Malcolm Bernard *sad trombone*

[Eight Legger]

Let's face it: Mooney is feeling the pressure (finally) to perform. Desperate times call for new measures. (I won't call this a desperate measure, but for him it probably feels like it, since he's never taken a grad transfer before.) Besides that, all the teams we compete with have been in the grad transfer market for years, so it's about time we joined in. It's like we've been using a Commodore 64 while the competition's been using an ipad for 5 years.

 

[MrTbone]

...or a Vic20...

 

[SpiderK]

Let's face it: Mooney is feeling the pressure (finally) to perform. Desperate times call for new measures. (I won't call this a desperate measure, but for him it probably feels like it, since he's never taken a grad transfer before.) Besides that, all the teams we compete with have been in the grad transfer market for years, so it's about time we joined in. It's like we've been using a Commodore 64 while the competition's been using an ipad for 5 years.

We finally got burned by the grad transfer.

 

[urmite]

And to combine the last few posts...can you feel the Mac Bern?

 

[URSpider95]

I like the Bernard pickup. Low risk... one year. And we get an experienced frontcourt player.... who at least based on last year's stats appears to be a good rebounder and can create turnovers. Something this team clearly needs.

I would really like to see this starting lineup with Wood, Buckingham and either Gordon/Friendshuh off the bench.

F - Sherod (Fr)
F - Bernard (Sr)
C - Cline (Sr)
G - Fore (So)
G - SDJ (Sr)

F - Wood (Sr)
G/F - Buckingham (Fr)
C - Gordon (Fr) or Friendshuh (So)

Others competing for depth:
G - Johnson
G - Pistokache

 

[URSpider95]

Granted.... another grad transfer (Steeves) or recruit (Ford/Hazen) would change this picture.

 

[Ulla1]

 

[spiderman]

I like the Bernard pickup. Low risk... one year. And we get an experienced frontcourt player.... who at least based on last year's stats appears to be a good rebounder and can create turnovers. Something this team clearly needs.

I would really like to see this starting lineup with Wood, Buckingham and either Gordon/Friendshuh off the bench.

F - Sherod (Fr)
F - Bernard (Sr)
C - Cline (Sr)
G - Fore (So)
G - SDJ (Sr)

F - Wood (Sr)
G/F - Buckingham (Fr)
C - Gordon (Fr) or Friendshuh (So)

Others competing for depth:
G - Johnson
G - Pistokache

who's this Gordon guy? walk on?

 

[SpiderGuy]

I don't get it either, Kneepad. We always say that we need better rebounding, then we get guys who can rebound but they never really get the chance to rebound, so what difference it make how good a rebounder a recruit is.

X2

Unless CM changes his philosophy / system, teaches boxing out, and emphasizes aggressiveness under the boards, it doesn't matter how good a rebounder any recruits were prior to coming here.

 

[spiderman]

a good rebounder gets rebounds. I can't think of a really above average rebounder in our program in a while. actually Trey was, but he wasn't the same last year.

 

[MrTbone]

TA averaged about 7reb this year, that's pretty solid.

 

[spiderman]

true. that's very good. he was our best this year. Garrett would have been but the shot blocks get you out of position. tough to find guys who just gets after it, yet still has the skills we look for offensively.

 

[SpiderK]

true. that's very good. he was our best this year. Garrett would have been but the shot blocks get you out of position. tough to find guys who just gets after it, yet still has the skills we look for offensively.

Rebounds haven't been going to waste, the other team gets them.

 

[97spiderfan]

I like the Bernard pickup. Low risk... one year. And we get an experienced frontcourt player.... who at least based on last year's stats appears to be a good rebounder and can create turnovers. Something this team clearly needs.

I would really like to see this starting lineup with Wood, Buckingham and either Gordon/Friendshuh off the bench.

F - Sherod (Fr)
F - Bernard (Sr)
C - Cline (Sr)
G - Fore (So)
G - SDJ (Sr)

F - Wood (Sr)
G/F - Buckingham (Fr)
C - Gordon (Fr) or Friendshuh (So)

Others competing for depth:
G - Johnson
G - Pistokache

I like this starting line-up and reserves. I think Buckingham is going to get a lot of minutes. Also agree that it will/should be tougher sledding for Johnson and Jesse in the minutes time. We've seen those guys, if Sherod, Buck, Bernard can't beat them out for PT, than that would not be good.

 

[fan2011]

a good rebounder gets rebounds. I can't think of a really above average rebounder in our program in a while. actually Trey was, but he wasn't the same last year.

TA was in the top 10% of all NCAA players in rebounds per 40 minutes over his career. Garret was in the top 5%. Both were way above average rebounders. ANO, DWill and TD during his sophomore year were also above average. However our guards tend to be really bad at rebounding so our overall rebounding is less than average.

 

[spiderman]

thanks 2011. I think Khwan will be very above average rebounding at guard. DMB and Sherod if he plays guard will be also, so the poor rebounding guard stuff looks to be changing. of course, the bigs on our roster right now ... maybe excluding Bernard ... aren't going to put up rebounding numbers like Garrett, Wiliams, TA or Trey though. we'll see about Golden.

 

[MrTbone]

Marshall is actually a pretty good rebounder, he would put up respectable numbers if he averaged 25mpg and wasn't always out on the perimeter on D, so having him as more of a 4/PF on defense should improve his rebounding numbers, assuming that's where he gets played.

 

[fan2011]

Marshall is actually a pretty good rebounder, he would put up respectable numbers if he averaged 25mpg and wasn't always out on the perimeter on D, so having him as more of a 4/PF on defense should improve his rebounding numbers, assuming that's where he gets played.

Wood's rebounds per 40 actually are not that great. It could be because of the things you mentioned. Here are the Richmond career rebounds per 40 minutes for some of our forwards:

Spoiler: Stats

Garrett 10.7
TA 9.2
ANO 8.3
DWill 8.3
Harper 7.8
TD 6.8
TJ 6.7
Wood 6.7
Geriot 6.5
Duinker 6.5
DT 5.8

For comparison:
KF 6.0
Gonzo 4.6
K0 2.1

And of course, Malcolm Bernard:
MB 8.8

 

[MrTbone]

Good info, thx for sharing. I particularly enjoy the spoiler alert. MW is about where I expect, are his stats career or just UR?

 

[urmite]

who's this Gordon guy? walk on?

Maybe he has inside info about Andrew Gordon.

 

[gcarter52]

Maybe he has inside info about Andrew Gordon.

Here is some info on Andrew Gordon from verbal commit.
http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/andrew-gordon-fl

 

[Spideroldie]

Spider 95, thanks for taking a risk and suggesting a starting line-up and a list of "first-off-the-bench" guys.

I personally don't see any way that Bernard starts for us, on either Day-1 or during the A-10 tourney. He has two serious disadvantages that need to be corrected quickly.First, he needs to learn the defense quickly, and that rarely happens. Second, he needs to learn to take "smart" outside shots, which he did not learn how to do at A&M (21%). Even if he is capable of playing some good D, which he should be, I see him as a defensive specialist.

On the other hand, Buckingham is one of the best "rounded" players to enter the program in a long time, and has some great intangibles too. . He not only plays strong D, but he has now had a chance to play pick-up games with the guys for a few months and will be ahead, defensively, when the fall starts. Add to that his intangibles and FAR superior shooting, and Buckingham has to play ahead of Bernard.

I believe that we have to find a way to play Buckingham, Sherod and Golden as freshmen, and to have them "up-to-speed" by the tourney. Bernard could be a very useful piece in our puzzle, but is far more likely to be a defensive specialist than a starter. I see Sherod, Buckingham and Golden all starting ahead of him at forward.

What I agree on is that Wood should be coming off the bench. If past history dictates starters, then Wood will start, along with Buckingham or Sherod, simply due to his seniority and experience. However, he is largely a 3-point specialist, and does not have the all-around game of Buckingham or Golden. Wood could be a nice offensive "spark," possibly along with Sherod and the two 2-guards (JJ and JP), who will be sophomores next season. That would represent some good offensive "firepower" off the bench, if we find a way to use it. No matter who starts, this will be a year when the coaching staff will earn the "big-bucks," especially if we can find a way to exceed what looks like "middle-of-the-pack" expectations. .

 

[Stork3]

I am not expecting Andrew Gordon to be a Spider. He has, for some reason, not received any more offers since the end of October. Has a friend who attends Arkansas - and who wants him to join the Razorbacks. Notice that their coach is actively recruiting Brachen Hazen.

 

[Stork3]

Regarding next year's starting lineup, I'll make my prediction the week before the season starts, after I see how the freshmen and the transfer fit in. All my bball-educated friends say that Buckingham is the most "college-ready" player that we will have coming in. Let's see if Coach Mooney abandon's the yesteryear match-up zone and comes up with two or three defenses that the freshmen can pick up easily; he may want to talk with their high school coaches in the process. Then let's see who wants to play the worst come September. Coach Mooney already has all my recommendations on this board. Let's turn this thing around.

 

[URSpider95]

Ha.... I meant to say Golden. But I'm glad I got the Spider recruiting rumor mill going around Andrew Gordon.

 

[SFspidur]

I hesitate to continue the tangent, but I think Gordon's main issue was academics. I'm not sure they got where they needed to be, so I imagine that was a factor in us going our separate ways.

 

[Not-A-Homer]

Spider 95, thanks for taking a risk and suggesting a starting line-up and a list of "first-off-the-bench" guys.

I personally don't see any way that Bernard starts for us, on either Day-1 or during the A-10 tourney. He has two serious disadvantages that need to be corrected quickly.First, he needs to learn the defense quickly, and that rarely happens. Second, he needs to learn to take "smart" outside shots, which he did not learn how to do at A&M (21%). Even if he is capable of playing some good D, which he should be, I see him as a defensive specialist.

On the other hand, Buckingham is one of the best "rounded" players to enter the program in a long time, and has some great intangibles too. . He not only plays strong D, but he has now had a chance to play pick-up games with the guys for a few months and will be ahead, defensively, when the fall starts. Add to that his intangibles and FAR superior shooting, and Buckingham has to play ahead of Bernard.

I believe that we have to find a way to play Buckingham, Sherod and Golden as freshmen, and to have them "up-to-speed" by the tourney. Bernard could be a very useful piece in our puzzle, but is far more likely to be a defensive specialist than a starter. I see Sherod, Buckingham and Golden all starting ahead of him at forward.

What I agree on is that Wood should be coming off the bench. If past history dictates starters, then Wood will start, along with Buckingham or Sherod, simply due to his seniority and experience. However, he is largely a 3-point specialist, and does not have the all-around game of Buckingham or Golden. Wood could be a nice offensive "spark," possibly along with Sherod and the two 2-guards (JJ and JP), who will be sophomores next season. That would represent some good offensive "firepower" off the bench, if we find a way to use it. No matter who starts, this will be a year when the coaching staff will earn the "big-bucks," especially if we can find a way to exceed what looks like "middle-of-the-pack" expectations. .

I am on record as saying that the freshman should play - a lot. I advocate starting whomever is ready, even if that means more than 1 freshman in the introductory video. Personally, I advocate for Buckingham and Sherod in a smaller line-up. Golden almost has to play a lot because of the need in the frontcourt. Hope he is ready.

HOWEVER, you forget who the coach is (and this may pine Buckingham as well). Mooney is bringing in Bernard to start because he sees Bernard as a senior experienced player. Whether Bernard gets here and performs well enough to become a starter - time will tell.

Agree that Wood will be most effective coming off the bench. BUT, again, the coach will see him as the experienced player (less threatening/ more safe in his view) and I will bet that he will start at least in the first half of the year. The bad news about this is that Mooney is likely to only play Sherod directly behind Wood in the same slot. This will limit Sherod's effectiveness and development. Hope that I am wrong here, but based upon I have seen from Mooney, I would bet that this happens.

As to your comment that "this will be a year when the coaching staff will earn the "big-bucks," I think that you are spot on, coaching and managing this team will determine it's fate. THAT IS WHAT CONCERNS me the most about the upcoming season.

 

[SpiderK]

I am on record as saying that the freshman should play - a lot. I advocate starting whomever is ready, even if that means more than 1 freshman in the introductory video. Personally, I advocate for Buckingham and Sherod in a smaller line-up. Golden almost has to play a lot because of the need in the frontcourt. Hope he is ready.

HOWEVER, you forget who the coach is (and this may pine Buckingham as well). Mooney is bringing in Bernard to start because he sees Bernard as a senior experienced player. Whether Bernard gets here and performs well enough to become a starter - time will tell.

Agree that Wood will be most effective coming off the bench. BUT, again, the coach will see him as the experienced player (less threatening/ more safe in his view) and I will bet that he will start at least in the first half of the year. The bad news about this is that Mooney is likely to only play Sherod directly behind Wood in the same slot. This will limit Sherod's effectiveness and development. Hope that I am wrong here, but based upon I have seen from Mooney, I would bet that this happens.

As to your comment that "this will be a year when the coaching staff will earn the "big-bucks," I think that you are spot on, coaching and managing this team will determine it's fate. THAT IS WHAT CONCERNS me the most about the upcoming season.

Like Kwan Fore did, Sherod and Buckinghham will just take the spots!!

 

[SpiderGuy]

Like Kwan Fore did, Sherod and Buckinghham will just take the spots!!

And if they're game ready then they should. Throw out the seniority and pecking order things. Let the best players be on the floor.

 

[fan2011]

I am on record as saying that the freshman should play - a lot. I advocate starting whomever is ready, even if that means more than 1 freshman in the introductory video. Personally, I advocate for Buckingham and Sherod in a smaller line-up. Golden almost has to play a lot because of the need in the frontcourt. Hope he is ready.

HOWEVER, you forget who the coach is (and this may pine Buckingham as well). Mooney is bringing in Bernard to start because he sees Bernard as a senior experienced player. Whether Bernard gets here and performs well enough to become a starter - time will tell.

Agree that Wood will be most effective coming off the bench. BUT, again, the coach will see him as the experienced player (less threatening/ more safe in his view) and I will bet that he will start at least in the first half of the year. The bad news about this is that Mooney is likely to only play Sherod directly behind Wood in the same slot. This will limit Sherod's effectiveness and development. Hope that I am wrong here, but based upon I have seen from Mooney, I would bet that this happens.

As to your comment that "this will be a year when the coaching staff will earn the "big-bucks," I think that you are spot on, coaching and managing this team will determine it's fate. THAT IS WHAT CONCERNS me the most about the upcoming season.

Mooney plays freshmen when they are the best option. Gonzo, Geriot, Butler, KA, Duinker, Kevin Smith, FCM, Ced, K0, TA, ANO, TD, DT, SDJ, and KF all played over 10 minutes per game their freshmen years. If we bring in freshmen who are better than the more senior players they will play. The reason we have not had many freshmen play a lot lately is not due to Mooney overvaluing seniority, it is due to Mooney not bringing in good enough recruits to supplant playing time from upperclassmen.

 

[WebSpinner]

no matter how much smarter most of the posters here are than CM, you are not at practice each day, you do not know when a player is not where he is supposed to be on O or D. more importantly, a coach is going to play guys who can help us win, his job depends on it. they are not going to sit players who can help him win just because he wants to show upperclassmen loyalty. if they can play and contribute towards winning, they will play.

 

[Not-A-Homer]

no matter how much smarter most of the posters here are than CM, you are not at practice each day, you do not know when a player is not where he is supposed to be on O or D. more importantly, a coach is going to play guys who can help us win, his job depends on it. they are not going to sit players who can help him win just because he wants to show upperclassmen loyalty. if they can play and contribute towards winning, they will play.

The premise of this post should be correct. 11-years of proof is pretty strong evidence to the contrary.

 

[WebSpinner]

would suggest playing the wrong players is not the prob, maybe the players available though.

 

[TBSpyder]

Looking forward to seeing Malcolm as a Spider. Have no idea if he will start, but I'm sure he will be an important contributor. That despite the fact that he played on one of the worst D! teams in a weak conference. Indeed, he knows that, and that was one of the major reasons he gave for transferring, he wants to play in a stronger program. What I like about Malcolm, is that he was a leader, in points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. That says a lot. He's going to be an important asset for a team that will have many young, inexperienced players.

 

[keefusb]

Wood, Cline, SDJ, and Fore will be the certain starters, and one of Buckingham, Sherrod, or Bernard will be the fifth starter. Any senior who has been in the program for a while who can walk out on the court under his own power will start (think DT and TD last season).

 

[spiderman]

best guys play. best guys according to CM. not best seniors. not best offensive players. guys that CM believes gives us the best chance to win. this board doesn't always agree with his selections, but we draw the wrong conclusions ... that he plays seniority for seniority sake.

we certainly have had examples of very good defensive players starting. Bernard will get that chance. why else would he commit here for his last season?

 

[FrontRoyalSpider]

As long as we beat those savages from Broad St and we destroy those dill weeds from Harrisonburg!

 

[spiderstudent17]

Am I the only one who thinks Fore should be a 6th man sub like SDJ was his Sophomore year? Having Jones and Fore at the same time makes us really small in the backcourt. My starters as of now would be:

SDJ
Cline
Wood
DMB
Sherod/Bernard

Subs being:
Fore
Sherod/Bernard
Golden
JJ
Jesse
PF

 

[Eight Legger]

Fore is our most explosive and aggressive player. He needs to play as many minutes as possible.

 

[keefusb]

Fore plays big, I'm not so worried about his height.