College Basketball Thread 2013-14

[packfan79]

I've been surprised that Bo hasn't used Anderson and bohanon more during the non conference season. It really seems like they are going to need another big to step up from time to time to play minutes once conference season comes around.

[LouisEly]

Bo never has had more than an 8-man rotation. Always the five starters and no more than 2-3 guys off the bench for 10 minutes each.

[fondybrewfan]

And Anderson may be big but he probably has no business being on a Big 10 team. If he was actually good Bo would be playing him.

 

I don't know how well Kaminsky and Hayes will hold up in Big 10 play; but at least there aren't a ton of teams with dominant big men. There are some good big men like Payne, McGary, and Vonleh but no one is THAT good. I think the Big Ten is pretty guard heavy this year.

 

I see 5 team battling for the top: Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, and Ohio State. Wisconsin and OSU have looked the best thus far but OSU also hasn't really played anyone. Iowa is going to suprise some people. Michigan has underacheived but still have enough talent to compete. Michigan State is really banged up. It is probably a given that the eventual winner will have atleast 3 losses. Wisconsin catches a huge break this year; they only play MSU and OSU at home.

[TooLiveBrew]

And Anderson may be big but he probably has no business being on a Big 10 team. If he was actually good Bo would be playing him.

 

I don't know how well Kaminsky and Hayes will hold up in Big 10 play; but at least there aren't a ton of teams with dominant big men. There are some good big men like Payne, McGary, and Vonleh but no one is THAT good. I think the Big Ten is pretty guard heavy this year.

 

I see 5 team battling for the top: Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, and Ohio State. Wisconsin and OSU have looked the best thus far but OSU also hasn't really played anyone. Iowa is going to suprise some people. Michigan has underacheived but still have enough talent to compete. Michigan State is really banged up. It is probably a given that the eventual winner will have atleast 3 losses. Wisconsin catches a huge break this year; they only play MSU and OSU at home.

I definitely consider Payne & McGary pretty darn good. I agree that the B1G should be an interesting horse-race this season. Go Bucky!

[brwrsfan]

They do have a size problem and if Kaminsky gets in foul trouble, that's a big big issue. Anderson is going to have to get some minutes against some of those bigger bodies. If they had just one more year of Bergerron or someone like that, they'd be dominant.

 

The plus side is their 3 guard offense is going to create matchup problems, I think.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

On the possibility of getting beat up inside in the Big Ten:

 

I think the Florida game actually provides reason to be optimistic. Yes, Florida was short two really important players. But they had Patric Young, who I believe is as big and tough as they come. His line: 8 pts, 6 rebounds, 2-6 from the floor.

 

I think the Badgers do a good job of defending post entries and crashing the glass with their guards. I think Michigan State is scary with Payne, but I'm not all that afraid of McGary for some reason. Maybe the combo of him and Horford could cause problems, but I worry more about MSU from a matchup perspective.

 

Actually, Minnesota and Iowa might be the teams that scare me most in terms of taking a surprise home loss. Both run, and the Gophers will press UW a lot, which has historically been an issue.

 

We'll see. Can't wait for Big Ten play to start.

[DatHoser]

Nice write-up on the Badgers on usatoday.com:

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2013/12/16/college-basketball-wisconsin-badgers-bo-ryan-influence/4042487/

 

I love the "40 minutes of mild irritation" quote.

[LouisEly]

Anyone know what happened to Steve Taylor? He hasn't played in the last 3 games. I can't find anything on-line. They really are going to need him next year.

 

Marquette got a commitment from a 7-foot, 250lb 3-star center from Akron, OH. Sounds like a bit of a project; I was hoping they would get a juco transfer or a graduated senior transfer so they could bring in a big guy who could play right away. They are going to be small and young next year.

[brwrsfan]

I don't know how Buzz let that happen, but you're right, they will be unbelievably small. Buzz seems to just collect as many 6'4-6'7 athletes as possible and hope for the best. Not sure if that's by design...if that's all they can get or what but that's really going to come back to sting them sooner or later.

 

I think both Marquette and WI are both pushing hard for Diamond Stone and Henry Ellenson for the 2015 season. Both would be huge big man to get, from the state. I don't know if either will actually stay here though.

[LouisEly]

They were supposed to have a 6'8" juco transfer, Jameel McKay, come in this year. He was the #3 juco player in the country. There is a rumor that McKay wasn't happy about limited playing time this year behind Otule, Gardner, and Wilson and being asked to play center next year with those guys gone. In 2012 Marquette backed off of Aaron Durley - during his senior season he registered more DNPs than double-doubles; probably a good thing, as Durley has torn his ACL twice since. In 2012 or 2011 they had another 6'9" juco transfer commit, but he did something really stupid (robbery I think) and Marquette rescinded their scholarship offer.

 

An article I read said that Marquette is expected to sign another big man, but that would put them one over the scholarship limit. With both D-Wilsons and Nick Noskowiak on the team next year my guess is Dawson is the one to "transfer" if they do sign another big. If they do, hopefully it is a juco transfer or graduating senior transfer who can step in right away.

 

The same article said that Taylor is having lingering issues from his off-season knee surgery, so I guess that's your answer.

[jjfanec]

Saying Marquette backed off Aaron Durley is a pretty nice way of putting it. He signed a LOI with Marquette and they showed them the door. McKay was really unfortunate for Marquette because he will be needed next year. I highly doubt Pierce the big coming in next year will be ready to play. How often non top 50 bigs make a big impact their freshman year. They could get a JUCO but they are out of scholarships so someone would have to leave but there is a guy in this recruiting class who got suspended so I guess they could still have his spot. I don't know how many scholarships that leaves them with

 

Next year Marquette needs Taylor in a big way. They lose Otule, Gardner, and Wilson. They will have to go Taylor, Anderson, Burton for size next year and Burton isn't really big. They will probably be able to put up some big points though

[fondybrewfan]

I don't think UW or MU have a chance at keeping Stone in state; probably a better shot with Ellenson. Diamond Stone just seems ticketed for one of the blue blood programs and will probably hope to go to the NBA after a year or two in college. I think his offensive game especially needs a lot of refinement before he is ready for the NBA; but that hasn't stopped people from going before. You know he would get drafted extremely high on raw projectability alone.

[hurricanecrush]

Anyone know what happened to Steve Taylor? He hasn't played in the last 3 games. I can't find anything on-line. They really are going to need him next year.

Taylor is still having issues with his knee and he will likely be redshirted.

[sdcheezhd]

WI is now #1 in ESPN's RPI calculation. UWM is ranked higher than Marquette.

[packfan79]

I don't think UW or MU have a chance at keeping Stone in state; probably a better shot with Ellenson. Diamond Stone just seems ticketed for one of the blue blood programs and will probably hope to go to the NBA after a year or two in college. I think his offensive game especially needs a lot of refinement before he is ready for the NBA; but that hasn't stopped people from going before. You know he would get drafted extremely high on raw projectability alone.

 

I tend to agree with you but MU having Duane Wilson who teamed up with him to win two state titles might help. I hope both state schools press hard as that would be a huge get.

[jjfanec]

I doubt Stone stays in state but if a big or wing watches Bronson Koenig UW would have to become more appealing. True pass first point guard who sets people up really well. They just need to ask Nigel Hayes how fun it is to play with a true point guard.

[jjfanec]

MU now 7-5. No bad losses and one solid win against George Washington. I wonder what they need to finish in the New Big East to make the tourney. Marquette only has two games left against a team currently ranked and those are both against Villanova. In fact Creighton is the only Big East team receiving votes outside of Villanova. Not a lot of marquee wins available. This Marquette team simply does not look as talented or aggressive as previous versions.

[fondybrewfan]

Marquette it definitely looking like a bubble team. Assuming that they beat the teams they should they absolutely need a win or two against Villanova or Creighton. Probably the best they can hope for is a 7 if everything goes great in conference. Too bad Duane Wilson got hurt because I think he could have made a big difference so far this year. They have been so underwhelming

[jjfanec]

Marquette it definitely looking like a bubble team. Assuming that they beat the teams they should they absolutely need a win or two against Villanova or Creighton. Probably the best they can hope for is a 7 if everything goes great in conference. Too bad Duane Wilson got hurt because I think he could have made a big difference so far this year. They have been so underwhelming

 

I don't know how much Wilson would have played. Buzz doesn't play freshman a ton. Jujuan Johnson was an even more highly rate recruit and he cant get ahead of Jake Thomas. Derrick Wilson was going to start over Duane even before the injury.

 

The Big East has 5 teams that could be bubble teams - Georgetown, St. Johns, Marquette, Xavier, Butler. Even Creighton could be a bubble team with a bad loss or two.

[olliegjw]

Friday night Dominican (Stone) played Rice Lake (Ellenson) at Concordia University. Rice Lake won the game fairly easily as Rice Lake's role players are much better than Dominican's. Bo and Buzz were both in attendance. Stone dominated inside. He is much more polished than last year. Can't hit much outside of layup range. Very good footwork down low. Ellenson was overmatched down low. However, his game is more suited for a 2 or 3. Very good ball handler and decent range on his shot. Ellenson would fit perfectly at Wisconsin in the swing offense.

[olliegjw]

Luke Fischer has decided to leave Indiana. He would be a good fit at UW, but highly doubt he would transfer there since he would have to sit out two years, I believe.

[LouisEly]

Fischer would be a great get for Marquette; if he sits out a year he would be able to join the team when Marquette starts conference play next season. Marquette needs all the height they can get next year; reports were that Marquette was looking to sign one more big man as a part of their recruiting class for next year (even though that puts them one over the scholarship limit), but a slightly more experienced Fischer would be better. And just like UW with Marshall, someone could leave Marquette first semester next year and then Marquette would not be over the scholly limit. I could also see Marquette rescinding their scholarship offer to Malek Harris, who was suspended for his entire senior season, and offering it to Fischer if he transfers to Marquette.

[brwrsfan]

I believe Fischer can transfer to UW, without sitting out 2 years. He'd have to sit out one year per the transfer rules...however, I think B10 rules stipulate that if you transfer within the conference, you have to pay your own tuition the first year. Meaning he can transfer there, but he won't be on scholarship the entire first year, but I don't believe he'd have to sit out more than the normal one year.

[hurricanecrush]

If he transfers within the Big10, he'll lose a year of eligibility.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/58173/big-ten-makes-changes-to-transfer-rule

[owbc]

The latest Bracketology has Wisconsin as a #1 seed. The Iowa game will be a big test to see if Wisconsin deserves that high of a ranking.

 

Meanwhile, Marquette beat DePaul with a second half rally but they have to be considered a long shot to make the NCAA tourney at this point.