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Post by Cousin Eddie on May 31, 2013 9:00:40 GMT -6
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Post by Cousin Eddie on May 31, 2013 9:31:07 GMT -6
2014 Projected DC:
PG: Bos(Jr) OR Norris (RS So), Rico Thompson (Fr/RS?).
SG: Kasperbauer (So) OR Bos (So) OR Larson (Jr).
SF: Thoseby (So) OR Rowson (Sr), Travis Pomlee (RS Jr.), Robertson (So).
PF: Flack (So), Robertson, Pomlee, Rowson, Spark (Fr/RS?).
C: Gruis (Sr), Flack, Spark, Bounama Keita (Fr/RS?).
It seems as if we (potentially) have a glut of talent, particularly in the backcourt. Finding time for Bos, Norris, Kasperbauer, Larson, Thosby AND Rowson will not be an easy thing to do. Specifically, Bos/Norris at point (considering Norris is coming from North Texas and had to sit a year) and then Bos/Kasperbauer/Larson (considering Larson was initially thought to be a starter before his injury, Bos came on like a tidal wave in 2013 and Kasperbauer is pretty much a lights-out shooter anywhere on the court).
With regard to the other position, I don’t see a ton of time for Robertson unless he fills out. His height is great, but he plays very soft and is really more of an outside shooter. Everything that has been written about Thoseby suggests that he will be a starter and an immediate impact player. Sounds like he can shoot from anywhere and is very athletic. I guess we will have to wait and see on that. Rowson showed flashes last year – his ability to get to the hoop was unmatched by anybody except Myles. He just needs to be able to finish. He gives the yotes that slasher type they need and a long athletic body on defense. If he can’t improve, it would appear that Pomlee is a similar type of player that may have a slightly higher ceiling on the defensive end and as a rebounder.
If Flack can play like he did in the Summit Tourney, he will be a certain starter. His shot blocking and rebounding are game changers. They also seem to free up Gruis some on the defensive end and allow him to be more of an offensive presence inside – which we need. I would love to see Gruis (finally) step up his presence on offense, but maybe it just isn’t part of him game. His dunk in the Summit Tourney game near the end was the kind of aggression that I think all USD fans have been waiting to see for 3 years.
Of the 3 true freshman coming in (Thompson, Spark, Keita), I see Spark as the most likely. In addition to his height, he appears to have a very solid rebounding game and more developed offensive game. For the sake of additional height, I really wish Keita would be ready to play right away, but I will not hold my breath. He seems insanely athletic, but incredibly raw. Not completely unlike Flack I suppose, but Flack was still more polished than Keita looks. I would normally throw Thompson in as an immediate player, but with all of our guards, it just doesn’t make sense to waste a year.
If you look at the makeup of the roster and the type of players that Boots is bringing in, it is clear that long and athletic is the key. He is never going to leave his matchup zone defense, but now he seems to have the bodies to play it. Boots has never had much of an offensive system, so maybe we will see USD go the route of WIU and try to suffocate teams on D and then hope to have enough offense to stay ahead at the end. The big difference with USD at this time is, now we have athletes that can run and, more importantly, we have guys that can hit the long ball (Kasperbauer, Bos, Thoseby, Robertson).
I am excited for 2014. I feel like this is the first time in a long time that USD has the right mix of talent and real depth. I truly feel it is put up or shut up time for Boot, however. If he isn’t successful in 2014, I think it may have to be the end of the road. Barring injury, there really aren’t any excuses why this roster cannot be successful in the Summit in 2014.
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Post by Yotes on May 31, 2013 17:15:31 GMT -6
I too am quite excited for this roster, I'll be disappointed if we don't get a winning mark in league play. I do hope we are able to redshirt at least a couple of the incoming freshmen, just no need to burn it if they will see very limited minutes. These last couple years have been rough, but I have a feeling that Boots is going to bring us out of the funk soon.
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Post by canislatrans on Jun 1, 2013 8:32:16 GMT -6
It is exciting to look forward to next year with this group. The following year(s) should look strong also, provided a replacement for Gruis emerges, or recruited. It's a young talented group, should be fun to watch.
Cousin Eddie, your comments on Gruis are right on. Hopefully, some help inside, or some rest in minutes, will allow his offense to increase. However, Gruis, of last year(s), is not so shabby either.
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Post by Cousin Eddie on Jun 1, 2013 13:36:13 GMT -6
No, I agree. I think the world of Gruis, but don't know that he has made large strides since his freshman year. Always very solid, never the star though.
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Post by #1CoyoteFan (Admin) on Jun 2, 2013 21:36:08 GMT -6
Tough to see the strides when you are literally the only big on the roster. Honestly, they have ZERO inside depth at all and they put everything on Gruis shoulders.
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