WSU next year

[Wufan]

The way people throw numbers around, you'd expect average verticals of NBA players to be mid-30s. In high school, many kids could out run and jump me, but I did have a 29 inch standing vertical. Go me!

[rlh04d]

The way people throw numbers around, you'd expect average verticals of NBA players to be mid-30s. In high school, many kids could out run and jump me, but I did have a 29 inch standing vertical. Go me!

I believe NFL players have much higher average verticals than NBA players.

[2livewu]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if WSU will be as good as many anticipate.

Now Cotton, Baker and Wessel are really good and give a great base to the 2-3 spots.

I remain confident that Coleby will be a solid 5. C.J should be an adequate back up. Cle' is probably the best 4 in the league. Carter and Morris should provide decent enough backup minutes at a minimum.

But what about point? Is Fred ready to go 25-30/game? Who's going to back him up? Bowles? I'd be surprised. I think WSU has a problem at point....at least today. Maybe they get it worked out before October but I don't know right now.

[rlh04d]

But what about point? Is Fred ready to go 25-30/game? Who's going to back him up? Bowles? I'd be surprised. I think WSU has a problem at point....at least today. Maybe they get it worked out before October but I don't know right now.

Fred was averaging 20 through the NCAA tournament. I think he'll be ready to go 25 a game without a doubt. If you break the season up into thirds and look at the progress of his stats over each period, he made pretty huge strides throughout the season. Not worried about him starting at the point at all.

I expect Baker to play some time at the point as well, with the long jam we're going to have 1-3 with Baker/Wessel/Cotton/Wiggins/Green (and some Early).

And then whichever of the freshmen PG doesn't redshirt. I think FVV/Baker combine to play 35 minutes a game at the point unless one of the freshmen PG's establishes himself.

[Aargh]

Cotton has seen some minutes at PG in the past.

[glm38]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if WSU will be as good as many anticipate.

Now Cotton, Baker and Wessel are really good and give a great base to the 2-3 spots.

I remain confident that Coleby will be a solid 5. C.J should be an adequate back up. Cle' is probably the best 4 in the league. Carter and Morris should provide decent enough backup minutes at a minimum.

But what about point? Is Fred ready to go 25-30/game? Who's going to back him up? Bowles? I'd be surprised. I think WSU has a problem at point....at least today. Maybe they get it worked out before October but I don't know right now.

I think if VF isn't ready that Baker could play the point pretty well. I don't see that as much of a weakness for WSU. I think a bigger question is who takes over for Hall in the post? I dont see anyone close to his caliber on your roster. But the Valley this coming year with Jackie and Echenique gone looks to be short on those types of players. So maybe it wont hurt the Shox too much.

[Wufan]

Shame on all of you for responding to Doc's ruse!

FVV is very good. Baker CAN back him (despite the assertion that he hasn't shown the ability to break down a defender). Bowles is arguably the most talented freshman guard (highest rated by some sights) in the MVC next year and will provide an adequate back-up.

Will Coleby be strong at the five? Well, he had better stats than MSU's center in their junior seasons. VanDeest will be the only player over 6-9 that should out do him statistically. Morris (a 6-8, 270lb jumping jack) is one of four highly regarded freshman posts. I don't know how much time Bradley, Ill St, and MSU expects their 18 year old centers to play, but our top 200 recruit will come in as 4th on the depth chart.

Do we have anyone comparable to Hall? Darius Carter is a top 10 JUCO, the same as Hall was. They are nearly identical size-wise.

WSU comes in with the Pre-season POY at PF, one of the 10 impact sophomore's in the country (per ESPN) in FVV, and arguably the best D-1 transfer in Coleby. In addition to returning wing guards Baker, Cotton, Wessel, and Wiggins (another top 10 JUCO), the Shox bring in the two highest rated JUCOs (both bigs) in Carter and Watson, and two freshman rated in the top 200. No one has higher rated freshman, though several have comparably ranked players.

There really is no excuse for WSU not to win it again except that the most talented isn't always the victor. Lots of well coached teams improving and adding missing pieces. Can't wait for the season!

[rlh04d]

I think if VF isn't ready that Baker could play the point pretty well. I don't see that as much of a weakness for WSU. I think a bigger question is who takes over for Hall in the post? I dont see anyone close to his caliber on your roster. But the Valley this coming year with Jackie and Echenique gone looks to be short on those types of players. So maybe it wont hurt the Shox too much.

All depends on how Kadeem Coleby and Darius Carter turn out. That's not something you can really predict without seeing either on the team yet. But then that's a "problem" we've had each of the last two seasons as well.

I expect Carter to be similar to Hall circa 2011-2012 this season (JUCO AA PF coming off the bench for 20 minutes a game). From everything I've heard, Kadeem is a better defensive presence in the post than Hall, and a better offensive presence than EO ... but that would also imply he's inferior to Hall offensively. Regardless, I don't think Coleby is going to be a liability ... he performed very well in the Sun Belt, and he's had a year to work with the team.

[Aargh]

Carter is reported to be the most D1-ready JuCo Marshall has ever seen. Early will be groomed over the summer on playing SF. Really early reports are that Carter will play, and he will play at any position he wants to play.

More early reports say that D.J. Bowles is looking like he will be ready for backup minutes at PG as a Fr. Those reports say Bowles is ahead of where VanVleet was at the same time last year.

Rian Holland's shot is being compared to some NBA players who will not be mentioned because it would be obvious hyperbole. Holland is a likely RS at 6'0, 148.

These observations were made by people who have accurately evaluated talent at WSU for the last several years. Those are not the typical hyperbolic fan evaluations watching summer pickup games.

Carter's unexpected D1 readiness begs the question - will WSU RS Shaquille Morris (6'8", 280, OK PoY and MVP in the OK/TX All-Stars game)? The Shox don't seem to need him next year. Maybe he can use a conditioning year. Legitimate 5th-year big men always seem to have excellent years. At 6'8", 280, he went for something like 20 and 8 with 5 blocks in the OK/TX All-Stars game. Even at that weight, he's got some explosiveness, can run the court, and has some ups.

WSU will have Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, St. Louis, Davidson, Oral Roberts, Tulsa, and probably BYU under their belts by the time Valley play rolls around. The games against Texas and (probably) BYU are speculation at this point. In the CBE Classic next fall, WSU is the featured team. The other 3 "top-group" teams are Texas, BYU, and DePaul. My thought is that the tournament and TV producers will try to get WSU against the other better teams.

[jackwagon]

Pretty scary evals there if true. Although I don't care who your source is until these kids lace them up against other D1 teams together I'd reserve any expectations for newcomers. WSU should win the league based on who's returning and the fact the rest of the valley is down. I can see Early being a 20-25 point a night guy next season.