Hoops 2015-2016

[Sbee]

Mateen spoke to the team after the game and said to let this motivate them to make it back and win it next year, just like he did when we lost to Duke in 1999. In 2009 Draymond stood up and said that we were going to use it as motivation to make it back in 2010, this year it was Tum Tum talking to the team and saying the same thing. Looking towards 2015-2016 you have to like the roster we're bringing back, we lose Trice and Dawson which are huge losses, we bring in Deyonta Davis, Kyle Ahrens, Matt Mcquaid, Erron Harris, and I'll include Javon Bess as an addition since we never really saw him this year but he was supposed to be our best freshman. Assuming we don't add anyone else

Starting 5 should be

Tum Tum
Harris
Valentine
Davis
Costello

Bench

Bess
Clark
Forbes
Schilling
Ellis
Mcquaid
Ahrens
Wollenmen
Goins

Clark may start over Davis, but overall that's what it will look like. there will be a ton of depth and competition for minutes at the 2-3 spot. Izzo spoke off podium and said that he promises we're going to be a different offensive team next year, we're going to drive the ball to the basket a lot more. Defensively we could be better, Trice wasn't a great defender, Dawson will be missed but Davis is a rim protector and everyone is going to get better. I wouldn't be surprised if we red shirt Ahrens or Mcquaid and have one transfer, Ellis wouldn't shock anyone. We will play Kansas next year and we'll have a home game in the ACC/BIG (praying it's Duke) and I know we're playing in another preseason tournament with some big boys in it.

I think pre-season rankings are a little pointless right now since we don't know all of who is leaving and coming back but I'd guess this MSU team is in the 7-12 range. I'd have to make Maryland the big ten favorite right now with Trimble coming back and getting Diamond Stone, Wisconsin loses a lot and likely Dekker goes to the NBA. It's not unrealistic to think we can get back, I'd almost guarantee our regular season will be a little better. The outlook is good for next year

 

[johnny2x2x]

I think Clark starts and Davis is the 1st guy off the bench.

How good Harris is will be the key to the season. We've heard all season he would have been our best player if he was allowed to play this season, but we shall see. I know he's going to be the best athlete on the team next year and probably the best shooter. Offensively he's a better version of Gary Harris, but Harris was also a lock down perimeter defender. Practicing with the team all season is going to be huge as I expect him to fit right in.

As much as I loved Dawson, we won't miss him on offense, but his defense was incredible at times. Clark is a great rebounder and a better shooter than Dawson, and he improved as a defender, but he's no Dawson on the defensive end. The development of Davis as a rim protector will be huge, he's as natural of a shot blocker as I have seen in high school. He's also an excellent rebounder who is a quick jumper and has excellent timing.

How good we are next year will depend on how much players improve. Forbes is going to be more consistent. Tum Tum will probably develop a decent shot over the summer. Schilling and Costello could be key.

One overlooked skill on this team this season was passing, we had several excellent passers in DV, Trice, and Dawson, we lose 2 of those, is Harris as good a distributor as Trice? I know against the zone this year it seemed like the only 2 guys you wanted catching the ball at the elbow were Dawson and Valentine.

On paper we should be better, but this team will have to grind it out and find their own identity. Final 4 or better is realistic.

 

[MSUMatt28]

I agree, the lower end of the Top 10 is probably a good placement for the pre-season ranking.

Finding some source of frontline scoring will be important. As limited offensively as Dawson was, he still did produce 12 ppg. That production has to be replaced somehow. I think Costello could step up as a scorer and get up to around 10 ppg (along with more pick and pop opportunities) provided this current issue with his knee is behind him by then.

I would hope Davis can start Day 1, but we'll see if offensively he has enough to be able to do that. If not, then Clark needs to improve a lot. He did show flashes at times, but was wayyyy too inconsistent.

Is one is to believe the hype on Harris (along with 17ppg and 40+ pct on 3's while plaing against Big 12 competition), then having a true go-to scorer will be a definite plus.

I'm still not sold on Tum Tum and he may hold the key to the season. I know his attitude and leadership qualities are great and his defense is valuable, but for crying out loud. He can't even make a layup right now, let alone a jump shot.

Bess, Schilling, and Forbes will make for some nice depth and cover all the bases (versatile wing, big guy, shooter) along with having Denzel and Harris to also handle the ball.

 

[Sbee]

I wouldn't expect a ton out of davis offensively, he does have a little range but I'll expect put backs and finishing lobs, maybe similar to dawson's offense. I expect him to defend the paint, block shots, and get rebounds. The big thing that Davis does is give us 15 fouls with big men instead of 10, therefore not having to play Wollenmen a lot. the drop off won't be that big

 

[MSUMatt28]

I wouldn't expect a ton out of davis offensively, he does have a little range but I'll expect put backs and finishing lobs, maybe similar to dawson's offense. I expect him to defend the paint, block shots, and get rebounds. The big thing that Davis does is give us 15 fouls with big men instead of 10, therefore not having to play Wollenmen a lot. the drop off won't be that big

Even being a rim protector doesn't guarantee anything defensively right off the bat. Payne was also supposed to be a shot-blocker coming in who was raw offensively. He and Davis were also rated similarly coming out of high school with maybe a slightly higher rating for Davis. Payne was consistently lost and out of position as a freshman and could barely get on the floor as a result. So it all depends on how quickly players can pick up on things. The team will need Davis to be an impact player in some way in order to live up to being something close to a top 10 team.

 

[biggunsbob]

Just curious don't you think early MSU may have trouble scoring a bit? Your counting on a lot of growth from Tum Tum and Harris. Which one runs the point or is it a point forward run by Valentine?

 

[Sbee]

Just curious don't you think early MSU may have trouble scoring a bit? Your counting on a lot of growth from Tum Tum and Harris. Which one runs the point or is it a point forward run by Valentine?

we'd like to have a little more scoring in the post but I'm not concerned overall, Harris averaged 17 at WVA, 42% from 3 as well. Tum will run the point when he's in there, Harris will slide over to give him a break, Harris will be better off the ball.

 

[biggunsbob]

I keep forgetting Harris is a transfer. That is a good average should be interesting a lot of moving pieces and youngsters coming in.. I think Tum tum may struggle early running the point. Pretty young still...

 

[Sbee]

I keep forgetting Harris is a transfer. That is a good average should be interesting a lot of moving pieces and youngsters coming in.. I think Tum tum may struggle early running the point. Pretty young still...

Tum isn't going to average double digits, he's going to push the tempo and be a great on ball defender, so quick laterally. I think getting Bess is going to be huge, assuming he's healthy and has a good summer. He was our best freshman early on before the injury

 

[johnny2x2x]

Harris having a full year of practice with Izzo and the team is huge, he's going to know the system, he's going to know his teammates. Apparently he has a helluva a work ethic and has been living in the gym while his teammates made their NCAA run. Doubt he averages 17 though, I'm thinking more like 14. Valentine will lead the team in points, assists, and maybe rebounds.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Costello and Schilling have to improve over the summer, those guys are just awful. In the Duke game Wollenman completely outplayed both of them. If Wollenman was stronger he'd be one hell of a player.

 

[Sbee]

Harris having a full year of practice with Izzo and the team is huge, he's going to know the system, he's going to know his teammates. Apparently he has a helluva a work ethic and has been living in the gym while his teammates made their NCAA run. Doubt he averages 17 though, I'm thinking more like 14. Valentine will lead the team in points, assists, and maybe rebounds.

I think he'll be a focal point and get a lot of shots, the good thing about his average at WVA is that he was far from a volume shooter. he got to the line well and had a good percentage from deep

 

[Sbee]

just found a great scouting report on Harris from UMhoops of all places, some good info


only 74% of 3pt baskets were assistned, second lowest of any player with over 200 attempts, good at creating for himself
1.05 points per pick and role, 95th percentile
has a solid runner
great free throw shooter at 86%
not a lot of assists, had negative assist to TO ratio with WVA

 

[gotime909]

Costello and Schilling have to improve over the summer, those guys are just awful. In the Duke game Wollenman completely outplayed both of them. If Wollenman was stronger he'd be one hell of a player.

I think Costello improved quite a bit this year. He struggled a bit during the tourney, but his knees were giving him problems. Apparently it was bad enough that he's gonna have surgery soon.

 

[gotime909]

Also, I wouldn't be shocked if Kenny Goins gets some minutes next year.

 

[MSUMatt28]

I'm not sure why some on here are so down on Costello. He has the tools to be a very productive player and on a per minute-basis actually was this season. He needs to be consistent and avoid stupid fouls (as does Schilling x 2), but maybe during his senior year he can achieve that.

 

[gotime909]

PG Tum
SG Harris
SF Denzel
PF Swanigan
C Costello

Bench

Davis
Clark
Bess
Forbes
Schilling-transfer?
Ellis-transfer?
Wollenman
Goins
McQuaid-RS?
Ahrens-RS?

possible we add Williams also

Good lord Izzo is gonna have so many options

 

[Sbee]

I'm not sure why some on here are so down on Costello. He has the tools to be a very productive player and on a per minute-basis actually was this season. He needs to be consistent and avoid stupid fouls (as does Schilling x 2), but maybe during his senior year he can achieve that.

Some people think Costello struggled because he didn't score a ton but he was a total glue guy.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I think Ahrens RS for sure. McQuaid maybe. I think we see one transfer. Williams would sit for a year and move it into the rotation Costello vacates.

The competition to play is going to make us better. Reminds me of the depth of the 2005 team.

 

[Sbee]

PG Tum
SG Harris
SF Denzel
PF Swanigan
C Costello

Bench

Davis
Clark
Bess
Forbes
Schilling-transfer?
Ellis-transfer?
Wollenman
Goins
McQuaid-RS?
Ahrens-RS?

possible we add Williams also

Good lord Izzo is gonna have so many options

You'd think someone transfers in the wing positions. Also, who was the last non big man to red shirt? Maybe David thomas? Izzo talked about red shirting ellis last year though. McQuaid needs to get a lot stronger