DECKS
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Post by DECKS on Mar 24, 2009 23:22:21 GMT -5
Tweet Sams Smalley DeBlanc Murdaugh Or you could go with: Tweet Bullock Sams Smalley Waddell or you could go with: Tweet Alford Sams Smalley DeBlanc
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Mar 24, 2009 23:55:42 GMT -5
Decisions, Decisions. Bibbs has seven months to figure it out!
I think your top eight will be: (Neely and Alford will see just a little more time than they did this year)
Tweet Smalley Sams DeBlanc Murdaugh Bullock Waddell Thomas
The question is which Freshman will break into top eight? It may be Calvin because there are no shooters in the top eight. But it may be the girl from DC because of rebounding. Who knows?
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Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 25, 2009 7:47:16 GMT -5
I think the Daughter of Man will experiment with a big lineup at the start of next season.
PG - Tweet F - Murdaugh C- DeBlanc F - Waddell F - Sams
I think you will have Smalley as your first sub off the bench.
That depends on how much of a scorer and ball handler Murdaugh will be. If she struggles early you might see Tierra Thomas starting at the 2-guard spot.
Unless Calvin is the absolute truth, I don't see her running the point for a MEAC championship team from day one. It'll probably take her a while to adjust to the college game.
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Post by aggieborn5 on Mar 25, 2009 8:16:59 GMT -5
All I know is that I will be attending many more Lady Agggie games than I did last season. I would like to see what the freshman can do early in the season.
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Post by thefriscotxaggie on Mar 25, 2009 8:26:05 GMT -5
Toucheeeee subject but would Sams & Smaley benefit if they dropped 10 pounds or so between now and next season. I love the way both ladys play and they have no problems running the floor. But I think that would add quickness that very few could match. BTJ droped a few before the season and it probably was a part of the great succes she enjoyed this year.
I also wonder if our ladys spend the summer in G'boro. That's one of the keys to be an elite team. All the top programs retain their athletes year round.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 25, 2009 9:43:55 GMT -5
The difference is that Sams and Smalley are blue collar post players and BTJ was a shooting guard. They are already undersized and going up against bigger opponents night in and night out.
Will they still be as effective is they dropped 10 pounds? That is the million dollar question. I think the only reason Smalley was able to post up the FSU giants was because she has a solid base.
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Post by aggieborn5 on Mar 25, 2009 10:26:57 GMT -5
Smalley works out pretty hard. I have seen her out on the track running with the football team over the summer.
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Mar 25, 2009 10:57:27 GMT -5
great topic, decks!! of course, not knowing how good the newcomers will be makes my picks a little premature. so my picks are conditional upon seeing the newcomers. also, i don't think bibbs will have a situation where she stays with the exact same starters all season long next year. but here's my first shot at it;
tweet, pg thomas, sg sams, sf smalley, pf deblanc, c
i think tweet and sams will start every game. smalley will start almost every game. but based on matchups, thomas, smalley and deblanc could come off the bench while murdaugh and bullock could replace 2 of them.
i can see sams playing the 3 next year but i agree with thefriscotxaggie, sams will need to drop some weight this summer to improve her quickness and stamina. i'd say 10 pounds is about right for sams. but i'm not too sure about smalley. she uses her body a lot in the paint and may need the weight she currently has to push folks around underneath, especially considering she lacks height. so i don't think i would encourage smalley to lose any weight. i think she's okay with the weight she has as long as she's playing at the 4 position or as a backup 5.
i'm not ready to put murdaugh in the starting lineup simply because i haven't seen her play yet. but based on her bio, she appears to be a good prospect. we need at least 2 "true guards" in the lineup. so if maurdaugh starts, either deblanc or smalley will have to come off the bench.
i like tweet with the ball in her hands because she'll be our best scorer next year. she could be a scoring point guard in the mold of an isiah thomas. but the other guard position depends on whether tweet plays the 1 or 2. if tweet plays the 1, i like tierra thomas over bullock at the 2 guard spot because thomas has a complete overall game, especially defensively. but if tweet plays the 2, i like bullock starting at the point because she has a year of experience at the 1 and should be very effective next year.
i think the puppy, amber calvin, will contribute next year but i doubt if she'll be ready to start. it should be an ideal situation for calvin next year. there shouldn't be any pressure on her to lead and she gets to learn the ropes from tweet who is one of the meac's best.
i look for our ladies to be right back in the mix next year. we may not be as dominant, but i favor us to repeat next year. i'm not saying it will be easy but when the dust settles, i think we'll be on top again next year...
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Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 25, 2009 11:00:57 GMT -5
I agree. I look at Smalley as being a Charles Barkley type. He was only 6-4 but had the size and strength to dominate the low post.
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Post by SixtiesAggie on Mar 25, 2009 11:58:08 GMT -5
Why can't Calvin start? Cook, Sams, Smalley and DeBlanc started as freshmen. The posters on this board have had nothing but glowing comments about Calvin's ability. Why can't she or cook play point and shooting guard? Remember cook is a scorer. I think that Smalley would start, if not for her knees ( needs rest?) and foul problems that occur down low where she plays. Smalley has excellent hands (can shoot left or righted handed in the paint), handles the ball well, can pass and is smart.
Bibbs just needs to find a couple (or more) 6-4 centers that have some mobility and strength. It appears that she and her staff can teach.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 25, 2009 12:11:38 GMT -5
The point guard is the floor general for an offense. That is a tough role for a true freshman to have, especially on a defending championship team. When Cook, Sams and the rest all started, A&T was just an average team. Now the expectations and pressure are much greater.
However, I would love to see what Calvin is all about. If she can handle the role, more power to her. I think Tweet is a natural 2 guard anyway.
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Post by SixtiesAggie on Mar 25, 2009 12:33:46 GMT -5
The point guard is the floor general for an offense. That is a tough role for a true freshman to have, especially on a defending championship team. When Cook, Sams and the rest all started, A&T was just an average team. Now the expectations and pressure are much greater. However, I would love to see was Calvin is all about. If she can handle the role, more power to her. I think Tweet is a natural 2 guard anyway. You may be right, but she may be able to handle that kind of pressure. Haven't I read somewhere on here that she has super confidence and a swagger to boot? Let her roll. In watching all the games, it appears that we only have one true point guard and that's Alford. She doesn't look to score (needs to) but seems content to play defense, rebound and involve her teammates in Bibb's plays. On who starts, I guess we will just have to wait and see how it all shakes out next season.
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Mar 25, 2009 13:38:13 GMT -5
sixtiesaggie, i think thrilla hit the nail squarely on the head. he's exactly right. point guard is the most difficult position to play in basketball, at any level. to step into a starting role at point guard on a team that will have a bull's eye on its back all season long, is not an easy task for a freshman.
you're correct that cook, sams, smalley and deblanc started "sometimes" as freshmen. but cook is the only one that did it at the point guard position. and she did it at a time when bibbs was "rebuilding" the team. the team wasn't as talented as it is now and it definitely didn't have a bull's eye on its back. in fact, it was quite the opposite. we were coming off of a losing campaign and our program was still very lowly regarded. there was no pressure on tweet as a freshman because expectations for our team was so low.
i'm not saying its impossible for calvin to start but she'll have a lot thrown at her. as a point guard, she'll have to know "all" of bibbs' plays (offensively as well as defensively) inside and out. and at all times, she must know where everyone is on the court as well as where everyone "should be" on the court. she'll be away from home for the first time, learning a whole new system, and competing against bigger, smarter, faster, and most of all, more experienced players.
if calvin is as good as her press, by midseason she may be able to handle the starting role to the satisfaction of coach bibbs. but why put that kind of pressure on a kid if we don't have to? we've got enough experience coming back that we don't have to do that. in fact, all of our point guards are returning next year...
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Post by Bornthrilla on Mar 25, 2009 14:35:52 GMT -5
What is the basketball teams' schedule for the offseason? Are they allowed to have a "spring camp" prior to the Midnight Madness date?
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Post by aggieman007 on Mar 25, 2009 15:06:20 GMT -5
the ladies get all the discussing now what about Jerry kids Who will start next year?
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