end of the season. He regained is composure and control during the beginning with the MVC tourney. Loved how he took over during the Wyoming game.
-I look for Wyatt the huge impact off the bench...he showed signs of greatness this year. Add some muscle and gain some more confidence and decision making and he will be unstoppable.
-Marv will be another guy that is tough to replace and will be missed defensively. Just nicely built player that really blossomed this year.

[hoopfan]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Wes
Bo
Morgan
Carlson
Koch

I think Carlson can be the physical presence that Marvin was, but much more polished offensively.

[otter]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

NIT...is my guess for next year. Illinois State seems like the team to beat.

My guess for next year is we could be sitting at 4th or 5th in the conference. Maybe tied for 3rd as the middle of the Valley cannibalizes itself.
I can see UNI, ISUb, and Evansville being interchangeable. Same with Loyola and Drake and then same with the final three.

WSU
ISUr
ISUb
UNI
Evansville
Loyola
Drake
MSU
SIU
Bradley

[achrist70]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I'll go with this

PG: Wes, basically was a starting point guard this year who just happened to come off the bench

SG: Bo, no reason to think he won't start next year, should break the 3 pointers made record

SF: Jeremy, again no reason to think he won't start next year, needs to take another step forward in his offensive game, be nice to see him up around the 9 or 10 ppg

PF: McDonnell, I don't think he is as skinny as we are thinking he is, he has put some weight on since signing with us, and I really think he skill level and size get him this spot

C: Koch, this is a tossup for me, I really think Ted could have made big strides this year that we don't know about and he could be the starter, either way both have to play confident and be assertive, they are not going to be Tut or Eggs, but they have to be all they can next year

Off the bench:

Wyatt takes over Wes's spot from this year as backup point guard but I think you see those two on the floor together more than Deon and Wes this year.

Paul is possibly the 6th man of the year in the conference, I think he has the game to do it, hopefully he doesn't get sick and slowed down for 3 weeks.

The other wing is interesting to me, I think Austin is probably the favorite, but if Robbie Knar can get close to 100% I think he could see significant minutes, to me he looked out of shape this year

Carlson plays a lot off the bench in my mind, better offensive version of Marv or Lucas, hopefully

Haldeman redshirts just because I don't think he can truly push for playing time yet, same with Dahl.

[BCPanther]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

My guess for next year is we could be sitting at 4th or 5th in the conference. Maybe tied for 3rd as the middle of the Valley cannibalizes itself.
I can see UNI, ISUb, and Evansville being interchangeable. Same with Loyola and Drake and then same with the final three.

WSU
ISUr
ISUb
UNI
Evansville
Loyola
Drake
MSU
SIU
Bradley

Meh. I see us a solid 3rd, pushing Illinois State for second. Remember, they lose Daishon Knight who was certainly their best player. You also have to prove to me they can play consistently.

Indiana State loses Gant and Kitchell and didn't really have another big who played significant minutes. You're also starting to hear Lansing's name with some other jobs (Alabama, DePaul)

Way too early, I'd go--

WSU (Assumes Baker comes back)
IlSU
UNI
Loyola (Healthy Doyle all year)
InSU
Drake
Evansville (Assuming the Lithuanian goes to Europe, put them 5th with him)
SIU
MSU
BU