BEARZ77 wrote:I think it's always interesting how different people see things or interpret them. Indiana State has had excellent backcourt talent for a number of years now, but went 20-34 in the Valley the last 3 years. A year here or there can be an anomaly, but 3 years is a definite trend. The backcourt talent remains, the frontcourt is very young, so you ask, what will be different. It's a coach and guard league so things are squarely on Lansing's shoulders to prove different or be gone I'd suspect.
As far as Loyola, there's a difference between inexperienced and unreliable. They have the starting pg from the juco national championship team [Cleamons] and the initially top rated freshman recruit in the MVC
[ Kennedy]. I think they can cover the minutes at the pg, and they have some options at the 2/3 positions to add to Williamson.
The loss of Kaifes hurts, but it's not a year killer. But just as last year, the difference between 12-8 and 8-12 could possibly hold about 4-6 teams.
Losing Kaifes hurt my soul. I could watch that kid shoot all day; and honestly going into this year he was probably number 3 on my most important players for this team. I still see this year as a bridge year for next season where we should be really well set. But assuming they learn the offense and can hit the open shots they missed last season, top 5 should be well within reach. I'm still not ready to call them the favorite til i see them play though. Just so many new pieces.
Next year though... we only lose Skokna but add Kaifes (46.5% from 3) and point guard Braden Norris (48.6% from 3 at Oakland), both coming into their sophomore seasons; along with Baylor Hebb.
