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Post by jajk on May 1, 2009 10:40:54 GMT -5
SPC on its official site announced Belin and Raymond signed . Congrats to Dunne and staff on putting us in position to compete with anyone in the MAAC for the next two years . Welcome to both players .
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Post by graypoll on May 1, 2009 11:08:58 GMT -5
If one were a pessimist, one might suspect that JD delayed announcing the LOI's in the hope of having more than two to announce.....
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Post by Peacock on May 1, 2009 11:17:57 GMT -5
If one were a pessimist, one might suspect that JD delayed announcing the LOI's in the hope of having more than two to announce..... Doubt it. Belin was a little slow in sending it in. It appears the bigger issue is anybody from the spring. Samuels obviously wants to consider others despite almost all the schools mentioned for him have recruited players for his position limiting his potential playing time. So don't be surprised to see schools not mentioned on any service. Had or might he choose us, he would be all we need to solidify a decent potential competitor for the future. Dunne is only one player away from getting a team that could extend what we have seen last season, but he has to make it happen. |
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Post by oldtimer1 on May 1, 2009 14:43:06 GMT -5
While I agree that a scoring #3 is still a need, I will repeat that Darius Conley will be a pleasant suprise. I was high on Nick Leon only a few games into his freshman year. Took some abuse but was proven correct. Said that while there were many things I liked about Jordan Costner but that he would basically be a role player on a top tier team. Now for Conley. I've already stuck my neck out talking about Darius several times this season and while no one is right 100% of the time, I feel as strongly about Darius as I did Nick. Recently observed him in one of the pick-up games. While an hour or so cannot tell the whole story the bottom line is that this kids potential is every bit as big as Ryan Bacon. Darius is a rebounding machine who can also get out and run the floor. He is an unselfish ballplayer who can play center or forward. Loves to set picks and has excellent basketball instincts. What surprised me was that during one of the breaks between games Darius was following around taking 3 pt. shots. Hit 3/4. Again one can't judge by that but I concluded (not to difficult) that he has a better outside shot than any of our bigs. Jack Hill also looked like he is improving and should be first big off the bench. Brandon Hall is becoming more confidant and aggressive, driving to the hoop. His outside shot is still lacking. While it's real early, I would foster a guess that Nick will see a lot of play at point with Brandon as his backup. This will limit Nick's scoring ability as he will draw some criticism regarding both his decision making (he is an aggressive player, not conservative like Brandon) and both his shooting percentage and scoring average might drop off. I would love to see Nick at #2 but JD might not have much choice. In any event, it will give JD some options as Nick can and will play both positions. A valuable role player and team leader. As I stated, it's way too early to predict starting lineups but right now I'd go with Bacon and Conley up front, Wesley at #2, Nick at #1 and  at #3. Will have to see what Belin can do there as opposed to #4. Don't know. Costner can alsu switch to #3, as a back-up rather than play #4 where he is often overmatched. Long way to the season. |
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Post by figgyprez on May 1, 2009 21:51:47 GMT -5
Appears as if we have 2 or 3 spots left available. I would hope we could get 2 helpful players and leave one spot open just in case. P;ease no more walk on shooters from Pa. I don't think they get us anywhere.
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Post by spcfan on May 1, 2009 22:49:26 GMT -5
Would love to get Steve Samuels with one of the last spots. 6-4 slasher type plays the point might allow Leon to play the off guard moving Wesley to the wing yet has much more scoring ability than Hall who would then be the back up at the point.
As of now feel the lineup will be Leon at the point,Wesley at the two,Bacon and Belin starting up front.Last spot could be Connolly,Costner or Raymond. Have to figure the JUCO player starts instead of Connolly if we play only two bigs,coming off a year layoff. Also expect major upside improvement from Hill. I see Costner as a role player off the bench
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Post by graypoll on May 2, 2009 6:18:14 GMT -5
Nobody's even mentioning Shumate....I thought that he showed some promise as a high schooler...is he that far behind everybody else?
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Post by spcfan on May 2, 2009 9:36:21 GMT -5
I haven't seen him play personally but have heard from those who have both in high school and in pick up in the gym that he's a project. Don't expect much immediate help.
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Post by JohnGalt on May 2, 2009 10:36:05 GMT -5
Barring any major signees, your core will likely consist of Hall. Leon, Jenkins, Belin, Bacon and Conley. Expect Hill and Costner to be first off the bench. Raymond will need time to develop. Shumate will see little time.
As currently configured and from what has been demonstrated, my guess is that the team can look to challenge for the 4 spot. Anything higher will likely depend on several key variables; Bacon taking another major jump up, Hill showing that his presence on the court is not a drop off, and Conley stepping in and contributing from the start. Further optimism should come from the fact that this has become a veteran squad, with the core into their third year together. Continuing their growth on the defensive end will also be a measure.
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Post by oldtimer1 on May 2, 2009 12:06:42 GMT -5
spcfan. This is what these kinds of boards interesting. I appreciate your point about Belin perhaps giving immediate help and the implication that Conley needs to knock off some rust. All true, but let me put it this way, Conley is what we need up front. Again I could be way off and probably shouldn't say much until we see these players actually in competition.
That said, let me emphasize how I feel about Conley another way. Last year before the season started I watched both Conley and Bacon in several pick up games. While each offered something different in terms of what the could add, I found Darius every bit the player Ryan was. Pretty equal matchups. Now, of course, Ryan has a full year under his belt and he has moved up another level but...
Adding to my feeling, and never having seen Belin play, I noted JD's comment on the Athletic website that Belin can play multiple positions. Because I think so highly of Conley, I have a feeling that Belin will play the#3. If Conley can't cut it then we have the option of playing Belin at #4. Let's also not forget Jack Hill who can be developed to have significant playing time, especially given Ryan Bacon's tendency to get into foul trouble.
Well enough idle speculation. One tell tale sign will be when official practice opens. JD usually divides his players, for drill purposes, into guards and forwards. Costner, for example, last year always drilled with the forwards. Let's see where JD envisions Belin, at least initially, by his placement during workouts.
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Post by Peacock on May 2, 2009 12:43:11 GMT -5
Again I could be way off and probably shouldn't say much until we see these players actually in competition. I love the modesty. We are talking probabilities here and no need to CYA. Conley came from a tough conference and was highly respected. There is little reason to doubt that he will be a force. It is less about seeing them play, than seeing what the opposition has on the floor as you get fooled when they play against their teammates. At our level, you run the gamut from stiffs as Iona has shown recently to studs. And who know what comes in on the other teams. In terms of probability, Conley is just what we needed and has the body to bang around that vaunted Fairfield front line. With Belin we have a player that was within a few players in terms of evaluation of Hawkins at Fairfield and who is considered to be a valuable contributor with the positive on Belin that he is more a scorer. Our real problems are going to be integration. This is why you wait to see them in competition. Some just don't get the plays or are reticent. Doesn't say they don't have the abilities, but we know less about the mind and heart. We have to remember the first half of last year and wonder if these newbies might take that long to gel. Also you overlook the fact that both Leon and Jenkins are not 35 minute players. They just don't have the legs. So there is a very real need for players to interchange with them in the tough games. Might only be one player but is a very real need. I think this is why spcfan cites Samuels as a need as he is a current HS player that can hit the floor immediately. Hall despite any positive comments will need to learn how to shoot foul shots before he actually becomes a contributor. Hill has great upside and was not intimidated in his games. He just lacked any true plays for him and was tight leashed a little too often. |
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at #3. Will have to see what Belin can do there as opposed to #4. Don't know. Costner can alsu switch to #3, as a back-up rather than play #4 where he is often overmatched. Long way to the season. 
