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Post by explorer88 on Mar 14, 2019 14:18:49 GMT -5
Now is a good time to look at next year to make me forget about this year.
These are just my opinions and thoughts on how we can get better for next season. Some of it may sting some people because I am making assumptions but that is all we have now and what make message board banter the reason most come here.
We have no consistent scoring coming back for next season. That hurts and should alter our expectations for next year. Keith Dambrot has turned Duquesne around in two seasons. Let's see what La Salle has and what we can do.
I respect other poster's opinions on this board so I would be interested in the true basketball analysis follow-up from everyone but I am sure some snarky comments will follow since that is how we do it here.
We just need better players. Plain and simple. If you believe Ash can turn this around you cannot come to any other conclusion. All Ash can do right now is recruit better players and players that fit better with what he wants to do. We need to get bigger and and more athletic. This is a general synopsis
I like our freshman. The entire group. Each has some skills I really like. I like our recruiting commits for new year. All 3 should see significant time for us. Spencer is someone I am just not sure about next year just because I haven't watched him but he isn't going anywhere since her just transferred in. Beatty isn't going anywhere. He is terribly inconsistent right now but something tells he is going to get better (Just a Hunch) Carter will be here but needs to play 10-15 minutes at most.
That leaves Moultrie, Shaggy, Miles, Sullivan, and Saul.
Moultrie - is a prime transfer candidate. He needs to find himself a better situation.
Shaggy - Will he graduate? I would like to see him graduate and transfer. If he doesn't graduate and transfer and he comes back Ash will need to coach him better and an insist no playing time for mental errors and turnovers. That is all that is stopping him from becoming a good player.
Saul - I think he is a mediocre A-10 player. His value with the fans is extremely overrated just my opinion. I think he is a decent wing defender and can make some shots but is not a great shooter so he will never be consistent and will never be able to score the ball except as a 3 point shooter. He is a junior so I think Ash will keep him instead of screwing him and forcing him out. So move him into the rotation next next year. My hope is Christian Ray is a better player than Saul Phiri in order for us to be successful.
Miles - He is 3000 miles away from home. He lacks the strength and athleticism needed to propel us up the A-10 ladder. If I am Ash I ask him to transfer to a lower level school closer to home. He seems like a kid everyone likes so perhaps that doesn't happen but Ash is better with the scholarship IMO.
Sullivan - He should transfer one would think. Not playing and we could really use the scholarship.
So right now we are one scholarship over when we look at 2019-2020. At most we could see 4 transfers but most likely 2 IMO. That would allow ASH to take a grad transfer who could be asked to score for us. Makes us more attractive in the transfer market when we are asking someone to be our main scorer. If we get another scholarship I really would like Ash to get a true rim protector. I don't care if he can score. Just get someone to alter shots and keep people from attacking the rim all of the time.
Thoughts?
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Post by thelasallelunatic on Mar 14, 2019 14:28:01 GMT -5
4 transfers would be too big of a roster turnover IMO, particularly if they all sit out next season.
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Post by explorer88 on Mar 14, 2019 14:30:07 GMT -5
4 transfers would be too big of a roster turnover IMO, particularly if they all sit out next season. Transfer out. Not transfer in.
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on Mar 14, 2019 14:33:35 GMT -5
I don't necessarily agree we need better players because I don't think La Salle's recent history issue is talent. I think Howard needs 3 cycles to get *his* players in so he can run his system.
(Especially if he's going towards the Villanova model where 3 or 4 guys can shoot at all times, this current roster doesn't work.)
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Post by 23won on Mar 14, 2019 16:23:19 GMT -5
Now is a good time to look at next year to make me forget about this year. We just need better players. Plain and simple. If you believe Ash can turn this around you cannot come to any other conclusion. All Ash can do right now is recruit better players and players that fit better with what he wants to do. We need to get bigger and and more athletic. This is a general synopsis I like our freshman. The entire group - Clark, Croswell, Jared Spencer Beatty Carter Moultrie, Shaggy, Miles, Sullivan, and Saul. Saul Phiri in order for us to be successful. Miles - He is 3000 miles away from home. He lacks the strength and athleticism needed to propel us up the A-10 ladder. If I am Ash I ask him to transfer to a lower level school closer to home. He seems like a kid everyone likes so perhaps that doesn't happen but Ash is better with the scholarship IMO. Fair analysis. Not a whole lot to differ over but will add some thoughts around the edges.
I agree and do like most of the players coming back, but honestly we don't have the talent to win the league or go to the dance. I wouldn't act like a nice guy - it won't get you or the program anywhere. I'd act like a man on a mission.
If I were Coach I would try to bring in transfers that could elevate the program. I wouldn't chase players out unless the incoming transfers could help turn the ship, but if they could, I would do it and I would change 4 players if I could improve. I'd treat it like my butt was on the line and I didn't have four of five years left, instead I would add talent and develop players like I had one year to prove I was worthy of a renewal. Most schools experience turnover, and that turnover goes up when new coaches inherit lineups. I don't see us being any different and hope Ash can bring in some additional difference makers and coach up the returning crew that he wants to build a team around. Out of respect for the players who work their butt off I am not going to do a list of those four players, but I will say the following.
Our bigs really need to hit the weight and training room to up their aggressiveness against bigs. They also need to be coached up on offensive moves in the paint. Langevine, French, Hughes and Toppin are back next year. We got dominated by them but quite frankly, would any of those three start for a top 25 team? This is how big our gap is and how big the challenge is here.
Our guards who handle the rock have shown the tendency to be clueless in driving the lane to generate shots or dish to open looks. Our spacing has been less than desirable and we do a really lousy job setting picks and rolling off the pick. We did a better job with ball movement around the perimeter as the year went on but unless you can drive or pick with a purpose, you will not succeed. That is why we (and our offense in particular) was so inconsistent this year.
Would love a tough sinewy player like Ramon but 3" taller, as an eligible transfer to play next year (whether a grad transfer or a loose local hardship a la Beatty). We need to beef up toughness all around and we definitely need more depth at the 6-7 spot. My wish list for 4 transfers would be
2 6-7ish players who could defend, have a decent handle to drive to the rim and shoot 3s at 34% or better in A10 play
If Hikim isn't ready, a strong point guard with a high IQ who could do what we lacked doing this year (as noted above)
Backfill the difference with 6-4ish players that defend, have a decent handle to drive to the rim and shoot 3s at 34% or better in A10 play; if we whiff on the 6-7 types, I'd add 2 of these. If you can't set up an ideal lineup with the additions above, you can improve fast in the A10 by adding the 6-4ish players noted above.
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Post by las71 on Mar 14, 2019 17:52:56 GMT -5
I believe that Jack Clark will be the next big time La Salle player. He could become the go to guy we lacked this year. I like Carter and Beatty but think they both need to shoot better to help us. Both play hard and defend. Carter gives us a point guard for next year and gives the freshman recruit some time to adjust to the speed of D1 hoops. I like Kimbrough's athleticism and hope he can take a step up next year. Spencer is a mystery to me but he gives us more size on the wing than our present wings. Stone is long and can shoot the 3 and Ray is a hard-nosed win at all costs type. Pookie was never the type of player to carry a team. We asked too much of him and he didn't live up to our outsized expectations. He scored a thousand points here and was a good citizen and I wish him well. I suspect a couple kids will transfer not because they were run off but because they want to find a place to play. I don't blame them. I believe we will be better next year if Clark is healthy.#believe
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Post by explorer88 on Mar 14, 2019 18:45:22 GMT -5
I believe that Jack Clark will be the next big time La Salle player. He could become the go to guy we lacked this year. I like Carter and Beatty but think they both need to shoot better to help us. Both play hard and defend. Carter gives us a point guard for next year and gives the freshman recruit some time to adjust to the speed of D1 hoops. I like Kimbrough's athleticism and hope he can take a step up next year. Spencer is a mystery to me but he gives us more size on the wing than our present wings. Stone is long and can shoot the 3 and Ray is a hard-nosed win at all costs type. Pookie was never the type of player to carry a team. We asked too much of him and he didn't live up to our outsized expectations. He scored a thousand points here and was a good citizen and I wish him well. I suspect a couple kids will transfer not because they were run off but because they want to find a place to play. I don't blame them. I believe we will be better next year if Clark is healthy.#believe I tend to agree. I think we may be better addition by subtraction it Ash is careful and calculated.
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on Mar 14, 2019 19:01:37 GMT -5
If we do lose some transfers, I wouldn’t mind seeing us take in a bunch to speed things up a bit. And agreed totally on Clark; I think I said elsewhere but he has the ability to be our best direct recruit since Duren.
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Post by calsufan on Mar 14, 2019 19:59:37 GMT -5
23won & Explorer88. We already have a 6'4" player that defends, has a decent handle and shoots the 3 at a 39.4% clip (second best on the team after Jack Clark at 41%). That player is none other than Saul Phiri. Oh and he shoots 80% from the line as well. To quote a line from one of my favorite Coen Brothers movie, Oh Brother Where Art Thou?..."He's a keeper!".
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Mar 14, 2019 20:04:41 GMT -5
I think the top of 7-8 guys will be very different next year.
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on Mar 14, 2019 20:33:27 GMT -5
Agreed. This was a bridge year.
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Post by 23won on Mar 14, 2019 21:11:52 GMT -5
Cal
I could deal with three Sauls
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Post by luhoopsfan on Mar 14, 2019 22:13:24 GMT -5
The team will lose a very talented player next year but I think the overall talent level may not dip too much. The ceiling for next year might be lower but the floor will probably be higher. Meaning, at their best with everything going right, they probably won’t be able to knock off a Davidson but at their worst, they won’t lose games they “shouldn’t”. I do think the repeated long stretches of no FGs will be reduced.
I also think we will see fewer offense sets that go nowhere and end with a clear-out for someone to go one-on-one with 8 seconds on the shot clock.
Watch Ashley’s presser today, good stuff in there. He called the guys out without being a jerk. My only questions was who he told to sit at the end of the bench if he wasn’t going to play hard.
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Post by sweat83 on Mar 15, 2019 4:53:37 GMT -5
I believe that Jack Clark will be the next big time La Salle player. He could become the go to guy we lacked this year. I like Carter and Beatty but think they both need to shoot better to help us. Both play hard and defend. Carter gives us a point guard for next year and gives the freshman recruit some time to adjust to the speed of D1 hoops. I like Kimbrough's athleticism and hope he can take a step up next year. Spencer is a mystery to me but he gives us more size on the wing than our present wings. Stone is long and can shoot the 3 and Ray is a hard-nosed win at all costs type. Pookie was never the type of player to carry a team. We asked too much of him and he didn't live up to our outsized expectations. He scored a thousand points here and was a good citizen and I wish him well. I suspect a couple kids will transfer not because they were run off but because they want to find a place to play. I don't blame them. I believe we will be better next year if Clark is healthy.#believe My thoughts pretty much summed up here by 71. Expecting Kimbrough to improve alot going into his sophomore year. Improved as the year progressed this year, gained some muscle, and fought hard. Clark will be our scorer. Spencer the unknown. Didn't play much at Clemson, but was a pretty good scorer in high school Stone brings more size to a crowded front court. Ray has talent, but competition in HS wasn't exactly formidable. Very disappointed this year in Beatty and Carter's play. Thought we'd get more from them. Not sure if Pookie's presence was a factor in their play. Expecting improvement next year. A bit like the Hurley model at URI when he only won 8 games first year, and improved the W count to 14 the next. 1st round loss this year not a big deal. W would have been nice, but we weren't going anywhere. Expectations were tempered after the 0-10 start.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Mar 15, 2019 4:57:19 GMT -5
I think we’re underappreciating Christian Ray.
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Post by explorer88 on Mar 15, 2019 6:16:55 GMT -5
I think we’re underappreciating Christian Ray. La Salle needs Christian Ray to be better than Saul. I think he will. We really need Ayinde to take the starting point guard roll. If Spencer is the shooter we hope he is and have a healthy Clark and add continued improvement from EC and JK that is how we become better next year. Lot of ifs there but that is all we got.
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Post by jellybean on Mar 15, 2019 6:38:55 GMT -5
The team will lose a very talented player next year but I think the overall talent level may not dip too much. The ceiling for next year might be lower but the floor will probably be higher. Meaning, at their best with everything going right, they probably won’t be able to knock off a Davidson but at their worst, they won’t lose games they “shouldn’t”. I do think the repeated long stretches of no FGs will be reduced. I also think we will see fewer offense sets that go nowhere and end with a clear-out for someone to go one-on-one with 8 seconds on the shot clock. Watch Ashley’s presser today, good stuff in there. He called the guys out without being a jerk. My only questions was who he told to sit at the end of the bench if he wasn’t going to play hard. Can anyone provide link to the press conference? Thanks
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Post by calsufan on Mar 15, 2019 8:17:49 GMT -5
I think we’re underappreciating Christian Ray. I agree. I think he's going to be a good one. A glue guy who plays hard. I also think we're underappreciating Croswell.
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Post by diehardexplorer on Mar 15, 2019 8:25:09 GMT -5
The team will lose a very talented player next year but I think the overall talent level may not dip too much. The ceiling for next year might be lower but the floor will probably be higher. Meaning, at their best with everything going right, they probably won’t be able to knock off a Davidson but at their worst, they won’t lose games they “shouldn’t”. I do think the repeated long stretches of no FGs will be reduced. I also think we will see fewer offense sets that go nowhere and end with a clear-out for someone to go one-on-one with 8 seconds on the shot clock. Watch Ashley’s presser today, good stuff in there. He called the guys out without being a jerk. My only questions was who he told to sit at the end of the bench if he wasn’t going to play hard. Can anyone provide link to the press conference? Thanks www.facebook.com/Atlantic10/videos/2357222117629980/go to the 10 minute mark for the la salle part of the presser.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Mar 15, 2019 9:20:20 GMT -5
I think we’re underappreciating Christian Ray. I agree. I think he's going to be a good one. A glue guy who plays hard. I also think we're underappreciating Croswell. The problem with Ed (not problem. The thing about him) is that he might never be that 14 footer guy. That’s the jump needed to move into the upper echelon of A10 bigs.
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Post by 23won on Mar 15, 2019 9:27:18 GMT -5
What we have now going into next year
1) Carter, Hikim
2) Saul, Beatty, Moultrie
2/3) Ray
3) Shaggy, Spencer
4) Clark, Stone
5) Croswell, Jared, Miles, Sullivan
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MisterD
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Post by MisterD on Mar 15, 2019 9:42:10 GMT -5
The problem with Ed (not problem. The thing about him) is that he might never be that 14 footer guy. That’s the jump needed to move into the upper echelon of A10 bigs. If he were a 14 footer, he'd be high-major for sure.
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Post by 1801olney on Mar 15, 2019 9:42:42 GMT -5
What we have now going into next year 1) Carter, Hikim 2) Saul, Beatty, Moultrie 2/3) Ray 3) Shaggy, Spencer 4) Clark, Stone 5) Croswell, Jared, Miles, Sullivan Thats 14, so atleast one of them wont be here. The transfers arent going anywhere. Other than that, it wouldn't surprise me if there was high turnover. I hope for a full recovery for Clark. I hope he wasnt rushed back too soon because we were shorthanded against Nova.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2019 10:37:19 GMT -5
When was the last time that we have had a big man in the middle with a 10-15 foot jump shot? All our guys have to get close and muscle the ball into the basket. A big man who could do both would be a major asset.
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Post by explorer88 on Mar 15, 2019 10:49:26 GMT -5
The problem with Ed (not problem. The thing about him) is that he might never be that 14 footer guy. That’s the jump needed to move into the upper echelon of A10 bigs. If he were a 14 footer, he'd be high-major for sure. No, not really. That is why player development is so critical. Coaches must make their own players better. The bottom line is the A-10 has these players and if you want to keep up with the the rest of the league you need to find them as well.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Mar 15, 2019 10:54:04 GMT -5
If he were a 14 footer, he'd be high-major for sure. No, not really. That is why player development is so critical. Coaches must make their own players better. The bottom line is the A-10 has these players and if you want to keep up with the the rest of the league you need to find them as well.
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Post by Fastchuck on Mar 15, 2019 11:36:49 GMT -5
I agree with a good bit of what has been said here. Our biggest problem this year was the lack of a "go to" scorer. That became obvious to me at the end of the Lafayette game when Pookie had the ball down 1 with time and pulled up too early to take a 3. The other issue was the lack of a true point guard to back up Traci who was very inconsistent and not a scorer. Moultrie, Beatty, Phiri, and Deas all strike me as role players who are not equipped to run an offense. Hikim is one key to success next year. Bringing in a grad transfer PG if there is room would help.
I like our "bigs" but their biggest problem as a group is lack of confidence and aggression on the offensive end. None of them look to score often enough. Croswell has the size and strength to be the next Jerrell Wright but needs to build the fearlessness that Jerrell had. Brookins has some offensive skill but lacks the athleticism to employ it. JK would be the one who would benefit most by adding a jump shot to his arsenal.
I love what I saw of Clark. With Spencer I think we have the 6'7" players that 23 wants already on the roster. Of course Ash should continue to recruit that type of player. I agree with Mik that a rim protector is lacking but that type of player does not come along often as a grad transfer. Frankly I think that Ash should recruit and sign the "best player available" regardless of size and position. There is always room for talent.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2019 11:36:54 GMT -5
A surprisingly civil thread for the end of the season. Just a couple thoughts.
I like Cian, but I think it's best if he leaves. Indifferent with Moultire, I think it's best if he leaves. You'll never with with Deas. I want him to leave.
I think Traci is still a 20-25 minute a game guy. If Beatty improves his consistency a bit, it'll be a huge plus. I'd like the floor with Carter+ EC/JK and then a rotation of Clark/Priri/Beatty/Ray on the perimeter. I hope Hakim can take some minutes from Carter. And idk enough about Stone as a big. But I think the structure could be there. You need guys that can shoot. Clark we know can. Piri can. Ray I think can. Beatty can't consistently. But the reason we had some awful losses was because we'd get down a handful and try to make up the difference from 3 point range. And then we'd fall even faster and the game would be over with 12 minutes left to play. Carter is best going to the basket and in transition with some occasional 3s. I think he can be a big contributor. We just lost so much momentum so often when pookie/shaggy would fire away when they were 1-8 and 26 seconds left on the shot clock. The "bigger stronger faster more atheltic better shooters" mold is great. But they aren't coming here. Be the smarter, more disciplined, less selfish team and you'll win plenty of games. Ask Jay Wright.
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Mar 15, 2019 11:41:11 GMT -5
Let's not get too specific about desires for players to leave. I hope they do what they feel is best for them and their basketball careers.
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Post by explorer88 on Mar 15, 2019 11:48:12 GMT -5
I don't need a grad transfer to be the shot blocker. I will take a raw senior in high school that lacks offensive skills to find someone that can block some shots and more importantly alter shots. I would take Travar Johnson if he was coming out of Ridley High this year and of course academically survive at La Salle. That type of player. We just need 4-6 plays a game that we somehow block or alter a shot at the rim.
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