Looking at next year...

[clone87]

PG: Buckley, Garrett, and Peteson. If Buckley is good enough to start, this position will be greatly improved. Good bet Garrett will be better too. I don't see a need to do anything more here, JUCO-wise.

SG: Staiger, Eikmeier, Haluska, Boozer. Good depth and improved perimeter shooting.

SF: W. Johnson, Mann. Wesley J will dominate the minutes here, as he should. Hopefully Mann can play some wing to spell him since the 4-spot is solid without him. A healthy WJ will make a world of difference. Lucca at 6-5 could play here too.

PF: Brackins, C. Johnson. This looks solid. Mann or WJ could slide up if needed.

C: Thompson, Hamilton. Not much here in terms of offense, bulk, or depth. Must go after a JUCO big to improve this area.

Overall, I see a team that could make some noise the next couple of years. On paper, this looks promising.

 

[4429 mcc]

Conference play hasnt even started yet...and looking towards next year, sad:no:

 

[tim_redd]

I think Mann is mostly a 4, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Staiger play some at the 3.

 

[BryceC]

I think Mann is mostly a 4, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Staiger play some at the 3.

Staiger's high school coach thought he might be more suited to the 3 position.

 

[Aclone]

I'm thinking that Buckley (and experience) is the only thing needed to solidify this team. That and I'll see whther Lucca is back in school next semester, or playing in Europe. I really hope that Brackins doesn't go pro after this season.

As for the centers--think about the center contribution when Tinsley and Fizer made the run at the Final Four--or even the next season, after Fizer left and they still won the Big XII again. And don't forget Vette--he has a nice touch and a big body inside.

EDIT: Oops! Just saw that Vette is leaving...

 

[MJAnderson]

I'm thinking that Buckley (and experience) is the only thing needed to solidify this team. That and I'll see whther Lucca is back in school next semester, or playing in Europe. I really hope that Brackins doesn't go pro after this season.

As for the centers--think about the center contribution when Tinsley and Fizer made the run at the Final Four--or even the next season, after Fizer left and they still won the Big XII again. And don't forget Vette--he has a nice touch and a big body inside.

Lucca will be back next year and I'm pretty sure Brackins won't be going pro after this season. Nothing against him, I think he will end up in the NBA, he just hasen't developed to that level yet.

 

[Drizzle]

I'm thinking that Buckley (and experience) is the only thing needed to solidify this team. That and I'll see whther Lucca is back in school next semester, or playing in Europe. I really hope that Brackins doesn't go pro after this season.

As for the centers--think about the center contribution when Tinsley and Fizer made the run at the Final Four--or even the next season, after Fizer left and they still won the Big XII again. And don't forget Vette--he has a nice touch and a big body inside.

Well... We have some good news for you! Lucca will be back next semester and next year. Now the bad news:sad:, Vette has left the team:sad: Where have you been?:wink:

 

[Cyfan322]

I'm thinking that Buckley (and experience) is the only thing needed to solidify this team. That and I'll see whther Lucca is back in school next semester, or playing in Europe. I really hope that Brackins doesn't go pro after this season.

As for the centers--think about the center contribution when Tinsley and Fizer made the run at the Final Four--or even the next season, after Fizer left and they still won the Big XII again. And don't forget Vette--he has a nice touch and a big body inside.

Vette quit the team...

 

[Aclone]

Lucca will be back next year and I'm pretty sure Brackins won't be going pro after this season. Nothing against him, I think he will end up in the NBA, he just hasen't developed to that level yet.

That doesn't always mean that a kid won't take the money to sit on the bench for a year (or two). I hope that McDermott will have Brackins' head on straighter than that, but it's a possibilty.

 

[iowast8fan]

That doesn't always mean that a kid won't take the money to sit on the bench for a year (or two). I hope that McDermott will have Brackins' head on straighter than that, but it's a possibilty.

Brackins would not get drafted into the NBA after this year. He has potential, but he is not an NBA player yet.

 

[Kyle]

I think Mann is mostly a 4, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Staiger play some at the 3.

Yup. Mac likes the three-guard lineups too, so I suspect Lucca will play the 3 when Wesley isn't in and another guard will come into the game. Mann also strikes me as more of a 4 than Cory Johnson does, so if either of them were going outside it would be Cory.

 

[Aclone]

Brackins would not get drafted into the NBA after this year. He has potential, but he is not an NBA player yet.

Need I mention guys like Mike Conley Jr., Brendan Wright, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Jarvaris Crittendon, Daequon Cook, and others who went pro last year after their freshman years, were drafted in the first round--and are sitting squarely on the bench? The list goes on, after all.

 

[MJAnderson]

Need I mention guys like Mike Conley Jr., Brendan Wright, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Jarvaris Crittendon, Daequon Cook, and others who went pro last year after their freshman years, were drafted in the first round--and are sitting squarely on the bench? The list goes on, after all.

I don't know if you've watched him at all this year but he hasn't developed to that level yet.

 

[Aclone]

Yes, I've watched him every game. And I know how those players played in November and December. It's the height and raw ability that the pros would be considering, not how far he has yet developed.

 

[MJAnderson]

Yes, I've watched him every game. And I know how those players played in November and December. It's the height and raw ability that the pros would be considering, not how far he has yet developed.

I'll agree with you that he does have the height and raw ability, but so did Wesely Johnson last year, and he didn't go pro.

 

[psycln11]

Need I mention guys like Mike Conley Jr., Brendan Wright, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, Jarvaris Crittendon, Daequon Cook, and others who went pro last year after their freshman years, were drafted in the first round--and are sitting squarely on the bench? The list goes on, after all.

Brandan Wright was listed #3
Thaddeus Young #5
Spencer Hawes #6
Javaris Crittenton #7
Daequan Cook #13
Mike Conley #18

On the Rivals rankings in 2006... Rivals.com Prospect Rankings

The thing that these players listed above had that Brackins doesn't at this point is national attention.

Wright went to UNC where he was on TV a lot and advanced far in the NCAA tournament. Hawes went to Washington but was listed as the 2nd best center prospect behind Greg Oden.

Crittenton and Young went to Gerogia Tech and played in the NCAA tourney.

Cook and Conley played in the NCAA Championship game for OSU.

Brackins has a ways to go before he would be considered for a 1st or 2nd round draft pick, luckily, he still has plenty of season to prove himself.

How many here thought Fizer would be going pro after we got beat by Drake early that season?? It wasn't until he tore up the Big 12 late in the season that he established himself as a lottery pick.