Sizing Up 2010-2011

[UAZip0510]

I see it as a four team race right now...

(ESPN Recruit Grade in Parentheses)

AKRON ZIPS

2009-2010 - 24-11 (12-4)

Graduating Seniors: Chris McKnight, Jimmy Conyers

Incoming Freshmen: PF-Dakotah Euton (85), PF-Josh Egner (84), SF-Michael Green (80)

Can't STATE GOLDEN flushES

2009-2010 - 24-9 (13-3)

Graduating Seniors: Tyree Evans, Anthony Simpson, Mike McKee, Frank Henry-Ala, Brandon Parks, Chris Singletary

Incoming Freshmen: PF-Kenny Knight (86), SF-DeShawn Clay (85), SG-Eric Gaines (85), PF-Mark Henniger (85)

Incoming JUCO/Transfers: SG-Carlton Guyton (84), PF-DeAndre Nealy (40), SG-Mike Porrini (40)

OHIO BOBCATS

2009-2010 - 21-14 (7-9)

Graduating Seniors: Kenneth Van Kempen

Incoming Freshmen: SG-Ricardo Johnson (90), C-Ethan Jacobs (86), PG-Nick Kellogg (86), SF-T.J. Hall (85)

MIAMI REDHAWKS

2009-2010 - 14-18 (9-7)

Graduating Seniors: Michael Aluise, Kenny Hayes, Adam Fletcher

Incoming Freshmen: SF-Josh Sewell (89), SF-Jon Harris (84), PG-Quinten Rollins

Thoughts? Early predictions?

[zip37]

ANOTHER SKINNY A$$ED GUARD COMES IN & LITES US UP FOR 35+ POINTS AND OUR GUARDS ARE IN ANOTHER TIME ZONE. i HOLD LITTLE HOPE FOR NEXT SEASON UNLESS WE CAN GET OUR GUARDS TO SHOW UP AND PLAY EVERY GAME.

WE LOST THE 1972 NATIONAL TITLE BECAUSE THE WHOLE TEAM FAILED TO SHOW UP AND PLAY AGAINST ROANOKE COLLEGE.

AS YOU PEOPLE KNOW, IN THE WORK WORLD, REGARDLESS PF WHAT HAPPENS, AROUND YOU, WHEN THE DAY BEGINS, YOU DARN WELL BETTER BE THERE WITH YOUR BEST STUFF!

I'M DISGUSTED BEYOND WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[Let'sGoZips94]

I've been saying this since the MAC Championship game: OU vs. Akron in the MAC Championship game for a few years to come.

[tpsjugglerdude]

OU is graduating 1 and bringing in 4?

[RACER]

i think we will be fine at the guards with some good depth.the frontcourt of marshall ,nik,brett is fine.the big problem

is we have no depth on the frontline.if none of the incoming freshman are not ready to play. bardo will get alott more pt.

kd could use alott of three guard offense with brett mc clanahan.i would hope kd would use more press defense since we have alott of guards,and zeke back there to block shots.we never pressure the ball full court,and with the people we have back we can now.the key to next season is how much zeke improves.no team in the mac has a great center.he is the one guy who can change the way teams play us.the other key is at least one of the two freshman big guys have to play 10-15 min,and not hurt the team.if neither freshman can play then you will have to hope that none of those guys get into foul

trouble.maybe bardo will get some pt to really see if he can do anything.we will also need brett mc clanahan to play defense ,and hit the outside shots.i would say right now without seeing any of the freashman next years team

scares me.any injury/foul trouble to our frontcourt players would be a big disaster.the good thing is kd is going to have to play zeke 30 min every game.i just don't see any other option for akron at the C spot.

[xu9697]

To me, and I have said it before, it is all about Zeke, Humpty and McKnight. Unless one of the freshmen comes in and is a difference maker, Zeke has to play consistently like he did in the MAC tourney (with an additional 15 lbs). Humpty has to settle down and slow down..and, honestly, I have seen PGs (combo guards) do that going from their first 2 years to their last 2 years. Similar to the progression a college QB makes from frosh/soph to jr/sr. Finally, McKnight needs to sit down and talk with Conyers and have that kind of year next year. He truly needs to become more of a 3 for the balance of this team.

These 3 guys are the key..if all 3 get it together, it will be an incredible year. If 2 of the 3 get it together, it will be similar to the last couple years (some ups, some downs). If only one of them does it, even if it is Zeke..ugh.

Again, the total unknown is the freshmen. If they earn time and show some good things, they can make up for lack of progress from the "big 3".

[dboze]

Here are a few on my thoughts:

1) Unless we can find a defender that can lock down opposing Guards/shooters, we won't have much success in conference & tournament play.

2) Humpty and Ronnie Steward are Point Guards. McNees and Roberts are Shooting Guards. PERIOD.

3) Our Post guys (Zeke, Nick, Brett, etc.) need to become our go-to-guys so that the 3-point shooters can get better looks.

4) Our 3 point shooters need to become more consistent with the open looks.

5) The Freshmen need to be Ready to Go from Game 1. We need their offensive abilities but they must also quickly become good College Level defenders. We don't need Scorer that cannot Defend.

6) Better/Tougher scheduling. Enough said...

Overall, I believe that next year's team has great potential. But there is a lot of work to be done...

[Z.I.P.]

Holy cow! I'm almost (ALMOST) too disgusted to regurgitate my comments one more time. But, the last two games -- and the final RS game-- were worth regurgitating.

This team is totally one-dimensional offensively. They have physical strength on the inside, and some jump shooting ability. But, if that is the limit, average teams like OU and UW-GB can beat us by just forcing us to throw up long shots and get the rebound. The only thing that can change that is to find a dribble-drive guard. Does anyone know where we can find that player? Without him, Zeke, Brett, S-Mac and the rookies are not going to produce enough to make a difference. I DO like the idea of more full-court pressure. That, however, is still just placing a mask over the fundamental flaw in the team's personality.

Can you tell I'm not full of high expectations? I AM glad though, that it looks like SOME MAC teams are getting better -- in the East again of course.

[UAZip0510]

Can't State will be interesting to watch...they'll practically have a brand new team.

OU returns everyone important and has some pretty good recruits coming.

I just wish KD would be more willing to look at a JUCO/Transfer type...

[xu9697]

Holy cow! I'm almost (ALMOST) too disgusted to regurgitate my comments one more time. But, the last two games -- and the final RS game-- were worth regurgitating.

This team is totally one-dimensional offensively. They have physical strength on the inside, and some jump shooting ability. But, if that is the limit, average teams like OU and UW-GB can beat us by just forcing us to throw up long shots and get the rebound. The only thing that can change that is to find a dribble-drive guard. Does anyone know where we can find that player? Without him, Zeke, Brett, S-Mac and the rookies are not going to produce enough to make a difference. I DO like the idea of more full-court pressure. That, however, is still just placing a mask over the fundamental flaw in the team's personality.

Can you tell I'm not full of high expectations? I AM glad though, that it looks like SOME MAC teams are getting better -- in the East again of course.

He is already on the roster, and he goes by "Humpty". There is just the small matter of him putting it all together (which is, of course, no small matter at all).

It would be awesome if somehow, someway things worked out for us to find a dribble-drive SG in the 6'3 to 6'5 range for 2010-2011. Pipe dream, probably.

[tpsjugglerdude]

Brett McClanahan will be be our lockdown defender next year. You can count on it.

[zippy5]

Can someone please explain why steve HAS to be a 2 guard? Is it because he has a good shot? Just because one can shot does not make him a 2 man. 2-1 assist:TO ratio, and his recent great play, guess what position he was at? Point guard! I think we are past the days of steve playing point by default, we are now seeing steve play point guard because he is pretty damn good at it.

[meatwad]

Can someone please explain why steve HAS to be a 2 guard? Is it because he has a good shot? Just because one can shot does not make him a 2 man. 2-1 assist:TO ratio, and his recent great play, guess what position he was at? Point guard! I think we are past the days of steve playing point by default, we are now seeing steve play point guard because he is pretty damn good at it.

+1

Not sure about the "fixation" with McNees at the 2 guard.

[Dave in Green]

Hitchens and Steward have both shown on occasion that they can drive through a bunch of defenders and take the ball to the bucket. But neither has done it very often, and when they do, they don't reliably get the ball in the hole. I don't know if they aren't called on to do this very often because they are not reliable enough to be counted on, or if they are not reliable enough to be counted on because they aren't called on enough to become experienced at it. It's the old chicken-egg thing.

There's already a player on the roster who has the potential to be a "dribble-drive SG in the 6'3 to 6'5 range for 2010-2011." Brett McClanahan has been stuck behind Jimmy Conyers the same way that Conyers was stuck behind Nate Linhart. I continue to believe that Nitro has the physical tools to be the big guard so many Zips fans covet. He has shown the ability to drive to the basket, but on even fewer occasions than Hitchens and Steward. I'd really like to see him have the opportunity to prove whether or not he could drive to the bucket on a regular basis.

I hope that everyone reading this thread occasionally checks in on the Basketball Recruiting forum to see how the 3 new Zips recruits are doing in their final HS seasons. Barring a major change in KD's offensive scheme that would allow some of the returning players an opportunity to show offensive skills that they haven't yet had a full opportunity to demonstrate, the biggest hope for change next season will be with the abilities of the incoming freshmen.

In the absence of change, KD will continue to rely on B. McKnight for an abnormally high percentage of the Zips' offensive looks, which will keep him firmly in the top 10 nationally in terms of percentage of his team's shots taken while on the floor -- more than 1 of every 3 shots.

2010 National Leaders: Percentage of Shots Taken

[johnnyzip84]

I could be wrong, but I believe there will be more than just the 3 HS seniors entering the program next year. I expect at least 2, and possibly 3 scholarship players to transfer out (one big, one little, and perhaps another little). Did KD's cryptic, on-air comment after the MAC tourney final signal a possible willingness to take on a JUCO player or two?

Here are my top 5 concerns/comments for next year:

1) The Obvious - build Zeke's physical strength AND confidence (especially with the ball)

2) Let Humpty play his game. It's a shame that his 2nd season was arguably less effective than his 1st. He's an instinctive player who I believe will learn better "on the job".

3) And now to another player whose 2nd season was not as effective as his 1st. Nik, PLEASE work night and day on a mid-range jumper. Whether it be catch-n-shoot or off the dribble, work on this until you are hitting them 60-70% of the time. IF you get this into your game, the lane will open up for you in a way in which you never imagined. You're a talented enough distributor to make the opposition pay when they collapse on you as well. You might as well work on FT's while you're at it. I'll live with the occasional emotional outburst if you develop a reliable jumper.

4) Make the decision regarding which newcomers will play or not very early, preferably before the season starts.

5) Give Nitro minutes at the 2 guard. He is actually the only prototypical 2 guard on the roster (except perhaps Petersen the walk-on from Fla). IMHO Nitro should practically never be playing with his back to the basket. His body simply isn't large enough.

I may be one of the few who is glad to see the MAC showing signs of improvement regardless of what this means to the Zips. It's improve or fall behind. I like that kind of motivation and I think most coaches do too. We've complained about the sorry state of the league in hoops for the last few years. I want to watch better basketball period! If it means NIT appearances in the Zips future, at least it will be NIT appearance with meaning (hopefully). Now that the sleeping giant of the East has apparently awaken, it's time for the sleeping giant of the West to follow suit. Ball St. and OU have LONG held a big advantage in terms of facilities over the rest of the league. Look for the Cardinals to eventually become a MAC contender again soon.

[Dave in Green]

Excellent suggestions. You really nailed it on Nik. He was whirling around some of the MAC stiffs like they were glued to the floor, and scoring almost at will. But toward the end of the season everyone figured out that Nik could be frustrated by a quick-footed big who stayed between him and the bucket. When Nik tried mid-range jumpers, they usually clanked. No wonder Nik was so frustrated and upset in the last few games. His primary game had been neutralized, and he had no backup plan that worked.

A truly staggering statistic is that Nik was 1 of 4 from the field in the Zips squeaker win over Western Michigan, and that was his last field goal of the year -- not a one in losses to Ohio and WGB. He absolutely must practice mid-range jumpers all summer, or he's in danger of losing PT to one of the incoming freshmen.

[zipboy]

The optomist in me thinks

1. KD is a smart guy, works hard and would cut his arm off to win. He will figure it out but we may be too locked in for next year for much to change. He built the program the anti JD way and needs to tweak it a little and will.

2. French and Dunn on the final postgame mentioned, 3 new recruits coming in and that is all at the moment but things can always change over the offseason. Joe Dunn's comment "We need to get an athletic wing to play the 3." That coupled with GoZips mentioning maybe a 4th guy coming in makes me think there will be a 4th guy who may be really good.

3. One more play goes our way, and we are in the NCAA's 2 years in a row. And while seeing that a gap exists between us and a high level mid major program, would still be primed to win the MAC next year as Zeke develops.

The pessimist in me thinks

1. Best case scenario we really do get a 4th guy who turns out to be great. If he is a FR and is FR of the year and plays as well as DJ Cooper, that still is not enough to make the Zips dominant without other guys stepping up. If he is a transfer, he doesn't play until 2011. To really be an impact guy he probably has to be a JUCO and be really good.

2. In the past almost every guy got better under KD. 1st year to 2nd was a huge jump, 2nd to 3rd an even better player and then 3rd to 4th about the same, maybe more consistent. Joyce, Travis, Wood, Linhart, Middleton, Dials, etc all got better. This year Jimmy and McNees showed improvement but everyone else played at the same level or regressed from last year. The guys with the big minutes, Darryl, Humpty, Nik, the 2 Bretts, no one developed. I like everyone, I know that they all try hard, but we are not going to be very good if those guys don't get better.

3. It is exciting reading how the incoming guys are doing but I saw the same things with Humpty, the McKnights, Swiech. They dominated in high school, looked like men against boys and had great tournaments. Those guys may get minutes but if one of the 3 gets 20 minutes a night and is productive I will be pleasantly surprised. I think of the all MAC FR team and Cooper is the only who seemed to make a difference game in and game out.

4. In the past the others team's best player never had good games against us. Even if we lost, we would slow down their main guy and make someone else play well. This year it was like the old Hipsher days where their best guy did whatever he wanted and just torched us over and over.

A few other rambling thoughts.

1. I read alot about KD's substitution methods and pulling guys etc. 3 years ago he played 7 guys, 3 guys got over 35 minutes a night. The knock then was he is burning the guys out, let's lose a game or 2 so they are ready for the tourney. He plays 10 guys a night because no one has stepped up to give consistent good minutes. Minutes are there for the taking. Conyers showed that this year. In MAC play, he was getting low 30s for minutes. If a guy would produce he would get 35 minutes a night.

2. I like the new guys coming in but I have to think losing Boals hurt the recruiting this year and we would have had at least 1 different guy from the incoming class who would have been more highly thought of. McFadden will do a good job and will bring a good class in for 2011 with 2 years to work on it.

3. If things go our way, we will still be good next year. I had hoped by this point talentwise Akron would just be several notches better than the rest of the league and I don't see that. I am still a big fan of KD and know that he will figure it out. But the realist in me just doesn't see us much better next year until some more scholly's free up and I don't know if Zeke ends up taking as big a leap next year as KD sees. He still seemed so raw at the end of the year.

4. Joe Dunn mentioned an upgrade to the schedule. So far I like what it looks like. If we are about the same team, we are looking at 17-20 wins and a 100 RPI. Still a solid program but not the best in the MAC. If the schedule does toughen up, that will be a good sign as I see KD changing the schedule with how much he likes his team's chances.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Once again, Zipboy proves why he's the top poster on ZipsNation. He's not just "defense," not just "offense," he's the total package.

The one truth in the ZB post that bugs me is --

"If the schedule does toughen up, that will be a good sign as I see KD changing the schedule with how much he likes his team's chances."

Dambrot has stated that's his scheduling strategy. He also stated that strategy cost Travis and Joyce a shot at the post season, when the Zips played a weak schedule their senior year.

How do you know how you'll fare in a given season? Who can predict that youngsters will step up, or that Conyers will fulfill his potential in year #5?

Why was the 2009-10 schedule so pathetically weak, if we were coming off an NCAA appearance, only losing one senior? By KD's formula, shouldn't we have been in "Tough Schedule Mode?"

Playing weak OOC schedules does nothing for a mid major like Akron. Is Miami any worse off that Akron today? Is Cleveland State any worse than Akron today? The only difference, today, is Akron has egg on it's face because we participated in a tourney we really weren't worthy of entering. CSU and Miami's season records were actually indicative of their abilities and they sat at home instead of going to the CBI. Smart move.

Play a tough schedule EVERY season. Not "stupid-tough," but tough enough that if you get 20+ wins, it is an accomplishment. And you can be proud of your post season bid.

[GP1]

Once again, Zipboy proves why he's the top poster on ZipsNation. He's not just "defense," not just "offense," he's the total package.

The one truth in the ZB post that bugs me is --

"If the schedule does toughen up, that will be a good sign as I see KD changing the schedule with how much he likes his team's chances."

Dambrot has stated that's his scheduling strategy. He also stated that strategy cost Travis and Joyce a shot at the post season, when the Zips played a weak schedule their senior year.

How do you know how you'll fare in a given season? Who can predict that youngsters will step up, or that Conyers will fulfill his potential in year #5?

Why was the 2009-10 schedule so pathetically weak, if we were coming off an NCAA appearance, only losing one senior? By KD's formula, shouldn't we have been in "Tough Schedule Mode?"

Playing weak OOC schedules does nothing for a mid major like Akron. Is Miami any worse off that Akron today? Is Cleveland State any worse than Akron today? The only difference, today, is Akron has egg on it's face because we participated in a tourney we really weren't worthy of entering. CSU and Miami's season records were actually indicative of their abilities and they sat at home instead of going to the CBI. Smart move.

Play a tough schedule EVERY season. Not "stupid-tough," but tough enough that if you get 20+ wins, it is an accomplishment. And you can be proud of your post season bid.

There was a sentence in the original post I was going to nominate for a 2010 Sentence of the Year Award. I had to do with the Zips dripping in egg from head to toe in front of 877 fans who care the most. Where did it go?

[Captain Kangaroo]

There was a sentence in the original post I was going to nominate for a 2010 Sentence of the Year Award. I had to do with the Zips dripping in egg from head to toe in front of 877 fans who care the most. Where did it go?

I cut it out...it just didn't fit in the flow of the post.

While it ended up on the cutting room floor, the line remains true. "Zips Basketball guy" can always call out a few fans for alleged anarchy against Dambrot or the Zips program. I sat in the lower reserved section, in several different areas because my son can't sit still...and everywhere I sat during that game you could hear disgruntled fans voicing discontent. In front of me...behind me...to the side of me. The team tanked it, and those 877 fans who care the most...knew it.

[xu9697]

For 2010-2011, I would give serious thought to this kind of set-up...

PG Humpty

SG McClanahan

SF McKnight

PF Euton

C Zeke

6th man: McNees

7-9: Nik, Roberts, Egner

McNees is a starter/better player than McC. But, much like the Cavs with West (as a semi-comparison), McNees could bring so much to the table as the consistent 6th man. Not to mention, you kind of cover all areas with these starters...

Humpty, with improvement, as the guy that can break things down and drive and dish. 3 point gunner in McC. Inside/outside guy and scorer with McK (with improvements), 15 foot jumper/skilled big man in Euton (if he as good as some say), and obvious center in Zeke.

McNees can sub in at 1 or 2, Roberts about the same. Egner fills the 3 or McC slides to the 3 at times (not ideal, but it is what it is). Nik is your energy guy for the frontcourt that can back-up 4/5.

I am a big believer in it not mattering who starts, but who finishes and who gets minutes. At the end of games, depending on opponents and game situations, could be many times where you see McNees, Roberts, McC, McK and Zeke.

[akronzips71]

For 2010-2011, I would give serious thought to this kind of set-up...

PG Humpty

SG McClanahan

SF McKnight

PF Euton

C Zeke

6th man: McNees

7-9: Nik, Roberts, Egner

McNees is a starter/better player than McC. But, much like the Cavs with West (as a semi-comparison), McNees could bring so much to the table as the consistent 6th man. Not to mention, you kind of cover all areas with these starters...

Humpty, with improvement, as the guy that can break things down and drive and dish. 3 point gunner in McC. Inside/outside guy and scorer with McK (with improvements), 15 foot jumper/skilled big man in Euton (if he as good as some say), and obvious center in Zeke.

McNees can sub in at 1 or 2, Roberts about the same. Egner fills the 3 or McC slides to the 3 at times (not ideal, but it is what it is). Nik is your energy guy for the frontcourt that can back-up 4/5.

I am a big believer in it not mattering who starts, but who finishes and who gets minutes. At the end of games, depending on opponents and game situations, could be many times where you see McNees, Roberts, McC, McK and Zeke.

Zeke has to learn to put the ball into the basket. Having a seven footer in the middle does you no good if he consistently misses bunnies. Too many missed dunks and layups. I like what he was doing in the end of the season with those jump shots. Those are basically a bunny for him. We need 15 PPG from him to be successful. We have three more years of Zeke, build the offense around him. When he gets it underneath it needs to be a gimmie. And ZEKE, hold onto the ball and keep it up high!

And MRS M.

PLEASE START FEEDING THAT KID. HE NEEDS ANOTHER 25 OR 30 POUNDS ON HIM.

[johnnyzip84]

For 2010-2011, I would give serious thought to this kind of set-up...

PG Humpty

SG McClanahan

SF McKnight

PF Euton

C Zeke

6th man: McNees

7-9: Nik, Roberts, Egner

McNees is a starter/better player than McC. But, much like the Cavs with West (as a semi-comparison), McNees could bring so much to the table as the consistent 6th man. Not to mention, you kind of cover all areas with these starters...

Humpty, with improvement, as the guy that can break things down and drive and dish. 3 point gunner in McC. Inside/outside guy and scorer with McK (with improvements), 15 foot jumper/skilled big man in Euton (if he as good as some say), and obvious center in Zeke.

McNees can sub in at 1 or 2, Roberts about the same. Egner fills the 3 or McC slides to the 3 at times (not ideal, but it is what it is). Nik is your energy guy for the frontcourt that can back-up 4/5.

I am a big believer in it not mattering who starts, but who finishes and who gets minutes. At the end of games, depending on opponents and game situations, could be many times where you see McNees, Roberts, McC, McK and Zeke.

Zeke has to learn to put the ball into the basket. Having a seven footer in the middle does you no good if he consistently misses bunnies. Too many missed dunks and layups. I like what he was doing in the end of the season with those jump shots. Those are basically a bunny for him. We need 15 PPG from him to be successful. We have three more years of Zeke, build the offense around him. When he gets it underneath it needs to be a gimmie. And ZEKE, hold onto the ball and keep it up high!

And MRS M.

PLEASE START FEEDING THAT KID. HE NEEDS ANOTHER 25 OR 30 POUNDS ON HIM.

It wouldn't hurt for MRS M (whoever that is) to kick in with meals also. But Ms. B aka "Momma Zeke" (see link) might want to get the 1st crack at it!

Link

[akronzips71]

For 2010-2011, I would give serious thought to this kind of set-up...

PG Humpty

SG McClanahan

SF McKnight

PF Euton

C Zeke

6th man: McNees

7-9: Nik, Roberts, Egner

McNees is a starter/better player than McC. But, much like the Cavs with West (as a semi-comparison), McNees could bring so much to the table as the consistent 6th man. Not to mention, you kind of cover all areas with these starters...

Humpty, with improvement, as the guy that can break things down and drive and dish. 3 point gunner in McC. Inside/outside guy and scorer with McK (with improvements), 15 foot jumper/skilled big man in Euton (if he as good as some say), and obvious center in Zeke.

McNees can sub in at 1 or 2, Roberts about the same. Egner fills the 3 or McC slides to the 3 at times (not ideal, but it is what it is). Nik is your energy guy for the frontcourt that can back-up 4/5.

I am a big believer in it not mattering who starts, but who finishes and who gets minutes. At the end of games, depending on opponents and game situations, could be many times where you see McNees, Roberts, McC, McK and Zeke.

Zeke has to learn to put the ball into the basket. Having a seven footer in the middle does you no good if he consistently misses bunnies. Too many missed dunks and layups. I like what he was doing in the end of the season with those jump shots. Those are basically a bunny for him. We need 15 PPG from him to be successful. We have three more years of Zeke, build the offense around him. When he gets it underneath it needs to be a gimmie. And ZEKE, hold onto the ball and keep it up high!

And MRS M.

PLEASE START FEEDING THAT KID. HE NEEDS ANOTHER 25 OR 30 POUNDS ON HIM.

It wouldn't hurt for MRS M (whoever that is) to kick in with meals also. But Ms. B aka "Momma Zeke" (see link) might want to get the 1st crack at it!

Link

That's who I meant. Silly me to assume that Zeke Marshalls mother would be Mrs. Marshall

[Deeustin89]

For 2010-2011, I would give serious thought to this kind of set-up...

PG Humpty

SG McClanahan

SF McKnight

PF Euton

C Zeke

6th man: McNees

7-9: Nik, Roberts, Egner

McNees is a starter/better player than McC. But, much like the Cavs with West (as a semi-comparison), McNees could bring so much to the table as the consistent 6th man. Not to mention, you kind of cover all areas with these starters...

Humpty, with improvement, as the guy that can break things down and drive and dish. 3 point gunner in McC. Inside/outside guy and scorer with McK (with improvements), 15 foot jumper/skilled big man in Euton (if he as good as some say), and obvious center in Zeke.

McNees can sub in at 1 or 2, Roberts about the same. Egner fills the 3 or McC slides to the 3 at times (not ideal, but it is what it is). Nik is your energy guy for the frontcourt that can back-up 4/5.

I am a big believer in it not mattering who starts, but who finishes and who gets minutes. At the end of games, depending on opponents and game situations, could be many times where you see McNees, Roberts, McC, McK and Zeke.

dribble penetration is frowned upon in Dambrot's offense. As are fast breaks.