Chris, Please find a way to pass your knowledge of physiology, your own phyicality and point guard knowledge to today’s guards and team, the type that resulted in Chasing And Winning (MWC) Conference Championships…

…kinda like Shaq’s response last year to diminished PT…

….if (better chance with Gib?) Clair can stay on or near fellow Canadian Carl English’s developmental progress, he should be o.k….(time will tell)

As Al noted the Question Mark or Risk appears greatest in the backcourt/pg…(Wins/losses will tell…)

Handling the physicality should become a daily realization, exercised and internalized against the likes of Shamburger, Tavita, Spearman, Jefferson, all with D-1 experience, even Brandyn Akana, Jawato, Harper, with their drive and athleticism … IDEALLY (although cannot confirm until the stats and scores Count) the Daily challenge is as hard or harder than the game time challenge… That’s the Responsibility of Teammates…..

I figured even Shaq was one or two years away from “getting it”…
Troy Bowe took ’til Senior Year to be reliable for an effective drive and assist instead of a prime time Offensive Charge…

time will tell.

Artie thinks Jawato’s threes are gonna surprise some; the players have been talking up his shooting since last year. He also mentioned today that he thinks Dyrbe could end up being a good point sooner than people think.

Spearman (my spellcheck just suggested ‘Superman’ which is way better than Satan for Saban) appears to be a solid combo guard; as long as the guards pass and move smartly, you don’t necessarily need a full-floor solo dribbler (very few Bobby Hurleys).

Tavita has me concerned; although Brereton backs him up, he doesn’t seem basketball quick… I like that he seems to be able to get open for threes, but I haven’t yet seen a similar skill for passing–breaking away or getting open to free up teammates for easier shots… That likely should impove with set plays and coordinated offensive sets, in system…

WE won’t know or be able to confirm for ourselves for awhile, but Gib calls ‘Roop a “true point guard” with excellent handles, vision and passing…

Like you, I’d feel more comfortable with three points, and two with JC or D-1 experience or high point guard pedigree…(I thought Shaq, similar to Troy Bowe, was probably another year away from getting it…).

Tom Henderson, A.C., Reggie Carter…Next Generation, Please Show Up, Please Step Up…

Even a Mark Campbell (Gib would get him to shoot) would work…

ONE like that would…

however, we still have not addressed our weakness.
who’s gonna get the ball to the bigs?

while we’ve some numbers at the 1 and 2, we are still lacking in this area. not that kind to take us to the next level. we still have the same problem from last year.

a solid pg who can command the floor, play tough defense, and shoot the frees and some threes. we need a tom henderson-ac carter incarnate.

an out right shooter at the 2 who can also handle the rock and put the brakes on the opponents best 2-3 position players.

If they actually outperform a given team in most statisical categories (as they were doing last couple of years) that, plus consistent effort and defense should trigger a majority of wins in 50-50 games … They are likely to have a talent advantage in the majority of games (unless as Al points out, they get dominated in the one or three positions) Not likely to be outclassed at 2, 4 or 5…. And Defense and Depth should hold down the margin versus opposition’s stars…we can’t be giving up Triple Doubles like last year…

Will they be Good enough to forge a Winning Road Record?
The schedule and Big West Travel might help….

Here’s One…Even Garrett looks like a reliable 60%+ shooter and other weak shooter is gone…
How many more games could they win by converting three more free throws ?

What’s LIKELY Better?
– Free Throws
– Depth (at least numbers, but likely also depth with talent)
– Shooting (NO Zane, but EVERY guy on the court can hit out to 15ft and 25-30% 3’s, maybe better);
– Size
– Discipline
– Focus
– Chemistry (I expect to see fewer guys scowling at each other)
– Defensive consistency (also an offshoot of fresher legs and depth if a player just ain’t playing’)
– Leadership (Last year’s “leaders” we’re often busy fighting their own battles)
– Coaching- HE IS Another Year Smarter and more experienced as a head coach — Double what he was a year ago, and probably less arrogant, more humble (13-13) and maybe (based on recruiting?) even More Driven…

Potential Losses:
– Emotional Highs (but also lows)
– Drama (but Christian will try to turn to positive)
– NYC Connection (Always a Risk if doesn’t work out even for the right reasons)
– WAC Travel (and Great that they avoided even Worse MWest Travel)

COMMENTS? Any Others?

Team buy into Gib’s vision and DEFENSE, they going to be tough, me the eternal optimist, however at beginning of spring, with guys that left, I was worried, now, bring it on..can’t wait till Nov 9 2012 and start of season..

Great job Brian, very objective,,have to wait and see JMO on Dressler, maybe Gib let’s him suit up for mandatory games, if no playing time or key Big does not go down..always good to have a body, even not the quickest, who takes up space, gets a few boards, and the kid can shoot, way better than Kurtz or Rouge Harris!

For less than 40% of your total game-time participation, you gave a 100% accurate individual evaluation of the respective Warriors.

Please keep going all the way ’til “The Season’s Play-off finale”.

Good job, you all-in Warriors!

Mahalo!