oversigning or what?

[Chicagojayfan]

There was a fair amount of speculation at the end of last season that players would be leaving. Did anybody leave?

Groselle has shown he's an asset and I think every player we have returning next season has shown that.

Harris left for Oral Roberts and got a waiver to play immediately as the tranfer allowed him to be closer to his family. Kids leave for a lot of reasons, some basketball and some for other things. it's not a normal year when nobody leaves.

[section202jay]

There was a fair amount of speculation at the end of last season that players would be leaving. Did anybody leave?

Groselle has shown he's an asset and I think every player we have returning next season has shown that.

Harris left for Oral Roberts and got a waiver to play immediately as the tranfer allowed him to be closer to his family. Kids leave for a lot of reasons, some basketball and some for other things. it's not a normal year when nobody leaves.

That's right, forgot about him. Oral Roberts plays at UNO this week I think if anybody wants to check out Harris. He's averaging 2.4 ppg. Looks like he had 9 pts last game vs. South Dakota.

[gtmoBlue]

There is the possibility of 2 scholies opening up. If the Wash, DC doctors tell IZ that he's done - that will open 1 and Geoff has graduated already and may decide he"s done, That would open a 2nd ride. We'll know more in March/April. The Staff is still beating the bushes for recruits, so we shall see. IMO Coach McD has probably made a forward looking decision in this regard - he just hasn't leaked any info yet.

[cu8493]

The way Geoff has been improving this season, with last night probably being his best game yet over a sustained period of time, I would be surprised if he doesn't come back. He needs to continue to work on his lateral movement and defense, but with Hanson in a funk, Geoff has to be thinking he has a real chance to be the guy next year - and frankly if he improves as much between now and the beginning of next year as he has from the start of this year to now, he could be at an all Big East level next year. Personally, I don't think Hanson is tall enough to be just a low post banger in the BE and he doesn't seem to have a 10 to 15 foot jump shot, like Woods for Butler, to force the post defenders to come out from under the hoop so he can use quickness to beat them on a drive. Maybe he can develop that, but I haven't seen it yet. Patton likely isn't going to be ready as a true freshman to anchor the post in the Big East, and there is no way Hegner becomes even a serviceable post player by next year - it just doesn't appear to me to be in his DNA. So Geoff might just think he can be the man. Further, being 7' tall, if he continues his improvement, Geoff could have a chance to play professional ball after next year, even if overseas. I have no idea what his long-term goals are, but why not give it another year and see if you can't get to where professional ball is a possibility? Certainly, he is in as a good a situation here as he would be just about anywhere else in the country at the high DI level. Plus, why not take a year of theory of guitar while playing basketball before getting joining the real world even if professional bball isn't in his future.

[mel ott]

The way Geoff has been improving this season, with last night probably being his best game yet over a sustained period of time, I would be surprised if he doesn't come back. He needs to continue to work on his lateral movement and defense, but with Hanson in a funk, Geoff has to be thinking he has a real chance to be the guy next year - and frankly if he improves as much between now and the beginning of next year as he has from the start of this year to now, he could be at an all Big East level next year. Personally, I don't think Hanson is tall enough to be just a low post banger in the BE and he doesn't seem to have a 10 to 15 foot jump shot, like Woods for Butler, to force the post defenders to come out from under the hoop so he can use quickness to beat them on a drive. Maybe he can develop that, but I haven't seen it yet. Patton likely isn't going to be ready as a true freshman to anchor the post in the Big East, and there is no way Hegner becomes even a serviceable post player by next year - it just doesn't appear to me to be in his DNA. So Geoff might just think he can be the man. Further, being 7' tall, if he continues his improvement, Geoff could have a chance to play professional ball after next year, even if overseas. I have no idea what his long-term goals are, but why not give it another year and see if you can't get to where professional ball is a possibility? Certainly, he is in as a good a situation here as he would be just about anywhere else in the country at the high DI level. Plus, why not take a year of theory of guitar while playing basketball before getting joining the real world even if professional bball isn't in his future.

Geoff is also a very good student-finance major, I believe. MBA?

[JacobPadilla]

From what I've seen, Zach can shoot better than either of the other two centers. I really like his 12-15 foot jumper. That just isn't something they ask him to do, and I'm not sure he has the confidence in it to use in games too often. But he hits them in practice and he has hit at least a couple in games.

[section221jay]

I can't believe that if Groselle was a guy that the staff knew or thought may not come back that they'd be looking to replace him with a guard...which seems to be all they are recruiting.

Hanson...eh...and Patton isn't going to be ready to carry the load. If they knew GG was gone they'd probably be wise to be looking at JUCO big men.

[Chicagojayfan]

I can't believe that if Groselle was a guy that the staff knew or thought may not come back that they'd be looking to replace him with a guard...which seems to be all they are recruiting.

Hanson...eh...and Patton isn't going to be ready to carry the load. If they knew GG was gone they'd probably be wise to be looking at JUCO big men.

I can't imagine Groselle not being here next year. as you say, if he was looking to depart, we'd be looking for a replacement big who could play right now (although, I continue to contend that our guard play has been more overmatched than our bigs in Big East play). His health looks like it's good enough for him to finally start to fulfill his potential (last 4 games, 20 minutes a game, 21/32 shooting, 65.6%, 12 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game -- by comparison, Stainbrook this year, 26 minutes, 12.1 pts, 6.8 rebounds)Also, he just started his MBA and should be looking to finish (or be very close to it) by the time next year is over.

I've been critical of Zach, but I still am high on his future. He isn't super tall, but he has good bounce, is solid and physical and has excellent footspeed and agility. As Jacob notes, he also has a pretty good shot.

Things for him to work on:

- Defensive assignments - I think this has been his biggest weakness this year. Too many blown assignments too many missteps in the paint for someone with his ability.

- hands - he needs to catch cleanly enough to finish. He's good at his seal and great at rolling to the basket, and is likely our best guy at finishing under the basket, but he needs to catch the ball cleanly.

- Post offense presence. He has a nice baby hook, but needs to learn to pass out of the post when he isn't in the right position.

Physically, he remains a big east center who can run. Sure, it'd be great if he was 6-11, but at 6-9 he can get the job done. He probably needs the Newell Big Man camp or whatever the equivalent is these days.

[mredle]

Let me add two things to Chicago Jays wish list for Zach:
1. Added muscle, upper and lower body.
2. Mean. Zach needs to decide that the lane belongs to him and take control in there.
IMO

[jayball]

hanson has shown zero signs of improvement or ability to hold down the starting center position this year. Maybe he can improve enough to be a productive player, but If grocelle leaves we are f'd in the middle.

there aren't usually step in and play centers lying around in the spring. Maybe a grad transfer will drop out of the air, but big men are usually hard to find.