We will definitely have a front court presence, no question. The big (huge) unknown will be guard play. We really have no known quantities at either spot. Luke can play D, but none of the returning or new players have proven (consistent) scoring skills and all will have to prove they can play solid D and produce points. We will do as well next season, as our guards produce.

The other big uncertainty is injury. Most of the new players (Grad and Freshmen) have injury history. We simply will not be able to withstand many people going down next season. We have to stay healthy.

Everyone, with the exception of Nate, AVV and Luke, are question marks. We won't know if we have anything at all, until they are under fire. Hopefully, we will be pleasantly surprised by several.

I'm truly hoping Nate gets to go out in style, but 2/3 of this team are raw, inexperienced or coming off injury seasons and must stay healthy and be productive for us to finish in the top half of the CAA.

It's going to be an interesting season.

I look at it that most of the rest of the league, also, lost key players and experience and have unknowns with the reloads they have acquired. Why would we be expected to be below everyone else based on that. One thing for sure is that OOC play will indicate a lot regarding where CAA pecking order plays out come league play. I am not a believer that teams find themselves and suddenly turn it on after conference play starts, regardless of youth or new players. This would have been an opportune time for a summer team trip, but unfortunately we're not eligible.

Let's hope Nate will provide increased leadership toward the NBA feedback he got regarding defensive development and focus, and that someone in the backcourt emerges as a money player to offensively support Nate and Andy.

I wish I had more faith, but I see this as a repeat of Adam Hess' senior year.

If we don't have a couple players who can consistently hit from outside, Nate will be doubled constantly and will be taken out of the game.

(06-12-2019 10:24 AM)NC Tribe Wrote:  I wish I had more faith, but I see this as a repeat of Adam Hess' senior year.

If we don't have a couple players who can consistently hit from outside, Nate will be doubled constantly and will be taken out of the game.

What we need is for Bryce Barnes to be the second coming of David Cohn. We did not have a guard last year who could aggressively push the ball up court in transition before the other team's defense could set up, penetrate and score when the opportunity availed itself, penetrate and kick it out when that was the best alternative, and hit the three when left open on the perimeter. We also were not a very good perimeter shooting team last year either, which, combined with the loss of David to graduation, led to an offense that was often not enjoyable to watch.

I am not naïve here. You don't have the 4 players that bailed on us leave and suddenly think that we can be as good as we would have been if all of them had chosen to stay, just because we have added 5 players. But I will choose to believe that every kid on this year's roster really wants to be here and will truly be playing for the name on the front of their jersey, and that a kid named Barnes, whom I have never seen play, can take ownership of the team and will us to be better.

(06-12-2019 10:55 AM)WMTRIBE75 Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 10:24 AM)NC Tribe Wrote:  I wish I had more faith, but I see this as a repeat of Adam Hess' senior year.

If we don't have a couple players who can consistently hit from outside, Nate will be doubled constantly and will be taken out of the game.

What we need is for Bryce Barnes to be the second coming of David Cohn. We did not have a guard last year who could aggressively push the ball up court in transition before the other team's defense could set up, penetrate and score when the opportunity availed itself, penetrate and kick it out when that was the best alternative, and hit the three when left open on the perimeter. We also were not a very good perimeter shooting team last year either, which, combined with the loss of David to graduation, led to an offense that was often not enjoyable to watch.


If Nate is the player everyone thinks he is, double and triple teaming will not stop him, and it will not matter who else is on the floor, they will get the job done.
I am not naïve here. You don't have the 4 players that bailed on us leave and suddenly think that we can be as good as we would have been if all of them had chosen to stay, just because we have added 5 players. But I will choose to believe that every kid on this year's roster really wants to be here and will truly be playing for the name on the front of their jersey, and that a kid named Barnes, whom I have never seen play, can take ownership of the team and will us to be better.

(06-12-2019 08:10 AM)billymac Wrote:  We will definitely have a front court presence, no question. The big (huge) unknown will be guard play. We really have no known quantities at either spot. Luke can play D, but none of the returning or new players have proven (consistent) scoring skills and all will have to prove they can play solid D and produce points. We will do as well next season, as our guards produce.

The other big uncertainty is injury. Most of the new players (Grad and Freshmen) have injury history. We simply will not be able to withstand many people going down next season. We have to stay healthy.

Everyone, with the exception of Nate, AVV and Luke, are question marks. We won't know if we have anything at all, until they are under fire. Hopefully, we will be pleasantly surprised by several.

I'm truly hoping Nate gets to go out in style, but 2/3 of this team are raw, inexperienced or coming off injury seasons and must stay healthy and be productive for us to finish in the top half of the CAA.

It's going to be an interesting season.

Well said. One possible point: even Nate AVV & Luke are question marks in a sense as there is a new offense and defense to learn individually and collectively. Continuity = quick and smooth flow. This season is almost all question mark.

(06-12-2019 11:41 AM)LION KING Wrote:  I am not naïve here. You don't have the 4 players that bailed on us leave and suddenly think that we can be as good as we would have been if all of them had chosen to stay, just because we have added 5 players. But I will choose to believe that every kid on this year's roster really wants to be here and will truly be playing for the name on the front of their jersey....

"2019-20 Tribe Basketball: The Coalition of the Willing"

(06-12-2019 12:05 PM)Odysseus Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 08:10 AM)billymac Wrote:  We will definitely have a front court presence, no question. The big (huge) unknown will be guard play. We really have no known quantities at either spot. Luke can play D, but none of the returning or new players have proven (consistent) scoring skills and all will have to prove they can play solid D and produce points. We will do as well next season, as our guards produce.

The other big uncertainty is injury. Most of the new players (Grad and Freshmen) have injury history. We simply will not be able to withstand many people going down next season. We have to stay healthy.

Everyone, with the exception of Nate, AVV and Luke, are question marks. We won't know if we have anything at all, until they are under fire. Hopefully, we will be pleasantly surprised by several.

I'm truly hoping Nate gets to go out in style, but 2/3 of this team are raw, inexperienced or coming off injury seasons and must stay healthy and be productive for us to finish in the top half of the CAA.

It's going to be an interesting season.

Well said. One possible point: even Nate AVV & Luke are question marks in a sense as there is a new offense and defense to learn individually and collectively. Continuity = quick and smooth flow. This season is almost all question mark.

With the proliferation of grad transfers and rampant P-5 poaching, most CAA teams are question marks going into the season. Northeastern, Elon and UNCW in particular have had lots of turnover. With Nate and VV in the front court and Barnes as the quick, penetrating PG we lacked last year, we have as good a nucleus as anyone in the league.