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[domedays]

Wow. Sincerely hope you are not that premature with everything.

A few years ago, during Wes Washpun's Sophomore year I said "Wes Washpun is a great "athlete" but will never be a great "basketball player". I was wrong. There is plenty of time for Juwan to complete his game. I say we send Marvin Singleton in for a discussion on keeping the big picture in mind.

[catsize]

I really hope brown isn't our 4 next year. my hope would be a transfer or a recruit would be able to allow brown to be in the 3.

We played Jesperson/Morgan as the 4 a few years ago and it worked fine. Brown certainly has the length to play most of the current mode of stretch 4's, might not be strong enough to handle a true PF or a team that plays a couple of 6'10" posts. Pickford is strong enough to match up with some of the 4's we usually play as well.

The comparison of McCloud to Singleton/Washpun/Buss- any number of players we have had- is a good one. There are plenty of examples of players who have really blossomed under Jake in years 3-4-5.

[06panther10]

I think finding an immediately eligible transfer or juco big man is an absolute priority for this offseason.

Its really the only hole we have heading into next year, and being that Dahl and Mcdonnell are getting zero minutes this year in their third year in the program, you can't really count on them to fill that need.

[GonzoCat]

Then you tell me who he starts over.......Aj? Pickford? If we bring in a 4 star kid and he can't get the start over juwan then we have issues. You also have to factor in you'd want a guy to lead the second group.

Since he's been our PG for two years, I would say he starts over AJ who hasn't played a minute of college ball, certainly at the start of next season. I know a lot of people on here think AJ's gonna be the second coming and take the program to the promised land (no pressure kid), but I also know many of those same people will turn on him in a hurry if he doesn't meet their unrealistic expectations.

Now if he does turn out to be that good, I'll be pleased as punch, but I'm not expecting it right out of the gate.

[unipanther2154]

We played Jesperson/Morgan as the 4 a few years ago and it worked fine. Brown certainly has the length to play most of the current mode of stretch 4's, might not be strong enough to handle a true PF or a team that plays a couple of 6'10" posts. Pickford is strong enough to match up with some of the 4's we usually play as well.

The comparison of McCloud to Singleton/Washpun/Buss- any number of players we have had- is a good one. There are plenty of examples of players who have really blossomed under Jake in years 3-4-5.

so for me its not about what players might be able to play but more about put them in the position they should be and then we get the best of that player we can. Brown definitely has the height at 6'7 to be able to play the 4 vs some schools but like you mentioned when it comes to banging around with other 4's in the league he would probably get tossed around. Pickford can rebound great but if you play him at the 4 I can pretty much assure you he won't rebound even close to what he does now. You have to take into account he can rebound at the level he does because he plays the 2/3. he often comes off his player to rebound from the outside in, as a 4 you would already be down around the post and have a harder time because of his height.

Jesperson was much better built to play the 4 vs brown. I still think brown at the 4 could work for stretches because that would cause a lot of mismatches.

I also think ppl somehow think I said Juwan will never be able to shoot. I fully think he will be a fine shooter by his time is up. I just don't think he starts over a 4 start top 100 recruit.

[unipanther2154]

Since he's been our PG for two years, I would say he starts over AJ who hasn't played a minute of college ball, certainly at the start of next season. I know a lot of people on here think AJ's gonna be the second coming and take the program to the promised land (no pressure kid), but I also know many of those same people will turn on him in a hurry if he doesn't meet their unrealistic expectations.

Now if he does turn out to be that good, I'll be pleased as punch, but I'm not expecting it right out of the gate.

so I don't really see anything wrong with your thinking and wouldn't be upset by it but I don't see it happening that way. AJ is a top 100 player by any recruiting site that is worth anything. Aj passes the ball at a high level and shoots the ball at even a higher level than that. clearly you think different than me but I don't see how AJ is not the #1 guy from the second he steps on campus. I fully understand he hasn't played a minute of college ball but he has played at the highest level of AAU against guys who are better (at times) then players he will ever face in the valley. Juwan struggles too much at shooting to be the lead guy with AJ on the team.

with regards to expectations, he should have those expectations. he is listed over and over by sites as being a 4start top 100 kid. you better bet that any program who pulls in a kid in the top 100 expects something out of them. most of those schools would expect that kid to probably start from day one and any school in the current MVC would definitely have that expectation. I get the sense from ppl that they want to hold back expectations of AJ because they don't want to be disappointed. the excuse of 'the poor kid' and having to live up to those won't effect AJ at all. were talking about a kid who has a twitter that looks like it hasn't been touched in years. never did AJ post "I was offered by this program". AJ will handle his roll fine and doesn't give a **** if people on the message board get down on him for his performance.

[Blue42]

IMHO....AJ is in the starting 5 from day one.

He's a 4* recruit who could have played for several power 5 schools. He can get you 15 a night and twice that on some nights. He can stretch a defense. He can shoot contested shots. And...he's changed his body such that he's college hoops ready.

When Ty Pick came in...I thought he'd start every game during his UNI career barring injury. I'd be shocked if that's not the case, now that we've seen 1/2 a season.

AJ will be the same story. You don't get guys like that at an MVC school and then not play them.

I hope Juwan stays a Panther. His game is improving. He'll get better every year. Coach Jake has stuck with Juwan through some lean stretches in his first 1.5 seasons.

Isaiah has taken a huge step from last year to this season. Hoping he takes another as a junior. He could be a great player by the time he's done.

[sevelev711]

Juwan starts next year.

McCloud
Green
Pickford
Brown
Phyfe

Thinking more about it, barring we get an elite big to transfer in, I think I'm actually starting to see this line up working. Especially so if we see McCloud start to drive more, a la Wes. If his drive and dish game improves, then there will be at least one guy who can make a shot from a certain spot on the floor with high accuracy. McCloud can finish at the rim, Phyfe at the rim and a few feet from it, Brown from the mid-range, Pickford from mid-range/3 point range, and Green from beyond the arc. If he can reliably finish the drive one-on-one, then it would require other defenders to cheat and help, giving him the option to pass to the open man anywhere.

Again, this is all assuming that he improves the drive and dish, and maybe cut the turnovers a bit. We already know he's pretty good on defense, has been since day one.

[CyCarp]

I really think Juwan could flourish playing next to AJ.

[hoopfan]

I really think Juwan could flourish playing next to AJ.

Correct. I agree with BC and expect Juwan and AJ to start together along with Pickford, Brown and Phyfe. I see Juwan as a very similar player to Deon. Deon took a lot of **** on this board, but he was a good player and reliable his final two years. He didn't have to score and was a reliable enough shooter to be a threat. He was also able to get into the lane or out in transition when needed. With some of the talent currently developing on the roster and the influx of AJ's talent, Juwan will have a lot of pressure removed from him. Additionally, you get Bennett out of the lane and Klint's ball stopping tendencies and the offense should flow better next year. Phyfe will likely be able to shoot the 3 at the same percentage as Klint currently does and that should space the floor for the other 4 starters to penetrate and kick.

The only issue with the guard play next year is that they are all quite small. Defending and rebounding could be issues if you have AJ/Juwan, Spencer and Wyatt on the court together. The need for another reliable 4/5 is huge. That is likely going to need to come via JUCO to get someone with a body ready to play right away. We can all hope to get someone from a P5 conference as a result of transfers from the FBI investigation, but I find it hard to believe the NCAA would be able to move quick enough to allow that to happen this offseason. Phyfe starting now and playing more minutes should be really beneficial to his development and ability to handle the interior next year.

[orangetennis]

Juwan in year 3 going against second teamers sounds good to me.

[Khan4Cats]

Juwan in year 3 going against second teamers sounds good to me.

I'll take Juwan going against 1st teamers and be quite confident.

[UNIdad]

That is not a good look. At all.

Not surprised to find a retweet of Lavar Ball there. Come on dad. Don't use Twitter for your private venting in a manner that is more likely to create problems with team chemistry than anything else. Comments intended for your son to read are probably better done with text messages!