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With Harris transferring, I "think" we are close to our final roster for next year (apparently we have 1 more scholarship, but if that happens, I'll re-adjust). With that... I took a stab at a waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5. With Harris transferring, I "think" we are close to our final roster for next year (apparently we have 1 more scholarship, but if that happens, I'll re-adjust). With that... I took a stab at a waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5. I love the energy put into this and I've been tempted to do my own but it's just too hard not knowing what any of the guys will bring. that said, I lthink Acuff has the starting PG position to lose but that spot will be very competitive. I can see any of 3 guys emerging. I like Easley starting but I think Williams will be a starter as well. With Harris transferring, I "think" we are close to our final roster for next year (apparently we have 1 more scholarship, but if that happens, I'll re-adjust). With that... I took a stab at a waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5. Two guys I feel strongly about are that Tre is a starter, whether at PF or C,and Jackie Johnson is easily in the top 10. So incredibly deep, some talented guys will not get much pt. Tre played center last year I believe. This could be the lowest returning point percentage we.ve ever had here. Not too many buckets made by the returners. With Harris transferring, I "think" we are close to our final roster for next year (apparently we have 1 more scholarship, but if that happens, I'll re-adjust). With that... I took a stab at a waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5. Two guys I feel strongly about are that Tre is a starter, whether at PF or C,and Jackie Johnson is easily in the top 10. So incredibly deep, some talented guys will not get much pt. I don't expect a rotation that won't have at least one of Hima, Rotroff, or Williams in at Center (assuming another Big isn't brought in - but I think there will be one coming.) that said, today, anything is possible. Initially I had Williams in as the starting center, but I was hard pressed to have a starting 5 that only had one returning player. That and the fact that Rotroff is 6-10, somewhere someone said that famous quote "you can't teach height". Now there is a chance that we add another big, and if he's a high quality / senior level player, he could slide right into the starting 5. I believe that KD’s biggest challenge will be establishing a defensive prowess. The Dukes were an above average team defensively over the past two seasons (80th in defensive efficiency last year, which was negated by such a dismal shooting performance). With so few returning players, those players who pick up the defensive system and rotations are going to get a lion’s share of the minutes I believe that it will be difficult to keep Jackie Johnson off the floor. He was highly sought after and has excellent range as a shooter as well as outstanding athleticism. Couple that with the fact that he prepped for a year so is not coming in right out of HS. I believe Williams was brought in to be the starting center. He is undersized but, he has started every game with good results in the MVC for 2 seasons at the position while being selected for the all-defensive team. Challenged vertically not horizontally. I believe that the one player that is being overlooked in all of this turnover is Toby Okani. I fully expect this kid to become a leader and, if he makes that second year leap, he has the potential to be a real presence. His D is already top notch and he has the size to guard 1 through 4. He is a great worker with a great attitude. It will surprise me if Toby is not in the starting line-up. 1 Johnson 1 Johnson Ditto for me WashPA. Last edited by phil95 (5/23/2021 8:24 am) 1 Johnson Like your thinking here. Lineup works for me. I can certainly agree with one thing, its waaaaay to early to be debating this. Townson I agree, but I guess it keeps people off the streets. If you look back over Coach D's years, the starting line-up hasn't meant as much as it might to other schools since Coach has usually played many players. For the Bonnies, it means a lot...for us...not so much. Maybe that will change.
CURRENT RECORD 9 - 14 (4-6 in the A-10)
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The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
Here's what I'm thinking:
Starting 5:
PG - Tyson Acuff (FR) - 6-4
SG - Leon Ayers III (JR) - 6-6 - from Mercer
SF - Kevin Easley, Jr. (RS SO) - 6-7 from TCU
PF - R.J. Gunn (SR) - 6-7 - from Lenoir–Rhyne Bears (DII)
C - Austin Rotroff (JR) - 6-10
Next 5:
PG - Amir 'Primo' Spears (FR) - 6-2
SG - Maceo Austin (SO) - 6-5
SF - Tochukwu 'Toby' Okani (FR) - 6-7
PF - Tre Williams (SO) - 6-7 - from Indiana State
C - Mounir Hima (FR) - 6-11
Now... I'm putting a lot of hope in Rotroff. From what I hear and see on this board... he's working hard, putting in the work, and if that is the case, I think coach is going to start him. Same thing with Acuff, I feel coach would want someone that is returning from last year run the point, and I think towards the end of the year Acuff showed that he can. So the rest of the starting 5 are all newbies, I think for sure Easley is starting, the other two I can be persuaded otherwise. So agree, disagree, somewhere in between... looking for some initial reactions and some spirited dialog.
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
StillatShales wrote:
Here's what I'm thinking:
Starting 5:
PG - Tyson Acuff (FR) - 6-4
SG - Leon Ayers III (JR) - 6-6 - from Mercer
SF - Kevin Easley, Jr. (RS SO) - 6-7 from TCU
PF - R.J. Gunn (SR) - 6-7 - from Lenoir–Rhyne Bears (DII)
C - Austin Rotroff (JR) - 6-10
Next 5:
PG - Amir 'Primo' Spears (FR) - 6-2
SG - Maceo Austin (SO) - 6-5
SF - Tochukwu 'Toby' Okani (FR) - 6-7
PF - Tre Williams (SO) - 6-7 - from Indiana State
C - Mounir Hima (FR) - 6-11
Now... I'm putting a lot of hope in Rotroff. From what I hear and see on this board... he's working hard, putting in the work, and if that is the case, I think coach is going to start him. Same thing with Acuff, I feel coach would want someone that is returning from last year run the point, and I think towards the end of the year Acuff showed that he can. So the rest of the starting 5 are all newbies, I think for sure Easley is starting, the other two I can be persuaded otherwise. So agree, disagree, somewhere in between... looking for some initial reactions and some spirited dialog.
Maceo knows KD's defense and plays it well - I can see him starting. One thing is for sure. the early games will be super interesting.
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
StillatShales wrote:
Here's what I'm thinking:
Starting 5:
PG - Tyson Acuff (FR) - 6-4
SG - Leon Ayers III (JR) - 6-6 - from Mercer
SF - Kevin Easley, Jr. (RS SO) - 6-7 from TCU
PF - R.J. Gunn (SR) - 6-7 - from Lenoir–Rhyne Bears (DII)
C - Austin Rotroff (JR) - 6-10
Next 5:
PG - Amir 'Primo' Spears (FR) - 6-2
SG - Maceo Austin (SO) - 6-5
SF - Tochukwu 'Toby' Okani (FR) - 6-7
PF - Tre Williams (SO) - 6-7 - from Indiana State
C - Mounir Hima (FR) - 6-11
Now... I'm putting a lot of hope in Rotroff. From what I hear and see on this board... he's working hard, putting in the work, and if that is the case, I think coach is going to start him. Same thing with Acuff, I feel coach would want someone that is returning from last year run the point, and I think towards the end of the year Acuff showed that he can. So the rest of the starting 5 are all newbies, I think for sure Easley is starting, the other two I can be persuaded otherwise. So agree, disagree, somewhere in between... looking for some initial reactions and some spirited dialog.
I'm assuming that either Tre or Easley can play C if they don't add one. Is that correct?
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
wharfrat58 wrote:StillatShales wrote:
Here's what I'm thinking:
Starting 5:
PG - Tyson Acuff (FR) - 6-4
SG - Leon Ayers III (JR) - 6-6 - from Mercer
SF - Kevin Easley, Jr. (RS SO) - 6-7 from TCU
PF - R.J. Gunn (SR) - 6-7 - from Lenoir–Rhyne Bears (DII)
C - Austin Rotroff (JR) - 6-10
Next 5:
PG - Amir 'Primo' Spears (FR) - 6-2
SG - Maceo Austin (SO) - 6-5
SF - Tochukwu 'Toby' Okani (FR) - 6-7
PF - Tre Williams (SO) - 6-7 - from Indiana State
C - Mounir Hima (FR) - 6-11
Now... I'm putting a lot of hope in Rotroff. From what I hear and see on this board... he's working hard, putting in the work, and if that is the case, I think coach is going to start him. Same thing with Acuff, I feel coach would want someone that is returning from last year run the point, and I think towards the end of the year Acuff showed that he can. So the rest of the starting 5 are all newbies, I think for sure Easley is starting, the other two I can be persuaded otherwise. So agree, disagree, somewhere in between... looking for some initial reactions and some spirited dialog.
I'm assuming that either Tre or Easley can play C if they don't add one. Is that correct?
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
2 Ayers
3 Okani
4 Easley but was toss up with Gunn
5 Williams
Wanted to put both Easley and Gunn starting but coach has been calling them both 4's.
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
WashPaRick wrote:
2 Ayers
3 Okani
4 Easley but was toss up with Gunn
5 Williams
Wanted to put both Easley and Gunn starting but coach has been calling them both 4's.
Hima is my sleeper, "by mid-season" starter @ 16 minutes per game. Acuff might start the first few games if JJ needs a slow dip in the pool.
I also expect Bekelja to get more minutes than his skill set warrants until Spears, Maceo, or Acuff forces him out of the rotation. I assume he will be KD's new TDM-style pet.
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Re: The Waaaaaaay to early Starting 5 / Next 5 post
WashPaRick wrote:
2 Ayers
3 Okani
4 Easley but was toss up with Gunn
5 Williams
Wanted to put both Easley and Gunn starting but coach has been calling them both 4's.
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