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and you will see why the future is bright. I got the chance to go to a practice and our freshman class is outstanding - Shake is a polished scorer with a nice outside jumper. Sed is the PG we all expected. He will benefit greatly being around Nic for a year. Jarrey was easily the biggest surprise. He is still getting back up to speed but the young man has high major talent. He can play the 2 or 3, can shoot, drive and defend. I believe he will contribute immediately.

Nic and MK looked great and both were very vocal in practice. This team is more talented than last year's team. We will be small but I believe teams will have to adjust us. LB has a lot of weapons. Should be a very fun team to watch.

I've heard the same thing about Jarrey. I expect a lot of man, press, and for us to run.

Since LB's teams have always played a lot of man and ran when when the opportunity presented itself I would expect the same this year. We may or may not press a lot depending on the team we are playing.

One of the things that has me interested in these non-conference games is that it will offer a good chance to get a look at the freshman class. Brown has to know that it will be important to get all these guys substantial minutes since they are the bridge to maintaining the program. I expect them to play early and often like the Frazier/Brown and B.Moore Class which is the second thing I'm most interested in-the growth and development of the Junior Class. Got a feeling the Junior Class is where the real team improvement will come from

The junior class is so solid with Sterling, Ben, KF and Semi. At the practice I mostly tried to watch the freshman, but Sterling and Ben looked ready. I feel bad, they are so solid and go about their business quietly I sometimes take them for granted. KF was working with the trainer but I heard it was just soreness, nothing serious.

BTW, LB was his usual self. He is such a perfectionist and he demands it. It's a treat to watch him run a practice.

My projected starting lineup is:

Nic (sub - Shake/Sed)
KF (sub - Jarrey/Shake)
Sterling (sub - Semi/Jarrey)
Tolbert (sub - Ben M/Semi)
MK (sub - Ben M)

I'm split on Tolbert and Ben Moore. I believe LB will start Tolbert because the guy transferred here for his senior year. Regardless, Tolbert and B Moore will play a lot. They are really our only 4/5 options after MK. Semi is a wing but at times will have to guard a 4.

I have always wondered if it will be MK and Tolbert at center, and then Semi and Ben play a wing 4.

No more double post.

Tolbert is 6'7".

Most teams we play won't have two elite post guys that would cause us that much trouble with Semi having to play the 4 for a few minutes, but I hope Semi gets a lot of chances to use his length and athleticism as a help defender and gets a few chances to swat the ball out of the gym.

Looking at that lineup helps me return to giddy/excited for this year. It will be a pretty nice consolation prize if we can:

1. Win 25 or more of our games.
2. Be the talk of the nation close to tournament time about "how far we might have gone".
3. Beat Gonzaga.
4. Beat Cincy at least once.
5. Beat Michigan without Semi.
6. Set the young guys up to be really successful next year.

If all goes well, Gonzaga will be our Polyester Bowl. Winning that one will put us in the conversation the whole tourney, barring any unfortunate upsets.

Sorry - but once the tournament starts we will not be any part of the conversation. It's too bad, but if you aren't playing you are not going to be discussed.

LA_Mustang wrote:My projected starting lineup is:

Nic (sub - Shake/Sed)
KF (sub - Jarrey/Shake)
Sterling (sub - Semi/Jarrey)
Tolbert (sub - Ben M/Semi)
MK (sub - Ben M)

I'm sorry. I guess I'm old at 49. So Keith IS eligible to play this season? So confused.

He has been eligible for some time now.

Just was retroactively ineligible for some games. Based on testimony given for immunity. Only the immunity didn't apply to those games for which he would later be deemed retroactively ineligible. Folla?

Yeah, I get you. Not sure how I missed this conversation. Thank you.