[ALAFlamesFan]

Hey Guys, new to your forum. '95 Grad. Glad I found someplace to talk Flames Hoops. Anyone know any additional info on our new player? Frankly, I am not sold on our team this year. I am hoping to be pleasantly suprised.

[LUconn]

I'm not really either. We've got some good players, but we sure did lose a good one. But with some big improvements with a couple of players, we could win the league. As for Bjelogrlic, he put up decent numbers on one of the better teams in the country, so that's worth something I guess. I think his fate with our team depends on what style we're running vs what style of player he is. A lot of these big European stiffs don't work out on an athletic team that's all about running. But he might be athletic himself, who knows. BSC had a few Euro guys and one of them, I can think of his name (Jakob something?), was as athletic as anybody else in the conference not named Gabe Martin.

[TIMSCAR20]

I'm not really either. We've got some good players, but we sure did lose a good one. But with some big improvements with a couple of players, we could win the league. As for Bjelogrlic, he put up decent numbers on one of the better teams in the country, so that's worth something I guess. I think his fate with our team depends on what style we're running vs what style of player he is. A lot of these big European stiffs don't work out on an athletic team that's all about running. But he might be athletic himself, who knows. BSC had a few Euro guys and one of them, I can think of his name (Jakob something?), was as athletic as anybody else in the conference not named Gabe Martin.

Jakob Sigurdarson. He was a great one. One of the best in the conference. He and Shema Mbyrakira were a great one two combo for Birminham So. and were very challenging to the announcing teams trying to pronounce their names. I have Jakob as a facebook friend and he is playing pro ball in Europe I believe.

[Realist]

Jakob, huh? That guy was one of the dirtiest players to ever play in the Big South. From tripping jump shooters, sticking out legs to roll ankles of rebounders, that guy was pure evil. I have no respect for him.

[TIMSCAR20]

Jakob, huh? That guy was one of the dirtiest players to ever play in the Big South. From tripping jump shooters, sticking out legs to roll ankles of rebounders, that guy was pure evil. I have no respect for him.

Never really saw that side of him Realist but I trust you know what you are talking about.

[Realist]

There were always guys taking hard falls when Sigurdarson was on the floor. I believe he was teched up twice for it being so blatant when playing against WU. Maybe it was only against WU, that's all I have to go on though. But he did that stuff everytime I saw him.

Stark contrast to one of the BSC guys, and I cannot remember his name. I was only a few years ago, Collins keeps popping in my head but I know that is not it. He was a 6'4-6'5 lefty, african american with a bald head. He was mainly a role player for BSC. We rode him pretty hard one year and he tossed his gum at us and went in one of my friends girlfriends hair. The next year, my friend "mentioned" that incident to him, and he actually came over after the game and apologized profusely. We were amazed he remembered, as well as his minute long apology. Good guy.

[jcmanson]

I'm not sure how good Ozren will be. It doesn't hurt to have someone 6'7" though.

I'm really interested to see how our team does. I could see us being in the bottom half of the conference or competing for a championship. I don't have a good feeling on them yet. We have the talent to contend for a conference championship, but I'm not sure how all that talent will come together. As much as some people don't think Blair is as good as some of his stats, that is still alot to take away from a team. We knew what we had from him. Also, after losing Brew, there goes another guy we could rely on to take up some of that slack. Alot depends on Smith, McLean, Bannister, and who will we be able to fill in around them. Will we have enough quality depth? Can we count on Smith and McLean for 15+ nightly?

[ALAFlamesFan]

Well, I was there during the tail end of the Jeff Meyer era when it looked like we might become a perennial power in the Big South...then came Dunton, Hankinson and what? Dunton again? Really?

I am glad we are moving forward and will be happy in the short term to return to where we were when I graduated...poised to scare the big boys on a regular basis...

[Rocketfan]

Well, I was there during the tail end of the Jeff Meyer era when it looked like we might become a perennial power in the Big South...then came Dutton, Hankinson and what? Dutton again? Really?

I am glad we are moving forward and will be happy in the short term to return to where we were when I graduated...poised to scare the big boys on a regular basis...

Ill help you since your new...its Dunton.

[LUconn]

I figured he was just originally from Alaska

[ALAFlamesFan]

Thanks Rocket...fast fingers and a fuzzy memory of the past few mediocre years/coaches...did I spell the other coach's name right (hankinson?) Anyway, doesn't matter. Looking forward to a brighter future!

[BJWilliams]

How do you pronounce this guy's name?

[JDUB]

took the words out of my mouths bj. can we get a pronunciation guide or something? I don't even have the slightest clue how to say that name

[paradox]

Oz-rhen Bez-loh-gr-lic.... or something to that effect



Ozren can play either the 3 or 4, but he mostly plays inside as a 4. He has a reputation for being unselfish and fundamentally sound. He battles hard underneath for rebounds and he can also step behind the arc and hit a clutch 3. No one is really sure as to where he stacks up with the other three players that we have at that position: Porter, Baker, and Campbell. If he works hard enough he may end up pressing Porter and Baker for playing time. At the very least, he'll add depth, in the event that Baker goes down with another injury.


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[kazport]

I'm not sure how good Ozren will be. It doesn't hurt to have someone 6'7" though.

I'm really interested to see how our team does. I could see us being in the bottom half of the conference or competing for a championship. I don't have a good feeling on them yet. We have the talent to contend for a conference championship, but I'm not sure how all that talent will come together. As much as some people don't think Blair is as good as some of his stats, that is still alot to take away from a team. We knew what we had from him. Also, after losing Brew, there goes another guy we could rely on to take up some of that slack. Alot depends on Smith, McLean, Bannister, and who will we be able to fill in around them. Will we have enough quality depth? Can we count on Smith and McLean for 15+ nightly?

You don't think that between Mclean, Smitty and Bannister they can make up 20 pts plus a game? Mclean already averaged about 15 and Smitty will get many more shots. Bannister's assist and scoring will make up the difference. Just think of Larrys FG%. All those shots will now be spread around.

[LUconn]

But none of them have ever had to carry a load before. Who's the go-to scorer in crunch time? Can these guys score with a D keying on them? Obviously we don't just lose 20 points a game with Blair gone. But these guys have never been in this position before. You never know how they'll react.

[kazport]

But none of them have ever had to carry a load before. Who's the go-to scorer in crunch time? Can these guys score with a D keying on them? Obviously we don't just lose 20 points a game with Blair gone. But these guys have never been in this position before. You never know how they'll react.

I think you underestimate where some of these guys played and do play over the summer etc.
Last year Larry was the go to guy but that doesnt mean that no one else can step up. I truly believe that it will be a blessing. The team will be a TEAM. And i think the results will show that.
When you constantly rely on one player to carry the load the other players never get in a groove so to speak. And yes they can score with a D keying on them. No question in my mind. We may have several players carrying the load and that to me is a better scenario.

[LUconn]

I completely agree in a sense, but I'm not as certain because it's never happened other than maybe during the summer, which is different from real play. Without LB there, some guys will either flourish or be exposed.

[kazport]

I completely agree in a sense, but I'm not as certain because it's never happened other than maybe during the summer, which is different from real play. Without LB there, some guys will either flourish or be exposed.

I totally agree with that.

[paradox]

We're definetly going to have much stronger leadership and playmaking from the point gaurd position, we have more depth and experience in the post this year, and we have the same player on the wing with Smith. So, I guess the question is, can we find consistent scoring from our backcourt. In all liklihood, a player or a combination of players will emerge to fill that void and in the end we may be more effcient with our backcourt and perimeter scoring than we were last season. We seem to have three young solid backcourt players in Jenkins, Stephene, and Anderson. Jenkins is a sparkplug that is capable of putting up some big numbers when he gets streaky-hot; Anderson is a hard-nosed player with added outside scoring abilities; and Stephene is a versitile athletic lefty who can make plays and score.

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[kazport]

We're definetly going to have much stronger leadership and playmaking from the point gaurd position, we have more depth and experience in the post this year, and we have the same player on the wing with Smith. So, I guess the question is, can we find consistent scoring from our backcourt. In all liklihood, a player or a combination of players will emerge to fill that void and in the end we may be more effcient with our backcourt and perimeter scoring than we were last season. We seem to have three young solid backcourt players in Jenkins, Stephene, and Anderson. Jenkins is a sparkplug that is capable of putting up some big numbers when he gets streaky-hot; Anderson is a hard-nosed player with added outside scoring abilities; and Stephene is a versitile athletic lefty who can make plays and score.

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Lets not forget TB

[paradox]

Agreed

[paradox]

Baker can definetley provide as offensive spark. I'd like to see him draw more fouls underneath because he's money from the free throw line.

Also, it will be interesting to see how Porter fits into the equation. McKay is much more oriented toward the offensive side of things. If Rell changes his emphasis, we may see a scroring punch in his game that wasn't there before. But all of this remains to be scene.

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