Manuel, Cunningham, Jones

by **Sasser Rules** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:53 pm

These guys are the core of the future. Their athleticism and overall talent has me more excited than I have been about any group since the Sasser (go figure), Davis, Elsey team. Maybe even more.

They absolutely have to play more - all of them. Yes, they'll make mistakes. They're freshmen! They can learn from the older guys, but they have to play more, too. If they wait their turn for the older guys to graduate, they'll have limited experience by the time they are full-time players.

Keep them in the deep end, Coach Doherty, and let them learn to swim.

by **RGV Pony** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:56 pm

Add Nick Russell to go with smith and cotton when he gets rolling again, combined with this years class (Bernardi blaise and uche) and we've got horses to see some fun in the BE

by **Mustangsabu** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:06 pm

If we can show the intensity we showed in league play last year, I think we will be very happy, and next year will be a huge step forward.

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by **2ndandlong** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:07 pm

Lots to look forward to.

by **gostangs** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:26 pm

have not had this much raw talent since Konkack/Wright days in my opinion - i know some would say the sasser teams but this team looks deeper down the bench to me which is critical.

when do we get Russell? When is the last time (if ever) we were scared of losing good players because they were not getting minutes?

I would love to beat Ole Miss on the road - that would be a nice confidence boost. Not sure this team knows they can be really good yet - so they need to get a big one done and realize what they have. Time for a statement game.

by **hoopmanx** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 4:46 pm

Our frosh, including Smith/Vilde, are going to be excellent. I think the difference in this class, over other talented classes we've brought in, is that we actually have bigs. Adding Russell, Blaise, Bernardi and Ofoegbu next year, means we're deep to #13

by **Mitch McConnell** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:21 pm

My favorite is Jones. Even though he wasn't on the floor at the end, I love him as a competitor. Look to a pretty important point of the game where we were up 6 or 8 points, miss a shot and Jalen competes for the loose ball and has the putback. That's all about desire.

Same thing with Manuel on the breakaway dunk. Smooth to the rim.

BTW, our freshmen were 15-of-17 on free throws against La. Tech

by **ponyscott** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:31 pm

Wow, you missed Williams....he will be a beast and a tough cookie for us.

by **Mitch McConnell** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:47 pm

Not at all. Just talking about the three frosh.

As for Williams, I'm just trying to figure out where he was at the end OSU game. No one knows.

by **Digetydog** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:18 am

gostangs wrote:have not had this much raw talent since Konkack/Wright days in my opinion.

Don't forget the Glenn Puddy year!!!

Seriously, my favorite Ponies were the Kato Armstrong, Eric Longino, and Todd Alexander team. I believe Terry Williams was the big guy on that team but I could be wrong.

by **Charleston Pony** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:22 am

Digetydog wrote:
gostangs wrote:have not had this much raw talent since Konkack/Wright days in my opinion.

Don't forget the Glenn Puddy year!!!

Seriously, my favorite Ponies were the Kato Armstrong, Eric Longino, and Todd Alexander team. I believe Terry Williams was the big guy on that team but I could be wrong.

Terry was our low post guy after Koncak; I think Butch Moore helped recruit him to SMU. Butch was a terrific PG for us in that time frame. Kato succeeded Butch as I recall

by **Treadway21** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:38 am

Loved Butch. If we had another Butch this team would be red lining it.

by **hoopmanx** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:26 am

Travis Bickle wrote:
gostangs wrote:have not had this much raw talent since Konkack/Wright days in my opinion - i know some would say the sasser teams but this team looks deeper down the bench to me which is critical.

when do we get Russell? When is the last time (if ever) we were scared of losing good players because they were not getting minutes?

I would love to beat Ole Miss on the road - that would be a nice confidence boost. Not sure this team knows they can be really good yet - so they need to get a big one done and realize what they have. Time for a statement game.

Not seeing it! Konkack played several years in the NBA. When your talking about raw talent, in my opinion no one on this team plays within the system and knows how "get it done" better than Papa and he didn't get drafted but at least making good money overseas. I take a " wait and see" attitude and one game at a time and don't get caught up on "when we get Russell, etc". Where is he going? That is one good thing about a transfer ( not putting them down in anyway), they have already transfered once. They don't like it then they go Division 11 or NAIA.

As always hope we can win on the road but a STATEMENT game to me would be beating Memphis ( last year), Southern Mississippi ( Last year) and the run we had in the CIT. Again, we all talk about letting us run but most conferences if you study them the scoring will be 5-8 less points per game than in non-conference games. Things get "tighter" and stuff like getting to the foul line ( La. Tech) and then converting ( 22-29) will really be instrumental in games that are in the 62-71 scoring range. Correct me someone if you disagree.

I understand your point about NBA guys. IF you're legit and going to run deep in the tourney, you need 2 of those of types of talents, if not more. I'm not going to say we have any sure fire NBA kids on this team, but what I will say is that we have far more kids on this roster, that will eventually get paid to play somewhere, than what we've had in a very long time. It starts there.

by **Mitch McConnell** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:32 am

I don't measure a team on how many NBA potential players it has. It helps, no doubt. But considering how this roster measures up against previous seasons, the difference is striking. We have 3-4 players who have a better feel for the game.

BUT they are just 13 games into this thing. Short-term they still don't know who each other is. I just hope they are playing far better by February and down the road.

by **ponyscott** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:24 am

We have one just like that coming in next year. Brian Benardi! Maybe his well known work ethic will rub off on some of our guys.