MisterD
The Baptist Himself
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Post by MisterD on Sept 16, 2021 10:41:31 GMT -5
Last year I would say that our best player was Brickus. The problem with our roster is only a handful of players would receive meaningful minutes on the top tier A-10 teams. Brickus, Clark, and Kenney, that is where I would draw the line. (Once again based on last year.) That being said, I am excited about our team this year. Don't want to quote the entire post, but I agree start to finish. |
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Post by a10champion15 on Sept 16, 2021 11:00:54 GMT -5
I disagree that it wasn't a talent issue. Our best player last year was _______ who would rank #__ overall in the A-10. I think it was more of a talent issue amongst our upperclassmen. Analytically, among their class they were at the bottom while Brickus was near the top of his class and Ray and Kenney were in the upper half of their class. Very important the sophomore class takes a step forward not just individually but collectively. Really don't think there are too many players, I think it's clear the main rotation will be the core of Ray, Brickus, Clark, Kenney and Moore. Question is how Nickleberry (if healthy) and Gill are used within the guard rotation and how the times split between Izay and Doucoure up front. Moore going to get the bulk of the minutes though. Brantley probably steps in as the PG when needed for Brickus. My assumption is that main core gets 70% of the minutes with Nickleberry (if healthy) getting significant minutes too. Brantley takes 10-15 minutes a game from the Brickus and the other guards. Izay and Doucoure will probably depend on the matchup when they need more of a bruiser or center up front. Gill seems to be the odd one out right now but you never know if he just outperforms or someone underperforms out of the starting rotation. McFarlane, Shepard and Marrero just aren't going to get much time pending injuries. End of the day, everyone has 13 scholarship players available and some guys won't get many minutes. This isn't a La Salle thing, this is a change in the landscape with no one having to sit out. |
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Post by gymrat67 on Sept 16, 2021 11:16:18 GMT -5
Elephant in the room ?
Brickus, Brantley, Nickelberry, Kenney, Gill, Marrero, Clark : will Coach Ash's new offensive scheme require 7 basketballs ?
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MisterD
The Baptist Himself
Voted Most Popular Poster 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Posts: 8,441
Likes: 6,366
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Post by MisterD on Sept 16, 2021 11:24:16 GMT -5
That's not allowed in college basketball. One ball at a time per game.
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Post by gymrat67 on Sept 16, 2021 12:17:07 GMT -5
Sounds like Mr D could wind up in a creek ass deep in wooder or worse based on these comments. But hey he is the self proclaimed Baptiste himself so there would be poetic justice here. 23won : crick  |
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Post by sweat83 on Sept 16, 2021 13:29:51 GMT -5
Elephant in the room ?Brickus, Brantley, Nickelberry, Kenney, Gill, Marrero, Clark : will Coach Ash's new offensive scheme require 7 basketballs ? Is it even possible to rate these guys from 1 to 7? I'm expecting (hoping?) Josh to come out as the guy to start and get the most PT. After him, Brickus? Then the rest. |
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Post by gymrat67 on Sept 17, 2021 11:28:24 GMT -5
sweat83 : My point was not to attempt to rank these seven players. The ' elephant in the room ' IMO is how likely and reasonable is it for us to expect that these players -- each of whom starred in high school, were high volume scorers and have always been accustomed to having the ball in their hands most of the time and being the ' go to ' guy with the green light at all times from their high school and AAU coaches to shoot whenever they choose to -- will fully ' buy in ' to Ash Howard's offensive scheme and be willing and content to readily give up the ball to their teammates ( i.e., to the ' open man ' ) for the good of the team as a whole.
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Post by blueandgold on Sept 17, 2021 19:41:58 GMT -5
Elephant in the room ?Brickus, Brantley, Nickelberry, Kenney, Gill, Marrero, Clark : will Coach Ash's new offensive scheme require 7 basketballs ? Even if you rolled back the bleachers against the East and West walls, there are only three courts with six hoops. So best case 6 balls. Someone will have no balls and no hoop. |
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Post by victoriouslasalle on Sept 18, 2021 9:11:55 GMT -5
Well, at this point if we do encounter guys transferring out due to not getting adequate "ball" time and they surface somewhere else of note and perform in a way that makes us regret it, it just might be refreshing.
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Post by las71 on Oct 15, 2021 7:35:18 GMT -5
Saw a brief video on Instagram from explorer hoops madness. Brantley won the dunk contest and looks extremely athletic. Nickelberry and Marrero were in the 3 point contest and look like solid shooters from the 3. Not sure how any of this translates to game conditions but it looks like we are going to have some depth. I remain optimistic!
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Oct 15, 2021 8:05:51 GMT -5
I think La Salle has more talent on their roster than at any point since 2012-2013.
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Post by 23won on Oct 15, 2021 9:01:35 GMT -5
I think La Salle has more talent on their roster than at any point since 2012-2013. True, but so does almost every other A10 team ... and you only have one ball :-) I like A10's take on lineups and I think that's how we start the season through OOC play. I will add a few tweak projections for how I think the lineup evolves from the A10 schedule on Brickus 25-30 minutes Nickleberry 25 minutes Ray 25-30 minutes Clark 25 Minutes Moore 25-30 minutes Kenney as 6th man 20-25 minutes Big man backup unit 10-15 minutes Marrero 10-15 minutes Brantley 10-15 Gill, Shepherd and all scrapping for remaining or rebalanced minutes, based in output/performance. That's an 8-man core rotation (starters plus Kenney, Marrero, Brantley), which I think is a good number, plus positional depth |
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Post by explorer88 on Oct 15, 2021 9:17:20 GMT -5
Exactly 23. The rest of the conference is getting more talent.
This team still has no consistent scorer, rebounder, or defender. As as team we don't consistently score, rebound, or defend. Add we turn the ball over too much and you have a program that can't win.
For me the focus should be on the following:
1. Defend consistently - Ash should determine minutes on whether a player does this. This also includes knowing when to not give up easy baskets. We have done this way too often over the years.
2. Protect the ball - Our guards secondary grade on minutes should be who protects the ball, sets the frontcourt up for easy baskets and easy passes to handle
3. Force 1 & 2 over the first 10 games to create a consistent lineup and playing time with players that know the expectations and follow through.
4. Develop Brick as a scorer. He is too unselfish sometimes Would like him to be more aggressive.
5. Limit the upperclassmen privilege. Guys like Clifton Moore should not be playing if they decide they don't want to be aggressive on game day or who don't want to defend that gameday.
Obviously I think Ash is the biggest issue. I really don't know if we have talent or not. I don't know how anyone can say that after watching this program. These players are either lazy and soft ( I am not ready to say that) or Ash hasn't put them in the best position to succeed. It is either one or the other. They need direction and discipline. If we knew Ash did put them into a position to succeed we could accurately determine if it is a talent, toughness, and intangibles to win or not.
Ash needs to create accountability in the program. Time to stop making excuses and present a better product.
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Post by calsufan on Oct 15, 2021 9:32:51 GMT -5
Did Nickelberry need a waiver so he doesn't have to sit this year? If so, was it granted?
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Post by neverlost91 on Oct 15, 2021 9:36:10 GMT -5
Did Nickelberry need a waiver so he doesn't have to sit this year? If so, was it granted? If I'm not mistaken there is now a 1 time no sit rule for all transfers across the NCAA. So he did not need one. |
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Post by a10champion15 on Oct 15, 2021 10:26:43 GMT -5
Yes, Nickleberry is eligible, no need for a waiver. It's now 2 time transfers that need a waiver.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2021 11:32:25 GMT -5
The talent is there. We have Power 5 transfers that were very highly sought after. But we have had that the last couple years and still have nothing to show for. The coaching staff can't get complacent with having talent, they need to go out and use that talent and develop it. Not just develop jumpshots. They need to teach these guys how to win and what it takes, which usually is heart and toughness, something I have seen very little of over the last couple years. Talent doesn't win much. Talent with heart, drive, and toughness wins. Not holding my breath, but hopeful the guys have it.
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Post by golasalle on Oct 15, 2021 15:32:47 GMT -5
Anyone heard whether Matt McFarlane has been granted a waiver?
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Post by gymrat67 on Oct 15, 2021 16:26:04 GMT -5
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Post by a10champion15 on Oct 16, 2021 11:30:37 GMT -5
Anyone heard whether Matt McFarlane has been granted a waiver? He applied for a waiver as well as Wichita State. I would expect a waiver to be granted soon enough as it impacts not just his eligibility and Wichita states scholarships. |
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Post by La Salle 08 on Oct 18, 2021 8:16:08 GMT -5
KenPom's rankings are out and he has us at #197 overall projected to go 12-17 (6-12).
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on Oct 18, 2021 8:52:10 GMT -5
3-Man Weave has their A-10 preview out, with us predicted to finish 12th. www.three-man-weave.com/3mw/atlantic-10-2021-22-preview If you have any way of figuring out which version of La Salle is going to show up on a given night, you 1) are likely already a millionaire and 2) have a call from Ashley Howard on line one. His Explorers were all over the place last year, posting some mega-impressive wins (at Dayton, at Richmond, Saint Louis) while also registering a few baffling losses (at Fordham, at Saint Joe’s, Saint Peter’s). That massive range of outcomes made La Salle one of the most head-scratching teams in the country, ranking 323rd in Haslametrics’ consistency rankings, and with many key faces back from that squad, that up-and-down nature may continue. Bottom Line: The offense last year took an extremely democratic approach, with no one averaging double figures for the season. Brickus should hit that mark this year, and if Clark can knock down more shots, the versatile forward might do it as well. Balance and depth will continue to be the name of the game, though, and if La Salle can build on the “better when Moore plays” tendency from last season, a small climb up the standings is well within reach. The defense needs serious work, though, and it will likely be the Explorers’ undoing once again. |
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Oct 18, 2021 9:20:03 GMT -5
Bottom Line: The offense last year took an extremely democratic approach, with no one averaging double figures for the season. Brickus should hit that mark this year, and if Clark can knock down more shots, the versatile forward might do it as well. Balance and depth will continue to be the name of the game, though, and if La Salle can build on the “better when Moore plays” tendency from last season, a small climb up the standings is well within reach. The defense needs serious work, though, and it will likely be the Explorers’ undoing once again. This bottom line doesn't mention the five new contributors the team has. |
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Post by las71 on Oct 18, 2021 9:56:11 GMT -5
If Jack Clark is healthy, I'm expecting to see the player who showed his potential coming off the bench against Villanova 2 years ago. That player will help move us up in the A10. Brickus was a great recruit and looking forward to his continued development. Also hoping that experience will help our returnees be more consistent. Don't know enough about newcomers to know how they fit in but hoping Nickelberry shows he is a power 5 player. Team seems deeper which should make guys defend harder knowing Ash has options. A lot of questions as always but I'm excited to see the answers. Go 'splorers.
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Post by GlitterBro #2 on Oct 18, 2021 12:25:49 GMT -5
My concern continues to be what we do inside where we consistently got killed the past few years.
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Post by las71 on Oct 18, 2021 13:07:49 GMT -5
Good point Glitter. My hope is that Moore can stay out of foul trouble and McFarlane can get a waiver and be eligible this season. McFarlane sounds like a defensive upgrade but we're 3 weeks from tipoff and no news on his status.
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Post by belfieldhappyhour on Oct 18, 2021 17:02:03 GMT -5
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Post by JoeFedorowicz on Oct 18, 2021 17:47:09 GMT -5
The national preseason rankings are all bullshit.
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Post by calsufan on Oct 18, 2021 17:52:43 GMT -5
My concern continues to be what we do inside where we consistently got killed the past few years. This has been more than just the past few years. We had this same problem from G many of his years. It's hard to get quality big men at a school like La Salle who can play good D and also know how to score in the paint. |
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Post by a10champion15 on Oct 18, 2021 18:52:59 GMT -5
Size has definitely been an issue in the past but this year that definitely seems to be improved with a few guys with different skillsets. Clearly, this is the most talented team Ash has had. While there are definitely question marks there seems to be multiple possible answers to those question marks. Nickleberry could be an all A10 player, a few of our returning players could make a significant jump, the freshmen could have a big impact, etc. As has been reiterated multiple times, consistency is going to be key.
Overall, the A10 is in for a wild year. I've seen us ranked anywhere from 7th to 13th. Few of the A10 guys seem to be higher on us than I expected. In my mind, Bona, SLU and Richmond are the only clear cut top 4/5 teams. I think you can make a case for nearly every team to finish between the top 4 to top 7 with the exception being GW and Fordham.
The more I've read and heard I'm becoming more confident La Salle could have a solid season. Probably false hope though but that's par the course.
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