First glance...Edwards competition/replacement.
After watching his highlights, this was my first reaction, as well. He is a slasher that has a solid mid-range jumper, with occasional 3 capabilities. That seems to be the role that Powell hoped to get from Edwards. Edwards showed some glimpses of it earlier in the season, before fizzled out in the second half of the schedule.
As someone who has been around basketball coaching his entire life, he seems like he will pull a lot of defense to acknowledge him as a threat for shooting. We failed to execute because most of the time we only had 2 "threats" on the court at once, those being Coop and Zai. In games where we kept competitive, and maybe even went on to win the game. We had a third person step up and be a threat that pulled the defenses attention. Most defenses played soft coverage unless the ball was in Zai's hand or Coop's hand. We had to have at least 3 people "cooking" for defenses to care to draw attention from our main shooters. We need guys who can execute to draw attention. He can do that with his mid-range game, especially his contested mid-range game.
PO mentioned the possibility that current players transfer once others transfer in, and I wonder if that will apply to Jaxon Edwards in this case. Could just be competition, but Devon's numbers against P6 competition this year in a sample size of 4 or 5 were strong. Not really any deviation from his season average of 11ppg on 50% shooting. Not sure how much this moves the needle for me, but we are definitely better than we were yesterday. I still think to be competitive in this league, we need to have a third guy that could be a 3rd team all conference or better type player. Schwieger will probably be there this year and Stafford could be. That third spot could possibly be McNair or Manyang down the road, but probably not this year. I would like to see a transfer that I could confidently say will average 12-15 ppg.
I think that our offer for Jimmie Williams might still be open. Devon is much more a tradition forward than a taller shooting guard so someone like Williams would still benefit the team.
I think that our offer for Jimmie Williams might still be open. Devon is much more a tradition forward than a taller shooting guard so someone like Williams would still benefit the team.
Possibly, and I think he would be a really good addition, but I did see our name connected with 3 or so centers which tells me either the next spot is going to a center or we have more spots to open up. I doubt we reached out to a few centers just to say eh these two guards accepted first so I guess we'll just have to leave this hole on our roster.
@burnee77 Andrew Ferry was a walk-on, who went to Cornell, so he wasn't a scholarship that we lost. Brian Bouchie did well at Evansville, but he wasn't a game changing get for the Aces in those years. Most of those who have transferred didn't find the greener grass they were looking for.
Bouchie was a stud FR for us, in almost single-handedly owning Jon Brockman from Washington in the CBI, but then experienced issues at Evansville. He had a bright future at Valpo
Bouchie was a stud FR for us, in almost single-handedly owning Jon Brockman from Washington in the CBI, but then experienced issues at Evansville. He had a bright future at Valpo
Wasn't around for him, but this is why if you find a good coach who can get you to perform, you need to stick with him. Even in the era of NIL and the portal, you dont want to chase a bag when that money is probably not going to last you as long as the money you would be making if you decided to perfect your craft.
I look at the addition of players as a then and now situation. Players who were on the team then replaced by players coming onboard now. There may be more, but so far it seems three scholarship players are definitely leaving: Anthony Sciarroni, Connor Barrett, and Jerome Palm. Assume Justin McNair is filling Anthony's spot and Devon Ellis is filling Connor's spot: both should be significant pluses. Further, Valpo looks to add an impact big to fill Jerome's spot, presumably another bump up—and if we are lucky, a Robbie Avila type center. Also, for argument's sake, a stronger Lucas Scroggins and a healthy Lual Manyang are now filling the non-playing redshirt spots they held then. Even if everyone else returns and there are no more transfers (though there might be), each player will have a year of experience and team development, as well as six more months in the weight room, and all should be better. Optimistically, the overall strength of the team has improved measurably. After all, this is the time of the season to be hopeful, right?
I look at the addition of players as a then and now situation. Players who were on the team then replaced by players coming onboard now. There may be more, but so far it seems three scholarship players are definitely leaving: Anthony Sciarroni, Connor Barrett, and Jerome Palm. Assume Justin McNair is filling Anthony's spot and Devon Ellis is filling Connor's spot: both should be significant pluses. Further, Valpo looks to add an impact big to fill Jerome's spot, presumably another bump up—and if we are lucky, a Robbie Avila type center. Also, for argument's sake, a stronger Lucas Scroggins and a healthy Lual Manyang are now filling the non-playing redshirt spots they held then. Even if everyone else returns and there are no more transfers (though there might be), each player will have a year of experience and team development, as well as six more months in the weight room, and all should be better. Optimistically, the overall strength of the team has improved measurably. After all, this is the time of the season to be hopeful, right?
I can get behind Mayang and Scroggins as our "6th and 7th men" frankly we need guys who can come off the bench and perform when one of the starters are getting beat up on.
So as of right now the starting 5 is as such
Schweiger
Stafford
McNair
Ellis
(TBD)
@rezynezy Not so fast. McNair will need to beat out Darius, who was playing very well at the end of the year, especially with his discovery of a 3-point shot to complement his assists-to-turnover ratio. I could easily see DD starting at the beginning of the season. Also, Williamson and Weatherspoon were in their first year; freshmen frequently make big strides in their sophomore years.
@valpopal Fair enough. Being honest its nice that discussions over who is going to start are actually taking place and not just "knowing" whose getting the job because no one was available. We actually have options and are building up bench depth for the first time since the Drews.
I believe that someone mentioned that Darius is committed to staying at some point a few weeks back, but I do worry that he played himself into a potential upgrade, if he wanted to do so. If Lexus Williams can play and find success in the MWC at Boise State, Darius could definitely do the same, as he proved that he could find a shot. Manyang intrigues the heck out of me. He looks like a potential beast in the paint. Powell keeps talking up Scroggins as our best defender, so he could be that Ben Wallace-sized Center to complement Cooper, allowing him to play a more natural PF position.
Having loyatly in the world of college athletics is something that we dont see much of anymore. Heck we are starting to ASK for guys to enter the portal, which is the first of first world problems in college athletics. Powell clearly made an impression on these guys enough that they stuck it out. Zai, Coop, and Darius could have easily upgraded after the season, but are choosing to stay. I think Powell is largely to blame for this loyalty. Just look at how hard they party for wins. I'd kill to have had a coach that would bust a move with the team in the locker room after we get a dub. The personality and energy he brought to this team was something I haven't seen rom this program in a long time. Here's to hoping the school starts selling Grit chains because I would be the first in line to buy one.
Would have liked to address our big weakness of three point shooting. 25% from 3 at JUCO is not going to help. Needs to be alot better for D-1 to help us out. But I am no recruiting coach.
