Hoops - The Positive Spin

[Sharkcage]

Could you expect a solid effort from this team?:
1 - 6'5" 195 leading h.s. scorer in Charlotte NC from 2001, 2003league rookie of week
2 - 6'2" 3 pt shooting champ and Virginia state champ
3 - 6'8"Player of Year 3 pt shooter Senior Leader
4 - 6'9" 225 Colo. all state player
5 - 6'10" 245 108"reach coached by NBA center every day in practice
6th men - 6'9" 220 & 6'9" 235
Coach - Proven Dedicated Winner at Championship Level

1 - Mokris
2 - Trumbower
3 - Hess
4 - Hutt
5 - Loehrke by Wolf
6s - Cope and Sorenson
Coach Shaver

As to players transfering: sholarships now available for Shaver to recruit with is a plus long term, Boyages' 6man frosh class would've been an anchor around Shaver's neck

Last year's problems:
lacked depth (only Hess>9ptspg)
lacked leadership (Boyages - his coaching at GMU was terrible, he created a team with a go to guy(Hess) and a bunch of chuckin' little guys who have now all transferred no doubt due to the lack of cohesion and purpose of Boyages)
lacked a plan: the 1.1 assist to turnover ratio was awful given the team was guard heavy, attribute this as much to the lack of an offensive scheme by Boyages to anything else
lacked 3pt threat: Hess is threat, but they lacked that perimeter floater that stretches the D and balances off Hess
lacked conditioning/depth/coaching adjustments: outscored 1015 to 889 in second half

This year's positives:
Shaver = leadership, game management, purpose, heart for 40 minutes
Fresh Start - negative players/coach are gone
Core team has size, a senior leader/star player, new talent
The CAA is still a league that is thin thin thin: UNCW rode Blizzard all the way to the NCAA If you could pick a league in the country to try to turnaround a program quickly the CAA would be it, there are no teams that are unbeatable
Biggest problem for Shaver is converting a Mokris/Trumbower to the point. If the Tribe can come up with a point guard they will do no worse than middle of the CAA pack. If they can't, then it will get worse before it gets better.

EBIRT OG

[Xtribe]

YOu're very optimistic my friend. That lineup that you just proposed will finish last in the CAA. Every player who plays in college was all-state in high school, it doesn't mean much.

[TribePride]

Shark:

I love your optimism as I always try and stay optimistic, as hard as it may be, about Tribe hoops (at least until the games start anyway). I do have to say, and it pains me to say this, that I think you are a bit too optimistic. The day Steve Sorensen is anywhere near the second guy off the bench is the day I give up my front row seat to Tribe hoops. Though, the good news is that you forgot to mention three players who will play big roles for the Tribe this year:

1) Reid Markham - had to sit out last year recovering from mono, he should be a constant in our backcourt, whether it's at 1 or 2, and it will be good to have him back; hopefully he's improved as much in the last two years as he did between his fresh and soph. years.

2) Nick D'Antoni - believe it or not, he did score 30 points in one game his freshman year before being banished to the Boyages' doghouse last year. He's the only true point guard we have on scholarship at the moment, and hopefully the new coach will re-energize him.

3) Corey Cofield - incoming freshman who could start in the frontcourt with Jenkins' departure. Will be the best athlete on the team next year, and should battle Mokris and Markham to be the Tribe's second offensive option to Hess. I wouldn't mind seeing him, Hess, and Hutt as our starting frontcourt next year thought that would limit our bench so he might start the year on the bench.

I think, at this point, that it's optimistic on my part to say that I hope we avoid the play-in game. We only have 10 players right now, one definately not on scholarship (I'm not sure if Sorensen still is), and we have plenty of scholarships to offer so it'll be interesting to see who Shaver gets to at least fill out the bench (whether a bunch of walk ons, or open tryouts at school, or maybe gets really lucky and finds a good scholarship player to come in during the summer much like VCU has done in the past). I actually heard a wild rumor last year that Billy Parker mgiht want to play basketball this year since it'll be his senior year, and his football commitment will be over, and he loves to play ball, and is pretty good. Needless to say, we would welcome his athleticism, and he wouldn't cost us a scholarship as he's on a football ride. It'll be an interesting and challenging year for the Tribe with all of the transfers, the coaching change, and a switch in style to an uptempo game. I really like and trust Shaver, and think he'll be successful in the long run; I'm just not sure exactly what the short run holds come this October. If all else fails though, we'll at least be able to beat Towson as long as Hess suits up.

[WM Beancounter]

Don't presume we'll beat Towson or anyone this year, TribePride. That's a recipe for eating crow.

[BradMan]

With all that has happened to you guys since the Spring, hopefully my rams will finally have a chance to beat you guys at your house this year. Not bashing your team, just stating the obvious....we/rams have a good chance at winning....finally! :)

[brinkj]

I am amazed by your optimism. But I am not gonna lie to you I completely agree with your statement. In 2001 I was in Indianapolis and I saw Brian Hutt play in the Nike All-American Camp. He showed no fear, although not the strongest he held his own against the countries best players, including Amare Stoudamire ( now playing for the Suns). Also for 6'7" forward Hess can shoot the lights out. Throw in Reid, D'Antoni, Zeb, Mokris, and the the Freshman Correy you got a solid upset worthy basketball team. I am looking forward to seeing the teams progress this year with their new coach.

[billthebighawkfan]

I take exception to you calling the league thin. Afterall, only the year before we were the 11th best in the USA and last year about 16th out of say 34 conferences. UNCW was way more than just Blizzard, way more! If that was the case, then the Tribe would have been awesome last year with Adam Hess. Yes, it can be turned around but please don't think this league is that easy, it's not.

[Sharkcage]

Whattya say now?
I expected a solid effort because Shaver will demand it.
And Shaver is making good use of those scholarships.

I gave you realism, now optimism: schedule Ohio State for 2 years from now. Payback time.

The Pitt, Virginia, UNCW stretch will be telling for this team. Also interesting how Shaver chooses to coach against the next level of athlete.

Ebirt Og.

[UltimateIsBestTeamAtWm]

Sharkcage- You're a genius. Plus you forgot to mention that Jenkins returns next semester. Thats another huge boost for this team. It gives Shaver another known scoring threat the CAA will respect and adding an aggressive Mokris, and Zeb and Hutt being the beasts they are on the inside, it seems like a team that should definitely be able to contend with the best of the CAA.