Depth

[tom in salem]

Maybe GG doesnt suit up tomorrow with Lavin trying to wait another 2 days till charleston. Can he do that or does this have to be decided tomorrow for redshirting ?

They can suit up the entire season as long as they don't play. That's how college football does it, anyway.

 

[Mean Gene]

In my opinion it would be a very poor decision by Lavin to make this team start the season with only seven active players. It seemed to be demoralizing at times last year for these kids only playing with six guys. Now you're going to make them play at the start with only seven this year. He should let GG and Balamou play to give them nine guys. When Branch comes back they'll have ten quality players even without Sanchez and Bournagault. They'll still have a combination of Obepka, Sampaon. Jones and Gift at the 4 & 5. Pointer and Garrett at the 3 with Greene, Harrison, Branch and Balamou at Guard. Gift will be better with more help inside and Garrett rebounds well for 3. They'll be young but they'll be fine with those ten guys. Whatever happens with Sanchez and Marco you can flush out later.

 

[STJClass_2013]

I think Felix is getting a red shirt no matter what. Let him develop his game. Last year they were down a head coach the team always looked down in Big East play other than the Providence game. Suit up Gift get him out of here and lets get a new scholarship player next year. Marc will probably be playing. I pretty sure they are checking to see if he has two or three years left. If Sanchez can play if not it will hurt but we got some young talent up and down this roster. If this team can get comfortable with each other the sky is the limit.

I can see the Johnnies DANCING AGAIN BABY!!!!!

 

[1and1sju]

Honestly if he was only going to have one year of eligibility, it is not a huge loss for the team. We were not going to make the tourney this year so at least CO and Jakar will get even more time and experience. Sucks for Sanchez of course, but for those of you who will start crying over this it will be an over reaction.

"We were not going to make the tourney this year"? My friend, not only WERE we going to make the tourney this year, but we ARE going to make the tourney this year, with or without Orlando.

Even WITHOUT Orlando and Marco there aren't 68 teams with our level of talent. Just aren't. We still run top 75 level talent AT EVERY POSITION and more off the bench.

RSCI: Sir Dom #35, Jakarr #40, D'Lo #47, Branch #52, Obekpa #67, Amir #73

Add in a 10pt 5reb senior former JC All American (Gift, if Orlando doesn't play), plus two true EXCELLENT "sleepers" in Greene and Jones. And, of course, I believe both Orlando and Marco WILL play this year.

Given THIS coaching staff, and THAT level of talent, there is simply no way 68 teams are better. NO WAY.

I feel we are to young and will not have enough offense. I hope you are right, but I am disappointed you did not use some example of a UCLA team that has no bearing on on this situation as an example.

I remember a certain UCLA team that resembles ours. It's a ways back so I'm not sure if you guys will be familiar with them, but does anyone recall the 2011-2012 UCLA team. More talent, did not make the tournament.

Norman Powell RSCI #53
Josh Smith RSCI #18
Tyler Lamb RSCI #39
Brendan Lane 65
Jerimi Anderson RSCI #41
David Wear RSCI #37
Travis Wear RSCI #38

CR, we have not run a good offensive set all preseason, and we all know they didn't run one last season. We were one of the worst shooting teams in the country last season and aside from Marco there's no indication we will be significantly better this year from either the foul line or behind the 3pt line. We are still undersized in the front court, and our most experienced players have 1 year under their belts. Your confidence in this team is mind boggling.

I'm not saying we won't make the tournament - I hope we do. It will be a great season for us fans if that happens.

But there's little to no on court evidence that that's about to happen.

IF Obekpa showed up weighing 370 lbs and unable to run down the court (as Smith did for the Bruins last year) I'd agree with you. And if our leading scorer and rebounder gets kicked off the team before christmas (as Reeves Nelson was) - I'll also agree with you.

But I'm figuring the players I listed ARE in shape ad WILL be here....And I like THIS coaching staff more than UCLA's. What might Josh Smith be after 2 1/2 years working with RICO? CERTAINLY not the tup of goo he still is...

I didn't even list Nelson or your leading scorer Jones! That's how much more talented that team was, and they still didn't make the tournament. Every recruit you had was better ranked than Amir and Obekpa.

But my point isn't that UCLA was good last year, they stunk. And you're right of course, Smith is an incredible waste of talent. But teams with tons of talent perform terribly all the time.

How many top recruits did Zona have on the court last year? Even without Turner and Sidiki they still were relatively stacked. How'd they do? 68 teams were better than them too.

We don't have a ridiculous amount of talent. We have a competitive amount of talent. It just makes it possible that we achieve success, not necessarily likely.

 

[LINY89]

We don't have a ridiculous amount of talent? How many teams have more than 6 top 100's? Not to make the rankings the end all be all because there are always busts, but on paper we are very talented.

 

[MJDinkins]

Honestly if he was only going to have one year of eligibility, it is not a huge loss for the team. We were not going to make the tourney this year so at least CO and Jakar will get even more time and experience. Sucks for Sanchez of course, but for those of you who will start crying over this it will be an over reaction.

"We were not going to make the tourney this year"? My friend, not only WERE we going to make the tourney this year, but we ARE going to make the tourney this year, with or without Orlando.

Even WITHOUT Orlando and Marco there aren't 68 teams with our level of talent. Just aren't. We still run top 75 level talent AT EVERY POSITION and more off the bench.

RSCI: Sir Dom #35, Jakarr #40, D'Lo #47, Branch #52, Obekpa #67, Amir #73

Add in a 10pt 5reb senior former JC All American (Gift, if Orlando doesn't play), plus two true EXCELLENT "sleepers" in Greene and Jones. And, of course, I believe both Orlando and Marco WILL play this year.

Given THIS coaching staff, and THAT level of talent, there is simply no way 68 teams are better. NO WAY.

I feel we are to young and will not have enough offense. I hope you are right, but I am disappointed you did not use some example of a UCLA team that has no bearing on on this situation as an example.

I remember a certain UCLA team that resembles ours. It's a ways back so I'm not sure if you guys will be familiar with them, but does anyone recall the 2011-2012 UCLA team. More talent, did not make the tournament.

Norman Powell RSCI #53
Josh Smith RSCI #18
Tyler Lamb RSCI #39
Brendan Lane 65
Jerimi Anderson RSCI #41
David Wear RSCI #37
Travis Wear RSCI #38

CR, we have not run a good offensive set all preseason, and we all know they didn't run one last season. We were one of the worst shooting teams in the country last season and aside from Marco there's no indication we will be significantly better this year from either the foul line or behind the 3pt line. We are still undersized in the front court, and our most experienced players have 1 year under their belts. Your confidence in this team is mind boggling.

I'm not saying we won't make the tournament - I hope we do. It will be a great season for us fans if that happens.

But there's little to no on court evidence that that's about to happen.

IF Obekpa showed up weighing 370 lbs and unable to run down the court (as Smith did for the Bruins last year) I'd agree with you. And if our leading scorer and rebounder gets kicked off the team before christmas (as Reeves Nelson was) - I'll also agree with you.

But I'm figuring the players I listed ARE in shape ad WILL be here....And I like THIS coaching staff more than UCLA's. What might Josh Smith be after 2 1/2 years working with RICO? CERTAINLY not the tup of goo he still is...

I didn't even list Nelson or your leading scorer Jones! That's how much more talented that team was, and they still didn't make the tournament. Every recruit you had was better ranked than Amir and Obekpa.

But my point isn't that UCLA was good last year, they stunk. And you're right of course, Smith is an incredible waste of talent. But teams with tons of talent perform terribly all the time.

How many top recruits did Zona have on the court last year? Even without Turner and Sidiki they still were relatively stacked. How'd they do? 68 teams were better than them too.

We don't have a ridiculous amount of talent. We have a competitive amount of talent. It just makes it possible that we achieve success, not necessarily likely.

The difference is this team is a year older, and has more depth, size, and talent. Does it means it'll translate into an NCAA tournament bid? Who knows? I do know we won 6 conference games with a very, young group that lacked experience, size and depth.

The roster is still uncertain at the moment, but overall the look is much different from a season ago.

 

[LINY89]

We beat a sweet 16 Cincy team, lost to Duke by 7, barely lost to Texas A&M and Zona (All ranked), beat a ranked ND squad, etc. And that was with all freshmen and no depth. No Lavin either. Give some credit.

 

[1and1sju]

We don't have a ridiculous amount of talent? How many teams have more than 6 top 100's? Not to make the rankings the end all be all because there are always busts, but on paper we are very talented.

Syracuse, Georgetown, Pitt, Louisville, Villanova, UCONN, Marquette all have 4. Several of them have more.

 

[LINY89]

Ok, so we have more than all those teams you listed. You just proved my point from a strictly talent standpoint.

 

[1and1sju]

Ok, so we have more than all those teams you listed. You just proved my point from a strictly talent standpoint.

"SEVERAL HAVE MORE"

Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown and Pitt all have 6.

 

[LINY89]

Right...and are they slouches? No. They are some of the most talented teams in the country. We have the same amount as them. Therefore, logic will tell you that we are up there in the talent department.

 

[usguard]

I think Obekpa has the potential to notch a points-rebounds-blocks triple double during his stay here at SJU.

I could easily see him having 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks some day in his career.

It'll happen one day for him.

He is a Bioll Russell type WE do not need him to score in double figures He chamges the game when he is it it

 

[SJUalum98]

I think Obekpa has the potential to notch a points-rebounds-blocks triple double during his stay here at SJU.

I could easily see him having 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks some day in his career.

It'll happen one day for him.

He is a Bioll Russell type WE do not need him to score in double figures He chamges the game when he is it it

I said 10 points. I never said that his points were necessary or tied to the team's success.

At 6'9, he can score 10 points from hitting the offensive glass. A 6'8 butter-fingered Gift averaged over 9 PPG.

I truly believe he'll get a triple double one day because he is so active down low.

 

[crgreen]

I think Obekpa has the potential to notch a points-rebounds-blocks triple double during his stay here at SJU.

I could easily see him having 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks some day in his career.

It'll happen one day for him.

He is a Bioll Russell type WE do not need him to score in double figures He chamges the game when he is it it

Re: Bill Russell-type. Bill averaged 20.7 pts and 20.4 rebounds over his 3 varsity years at USF (while winning 2 NCAA titles). His first year on varsity he put up 19.9 pts and 19.2 rebs. There ARE no "Bill Russell" types

I'm thinking more of a Jarvis Varnado-type.

For those that don't remember the Mississippi State C/F (6'9 230), he's the NCAA D-1 All Time leading shot blocker - 564.

His progression as a collegiate was:

FR: 5.0 pts, 4.2 rebs 67 blocks in 35 games
SO: 7.9 pts, 7.8 rebs, 157 blocks in 34 games
JR: 12.9 pts, 8.8 rebs, 170 blocks in 36 games
SR: 13.8 pts, 10.3 rebs, 170 blocks in 36 games

He shot 58.9% from the field for his career.

 

[L J S A]

I think Obekpa has the potential to notch a points-rebounds-blocks triple double during his stay here at SJU.

I could easily see him having 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks some day in his career.

It'll happen one day for him.

He is a Bioll Russell type WE do not need him to score in double figures He chamges the game when he is it it

Re: Bill Russell-type. Bill averaged 20.7 pts and 20.4 rebounds over his 3 varsity years at USF (while winning 2 NCAA titles). His first year on varsity he put up 19.9 pts and 19.2 rebs. There ARE no "Bill Russell" types

I'm thinking more of a Jarvis Varnado-type.

For those that don't remember the Mississippi State C/F (6'9 230), he's the NCAA D-1 All Time leading shot blocker - 564.

His progression as a collegiate was:

FR: 5.0 pts, 4.2 rebs 67 blocks in 35 games
SO: 7.9 pts, 7.8 rebs, 157 blocks in 34 games
JR: 12.9 pts, 8.8 rebs, 170 blocks in 36 games
SR: 13.8 pts, 10.3 rebs, 170 blocks in 36 games

He shot 58.9% from the field for his career.

I think if he gets the minutes, Obekpa gets more rebounds and blocks as a freshman. That's pretty much where I had his ppg this season, although I know posters have said he looked better than they expected on the the offensive end. I think he really didn't look for his shot much at OSNA.