Season outlook/Starting Lineup?

[yotemeal]

Kind of sneaking up on us, but the Coyote men open their season in just a few weeks against the Huskers down in Lincoln. USD press release from last week: www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=5964

So what will our starting lineup look like? Anyone else having trouble immediately answering that question? I think Cutler at point and Thomas at 2 are pretty sure bets, with Louie mixing in, but what about the stockpile of athletic 6'4"ish guys on our roster i.e. Westbrook, Tecker and Bouie? If Westbrook lives up to the hype, I think he gets the start, but I'm excited to see what Tecker brings, and I think Bouie will remain a solid contributer inside and outside the paint.

Who knows what to expect down low? Is it a foregone conclusion that Gruis starts at center with Krutwig and Andreotti helping to man the paint? Anyone heard how Gruis looks as a freshman?

[#1CoyoteFan (Admin)]

Yeah the two guard - Cutler and Thomas - with Louie off the bench is pretty much set in stone. After that it is a crap shoot.

I think Westbrook and Tecker are of course the two guys who will see time at the wing and will rotate in and out basically. I think Westbrook has the edge for starting though.

Inside, I think Bouie will play a lot of 4 this year. He may be undersized, but he plays very physical and has some pretty good hops. I think Krutwig is the starting center and the Brazilian dude gets worked in at the 4 and 5 a lot as well. I think Gruis will see some time, but from what I have heard from people in Minnesota is that he needs a lot of work, as does Bartling. However, once Roosevelt lost Larson, Bartling was finally able to develop, so there is promise there.

It could be a rough year for USD if they don't find anything inside.

[Coyote Fan]

Thanks Yotemeal,

That is for starting a basketball thread. I am every bit the fan of the basketball program than I am for football. I can't say I know for sure how this season will go. Losing Cain will be difficult but the talent level is much better now than it was when we had (gulp, no disrect) Little, Hall, Grimsley etc. That was not that long ago. Coach Boots tends to do a good job with young players. I think generally Dave is going to be able to figure out a way to put together a rectable team this year. If we need to take some or most of this year to get things figured out I understand. I am glad this year isn't the first year or Summit play because I think we can be competitive with all the new players to the program (or at least to getting big minutes) with a year under their belts once the 2011-2012 season starts. I say this every year but if we can go 8 to 9 deep I think the Yotes will be able to do just fine this season. Can we make it a 2 year sweep and done for the Great West Conference? Stay tuned because I think we will be entertained finding out.

[pierreyote]

I think we should be alright this year. I agree about losing Cain and Smith inside. If the transfers and incoming freshmen can gel this year we should be positioned to compete on a nightly basis in the Summit in 2011.

[yotemeal]

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that USD doesn't seem to host exhibition basketball games before the start of the season? You'd think one warmup before a Big 12 opponent might be worthwhile.

[#1CoyoteFan (Admin)]

Well it's kind of hard with the turf for the football field still down, not just for USD's last home game this weekend, but the weekend after that is the South Dakota High School Football championships in the Dome.

Can't put the court over the turf, so the basketball team can unfortunately not host an exhibition. I do know last year the USD women's team went to Sioux Falls and Yankton, so maybe the men's team could do that as well.

[wileycoyote]

With no exibiton games, anyone see this years team practice or play together. Curious what they look like from a first hand view instead of speculation on what they looked like last year or how they played in high school.

[coachk]

Expect to see a lot of 4 guard/wing play with one big guy. The Brazilian kid plays hard but fouls will keep him from meaningful minutes. Gruis is progressing, but Boots hates playing freshman esp once we get to conference play.

You will see a team that plays a little more up tempo, shoots the ball very well. This team will not use the entire shot clock, they might not even use all of a 24 sec clock.

Teckler will play some but there is a lot of players on the perimeter with Jordan Boots & Mitch in the rotation plus the starters. Thomas, Westbrook, Krogman, Cutler, & Gruis down low.

Look for a lot of 1-3-1 match up zone once we get to conference play. This team might be top 25 in NCAA scoring this year.

[usdlaw]

"look for a lot of 1-3-1" that's an understatement. Has Boots ever done anything different, he loves the match up zone. Should be a fun year, wish I could head to Lincoln

[#1CoyoteFan (Admin)]

that's like saying the sun will come up by saying expect Boots' match-up zone lol.

If his son sees more time than Teckler, than there is a serious problem there honestly. Boots doesn't like playing freshman, but Bartling and Gruis might have to see time just out of principal, since the team is short on bigs this year.

There will be a lot of four guard sets though, that's for sure.

[Yote 53]

I decided while at the football game today I am going to give USD basketball a try this season. You guys all know me as a football guy, so this is a new thing for me. While I'm not very excited for the SD Tech game, and probably won't attend that one, I will go to some of the bigger and better games on the schedule and build from there.

Bottom line is I think the U needs the support and I like going to events at the Dome.

[Coyote Fan]

Nov 7, 2010 11:09:57 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

I decided while at the football game today I am going to give USD basketball a try this season. You guys all know me as a football guy, so this is a new thing for me. While I'm not very excited for the SD Tech game, and probably won't attend that one, I will go to some of the bigger and better games on the schedule and build from there.

Bottom line is I think the U needs the support and I like going to events at the Dome.

way to go Yote 53, hoops is definately exciting at the college level and very good to watch in person. ya get closer to the court and feel a bit more connection to the action. Have fun at basketball games.

[wileycoyote]

Bartling is Red shirting this year. It will be exciting to see Bartling step on the court next year after a year's worth of growth on his frame. He should be an awesome contributor for the Yotes. As for this year it looks like the Yotes inside game will be left to Andreotti and Gruis. According to the insiders I talked to, these two gel with the other players and we will have some great games to watch.