Who is next year's favorite?

[Bearvision]

MVJ, re-read my post. I said Patterson/Rhine/Kirk will give us similar to what we get at the 5. That's Creek, I didn't forget him.

Show us where talk of Weems to NBA has occurred. He's not leaving after this year, and as TN said, they're going to try and give him more chances to play the 3 and improve his stock.

Ricks is the key replacement. We should be fine otherwise.

[BirdmanBB]

I understand why people would see the Bears as falling off next year with 4 senior starters departing, but I flat don't see it happening to much extent. While more inexperienced, the Bears will athletically look much more like the team Zo envisions putting on the court nightly, and the inexperience is deceiving.

We were thinking the same thing about the redbirds before this year started. I remember threads talking about teams that could finish better than they were projected in the conference and many people were saying we could be one of those teams this year. and now..................

We essentially lost 4 starters and all of our scoring except for Carmichael. The one Thing you do have going for you is Weems.

[Wizkid]

Its easy to say oh well we have this guy to replace Creekmore and these guys to replace Mallet and this guy to replace Leonard etc etc... but the fact of the matter is more times than not those guys dont pan out to be as good as you think they will be. There is a reason parity is all over college basketball because it is hard to sustain anything. You cant just replace great players with anybody. Not every player you bring in will have the winners mentality it takes that Ricks and company have. MSU has a special group of seniors and I find it laughable that you think you can replace them with guys your own coach doesnt have enough confidence in to play meaningful minutes this year and some true freshmen. With Weems you are no better than 6th next year book it.

[bleach]

Scheer, Patterson, and Rhine are regulars this year! Pickens started 19 games last year! Those are known quantities. Added to league MVP Weems you have 5 proven quantities. Just add 2 or 3 more useful parts and you have what the Bears have this year. A short bench with a solid starting 5. I haven't seen anyone predicting we win the league next year, just saying we won't fall off the face of the earth. Similar to UNI this year.

[Wizkid]

Scheer, Patterson, and Rhine are regulars this year! Pickens started 19 games last year! Those are known quantities. Added to league MVP Weems you have 5 proven quantities. Just add 2 or 3 more useful parts and you have what the Bears have this year. A short bench with a solid starting 5. I haven't seen anyone predicting we win the league next year, just saying we won't fall off the face of the earth. Similar to UNI this year.

I dont consider those known quantities. The only thing I know is if any of those guys come in this year im happy about it if im an opposing fan. I'll give you pickens but its nowhere near a sure thing he is the same player as last year. If you have Weems you will be respectable (6th-7th) but nobody else on that squad scares anyone trust me.

[bleach]

Scheer, Patterson, and Rhine are regulars this year! Pickens started 19 games last year! Those are known quantities. Added to league MVP Weems you have 5 proven quantities. Just add 2 or 3 more useful parts and you have what the Bears have this year. A short bench with a solid starting 5. I haven't seen anyone predicting we win the league next year, just saying we won't fall off the face of the earth. Similar to UNI this year.

I dont consider those known quantities. The only thing I know is if any of those guys come in this year im happy about it if im an opposing fan. I'll give you pickens but its nowhere near a sure thing he is the same player as last year. If you have Weems you will be respectable (6th-7th) but nobody else on that squad scares anyone trust me.

Fair enough. But you'll be wrong.

[sect.3purple]

I like UE because of the guys we have returning: Ryan, Holmes, Jahr, Jones, Taylor, Cox...and the recruits who should give us strong post play....but mainly my hopes are high because of the style of play Marty teaches..these guys play hard, never give up, and overachieve...you can go a long way on those attributes! Top talent is often beaten by top team play and heightened effort. Next year the guys playing now will be experienced and may fall into the "talented" category. Add the recruits to that mix, introduce them to Marty basketball....I think it's gonna be exciting basketball again to break in the new arena!

[BEELINE]

Who cares if they scare you Wizkid; we don't scare anybody now, we just win. You forget leonard/Ricks/Mallett were only 2 year guys ; it's not like this was a team Zo was building toward with all these seniors for 3-4 years. I admit there are some question marks, the chief one being pg which is always big. I'm just saying people who don't really know this team will make the mistake of overlooking a number of guys like Pickens/Scheer/Patterson who have played starter like minutes. There's always ifs, but I'm just not that worried Zo won't put a very competitive team on the court next year.

[dgreenwell3]

No doubt the Bears will be competitive next season...i am not sure if they will be contending for the title but they will clearly be a very competitive basketball team.

[BradleyBrave]

Bradley.