This years team

[HGPuck]

Ill precursor this by saying any opinions on incoming players are based on what I've read, seen in pictures and highlight videos, and in limited in-person situations that don't do much except give a chance to give an eye test. Also, preseason I only try to judge how I think the team will compare to the previous season's one because I think there are way too many variables for any win/lose prediction to be much more than a guess.

Ill start by saying I think this years team will be slightly better if not reasonably better than last years. The key to this team's potential, like many people have said, will be based on point guard play. Comparing to last year I think it could be anywhere from slightly worse to similar to slightly better. We had two guys handle this job last year that had never played at this level before and this year it will probably be between three guys in the same boat (Garrett, Brister, and Petersen). All three bring something different, Garrett has the most upside and most athleticism with ability to make plays on the dribble but is the most lacking in terms of physical build although being 6-4 will help; Brister has the best build to play in the Big 12 but is limited in terms of shooting ability; Petersen is the wild card, an Iowa kid with JC experience and success that is a walking on and could end up being anywhere from the glue that holds the position together for the next year or two (Jacy esk) to not getting much more than clean up time in his two years. At the two guard we probably lose a little in the short term with loss of game changing ability but will be more consistent, with from all account a very good shooting and passing 6-5 guard in Staiger, Garrett could get some time here if we he does not have all the point duties (probably will progress into a combo guard in his career), Haluska is another in-state JC that could be a real wild card I was never that impressed when I saw him play in high school but if he can provide energy and make some treys could be a valuable asset, and Boozer could be similar in terms of bringing energy and making some outside shots. In the front court I don't see any way we aren't a very good multidimensional team. Jiri put on about 20 pounds and one would assume has continued to improve under Coach Mac into a very solid center. Wesley also looks a little bigger and stronger and all accounts are that he has improved his ball handling and will have more ways to score and help the team. I think Clark could have a very solid year with Mac finding even more ways to use him and Rahshon being more familiar with Mac's system. Cory Johnson should continue to improve under the coaching staff and could turn into a pretty solid forward. Alex Thompson is a bit of a wild card but has some experience and looks to be able to be a very physical presence inside (if you haven't go look at the team picture) could very much be solid support at the center position in terms of rebounding and defense. Finally Brackins, my best guess is that the staff will be very careful with him early on and let his role increase as the season progresses, has as much upside as anyone on the team but only time will tell, probably won't be the difference this year but his presence certainly won't hurt.

[baller1]

how do you think our win/loss will look this year game by game?
i'll go

11/9 Winston-Salem 9:00 PM W
11/10 Winston-Salem 9:00 PM W
11/14 at Bradley 8:05 PM L (first road test)
11/20 Minnesota 8:00 PM W
11/27 Northern Iowa 8:05 PM W
11/30 at Oregon State TBA L(another tough road game)
12/5 at Drake 7:05 PM W
12/8 Iowa 2:00 PM W
W12/17 Bethune-Cookman 8:00 PM W
12/19 Texas Southern 8:00 PM W
12/23 Purdue 12:30 AM W
12/24 bama or msu L
12/30 Albany 8:00 PM W
01/2 South Carolina-Upstate 8:00 PM W
01/5 North Dakota 8:00 PM W
01/12 at Baylor 6:00 PM W
01/16 Missouri 8:00 PM L
01/19 Oklahoma State 1:45 PM W
01/23 at Kansas 7:00 PM L
01/26 at Kansas State TBA L
01/29 Colorado 8:00 PM W
02/2 at Nebraska 4:00 PM W
02/5 Texas A&M 8:00 PM L
02/9 Texas 3:30 PM L
02/13 at Oklahoma 8:00 PM L
02/16 Nebraska 4:00 PM W
02/23 at Texas Tech 1:30 PM L
02/27 Kansas 7:00 PM L
03/1 at Colorado 6:00 PM W
03/5 at Missouri 8:00 PM L
03/8 Kansas State 4:00 PM W

conference tourney i guess we'll go 1-1
final record: 20-13
NIT birth
sorry if it's hard to read...

[ajk4st8]

baller1 thats quite the optimistic viewpoint. I hope you are right!

[baller1]

baller1 thats quite the optimistic viewpoint. I hope you are right!

yeah, i know but i don't see many losses in out of conference play, it's not the greatest of schedules. the conference seems ok because i think they'll start to jell by the end.

[cyclonepower]

Not too bad baller1...but I would throw in about 2 BAD losses in there...just because of our young guards...Probably wouldn't count at Baylor in there as a win this year either...other than pretty good assessment

[Wesley]

We will lose Purdue and maybe UNI. Do we play Winston Salem twice?

[Harry]

We couldn't beat Drake at the Knapp Center with Fizer and Tinsely. So I wouldn't automaticaly put that down as a win.

[BryceC]

Drake is going to suck this year though. I think we sweep instate. I still think we only end up with about 16 or 17 wins though, but I'm a negative nancy.

[kg-cyclone]

I stopped by practice on Friday...

- This team can flat out shoot...
- Point guard position...young - a little shaky and heads were spinning with new information...but it is early.
- Barnes is a stud and at age 15...easily best gaurd on the floor (shoot around/pickup game after practice)

Comparing last year's team - We are much better...Not even close

[ajk4st8]

I would be more shocked if we win 1 vs KSU this year. Also wouldnt count on Purdue or Alabama.