Expectations for 2018-2019

[KKramer]

I'm a little less optimistic than some others in this thread, mostly because people seem to assume that NWB and Young will be completely healthy and remain so the whole year. But look at Hans Brase this year. He appeared to have recovered from his injury, only to see it relapse.

Also, everyone seems to be forgetting that our new recruits will *also* be inexperienced freshmen just like this year's and every other year's crop of freshmen.

I think we will improve, though "improvement" will be more like 7-11 or 8-10.

I really only anticipate one freshman seeing significant minutes next year, and that freshman is a borderline 5 star recruit depending on the service you look at. History tells us that the upper tier recruits are usually major impact guys their freshman year.

Plus, the team will be deep enough with returning upperclassmen and transfers that we won't need to rely on freshmen nearly to the extent we have this year. The guys coming back have all played together now for at least one year and will have a better idea of how to work with each other.

Not saying your prediction of 7-11/8-10 is going to be wrong, but I think it's totally understandable to expect better than that.

 

[FinalFourCy]

I think the default right now is...

Weiler-Babb
Wigginton
Shayok
Young
Lard

That lineup has a few questions marks, namely...

-- who is the PG? NWB or Wigginton?
-- can Young and Lard thrive together as two traditional big men?
-- is NWB going to be healthy?
-- does it have enough shooting relative to some other bench options?

Wanting to start THT is... well, hard, though, because I do not know who you send to the bench. If Nick is hurt, well, that is an obvious one, but I do not know how you put a healthy NWB on the bench. Wigginton and Lard were our two best players last year, and Shayok might be our best player overall, so I doubt any of them are going out.

That leaves Solomon. I love the guy's motor, post defense, and boxing out, but he is limited offensively, has no outside shot, and kind of clogs the lane for any of the wings to work or for Lard to beat up on guys one-on-one. He has been a starter for two years, too, and while I am sure he could bury the ego and go back to the bench, that is never easy.

Is this lineup going to be big enough, though? Can NWB and Shayok guard 4s?

Weiler-Babb
Wigginton
Horton-Tucker
Shayok
Lard

That thing would score, but I wonder how it would rebound and defend.

I don’t think who is at pg is any question. NWB will, and if injured we should give Talley and THT a try.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I don’t think who is at pg is any question. NWB will, and if injured we should give Talley and THT a try.

Talley would be my number 1 choice (THT is really a wait and see for me at that spot, as I think he'll be great for us, but he'll be dealing with the freshman adjustments enough without being the primary ball handler). Talley gives you a lot that Nick does (just as steady with the ball, probably a better midrange/short game, but less explosive and not quite as good (apparently) from distance).

 

[Al_4_State]

As long as we dance, I'm good.

If we don't, I'll be very concerned about Prohm. I like him and believe in what he's doing. This year he had a pass, and I saw flashes of brilliance. But missing the Dance with the roster we'll have is a very, very bad sign.

 

[LRam1270]

I think we will be on the right side of the bubble.

Our line up will be very interesting - we will be way bigger and longer than we have been in recent history.

Young, Lard, Jacobsen for bigs

Talley, Shayok for wings

Babb, Wiggy for guards

I’m not going to put any expectations on THT as a true freshmen, but he could be in the mix. I think a transfer guard would be a good priority in the off-season to add depth behind Babb and Wiggy.

THT is a starter day one! have you seen him play? No way that kid does not have a big impact next year

 

[WastedTalent]

Teams like OK State and Baylor are going to be in for rough years imo.

On paper, Baylor doesn't look good for next year, but I'm not counting out Scott Drew. Since the 07-08 season, when Drew finally got Baylor back out of hell, 11 seasons, they've gone to the tournament 8 times, NIT champion once, and only twice have had less than 8 conference wins.

 

[MartinCy]

On paper, Baylor doesn't look good for next year, but I'm not counting out Scott Drew. Since the 07-08 season, when Drew finally got Baylor back out of hell, 11 seasons, they've gone to the tournament 8 times, NIT champion once, and only twice have had less than 8 conference wins.

Lol, I actually had the exact same thought as I typed that out. I can't think of Drew's resume on landing transfers, but he seems like a guy I wouldn't count out for landing a good one this off season. Gotta think expectations will be much lower though losing their top 4 scorers including Lecomte who has been a mainstay of the program the last two years.

 

[Hayes30]

I think the only 2 guys that are guaranteed to start are Wigginton and Lard after that it's a crap shoot.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I don’t think who is at pg is any question. NWB will, and if injured we should give Talley and THT a try.

Talley would be my number 1 choice (THT is really a wait and see for me at that spot, as I think he'll be great for us, but he'll be dealing with the freshman adjustments enough without being the primary ball handler). Talley gives you a lot that Nick does (just as steady with the ball, probably a better midrange/short game, but less explosive and not quite as good (apparently) from distance).

Does that square with how Wigginton was pitched on the program and how Prohm intends to train him, however? He is only in the NBA as a PG, not a SG.

After all, Prohm could have made Talley the primary ball-handler the past few weeks, but he has went with some combination of Jackson and (mostly) Wigginton.

There were some rumors about Shayok playing the point, too.

 

[CyTwins]

I think the only 2 guys that are guaranteed to start are Wigginton and Lard after that it's a crap shoot.

Shayok will start for sure

 

[Cyclonepride]

Does that square with how Wigginton was pitched on the program and how Prohm intends to train him, however? He is only in the NBA as a PG, not a SG.

After all, Prohm could have made Talley the primary ball-handler the past few weeks, but he has went with some combination of Jackson and (mostly) Wigginton.

There were some rumors about Shayok playing the point, too.

Yep, and that's how I envision THT being used. Have another PG on the floor, but based on match ups, let him initiate the offense when it makes sense to do so.

To clarify, you could have Wigginton, Babb and THT on the floor (and often will I'm thinking) and any of the three could do it.

 

[ComCY]

Shayok will start for sure

I don't see NWB and Young not starting at the beginning of the season, unless in some crazy turn of events they aren't healed up.

 

[WastedTalent]

Lol, I actually had the exact same thought as I typed that out. I can't think of Drew's resume on landing transfers, but he seems like a guy I wouldn't count out for landing a good one this off season. Gotta think expectations will be much lower though losing their top 4 scorers including Lecomte who has been a mainstay of the program the last two years.

They'll be long and athletic again, probably start:
McClure 6-3
Lindsey 6-5
Vital 6-5
Clark 6-9
And former top 100 recruit Mario Kegler, from Ole Miss. 6-7

They'll still be predicted bottom half of league, but likely ahead of Iowa St.

 

[WastedTalent]

After all, Prohm could have made Talley the primary ball-handler the past few weeks, but he has went with some combination of Jackson and (mostly) Wigginton.

I love the idea of using Talley from time to time as the guy initiating the offense, but I'm not as high on him being the primary ball handler.
Better than DJ, yes. But I would really hope Wigginton improves enough from year one to year 2, to be definitively better at pg than Talley.

 

[Cyclonepride]

They'll be long and athletic again, probably start:
McClure 6-3
Lindsey 6-5
Vital 6-5
Clark 6-9
And former top 100 recruit Mario Kegler, from Ole Miss. 6-7

They'll still be predicted bottom half of league, but likely ahead of Iowa St.

My prediction for "their" prediction would be ISU at 5 or 6. That doesn't leave much room for bottom half but above us. But, simply a prediction, I could be wrong.

 

[FinalFourCy]

Does that square with how Wigginton was pitched on the program and how Prohm intends to train him, however? He is only in the NBA as a PG, not a SG.

After all, Prohm could have made Talley the primary ball-handler the past few weeks, but he has went with some combination of Jackson and (mostly) Wigginton.

There were some rumors about Shayok playing the point, too.

It wouldn’t be the first time there is a divergence in what is sold and what needs to happen. And I doubt Prohm sold Wigginton that he would play pg even if he’s not the best option. He likely sold Wigginton that he’ll help him improve enough in that regard to eventually be that best option.

Which leads to why they’ve played Wigginton at pg the past few games. It is likely in part due to using this poor season as development time. Wigginton needs to improve in that aspect regardless of whether he plays some pg next year, and there’s no better time than a situation like this.

 

[MartinCy]

They'll be long and athletic again, probably start:
McClure 6-3
Lindsey 6-5
Vital 6-5
Clark 6-9
And former top 100 recruit Mario Kegler, from Ole Miss. 6-7

They'll still be predicted bottom half of league, but likely ahead of Iowa St.

Forgot about transfer Mario Kegler. He's a really nice piece.You think we'll be predicted 7th or lower though? That would really piss some people off haha

 

[SolarGarlic]

I was going to say — I felt he had two major weaknesses in his game:

1. Defense
2. Playing in the paint

He never rebounded much and seemed to have problems finishing contested shots. Some of that is experience to find the crafty angles, but some of that is just the muscle to draw fouls or finish through any legal contact.

He could really use both.

Not sure about all of that. He looked like a good rebounder to me with good instincts and timing although I agree he did struggle to finish on offensive rebounds under the basket. His defense was weird because we all expected him to come in with a high basketball IQ. But he seemed to do a lot of ball watching and was often two or three beats behind a play. He has good size and good enough athleticism. Getting better on that end should be his primary focus in the offseason.

 

[WastedTalent]

Forgot about transfer Mario Kegler. He's a really nice piece.You think we'll be predicted 7th or lower though? That would really piss some people off haha

Yeah, I didn't think the "bottom half, but still ahead of Iowa St" statement through. It will be close though. I really can't see Iowa St higher than 5th though.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Not sure about all of that. He looked like a good rebounder to me with good instincts and timing although I agree he did struggle to finish on offensive rebounds under the basket. His defense was weird because we all expected him to come in with a high basketball IQ. But he seemed to do a lot of ball watching and was often two or three beats behind a play. He has good size and good enough athleticism. Getting better on that end should be his primary focus in the offseason.

I agree that 99% of his problem was mental.

He just always seemed to be in the wrong spot.

That is something you can teach, though.