RE: pre-season polls

[ALACOMBE]

Danny I agree with you 100%.  This year's team may even be able to press.
You see the foot speed and overall quickness at many positions and they
look like they may rebound the ball well.

Your main loses are Logan (Scoring, Ball Handling, Leadership, D), McElroy
(rebounding, D) and Davis (d and some rebounding).

I do not think that UC has players that will replace these guys 1:1, but
they
can be replaced.  I like Max as a step up at Power Forward.  Small Forward
will have a lot of options, Hicks, Stokes, Kirkland.  Logan's ball handling
and D can be replaced with Barker.  His scoring has to move to the other
positions:  Williams and Bobitt at the 2, and small foward.

The only big question I see is what happens at the center position?  Little
could fill that roll, but if he is not back there are many options, Johnson,
Grove and Hollman.  You can also go small (or medium) with Barker, Williams,
Stokes, Hicks and Max.  This would all depend on who is at the opposing 5.
If Max grows to 6'9" then there is no question he can play against most any
college 5.  He sure as hell can handle any crybaby, whining Mousekateer.  I
hope he takes that game as a personal challenge to shut the whiner West up
by staying in his face.  I think West will have a hard time shooting over
Max without fading away and he will have trouble going around him.

I surely hope that we have X in the top-10 and UC unranked going into the
shootout.  If Huggs can bring back the press, we may see the tide swing in
this game since Matta does not press.  It could really take them out of
their
game.  A nice 20 point victory should make for some interesting newspaper
headlines ;-)

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: Danny Spoonamore [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 10:28 AM
To: address@hidden
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] pre-season polls


I'm going to make this sound like an "I told you so", but I was very high on
last years team early because I knew they were going to be good, and they
did have one of their best seasons despite the second round loss.  So I'll
go out on a limb again :0 and say that this years team, although a little
young, has as much if not more talent than last years team.  It's always fun
to make predictions and I'll put in my 2 cents here

Eric Hicks will be a major contributor to the success of this team.  Anybody
who has seen him play knows he's another manchild in the mold of JMax.  He
is probably even a little quicker so he could play the three at times.

With Hicks on one side, Max now becomes the threat in the post.  He will be
our clutch player next year similar to what Fortson did for us when he was
here.  He will also be our best defensive player and rebounder

Stokes will be the leading scorer, but what is going to make a difference is
how he gets his points.  If he ends up shooting less than 40% we could be in
for a long year.  But if he plays it smart and gets the rest of the team
involved, it could be another great year.  Problem is I haven't seen the
type of leadership necessary yet for him to be that type of player.
Personally, I don't think it's going to happen but Huggs is such a great
motivator who knows?

Taron will be our point guard.  His defense is too good to keep him out,
he's got a great handle and he showed signs of scoring last year even though
it wasn't necessary.  If Chadd is our point next year, then we either got
the steal of the year or we're in trouble.

Field Williams will be our second leading scorer, and possibly the leader.
He was the most improved player on the team last year (IMHO), and similar
progress could make him into our #1 option from the perimeter.  If he could
drive and score, he would be dangerous.

BJ plays.  He's got to, we've got no other choice.  Which isn't all that
bad, because he can score.  Dammit, Don.

Flowers plays.  See above.

Holman plays.  Ditto.

That guy from FLA plays, I can't even remember his name.  Ditto.

Bobbit is just OK.  He will contribute but not be overwhelming.  That
usually happens with JUCO's of his caliber in their first year.

Chadd has the most potential of the new recruits to bust.  He's had it then
lost it.  It's awfully hard to get it back again.  If he does, he was at one
time considered the top player in his class.  Let's hope the Huggs factor
plays in here again.

"Kirk"  has probably the most potential to become a really good player in
Huggins system.  He has size, a good handle and a good shooting touch.
Defense should be easier for him and he *will* learn how to rebound.  He
also has that Texas connection which has been bery bery good to us.  He'll
get some PT on talent alone, but I'm probably as excited about his potential
as any of the recruits this year.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Kline, Jr." <address@hidden>
To: <address@hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 12:17 PM
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] pre-season polls


> I wonder if any X fans would be willing to bet that they'll end up higher
in
> the polls than UC? I would bet them in a second.
>
> We have lots of question marks going into this year, just like we do most
> years. It just shows how great Huggs is at bringing everything together
and
> getting guys to play to the best of their ability. Screw the rankings,
> especially the preseason ones.
>
> Steve Kline, Jr.
> Editorial Director
> Products Finishing and Automotive Finishing
> 513-527-8837
> Fax: 513-527-8801
> address@hidden <mailto:address@hidden>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Teeters, Matthew D (Matt) [mailto:address@hidden
> Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 12:09 PM
> To: 'address@hidden'
> Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] pre-season polls
>
>
> I just did a little unscientific survey of coworkers who are definite
non-UC
> fans.  They all agreed with UC being unranked, citing the loss of Logan.
> Strangely, not one person was willing to take this bet.
>
> > > Analysis by Steve, Brett and Keith is spot on.  That said, how
> many people
> > would take the other side of an even money bet if you were to take the
> > side
> > saying UC will finish in the Top 20 in one or more of the season end
> > national polls?  :-)
> >
> > Richard K.
>
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