Thoughts on 2005/2006 season, early predications.

[OSUFALCON]

I bet next years team will be playing better at the end of the year than this years team. We peaked early this year and didn't have enough talent to improve as the year progressed. I say they will be a 7th-10th seed but will finish strong at the end of the year as they come together. They will make it to the Gund and get beat in the quarterfinals.

Starting line at the beginning of the year:

Three guard lineup: PG J. Floyd, SG M. Semarco, WG S. Wright, PF M. Soler, C M. Lefield. Redshirts: N. Wilson and E. Marshall

End of the year lineup: PG J. Floyd, SG M. Semarco, WG S. Wright, SF D. Radivojevic, PF J. Holland. Small but quick lineup.

Backups with plenty of minutes: M. Robinson, D. Clements, Soler, Lefield and L. Sullivan

This team looks like they could be 10-12 deep depending on redshirts.

I've heard that Dan still has two guys if they commit he would take, one is a Power Forward, the other is a point guard.

Go Falcons Fly High!

[hammb]

If John Floyd is still starting by the end of next season, I'll be deeply disappointed.

[OSUFALCON]

I agree if Floyd plays like he did towards the end of the this year all next year we will be in big trouble. I think a year under his belt will make a difference. Push the ball John, don't stand at the top of the key dribbling. We should be able to run the court some.

[BleedOrange]

Ditto on Floyd, especially if he doesn't DRAMATICALLY improve that 38% shooting. Wright, Samarco, Clements, and Moon should all play in front off him at G. So will Wilson if turns out to be more suited for G than SF.

I see three sure starters in
- Wright
- Samarco
- Sullivan

I'd like to see 6-11 Lefeld emerge as a starter. My gut says that 60-40 he will. He's our only upperclassmen low post player, and a proven defender.

Obviously, Soler will be a fixture in the rotation regardless of whether he starts. I have a hard time believing that a Wilson type would redshirt. Unless he's another Moss attitude-wise, I see him getting significant minutes, especially if his defense is as good as reported.

In my mind, Holland, Marcshall, Rad, and Clements are the wildcards. It's very hard (but fun) to speculate how any of these freshman will turn out. I'd like to believe that they'll all be mentally ready as freshman (i.e., Erik Crawford). Holland and Rad are frontline scorers, so hopefully one of them will be mature enough to step in for 15-20 mpg early in the year.

Naturally, the one final signee could change the dynamics of everything.

[BleedOrange]

Someone posted that DD's still looking at a PG. From what I can tell, Quantez Robinson hasn't yet committed.

[Falconboy]

needs to go after another big man for sure. We another 6'10-6'11 guy to help out Lefeld. Vandameer's leaving just left a huge hole we must fill. I'm not sure how Lefeld will help us next year. He's got a ways to go in my opinion. For one thing he needs to learn how to hold on to the ball with out letting some small guard poke it away from him. Matt has got it in the weight department but not sure yet about the mental part. Regardless ,he needs to make huge strides in his game for us to be a force.

[orangeandbrown]

Given the lack of PT Lefeld got this year, I find it hard to believe the coaching staff has him pencilled in for major PT this year. You'd think he would have seen even A LITTLE time last year.

[Falconboy]

Had alot to do with seniors Almonson and Eynk running out of gas at the end of the season. There was no reason why Matt shouldn't have gotten more playing time to prepare him for this upcoming season and to give Josh and Cory the much needed rest they never got.

[Flipper]

Dan doesn't coach for next season. Dan coaches for the season he's playing. If Lefeld were good enough to take minutes from Eyink or Alamanson or to keep Vandermeer from burning the red shirt, he would have played more.

[Warthog]

Dan doesn't coach for next season. Dan coaches for the season he's playing.

I agree Flipper, but I think he needs think more about coaching for crunch time, that is, the end of the game/season. Seems to me that we run out of gas in late Feb each year because playing time is heaped on a few guys. He needs to work a better rotation in the first half of games/season to keep guys fresh for the final five minutes/two to three weeks. And for the love of God, please substitute in the second half. Lot of guys played 18-20 minutes in the second half of games because he was afraid to take them out. Give them a break, it will pay off at the end.

[Flipper]

I see your point and I don't necessarily disagree....I think Dan feels he's going with his best and if they get a little tired.... well, he'd still rather have them out there.

Apparently, Dan decided early on in conference play (after Fitch got hurt) that this year's team wasn't going to win without Josh and John playing just about he entire 40 minutes.

No way of know if he was right I guess.

[Warthog]

Again, I agree Flipper. But I think he needs to do a better job in the preconference season of getting time for Lefeld et al so that during conference play, he doesn't feel that way.

[Flipper]

I think Dan would puke if he knew people were on this board talking about his "feelings"....

[BleedOrange]

Dan doesn't coach for next season. Dan coaches for the season he's playing. If Lefeld were good enough to take minutes from Eyink or Alamanson or to keep Vandermeer from burning the red shirt, he would have played more.

I've made that same observation myself. DD tries to win today with the players has has today. He doesn't "invest" minutes to win in the future or develop talent. Coaches all have their own philosophies and DD has his, and I disagree with it. Compared to other coaches, DD's pt distribution is very skewed away from the bench and youngsters, and the results speak for themselves -- transfers and reasonably talented guys like Lefeld, Almanson, and Netter going into their junior years as virtual freshman.

[BGDrew]

Hey, DD's the one who watches Desperate Housewives.