brianstl Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 I would be happy if we good just have somebody that could get defensive rebounds consistantly, an occasional off. board, play solid D, hit Tommie and Dwayne on the outlet pass, and not be totally lost on the offensive end. What do you want or expect from the 4 spot this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 How 'bout someone who can set some serious screens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleBilliken Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 All I'm looking for is a rebounder who can finish. I.E. when he gets those rebounds, he can go up strong and make it more often than not. We have three strong scorers and I'm confident a fourth (a wing...either Danny or Luke) will emerge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Ross Varner-style. He's the best Billiken I've ever seen at setting screens; the guy could screen an 18-wheeler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 I agree- we're not counting on offensive numbers from the 4 spot this year. We need a rebounder and someone who does the intangible kinds of things that would make a team tick. Someone who plays like Sloan or a taller Luke would be a help, and hopefully that's what our freshman are this year. Anything more would be gravy, and we'd be foolish to expect anything at all from JJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Let's not be mis-understood as saying we need another Ross Varner. However, you're right about his screen setting abilities. I'm just thinking that is a quality along with rebounding that I'd sure like to see in our four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 We're on the same page- there wasn't a whole lot else besides the screening ability that Ross offered, aside from being an oustanding practice player, a 4.0 student and a great guy. I would hope for much more in the way of production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoop Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 10 and 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlecat455 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I think JJ will show signs of life in the early going before fading into mediocrity and worse as the season progresses. At least that's how it has gone in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
former_d1 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOSLU68 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 SLU has had a history of really good fours. To name a few like Frerichs, Baniak, or Tadyshak type or if you go back to my era Eugene Moore- Carlos Skinner. I am a Brad backer but it remains to be seen if any of his players are tough enough to set screens or rebound as his main focus; we have far too many players drifting to rhe perimeter and unwilling to penetrate. I hate to agree with Grawer who felt(in my opinion) bigs were only useful to get the ball back to the guards; but every baseball team needs a catcher and every basketball team needs a four who can add to the mix or at a minimum rebound- we can't pull TL to the board to rebound because no one else has a passion for the ball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetorch Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I'd like a 4 that comprised all these attributes into one player Bigg Butt of Donnie Dobbs Deadeye of Ryan Leuchtefeld from Outside AB's rebounding vigor Jeff Harris' finishes inside Big Rich Niemann's FT shooting ability Ross Varner's Screen Setting Big Mel's shotblocking skills Jamal Johnson's thunderous dunks & Tony Manuel's big glasses for good measure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Majerus Magic Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 i would like to add lukes hustle/intensity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu72 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I would like someone who the other team has to be aware of so that they can't gang up on IV. Granted once LM was inserted we got off the dreaded streak. However, he still didn't pull any bigs away from IV. Now if we had a guy who could get the rebound and finish they couldn't do that, or a big who could hit the 10-16 footer they couldn't either. The few times I've watched Shaw of SIU play, he's been that type. He can hit that 10 footer. They have to be aware of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taj79 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 .. I sure hope you are right about Danny and/or Luke. I am also hoping this is the "make year for Polk. One of those has to step up and add another option to the outside game or it will be a rough year for Lisch trying to escape the clutching and grabbing of his defenders no matter how tough the picks and screens are. I would hope that by mid-season .. by the end of the non-conference slate .... we are ready to gladly accept these three as they show progress because if they don't, they're all on their way to "JJ land." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveforVouk Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I want someone who can screen and step out to hit the open shot as a bonus but mainly someone who is tough and can rebound. We need another down low force to prevent King Vouk from being triple teamed. If we get someone down there who the other team has to worry about, then I'm happy. Have other teams care about boxing out and keeping a hand on. If the 4 can grab some rebounds and draw defenders off Tommie, Kevin, and Ian, then the scoring will take care of itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risky1 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 We are very fortunate that we have options. That alone is much more than we have had for the past few years. Each will bring their own skills and abilities. We are just going to have to wait to see which one develops as the starter. I expect that there will be development and improvement from year to year. Just having the presence of a 6'8" forward, with back-ups, on the court will make IV better and also make our 3's better. As for the type of player they should be: I would like them to watch films of Steve Novak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 A Steve Novak? That wouldn't take any pressure off Vouk. He's soft as a PF and rebounder, but shoots well. I would hope that Dustin is that type of player (if not that level of talent), not our PF. You're right in that we are finally starting to have options there instead of just someone thrown in to fill a gap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billiken_roy Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 i would love any of our players to be the shooter that novak is, but he was a weak power forward besides that aspect most of his marquette career. he was pure gunner. i would rather our starting small forward be steve novak but our power forward be anthony bonner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleBilliken Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 As long as I've been watching the Billikens ('98), the one thing the teams have always lacked is confidence. And that directly affects the scoring. Whether it's the coach or the players, remain to be seen, but our teams never seem to have that swagger. For instance, last year we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn for awhile...which i think is directly attributed to the players confidence. They were young, inexperienced, and I think coach got on them. Coach loosened up, we started hitting shots, then all of a sudden we are in contention for the A-10 championship. We have the best roster I've ever seen at SLU coming in. With that comes the confidence of players like Tommie, Kevin and Ian. That will be contagious and will, hopefully, allow the next scorer to emerge. The players have the tools, and I really don't think they are lazy. They just need to believe they can do it (and be put in a position to do it...which is coach's job). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAELSPAPPY Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Whatever else you have out of the 4, you must have rebounding. Since Liddell will rebound very well for his size and Ian got 7+ last season, I would say that 8 points and 6 rebounds out of the starter at the 4 spot, and this team can look for postseason for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risky1 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I expect 18 pts from IV, 17 from KL, 16 from TL, 10 from the starting 3 (LM or DB), 6 from the starting 4 and 10 from the subs = 77 pts. Hold the enemy to 65 and out rebound them by 4 and we are dancing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billiken_roy Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 77 ppg would put the billikens in the top 30 in the country in scoring in all of d-1 teams. and of those top 30 teams from last year only 13 were top 10 conference teams (Duke, Washington, uconn, tenn, memphis, north carolina, gonzaga, florida, george washington, maryland, florida state, colorado, and iowa state.) ironically of the 13 teams above, the billikens went to the wire last year with all three that they played. realistically, imo, if we average 67 a game that would be a massive improvement and likely very noticable compared to last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleBilliken Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 "ironically of the 13 teams above, the billikens went to the wire last year with all three that they played." Very interesting. It just goes to show how close Brad has us to the "big time". Let's get some offense going, and who knows... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufanskip Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I want 51 from KL, TL, and IV also ... too bad we won't get it. I'll be very happy if we get in the low 40's from the 3 of them combined. Official Billikens.com sponsor of H. Waldman and loyal subject of Billsboy and all ex D1 players and coaches everywhere. You da man Billsboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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