Practice starts week of Sept 26th so let's start

[muskieman]

Who do you want to see or hear news about and why?

My top three are

Souley and how he fits into a big east team. Does his game look like it will be successful in the BE. I know he has been accepted by his teammates but can he contribute substantially or will Sean be looking for alternate options?

KyKy. Will he turn his game around so we can see the freshman of the year type talent?

Freemantle; We saw him in the first part of the year and at the last part of the year. Which one do we get this year?

My biggest question/concern is how well this team will shoot the ball. We lost the better shooters from last year's team on a team that had problems shooting the ball. It is to be hoped that the new guys will be good additions, but that is always problematic wishing they bail you out.

As a postscript, I know Sean has shown his happiness with Miles, and based on his comments about how he wants his frontcourt players to work Miles seems to fit into his comments. We know Miles had trouble when he first came here learning the system and will that manifest itself with Sean's system?

Jack and Colby will be the leaders, and unless they are not healthy, we know what they can do.

Now, what do you want to see/hear about practice?

[kyzrex]

I think that Freemantle is the key to how successful this years team will be, especially in BE play. Xavier got pushed around by other BE teams the last couple of years. I’m interested to know if Free looks like he will be able to hang and bang or if it will be more of the same old thing. Nunge is tough, but he is also quote thin and can also get physically beat by some of the bigger BE players. But he doesn’t back down. He keeps working. Free has had a tendency to disappear against bigger players. Miller has said that he has been the hardest off season worker and want to prove his critics wrong. Will that or won’t that happen?

[X-lucidity]

Fun topic, and glad we are close enough to sniff the official start of practice. I agree with topic #1 & #3 of yours MM. Souley could easily be the missing link and the seasoned grizzled vet we need to insert into our primary top 5 go-to ballers. Freemantle, would love to see him find that "Pete Rose" inner spirit and push himself harder than he ever has to blossom and tap into his max potential. I believe this new coaching staff will create that atmosphere, culture and extinguish that prior air of complacency which seemed to hang over the program. But Kyky? You're top three includes Mr. Tandy??? Now honestly, we all root for the young man and I'm glad he stayed and is willing to fight to reclaim some minutes on the floor. But unless he camped out up in Mason at Team Ignition to lose a couple and regain some explosiveness, and more importantly, spent countless hours working on his handle with a private tutor - such as let's say Mr. Stan Kimbrough, then that ship has sailed. With his smaller size, he simply lacks the dribbling skills to effectively move around the court to properly impose his will at this level. (feel free to prove me wrong KyKy, I would love to have to eat those words, I really would) I would like to insert my own 3rd topic of major interest: Enter Mr. Desmond Claude. Who has seemed to and continues to for some reason slide under our collective radar. This kid can B-A-L-L. True Frosh with tremendous upside. Size, length, strong for his build, smart and with an advanced handle and feel for the game. Can score or pass. If there is a dark horse to come right in as a Freshman and contribute in our top 7 man rotation, I believe Des can be that new surprise in the toybox. That is where I will be paying close attention.
Desmond folks: DESMOND CLAUDE...!!!

[muskieman]

Fun topic, and glad we are close enough to sniff the official start of practice. I agree with topic #1 & #3 of yours MM. Souley could easily be the missing link and the seasoned grizzled vet we need to insert into our primary top 5 go-to ballers. Freemantle, would love to see him find that "Pete Rose" inner spirit and push himself harder than he ever has to blossom and tap into his max potential. I believe this new coaching staff will create that atmosphere, culture and extinguish that prior air of complacency which seemed to hang over the program. But Kyky? You're top three includes Mr. Tandy??? Now honestly, we all root for the young man and I'm glad he stayed and is willing to fight to reclaim some minutes on the floor. But unless he camped out up in Mason at Team Ignition to lose a couple and regain some explosiveness, and more importantly, spent countless hours working on his handle with a private tutor - such as let's say Mr. Stan Kimbrough, then that ship has sailed. With his smaller size, he simply lacks the dribbling skills to effectively move around the court to properly impose his will at this level. (feel free to prove me wrong KyKy, I would love to have to eat those words, I really would) I would like to insert my own 3rd topic of major interest: Enter Mr. Desmond Claude. Who has seemed to and continues to for some reason slide under our collective radar. This kid can B-A-L-L. True Frosh with tremendous upside. Size, length, strong for his build, smart and with an advanced handle and feel for the game. Can score or pass. If there is a dark horse to come right in as a Freshman and contribute in our top 7 man rotation, I believe Des can be that new surprise in the toybox. That is where I will be paying close attention.
Desmond folks: DESMOND CLAUDE...!!!

I like your Desmond Claude comment and if Souley fails it might be him that comes to save the day. Also, let's not forget Kam. I hope they are not thrown into the fire too soon and can see the speed of the game so they don't fail. I remember Sean saying he likes to put new guys where they can see some success so we might see them against a buy team but not a Nova, UConn, Creighton or Providence as their first opponents Of course they might be ready by then. Hope so. Full throttle by conference

[Anti-Homer]

Who do you want to see or hear news about and why?

My top three are

Souley and how he fits into a big east team. Does his game look like it will be successful in the BE. I know he has been accepted by his teammates but can he contribute substantially or will Sean be looking for alternate options?

KyKy. Will he turn his game around so we can see the freshman of the year type talent?

Freemantle; We saw him in the first part of the year and at the last part of the year. Which one do we get this year?

My biggest question/concern is how well this team will shoot the ball. We lost the better shooters from last year's team on a team that had problems shooting the ball. It is to be hoped that the new guys will be good additions, but that is always problematic wishing they bail you out.

As a postscript, I know Sean has shown his happiness with Miles, and based on his comments about how he wants his frontcourt players to work Miles seems to fit into his comments. We know Miles had trouble when he first came here learning the system and will that manifest itself with Sean's system?

Jack and Colby will be the leaders, and unless they are not healthy, we know what they can do.

Now, what do you want to see/hear about practice?

We lost the better shooters from last year's team on a team that had problems shooting the ball.

Just a darling assessment from my Mentor. The reason the team shot poorly, a trend also coincidentally seen in the prior three years, is b/c the predecessor ran into Jack Black's hypnotist in Shallow Hall, who made him see all the players as if they were Steph Curry. Me thinks there is a better conductor leading the team this year though.

[pdxmuskie]

This year is very different from the past several. In the recent past, we were searching for specific answers to problems from the prior season. Sean has proven to be effective at playing to player strengths and maximizing potential. The shooting issues should naturally go away by simply adjusting shot selections. X may not be near the top shooting % and it may take time to break some players of bad habits, but they will be much improved from recent history.

I'm curious if Miles will play a big role. Curious how Free will be used if he doesn't improve defensively or if Miller is able to get Free to play both ends. News on the freshmen and transfers is always welcome.

I don't see any 1 player as the key to the season. If there is a key, it is PG. Is someone ready to fill the spot and make the team better? Could be a transfer, a freshman or a player shifting position. I suspect Miller will find a way to fill this spot.