[jcmanson]

All that sounds great, and I really hope that is within the realm of possibility...and not just fantasy land. I'm just reiterating the point that we are in DESPERATE need of a legit post player that isn't the size of a toothpick or a half a foot too short to be a good PF.

See Burrus, Antwan

[olldflame]

This kid is listed on their website at 220 now. Some of the video may go back a year or 2, and he well could have been thinner than he is now. He's only 18. I think it would be a disservice to a player who is under 6'8" and has that kind of athleticism to push him into deliberatly gaining weight so he can become a true post player unless he and the coach agree that is where his greatest potential lies, and I just don't see that.

[WinterIsComing]

All that sounds great, and I really hope that is within the realm of possibility...and not just fantasy land. I'm just reiterating the point that we are in DESPERATE need of a legit post player that isn't the size of a toothpick or a half a foot too short to be a good PF.

See Burrus, Antwan

I really like Burrus, but I still wish he was two or three inches taller.

[WinterIsComing]

This kid is listed on their website at 220 now. Some of the video may go back a year or 2, and he well could have been thinner than he is now. He's only 18. I think it would be a disservice to a player who is under 6'8" and has that kind of athleticism to push him into deliberatly gaining weight so he can become a true post player unless he and the coach agree that is where his greatest potential lies, and I just don't see that.

Like I said, I hope he could be a Durant-esque player, doubtful, but hopeful none the less. But it still doesn't change the fact that we are in DESPERATE need of a BIG man. That means the guy shops at BIG AND TALL! Not SKINNY AND TALL (and not white and named McMasters), or FAT and SHORT.

[olldflame]

Antwan is big enough to be a really good mid major power forward, which is ultimately what I think he will be, and hopefully as early as next year. As a post player most of last year he was overmatched in size, but he held his own fairly well. Hopefully Joel and Carter will step up and man that position this year and Burrus can play where he belongs.

[jcmanson]

All that sounds great, and I really hope that is within the realm of possibility...and not just fantasy land. I'm just reiterating the point that we are in DESPERATE need of a legit post player that isn't the size of a toothpick or a half a foot too short to be a good PF.

See Burrus, Antwan

I really like Burrus, but I still wish he was two or three inches taller.

If he was 2 or 3 inches taller he wouldn't be in the Big South.

[WinterIsComing]

If he was 2 or 3 inches taller he wouldn't be in the Big South.[/quote]

Noted, unfortunate but noted. Winning changes that...and blind dumb luck.

[SuperJon]

Also, remember that Antwan was a very, very young college freshman. He didn't turn 18 until October. His body is so much further along than an 18-year-old, but he didn't have that extra year of knowledge and experience that a lot of other freshmen had.

[WinterIsComing]

Also, remember that Antwan was a very, very young college freshman. He didn't turn 18 until October. His body is so much further along than an 18-year-old, but he didn't have that extra year of knowledge and experience that a lot of other freshmen had.

Like I said, I like Burrus. The winning/blind dumb luck comment was oriented toward getting players of Burrus' weight and skill set, just a few inches taller. I think Burrus will be good for us, I really do. I just think that if we really want to dominate the BSC, we need a BIG AND TALL guy. Hot shooters win you tournaments, big men win you regular season games and regular season championships.

[SuperJon]

I agree with you. I saw a lot of practice this year and I think Joel has a very high upside for us. I'd say that right now he's a poor man's Craig Bradshaw and could potentially develop into a player as good as Bradshaw was. That's not to say I expect him to be like Bradshaw was as a senior next year in his first year of play, but he will certainly be able to hold his ground and be a solid player for us.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Thick, athletic, and tall. We need one or two with that combo. I hope Joel can be one of those. Maybe Baird?

[olldflame]

Baird is 6'8" and he is reasonably athletic. He isn't thick, and isn't likely to ever be. He is almost certainly not going to be the post player some of us are craving for.

The charactoristic which hasn't been mentioned is skill, and supposedly that is where Baird excells. Good shooter and ball handler for a player his size. I expect a response in saying this, but to me it sounds like Steven Baird has the potential to be the player we all thought Tyler Baker would become. I hope he is taking calcium suppliments.

[jcmanson]

Yeah, if Baird is able to rebound from his year off, he’s more of a hybrid 3 or 4 man. In a perfect world he could play the 3 for us alongside Burrus and JVP/Carter. But I doubt he plays next year, and who knows if he will ever be half as good as we hoped.

[Rooster Cogburn]

great, you just jinxed him. Haha. No, I've thought the same, I just wondered if he had any more growing to do.

[olldflame]

I would love to see us get another run of dominant post players like we had in the Mike Coleman/Julius Nwosu/Peter Aluma era. However, I do not agree that it is essential to compete for BSC championships, or even to dominate the conference. The fact is when we had them we were good, but we did NOT dominate. One championship in that entire 10 year period when game in and game out the best post player in the BSC suited up for LU.

What is needed are guys who can PLAY. They may be big; they may be great athletes, or they may be scrappy little guys who can shoot the lights out. Personally, I don't care. All that matters is that they can play the game of basketball. Get enough PLAYERS and you will win.

If you want a perfect example of how overrated size is, see the 09-10 season of the Radford Highlanders.

[TDDance234]

Baird is 6'8" and he is reasonably athletic. He isn't thick, and isn't likely to ever be. He is almost certainly not going to be the post player some of us are craving for.

The charactoristic which hasn't been mentioned is skill, and supposedly that is where Baird excells. Good shooter and ball handler for a player his size. I expect a response in saying this, but to me it sounds like Steven Baird has the potential to be the player we all thought Tyler Baker would become. I hope he is taking calcium suppliments.

And TB was supposed to be the next Doug Stewart. This is an ugly cycle.

[olldflame]

That doesn't mean you stop recruiting kids because they fit or don't fit a certain profile. Can you say Gordon Hayward? I knew that you could!

[Rooster Cogburn]

That doesn't mean you stop recruiting kids because they fit or don't fit a certain profile. Can you say Gordon Hayward? I knew that you could!

True. I'd settle for the next Matthew Hildebrand

[From the class of 09]

While I would agree that we don't necessarily need an all-star big guy we do need a big guy(s) who can play D and work the glass.

Say what you want about Duke but the only reason they won the NC is because they controled the glass...I think that their make up this year can be replicated on a different scale at LU...find a big guy(s) who will do the dirty work and get an easy put back now and then along with some natural scorers working the wing and guard positions (like someplayers we currently have).

The last step is to not let the devils steal them once they are here... (bad joke)

[WinterIsComing]

I would love to see us get another run of dominant post players like we had in the Mike Coleman/Julius Nwosu/Peter Aluma era. However, I do not agree that it is essential to compete for BSC championships, or even to dominate the conference. The fact is when we had them we were good, but we did NOT dominate. One championship in that entire 10 year period when game in and game out the best post player in the BSC suited up for LU.

What is needed are guys who can PLAY. They may be big; they may be great athletes, or they may be scrappy little guys who can shoot the lights out. Personally, I don't care. All that matters is that they can play the game of basketball. Get enough PLAYERS and you will win.

If you want a perfect example of how overrated size is, see the 09-10 season of the Radford Highlanders.

Size can be overrated, but then again, so was Smith, Kyle, Jesse, and Seth's shooting ability in '08-'09. In tournaments, the shooters thrive because all you need is one (or two, or three) games where your hot shooter(s) lights it up and suddenly you're Cinderella, or playing for the Conference Tourney title. It may not (and usually doesn't) last forever, but you can always eliminate the other team's big men for a few games if they can't rebound the ball because it's falling through the net. On the other hand, in the regular season, you're big men may get beat by a couple by teams who happen to be shooting lights out that particular day, but for most conferences, and most teams, in most years, big men who can rebound, score some, and play decent D will always be contending for the regular season championship. Also, Radford may have been overrated, but let's not forget, they did have a better record than us, even if we did get lucky and beat them on one of their worst shooting nights.

[WinterIsComing]

If we had had better post play in '08-'09, we could have really gone somewhere. Give me two shooters, a guy that can drive, a true and complete post player and one other starter/bench players that don't embarass themselves and I'll give you a championship on a pretty regular basis.

[olldflame]

There are lots of ways to win basketball games. It is dangerous to trap yourself into thinking we need a certain "formula" of players who fit a certain role. A few years ago we thought we absolutely had to have some wide bodies. There were no good ones out there who wanted to play for us, but instead of signing someone who didn't fit the formula, but could play, we wasted scholarships on Rashad Robinson, Lamont Winters and Armon Jones.

[WinterIsComing]

There are lots of ways to win basketball games. It is dangerous to trap yourself into thinking we need a certain "formula" of players who fit a certain role. A few years ago we thought we absolutely had to have some wide bodies. There were no good ones out there who wanted to play for us, but instead of signing someone who didn't fit the formula, but could play, we wasted scholarships on Rashad Robinson, Lamont Winters and Armon Jones.

Obviously you should take the best available player if the need doesn't match the talent you would be getting in return. I guess I just have a more old school basketball philosophy than let's say Ritchie McKay's team of nothing but guards and guys who could (kinda) run. VMI of a few years back reminds me of a good team that could run, without much of a post. It worked well enough for a few years, but, in my opinion, sustained success starts in the post. Add a slasher and a couple shooters and you're going to be a threat every year. Good shooters are a dime a dozen. Good post players are harder to find, coveted more, and therefore a lot harder to get.

[From the class of 09]

There are lots of ways to win basketball games. It is dangerous to trap yourself into thinking we need a certain "formula" of players who fit a certain role.

I agree that you can win lots of different ways...It's just tough to do it consistently without at least a decent big man to play D and rebound.

Although if all our guards rebounded like Jesse maybe we could make due with a big man who could move and play defense…it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a point rebound like him.

[olldflame]

All of the things you said work just as well in reverse. Our 08-09 team probably would have been better with a post player, but you put 1 or 2 consistent perimeter threats on this years Radford team, and they probably roll through the BSC. I'm just not a guy who believes in going by a formula.


I can't believe you actually posted that "good shooters are a dime a dozen" What happened to the ROFLOL emoticon?