Scotty-14
Sophomore
Posts: 156
Age: 31
Reg: 10-10-18
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02-14-22 04:41 PM - Post#336448
In response to DoCtoR62
Walter Ellis would absolutely transform this team with his shooting and defense.
Spear is the only guy opponents need to stop on RMU right now, and no one can do it. He had 27 Points on 10-11 shooting in a win over Youngstown State Sunday.
He is 13th in the Horizon League in scoring, but has the highest FG% of anyone in the Top 40 in scoring.
Also sits at 4th in Rebounds and Blocks, and 3rd in the league in FG%.
You can make an argument others deserve 1st Team Horizon over him, but he is easily the best player on Robert Morris, and hands down a Top-10 Player in the league. A horrendous loss for a program in Bucknell that thought he was a Center for half a season
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DoCtoR62
Masters Student
Posts: 463
Reg: 05-18-08
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02-16-22 09:27 AM - Post#336569
In response to Scotty-14
Spear is a talented player and, I agree, the most productive player on a pretty dysfunctional RMU team. He is nowhere near 1,000 points as you asserted, and I truly don't believe he's among the top 15 players in the Horizon, a league filled with 22-23 year olds who are on their third, and in some cases, fourth teams. The sole vote getter on the RMU roster, I could see him making 3rd team, but most of the teams in the top half of the league standings have at least 2 players better than him. We will see.
I also disagree with your take on Ellis, though I do like your word transformational. My original point was that I didn't think any of the players lost, with the exception of Sotos, would transform this program, using your word. Would it be a better team with Spear and Ellis? Most likely. Would it be contending for the upper echelon of a weak Patriot League? I don't think so, which was what I was trying to say.
Again, my comments aren't meant as criticisms of any player. As one who has spent my entire adult life in higher education, I have always recognized how special it is to be a Bucknell recruit and athlete. You need to be among the best of the best to be considered. Like with everyplace, some are better fits than others, but I hold all of the players, past and present, in the highest regard.
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Scotty-14
Sophomore
Posts: 156
Age: 31
Reg: 10-10-18
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02-16-22 12:25 PM - Post#336578
In response to DoCtoR62
The point I really want to hammer home here, is that both Ellis and Spear (And in more complex ways Sotos too), were criminally mismanaged and mistreated for stretches of their careers at Bucknell. It's difficult to truly know the reason/s for their departure, but I can't ignore the fact that Spear was knocked by the coaching staff for his inability to defend 5s, when he was obviously a 4. Ellis was benched for much of his sophomore season, before his 3&D ability was miraculously discovered after injuries/illness thrusted him into the starting lineup at American. People may forget how marooned he was to start that season, as he ended up as the top 3-Point Shooter in the PL. Sotos' situation was a bit more complex; however, I remember him getting subbed out before the under-16 TO very often, not allowing him to get into the scoring rhythm we needed from him.
I know this is a truism to some here, but as soon as John Griffin left the program, the wheels came off. Sotos did not develop like Stephen Brown did his Junior/Senior years. A player like Spear was treated like another athlete on the roster and not a diamond in the rough that could be molded into a Mid-Major star.
Stephen Brown, Zach Thomas and Nana Fouland were talented players, but were not expected to be superstars when they stepped on campus. By their senior years, they may have been the best 3 players in the league. I am not sure if I can point to a player developing significantly since Kimbal Mackenzie (JG Last Season).
Lack of talent development and management starts an avalanche of failure that turns a PL Powerhouse who never had a player transfer out of the program into one of the worst Division I teams who struggles to keep it's best players.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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02-16-22 05:32 PM - Post#336598
In response to Scotty-14
I agree with much of what you said, but what about the development of Nate Sestina?
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Scotty-14
Sophomore
Posts: 156
Age: 31
Reg: 10-10-18
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02-16-22 07:58 PM - Post#336612
In response to Bison54
Also the JG era "", but I also believe he was immensely talented early in his career, just not as confident and talented as Nana and ZT. JG worked with everyone, but his primary focus was developing guards
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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02-16-22 08:30 PM - Post#336614
In response to Scotty-14
Is there a coach currently on staff that gives you confidence that good coaching is taking place? We talk about Davis’ ineptness but some quality coaching and development took place with Griffin aboard…maybe it’s not all Davis, as some of these assistants could step up and do a good job.
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Paulie777
PhD Student
Posts: 1767
Reg: 11-11-07
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Bison Transfers - How They're Doing
02-16-22 09:19 PM - Post#336618
In response to MrPhillie
I think Andre Screen is going explode and have a great junior year, and Rice and Edmonds too. Its a shame things aren't going well this year. Its slightly perplexing and as a fan maddening that this team isn't in contention in many of their games. They are basically a good team that is getting themselves lost. Hopefully they leave some breadcrumbs and find their way back. No reason we can't be a .500 team next year and thats setting the bar low. We should have been contenders!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBiewQrpBBA
Edited by Paulie777 on 02-16-22 09:48 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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02-17-22 09:58 AM - Post#336633
In response to Paulie777
In my 35 years of watching Bucknell basketball I have never seen a Bison team play worse defense or been so poorly coached. Ever.
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Doktore K
Masters Student
Posts: 473
Reg: 11-11-09
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Re: player development
02-17-22 01:12 PM - Post#336643
In response to Scotty-14
Good points and commentary here and I’ll join in with a few points:
— Never thought of Ellis as a defensive star, more of a streaky 3 point shooter. But we miss his length on the wing. He’s not getting many minutes at Grand Canyon. We knew he was leaving early with accelerated credits so why no replacement there by staff? Could use much better offense off the bench. Roster management and planning ahead with a specific goal.
— Spear was high ceiling as an athletic 4. Not a center. We could really use his rebounding and shot blocking this year! Not given enough minutes here but I liked him from first impressions. Averaging almost 14 points and 8 rebounds a game!
— Of concern at present is the development of our current players. Now with 25 games played, is the team getting better? Are we developing Edmonds (high potential there), Bascoe or Motta?
Who is showing flashes? Yes, Timmerman early on and Motta a couple of weeks back. But now? We’re not getting much at all from bench, not scoring, not rebounding, not defense.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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Re: player development
02-17-22 05:47 PM - Post#336661
In response to Doktore K
I should point out that Timmerman has a shoulder problem and is playing with guts and a limited right arm. He hopefully will resolve the problem and emerge as a strong presence next year.
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Scotty-14
Sophomore
Posts: 156
Age: 31
Reg: 10-10-18
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02-17-22 07:22 PM - Post#336664
In response to MrPhillie
A college basketball coaching staff is not just about having 4 people who know basketball very well. You need a motivator, a game manager, a player development guy. I believe our assistant coaches are good basketball coaches, just not the right combination needed for the Staff to operate to its highest potential. JG was a motivator and a player development guru. In an ideal world, we would have replaced him with someone with a similar coaching skillset.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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02-17-22 11:38 PM - Post#336683
In response to Scotty-14
That’s kinda my point, who is stepping up to develop players? Who is stepping up to motivate? Who is designing plays at both ends of the court? I also believe someone on staff should be able to challenge the HC to some degree and not simply be yes-men or women. I have no clue what goes on at practices, but it seems the product on the floor doesn’t reflect a whole lot of any of the above happening. But I do like EE and think he will be a solid PG.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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02-20-22 03:10 PM - Post#337072
In response to MrPhillie
Does anyone know if Meeks in injured? He did not play yesterday vs Towson and only played 9 minutes on Thursday.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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02-20-22 03:51 PM - Post#337077
In response to jkrun80
Does anyone know if Meeks in injured? He did not play yesterday vs Towson and only played 9 minutes on Thursday.
Knee tendinitis.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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02-20-22 08:55 PM - Post#337121
In response to Bison137
Man, John just can’t stay healthy. Too bad for him and his team.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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02-25-22 04:51 AM - Post#337496
In response to MrPhillie
Deuce Turner scored 50 points last night on just 22 shots. He had 13-19 on threes.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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02-25-22 01:16 PM - Post#337514
In response to Bison137
Providing his mental health is OK, he’ll transfer to a Mid-Major higher.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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03-06-22 03:58 PM - Post#338225
In response to HuskyColonial
Autumn Ceppi led Bentley to a 56-49 win for the program's 21st Northeast 10 title. Ceppi had 17 points 13 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Autumn made 1st team All NE10.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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Bison Transfers - How They're Doing
03-06-22 09:03 PM - Post#338244
In response to Bison137
Autumn Ceppi led Bentley to a 56-49 win for the program's 21st Northeast 10 title. Ceppi had 17 points 13 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Autumn made 1st team All NE10.
Congrats to Autumn! A few more updates:
Ellie Mack likely played her last game at Oregon St on Thursday in a loss to #2 Stanford in the PAC-12 tourney. Ellie tied for the team lead in points with 13, along with 9 reb, 3 blocks and an assist. She had an emotional farewell to her time at OSU. https://twitter.com/A_G_Haubner/status/14 998830801...
Tessa Brugler and Drexel secured the #1 seed in the CAA at 16-2 despite losing their last game at Towson. They are 24-4 overall and ranked #9 in last week's mid-major poll. Their tournament starts Thursday in Philadelphia. Should be able to get a good home crowd.
Edited by jkrun80 on 03-06-22 09:03 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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03-07-22 10:20 AM - Post#338282
In response to jkrun80
John Meeks scored 31 as 6 seed Charleston ousted 3 seed Hofstra 92-76 in the CAA tournament last night.
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