Aquinas

ESPN + also has a Replay calendar. So you can go back and watch or rewatch a game later.

Tough game but still winnable in closing minutes. I believe we were under 2 min, game tied with the ball. Next team to score probably wins. And we get the 10 sec half court call..... that really hurt. Best news, Goodwin came back to life, and all of our freshman are healthy enough to play. Hopefully Isabell and the rest of the team got the message. Post game coach said he is having the team over for Thanksgiving meal. Ford is working hard to pull these guys together as a team. I am thankful for that.

Was Isabell fouling out a fluke in the last game or something that will be a problem?

I think the Seton Hall game stats show us a lot about this team going forward. Ford played 8, and these guys will probably get minutes in every game (listed in order of season ave. min/game) Bess, Isabell, Goodwin, Gordon, French, Forman, Wiley, and Thatch. At SH Gordon played 35 minutes with only 3 fouls in a game where French and Forman picked up 4 in about 15 minutes. He seems to just be getting comfortable. His progress is huge given the loss of Santos. Gordon looks like he will be scary good as he continues to learn what he can do at this level. Goodwin is not on his game yet, I don't know if it is the injury, mask or fitting in with the new players, but he should improve from here. Thatch looks like a lock down defender, which is very impressive for a Freshman. This team has a lot of up side, only Bess and maybe Forman are playing at their potential. There is big upside for the rest of the individual players and team chemistry as these guys continue to work together. Great to see this team take a close game on the road. Typically a team loses one or more of those before winning one. Ford has his hands full pulling this all together and so far has been very impressive. Also have to believe that wins, like SH will help in fill out the 2019 recruiting class.

Wow, this guy is sold and projects Gordon as a 1 and done.

How did Gordon play?

Rivals and 247 have Jitoboh as a 3 star, ESPN as a 4 star. Scout doesn't have him rated. At this moment, he is not a consensus top 100 player, which is why my expectations are not as great for him, especially given his modest numbers to date. Of course he could have a breakout sr. Year. U dont know which of these rating entities have the best record at evaluating prospects.

The reason I identified Jitoboh as a project, as apposed to someone like Gordon or Goodwin, is that Jitoboh is not anywhere near a top 100 player currently, and his numbers have been very modest. I suspect his 4 star ranking has more to do with his size, athleticism and potential than his current performance. He is a big man with great potential, that is showing he is committed to getting in to divi 1 shape with his weight loss. He could have a big year this year. At this moment, I would not expect him to play 20 plus minutes as a freshman on our projected 2019 team. He has the potential however to develop into a dominant player in subsequent years. By his jr and sr. years he is the type of player we need for a tournament run.

Pistol, I share your thoughts about Santos poised to take a big step up, as he was not that good at his previous school. Jitoboh I think would qualify as a project player with a big upside, and I believe he would get playing time his first year, just based on the size match-up problems he would present for some teams. In contrast to the Crews big man projects players who were all under weight. By a "game ready" big for next season, I assume you are thinking of a senior transfer, which would be great if we can get the right guy. My hope is that winning, will make us more attractive to both transfers and high school players. Another type of big that would help, is one with shooting range to help spread the floor. At this point thinking that Welmer is out, KC is the only one with a reputation as a shooter, and I don't know what kind of range Gordon has. I would really love to see Jitoboh commit this weekend!

Did some reading on Jitoboh. He is listed 6-10 to 6-11 and 270. Apparently 330 as a freshman. He is described as more of an old school, traditional center, with raw skiiis and big programs offering him. SLU with its strong weight program and a guy like French to roll model and encourage his physical development could be a perfect for him if they click. The A10 might also be a better fit for his development than risk sitting on the bench at a P5 conference. We also have playing time to offer in 2019. Hope coach can get close enough to get a visit. Coach has to be looking for 2019 bigs with the graduation of Forman, loss of Santos and probable loss of Welmer.

The 2 transfer guards being out hits us at our greatest weakness coming into this season, which is getting this group to play as a team. Isabel is probably the single most important guy we need up to speed. Playing less than full speed affects movement and focus. We may need to dial down expectations. Hamstring recovery is always concerning.

Nice to hear good things about Wemer. Did he say anything about the transfer guards?

Makes me wish I was a student!

The only good news is that it hits our area of greatest strength. Most of us had him as first big off the bench. It hurts our depth and increases the need for Gordon to hit the ground running. I was looking to see good things from Santos, and hoping it wasn't blue cool aide. It means more of Forman and opens the door for Welmer if healthy.

Based on what coach Ford and recruited players have said, I think it's clear coach paints a unique picture for each recruit on what they bring to the party and how being a Billiken will prepare them for the next level. How their skills will be used in specific situations. Basically we have what you need and you can be part of something special here. Backed up with an excellent weight training program, outstanding facilities, national projections to win the A10 and a group of very motivated good guys. It's a very attractive package and Ford knows how to sell it.

I think that is what coach Ford is saying. Our group of forwards are exceptional. He isn't saying that our starting bigs are the best in the country. Bottom line, our bigs are good physical players and the drop off with a big coming off the bench wont be much.

For soooo many years I wished we had just one big body guy like a French, Gordon or Santos and now we have these 3, plus Forman, its incredible.

It seems there is a general consensus that the biggest team weakness going into this season is 3 point shooting. But reflecting on Gordon's commitment that "we have it all". I was thinking of the team, position by position trying to identify the teams strongest and weakest position. My projected starting 5 are Goodwin, Isabel, Bess, French and Gordon. While there are questions to be answered by those new to the team this year, I'm finding it difficult to clearly pick the weakest. I will go with Goodwin for the strangest. And if I have to, Isabel for the weakest only because he hasn't played with these guys. My overall thinking is that this team is pretty balanced and that the weakest isnt very weak. So who is your strongest and weakest pick of the starting 5?

Senior leadership: I really like Ford bringing in Isabell and Wiley, not just for the increase in talent and experience they bring to the guard positions, but the hunger and need they have to win now. Combined with Foreman and Bess, we have 4 seniors who have everything riding on this season, with no tomorrow. I have to believe that is a very positive impact on the season prep they are doing now and the season to come. Everyone of these guys is a transfer looking at the last chance to make their mark on a successful team. Add the young talent and we have reason to expect big things.

This may have been stated earlier in this thread, but I saw an interview with Zion Harmon where he said he is considering reclassifying to class of 2020.

Has anyone heard anything about Welmers status? Has coach Ford said anything about him this summer? Sorry I posted this question originally in the wrong thread.

We mention his name periodically and there is justifiable doubt about his ability to come back. Does anyone have any info on Welmer's current condition? Has coach Ford made any comments about his prospects?

A sweet 16 run would be awesome, and if we are ranked a top 10 team, it would be a reasonable expectation. At this point I think a reasonable expectation is a strong run at the A10 title and an invitation to the big dance. If we finish the regular season strong and in the top 25, we would likely get a favorable seed and a good shot at a first round win.

I agree the 4-5 spots look tough to beat, unless you are a highly rated 6-10 or bigger player. But our incoming freshman guards are players with verbal ratings of less than 3. I don't think that would discourage 3 star and up athletes, certainly not a top 100 player. Even a similarly rated player with better shooting ability or ball handling could look at it as an open opportunity.

I don't see any of our bigs averaging 30 mins unless we have injuries. The depth however will allow high energy minutes with increased defensive pressure forcing turnovers. We wont need guys to back off, or defences designed to protect players from fouling out. So their production per minute will increase. Ford will be able to press teams wire to wire so that by the end of each half, opponents lacking depth will be gassed and we will surge. We will see the full benefits of a very physical, deep team. I also like the depth so coaches can take players off the floor to coach them, especially the freshmen, without a big drop in floor talent.