Looking at 2015-2016

[Born-a-Panther]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

"Fact is"...umm...no. That's your opinion, far from fact.

15 years ago, compared to today? Duh. Yes. Exponentially better.

10 years ago? Coming off the second of what would be back-to-back-back NCAA tourney bids. Played competitively in each game but couldn't get over the hump.

5 years ago? Coming off back-to-back tourney bids and the (then) best all around team in school history punctuated by beating the (then) best team in basketball en route to the S16.

Now? Greatest team in school history for one season. With average to marginally-better-than-average teams in the past handful of years. So, yes, for ONE year, we are exponentially better than at any point in the program's history. But your opinion, as stated, doesn't hold a lot of water.

This said. There is an elephant in the room that can go a long way towards explaining that black hole of the last four seasons. What would this program have looked like if a certain son of a certain former UNI player and coach spent his four years here? I have to imagine we'd have had much more success. And the opportunity cost of not getting to layer success on top of said success is impossible to quantify.

But I do think we are passed that point, finally. And Jake can finally build off of this momentum and not be as cyclical or experience the drastic dropoff.

We would have been back in the tournament in 2011 if O'Rear hadn't gotten hurt.

[run&blade]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Wes will be our only real penetrator next year, based on what I've seen. If Lohaus has the ability to penetrate and create, I didn't see it. Now, it could be that he didn't due to either coaching or that we didn't need him to fill that role. I like what he did as a FR, so I'll certainly withhold judgement.

I think one guy who could suprise in that way is Jesperson. He showed some flashes of being able to shot jumpers off the dribble. Now that adeon and Tuttle are gone, he could turn into more of a playmaker.

Morgan isn't as quick but his size might overcome some of that. Wes isn't playing 40 minutes a game next year. Morgan needs to be the other penetrating force when the shot clock is winding down or the three isn't falling.

Uni needs some guys with jets. That was the biggest difference in the Louisville, they had speed to give away and it caused uni fits on both ends.

[orangetennis]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I think Morgan can develop into an impressive offensive player. But if he does, does that take away from his defense, ala Anthony James?

[ProwlingPanther]

I was just going to use AJ as an example. He was defensive specialist the year of our Sweet 16 run and then turned into an offensive threat.

[DownGoesKansas]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I think Morgan can develop into an impressive offensive player. But if he does, does that take away from his defense, ala Anthony James?

Morgan should be a better offensive player and without Tuttle we need him to be if he continues to play major minutes. For a good part of the year he almost looked scared\timid offensively. He definitely has the ability. I think he will be a lot better next year.

[orangetennis]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I wanna see Morgan turn into a Roy Marble Jr type player offensively. He should be able to cause some matchup problems for teams and be a threat both inside and out

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Austin will be really good at creating his own shot. Our guards are going to be just fine with Wes, Bo, Jeremy, Paul, Wyatt, and Aarias. The post play is where the biggest question marks are regarding known commodities. I think the talent is there, but we just haven't seen the experience. It's like after 2004, where Gruber and Schneiderman were gone, but the next year brought the emergence of Stout and newcomer Eric Coleman.

[achrist70]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

For some reason I am excited to see where Ted is at. I think we all forget that he actually started last season as a starter. He clearly wasn't ready for that role, but there is physical talent there. A good 2 years of work by the time next season starts he could be very good.

[Zakelsta]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Austin will be really good at creating his own shot. Our guards are going to be just fine with Wes, Bo, Jeremy, Paul, Wyatt, and Aarias. The post play is where the biggest question marks are regarding known commodities. I think the talent is there, but we just haven't seen the experience. It's like after 2004, where Gruber and Schneiderman were gone, but the next year brought the emergence of Stout and newcomer Eric Coleman.

Agree. Aarius is very quick, long and can pull up a jumper off the dribble really well. We have great balance in our guards. Quickness balanced with shooting. IQ balanced with athleticism. Offense balanced with defense. Not worried about losing much with our guard play.

As for the post, you make a great point here. We were worried about the post after 04. Then we found Stout and Coleman. Then we were worried about the post in 08. We found Eglseder and AKoch. Then we were worried about the post after '10. We found Tuttle and JKoch/Buss. I'm confident that out of BKoch, Ted, Dahl, Carlson, McDonnell, we've got our next 2 elite bigs.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Austin will be really good at creating his own shot. Our guards are going to be just fine with Wes, Bo, Jeremy, Paul, Wyatt, and Aarias. .

That's what I'm hoping for, thanks. That would make two players next year with that ability, Wes and Arias. Morgan and Lohaus may have that as well, I just haven't seen it. We need guys who can penetrate to compliment the more standstill, catch and shoot players like Bohannon and Jesperson. Jesperson may also be able to take some 3 or 4 types off the dribble, and I think he may mildly suprise some with that ability next year.

[UNIAlum95]

I think Wyatt showed flashes of being able to create his own shot this year. He's not going to be another Wes but I think he has more to offer offensively than a catch and shoot player like Bo.

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[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I agree. How about that sweet three that he went off the dribble to hit vs Louisville at the top of the key. Shook his defender to create space.

[Panther'73]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I agree. How about that sweet three that he went off the dribble to hit vs Louisville at the top of the key. Shook his defender to create space.

I'm impressed with his passing. He passes quickly and n target.

[CyCarp]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I really think that if we get a guy or two to step in and be successful down low, we will have a really good team. Sure Wyatt can't do certain things that Deon could do, but I think there are things Wyatt can do that Deon can't. I haven't seen Aarias, but could he could be a guy that come in with that quickness who can get to the rim - taking over what Deon was good at? Tut/Marvin are gonna be the tough guys to replace. I think Koch steps in pretty well, but he can't do it all himself. I would hope that between Karlson/Ted/Dahl/McDonnell somebody else can step in and make an impact down low. Buss was pretty big down the stretch too, Morgan needs to up his offense to help replace him.

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Wyatt seems to have "it". Think he's really going to be a special one.