An argument for Missouri State

[BEARZ77]

So, many Missouri State fans really like Kyle Weems, say he is a good guy, class act, great person, etc.

A few fans of other teams recognize Kyle as a good player but maybe don't think so highly of him based on what they've seen from his on court antics.

Is there a chance both are somewhat right and both are somewhat wrong?

I am surprised that any objectively minded MSU fan sees a team that will finish in the top 6 in 2012-13.

That's pretty right on for Kyle; I never minded some of the criticisms of his on court demeanor because he bought that ticket , but those who chose to attach more extreme character assisanations and tend to stalk every thread that mentions his name with their petty attacks are laughable in how they choose to ignore the very well documented and media reported quality side of Kyle. Kyle wasn't perfect, but he was genuine. I thought he had a poor senior year and actually had more problem with his overall presentation then in his more demonstrative junior year.

As far as MSU fans picking the Bears above 6th, I think they will be few and far between. We like our young talent, but it is very young and losing Gulley was huge. 8-10 is more where we expect with 5-6 being a cause for extreme joy because that would at least suggest some really huge years to follow.

[Wufan]

I agree that this is a year to build on for the bears. Young coach and young talent. Make the right strides and a mid-pack team becomes a contender.

As to the post about picking WSU, Drake, or ISUb ahead of the bears; Drake returns 4 starters including their most efficient player and adds the known quantity of VanDeest to a team that finished tied with the Bears. WSU returns two defensively minded starters and adds known quantity Armstead along with a very talented group of jucos and freshman. Because the Shockers were so good offensively, some think that the back-ups didn't get a chance to show their stuff last year. Add to it that they finished ahead to MSU, and it isn't hard to imagine that the Shockers fall a little from last year and still finish ahead of the Bears. Asto the Sycamores, well I think that everyone has them as mid-lower pack just like MSU.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Not quite true, Ragland taunted and mouthed off to Lusk in the post game handshake lines after one of the games last year between MSU and WSU. Lusk took great offense but later dismissed it as heat of the moment emotion, and said he thought Ragland was a good kid. To my knowledge Marshall never addressed it.

That you know of. (Ended sentence with preposition. My bad.)

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Not quite true, Ragland taunted and mouthed off to Lusk in the post game handshake lines after one of the games last year between MSU and WSU. Lusk took great offense but later dismissed it as heat of the moment emotion, and said he thought Ragland was a good kid. To my knowledge Marshall never addressed it.

Ragland from what I understand insulted the sweater that Lusk's wife had made him. The one he later wore infamously at Arch Madness. Ragland was lucky to escape bodily harm. But he's a good kid or whatever.

Getting back on point with the Weems debate, I have changed my mind many times on the kid. At first I thought he was an arrogant, stuck up prima dona out of Topeka Seaman High. Then I heard and have second hand knowledge of all the good he did in his time in Springfield so I changed my mind. And then finally his senior season happened and I reversed course again. We will be a better ballclub without him. Trust me. The ball won't get stuck so much on offense like it did on the molasses covered fingers of Weems. The defense will get better with five guys who are dedicated and play together as one. And there will be less pouting. I am eternally grateful for the Valley title of 2011 but I would be lying if I did not say that I get a little stoked thinking about him being gone.

[FeartheQ]

Who cares what the Bears are picked before the year? We'll win some games and we'll lose some games.. It will come down to coaching and players learning to gel. Chemistry is what killed last years team.. I like to watch a team grow from the ground up. They will definitely have their struggles this year, but they will be fun to watch over the next 4 years. We have finally started building at the HS level and not the Juco level.

Sit back and enjoy. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

[TNMSUFAN]

Coming into last season we had lost 4 starters and 4 of our top 5 scorers off our MVC championship team...basically 75% of our scoring and 75% of our rebounding. We still found a way to be competitive last year and we will do the same thing again this season. Patterson went from 5pts per game to 12, Downing never played DI, Gulley never played DI, etc. All teams lose guys and all teams have guys step up or adjust early to DI. Losing Gulley really hurt but Downing, Pickens and Scheer have experience and how good we are depends on the new guys...which is the same for WSU, ISU(b) and others.

[glm38]

Coming into last season we had lost 4 starters and 4 of our top 5 scorers off our MVC championship team...basically 75% of our scoring and 75% of our rebounding. We still found a way to be competitive last year and we will do the same thing again this season. Patterson went from 5pts per game to 12, Downing never played DI, Gulley never played DI, etc. All teams lose guys and all teams have guys step up or adjust early to DI. Losing Gulley really hurt but Downing, Pickens and Scheer have experience and how good we are depends on the new guys...which is the same for WSU, ISU(b) and others.

I agree with a lot of what you say. I think defensively we'll be ok. But I'm afraid we are going to really struggle for points this coming year. Downing is certainly capable of giving us more in that regard. But to date Scheer and Pickens haven't shown they are capable of that kind of offensive improvement even though both (especially Pickens) are fine players. So much depends on the newcomers regarding how our season pans out.

[TNMSUFAN]

I agree with a lot of what you say. I think defensively we'll be ok. But I'm afraid we are going to really struggle for points this coming year. Downing is certainly capable of giving us more in that regard. But to date Scheer and Pickens haven't shown they are capable of that kind of offensive improvement even though both (especially Pickens) are fine players. So much depends on the newcomers regarding how our season pans out.

Agreed we will be better defensively and some of the young guys are going to have to score plus Scheer can't shoot 27% from 3. I think Gavin Thurman and Marcus Marshall are a couple of the better frosh we have gotten in a while so hopefully they grow up fast. I just want us to play hard and get better as the year goes on.

[STL MVC]

I find all the Kyle Weems hate bizarre. I enjoyed watching him compete as much as any other player I've ever seen come through this conference. Sure, he shot MSU out of a few games this year because he was shouldering such a heavy load, but what's not to like? How quickly we forget his magical junior season... his game-winners against UNI in the regular season and against SIU in the Arch Madness quarterfinals. He's a tough-nosed defender and good rebounder, a guy who made big shot after big shot in his career, and, most importantly, a guy who stayed true to his school even when major schools were offering him a chance to transfer after Cuonzo Martin left.

And yes, it's true, Weems is a very likable interview personality. Reflective, thoughtful, fun to listen to. You can tell he really cares. I am stunned at how much some of you dislike him.

I am pretty sure you are a liberal.

Two threads in a row now, you've come after me with some sort of snarky comment. Grow up.

That's my advice to anybody who doesn't like Kyle Weems, too. Do any of you realize how much crap goes on behind the scenes? How much yapping and trash talking goes on at every level of sports? God forbid a guy stare down a bench every once in a while. I'm sure half the league has done that at some point.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I find all the Kyle Weems hate bizarre. I enjoyed watching him compete as much as any other player I've ever seen come through this conference. Sure, he shot MSU out of a few games this year because he was shouldering such a heavy load, but what's not to like? How quickly we forget his magical junior season... his game-winners against UNI in the regular season and against SIU in the Arch Madness quarterfinals. He's a tough-nosed defender and good rebounder, a guy who made big shot after big shot in his career, and, most importantly, a guy who stayed true to his school even when major schools were offering him a chance to transfer after Cuonzo Martin left.

And yes, it's true, Weems is a very likable interview personality. Reflective, thoughtful, fun to listen to. You can tell he really cares. I am stunned at how much some of you dislike him.

I am pretty sure you are a liberal.

Two threads in a row now, you've come after me with some sort of snarky comment. Grow up.

That's my advice to anybody who doesn't like Kyle Weems, too. Do any of you realize how much crap goes on behind the scenes? How much yapping and trash talking goes on at every level of sports? God forbid a guy stare down a bench every once in a while. I'm sure half the league has done that at some point.

Kyle cares.

Good to know.