- October 31st, 2007, 6:23 pm
#123292
I've done a preview of the league the last couple of years on Winthropfans.com and Slyfox has asked me to 'simulcast' the previews on Flamefans.com as well...I'll be starting from the bottom of the standings (the way I predict them to end up at the end of the year) and work my way up....I was very accurate last year, will I be able to be as accurate this year?? Here's the first one:
Radford Highlanders
(Last Season: 8-22; 3-11, 7th in Big South; Lost in First Round of Big South Tournament; RPI - 319)
Head Coach: Brad Greenberg (first season at RU)
Players that are Returning:
G Amir Johnson, So. (5'9", 193 lbs) - 11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.0 spg, 34.3 3PT%
G Kenny Thomas, Jr. (6'3", 182 lbs) - 9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.0 spg, 35.6 3PT%
G Martell McDuffy, Jr. (6'4", 187 lbs) - 9.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 37.0 3PT%
C/F Joey Lynch-Flohr, So. (6'8", 221 lbs) - 2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 52.6 FG%
F Philip Martin, So. (6'6", 190 lbs) - 1.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 50.0 FG%
C/F Duane Ricks, Sr. (6'9", 190 lbs) - 1.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg
F Tyler Kleckner, Sr. (6'8", 174 lbs) - Played in 9 games, 1.0 ppg, .2 rpg
F Eric Hall, Jr. (6'8", 203 lbs) - Played in 9 games, .7 ppg, .6 rpg
G Cole Wilder, So. (6'1", 180 lbs) - .5 ppg, .3 rpg
C Colby Trent, Sr. (6'8", 278 lbs) - .5 ppg, .8 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Chris Oliver (6'7", 199 lbs) - 18.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.3 bpg, 48.7 FG%, 74.8 FT%
F Reggie McIntyre (6'3", 208 lbs) - 12.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, 45.5 FG%, 71.9 FT%
G Jamal Dixon (6'2", 183 lbs) - 2.1 ppg, .8 rpg - Played in 16 games
F Alfonso Scandrett III (6'5", 217 lbs) - .8 ppg, .9 rpg
New Players:
G Chris McEachin, Fr. (6'5", 181 lbs) - Norview HS, Norfolk, VA
F Alex Gynes, Fr. (6'6", 220 lbs) - Nowra HS, Nowra, Australia
F Nick McFarlin, Fr. (6'7", 217 lbs) - Davenport North HS, Davenport, IA
F/G Jamar Jenkins, Jr. (6'6", 217 lbs) - Jackson State Comm. Coll.
In the 90s and the early part of this decade, Radford was just about always in the top half of the Big South standings and was always a threat to win the league. However, the program has been declining over the past few years, so out goes Byron Samuels (he resigned before last season started, but it is doubtful he would've been back had he not resigned), and in comes Brad Greenberg as head coach of the Highlanders. Greenberg comes to RU without any head coaching experience, but has many years of assistant coaching experience in both college and the NBA, along with a stint as an NBA general manager on his resume. With a new coach entering the program, along with the best two players gone (Chris Oliver and Reggie McIntyre) from a team that finished near the bottom of the standings, there is a good chance that this will be a rebuilding year for the Highlanders. However, little is known about exactly what Greenberg will bring to the table so RU is a difficult team to figure out coming into the year. But until I see otherwise, I have a hard time seeing them have much success this year.
The backcourt seems to be the strength of this team, and will be the spot where most of the points will be scored this year. Amir Johnson had a very solid freshman season as the point guard, showing the ability to both score and distribute the ball. However like most freshmen point guards, he also had alot of turnovers, but you would expect him to improve in that area this season. Kenny Thomas and Martell McDuffy each had productive seasons last year as well and both could end up starting games if Greenberg chooses to have a 3-guard lineup. Thomas is a strong slasher with a streaky outside shot, and McDuffy is a more reliable outside shooter and better defensive player. But like Johnson, both were also turnover prone. Freshman Chris McEachin could also see time in the backcourt and brings solid height to the shooting guard spot.
The frontcourt is a big area of weakness for the Highlanders, and unless somebody emerges as a scoring threat in the paint, RU will really have trouble winning games. Joey Lynch-Flohr had some solid moments as a freshman, and will likely be the main weapon in the paint for Radford at the power forward spot. Duane Ricks has started off and on his whole career at center, but has never been an offensive threat. Colby Trent, Tyler Kleckner, and Eric Hall are returnees that will back up Ricks and Lynch-Flohr, but none of them have proven to be very productive yet in their college careers. If RU isn't playing a three guard lineup, there will be a big battle for the small forward slot. Returnee Philip Martin, JuCo Jamar Jenkins, and Australian freshman Alex Gynes all seem to have a shot at earning that spot. Jenkins looks to be the best scorer of the bunch, and could end up holding down the primary small forward role as the season goes along.
Greenberg is probably going to need alot of patience in his first year with Radford. While he does have a couple of solid returnees in the backcourt, there isn't much proven talent in the paint or on the bench, so he'll likely take his lumps in his debut season.
My Prediction:
7-22 overall, 2-12 in the Big South; Eighth place finish; Will be eliminated in first round of Big South Tournament
Radford Highlanders
(Last Season: 8-22; 3-11, 7th in Big South; Lost in First Round of Big South Tournament; RPI - 319)
Head Coach: Brad Greenberg (first season at RU)
Players that are Returning:
G Amir Johnson, So. (5'9", 193 lbs) - 11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.0 spg, 34.3 3PT%
G Kenny Thomas, Jr. (6'3", 182 lbs) - 9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.0 spg, 35.6 3PT%
G Martell McDuffy, Jr. (6'4", 187 lbs) - 9.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 37.0 3PT%
C/F Joey Lynch-Flohr, So. (6'8", 221 lbs) - 2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 52.6 FG%
F Philip Martin, So. (6'6", 190 lbs) - 1.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 50.0 FG%
C/F Duane Ricks, Sr. (6'9", 190 lbs) - 1.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg
F Tyler Kleckner, Sr. (6'8", 174 lbs) - Played in 9 games, 1.0 ppg, .2 rpg
F Eric Hall, Jr. (6'8", 203 lbs) - Played in 9 games, .7 ppg, .6 rpg
G Cole Wilder, So. (6'1", 180 lbs) - .5 ppg, .3 rpg
C Colby Trent, Sr. (6'8", 278 lbs) - .5 ppg, .8 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Chris Oliver (6'7", 199 lbs) - 18.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.3 bpg, 48.7 FG%, 74.8 FT%
F Reggie McIntyre (6'3", 208 lbs) - 12.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, 45.5 FG%, 71.9 FT%
G Jamal Dixon (6'2", 183 lbs) - 2.1 ppg, .8 rpg - Played in 16 games
F Alfonso Scandrett III (6'5", 217 lbs) - .8 ppg, .9 rpg
New Players:
G Chris McEachin, Fr. (6'5", 181 lbs) - Norview HS, Norfolk, VA
F Alex Gynes, Fr. (6'6", 220 lbs) - Nowra HS, Nowra, Australia
F Nick McFarlin, Fr. (6'7", 217 lbs) - Davenport North HS, Davenport, IA
F/G Jamar Jenkins, Jr. (6'6", 217 lbs) - Jackson State Comm. Coll.
In the 90s and the early part of this decade, Radford was just about always in the top half of the Big South standings and was always a threat to win the league. However, the program has been declining over the past few years, so out goes Byron Samuels (he resigned before last season started, but it is doubtful he would've been back had he not resigned), and in comes Brad Greenberg as head coach of the Highlanders. Greenberg comes to RU without any head coaching experience, but has many years of assistant coaching experience in both college and the NBA, along with a stint as an NBA general manager on his resume. With a new coach entering the program, along with the best two players gone (Chris Oliver and Reggie McIntyre) from a team that finished near the bottom of the standings, there is a good chance that this will be a rebuilding year for the Highlanders. However, little is known about exactly what Greenberg will bring to the table so RU is a difficult team to figure out coming into the year. But until I see otherwise, I have a hard time seeing them have much success this year.
The backcourt seems to be the strength of this team, and will be the spot where most of the points will be scored this year. Amir Johnson had a very solid freshman season as the point guard, showing the ability to both score and distribute the ball. However like most freshmen point guards, he also had alot of turnovers, but you would expect him to improve in that area this season. Kenny Thomas and Martell McDuffy each had productive seasons last year as well and both could end up starting games if Greenberg chooses to have a 3-guard lineup. Thomas is a strong slasher with a streaky outside shot, and McDuffy is a more reliable outside shooter and better defensive player. But like Johnson, both were also turnover prone. Freshman Chris McEachin could also see time in the backcourt and brings solid height to the shooting guard spot.
The frontcourt is a big area of weakness for the Highlanders, and unless somebody emerges as a scoring threat in the paint, RU will really have trouble winning games. Joey Lynch-Flohr had some solid moments as a freshman, and will likely be the main weapon in the paint for Radford at the power forward spot. Duane Ricks has started off and on his whole career at center, but has never been an offensive threat. Colby Trent, Tyler Kleckner, and Eric Hall are returnees that will back up Ricks and Lynch-Flohr, but none of them have proven to be very productive yet in their college careers. If RU isn't playing a three guard lineup, there will be a big battle for the small forward slot. Returnee Philip Martin, JuCo Jamar Jenkins, and Australian freshman Alex Gynes all seem to have a shot at earning that spot. Jenkins looks to be the best scorer of the bunch, and could end up holding down the primary small forward role as the season goes along.
Greenberg is probably going to need alot of patience in his first year with Radford. While he does have a couple of solid returnees in the backcourt, there isn't much proven talent in the paint or on the bench, so he'll likely take his lumps in his debut season.
My Prediction:
7-22 overall, 2-12 in the Big South; Eighth place finish; Will be eliminated in first round of Big South Tournament
- By LU Armchair coach