UNI Next Year

[Wufan]

I thought I'd throw this one out as I kinda see UNI as a potential "sleeper" in the league.

Last year was disappointing…? The loss of Koch, Sonnen, and James is fairly daunting. Initial impression is a down year for the Panthers.

Are Mitchell and Tuttle good enough to carry the Panthers next year?

[jackwagon]

I really like Tuttle and Mitchell but there does not seem to be a ton around them. Front court could be an issue for UNI. Don't see them finishing worse than 4th or 5th though.

[glm38]

I really like Tuttle as an MVC post. I thought he had a great freshman year. He was good last year but didn't progress as much as I would have thought. But many good players do kind of slump/hit a wall their sophmore year. I think he should really break out this coming year into one of the best posts in our league.

If he does that I think he and Mitchell are enough to put UNI into contention.

[Wufan]

Is Wesley Washpun a player?

[valleychamp]

Is Wesley Washpun a player?

He's definitely a wildcard coming into the season. I know Jake likes him quite a bit. He is super athletic and will bring a lot of energy and defensive intensity. It remains to be seen how good he will be, but it would be a huge help this season if he is good.

Tuttle and Deon are definitely the core of the team, and they will be surrounded by quite a bit of new/young talent. Hard to predict how good a team is going to be with so many new guys and freshman, but I think they have a chance to be pretty good again.

Some players that Valley fans don't really know much about that may end up playing important roles:

Jeremy Morgan (6'6 Freshman SF)
Wes Washpun (6'1 So G transfer from Tennessee)
Ted Friedman (6'8 Freshman PF)
Nate Buss (6'9 Jr SF)

[Wufan]

Is Washpun a PG? Morris? Who backs up Mitchell?

[valleychamp]

I would say that Wasphun is definitely more of a 2/combo guard, but he will definitely play backup pg minutes if he is able to do so. Otherwise Matt Morrison will be the primary backup PG. he played well 2 years ago in that role but was injured most of last year.

[achrist70]

To me the success of this team comes down to a few things

1. Deon Mitchell's continued growth as a point guard, there are games where he is the best player on the floor, but then there are also times when he looks like he belongs in a junior high game, if he is consistently good then the Panthers will be in a good position

2. Nate Buss and Matt Morrison, both have been in the program for a while and both have shown glimpses of being quality Valley players if these two can give us quality minutes that would be huge for UNI.

3. Post defense, Jake Koch was our best post defender last year, we need to be able to replace his defensive ability, I think Tuttle will assume a bigger role, but I also think incoming freshman Ted Friedman will have to be a big body in the post for UNI.

[Aargh]

I think UNI's success or lack thereof relies on 1 thing, not 3:

1. Ben Jacobsen

This is a down year for the Valley. I'm projecting UNI to be in the top half of the league. Even if this was an up year for the Valley, I'd be projecting UNI to be in the top half of the league.

UNI doesn't appear to have the talent to be a top-half Valley team in a "typical" Valley year. I think Jacobsen could take a team with virtually no talent and find a way to finish in the top half of the league.

The competition for 3rd in the league this year appears to be BU, MSU and UNI. I've been projecting UNI round 5th, but I think I'm going to have to change that to 3rd. I don't think UNI can take 2nd away from InSU. The perceived talent difference between UNI and InSU (in the off season) give 2nd to InSU. Not even Jacobsen as the coach can make up for the difference in talent.

I'm not convinced I'm right. If I'm not, I'd like to hear the arguments the other way, and I'd like for them to start at PG. There's going to have to be some major differences in talent at other positions, cause InSU has THE PG.

I'm a huge WSU homer and I think Fred VanVleet will be among the best PG's in WSU's history -= which goes back 60 years. Jake Odum is THE PG in the Valley next year.

[agrinut]

I think UNI's success or lack thereof relies on 1 thing, not 3:

1. Ben Jacobsen

This is a down year for the Valley. I'm projecting UNI to be in the top half of the league. Even if this was an up year for the Valley, I'd be projecting UNI to be in the top half of the league.

UNI doesn't appear to have the talent to be a top-half Valley team in a "typical" Valley year. I think Jacobsen could take a team with virtually no talent and find a way to finish in the top half of the league.

The competition for 3rd in the league this year appears to be BU, MSU and UNI. I've been projecting UNI round 5th, but I think I'm going to have to change that to 3rd. I don't think UNI can take 2nd away from InSU. The perceived talent difference between UNI and InSU (in the off season) give 2nd to InSU. Not even Jacobsen as the coach can make up for the difference in talent.

I'm not convinced I'm right. If I'm not, I'd like to hear the arguments the other way, and I'd like for them to start at PG. There's going to have to be some major differences in talent at other positions, cause InSU has THE PG.

I'm a huge WSU homer and I think Fred VanVleet will be among the best PG's in WSU's history -= which goes back 60 years. Jake Odum is THE PG in the Valley next year.

I'll take Marshall over Odum for best PG in the league.... FVV grew up a lot in the NCAA tourney but still think he is behind Marshall. Yes I am also a homer.