I haven't been here in quite awhile. Sports seemed like an extravagance this past year, so my attention was definitely on more pressing matters. What are the positives about the program heading into next year (I am seeing that this year has been a lot rougher than I would have expected)?

parentswerebears said:

---

I haven't been here in quite awhile. Sports seemed like an extravagance this past year, so my attention was definitely on more pressing matters. What are the positives about the program heading into next year (I am seeing that this year has been a lot rougher than I would have expected)?

---

Not many positives, unfortunately. Bradley is still a stud. GA and Foreman coming back for another year is a plus I suppose. Celestine showing flashes that he may be a solid D1 player. More longer and athletic, although somewhat raw, and hopefully underrated recruits coming in next year. Fox still in the running for a local 4* pg for the year after.

I have seen K2 make a couple of extremely quick drives to the hoop this season that I find very, very encouraging.

bearister said:

---

I have seen K2 make a couple of extremely quick drives to the hoop this season that I find very, very encouraging.

---

I agree on K2! He's an intriguing guy.

People don't seem to mention it much, but I think Andre Kelly has had a nice year after starting the season way out of shape. He has a nice inside offensive game with either hand, rebounds well, and has hit a few 12-15 ft shots which leads me to believe that could become a larger part of his game. He also seems play harder and smarter on defense. We've seen that he can gain bad weight, so Fox needs to give him an off-season fitness program to follow and figure out ways to get him a few more shots next season. He could be another Markhuri Sanders-Frison!

We will see next year if the formula of having a vet team, with one superstar, plus quality depth and role players can be successful

I think for that to be true, we need 2-3 of our current/incoming players to make a big impact. Best candidates from our current roster are Celestine and 2K (and everyone else needs to get incrementally better)

HoopDreams said:

---

We will see next year if the formula of having a vet team, with one superstar, plus quality depth and role players can be successful

I think for that to be true, we need 2-3 of our current/incoming players to make a big impact. Best candidates from our current roster are Celestine and 2K (and everyone else needs to get incrementally better)

---

Also we need Joel to take another step and be the consistent PG that we need. That means contributing around 10 ppg, making his free throws and having a very nice A-T ratio. Same with Hyder. He needs to take a jump up to provide a higher level of play than what we have seen. I think he can do it a lot of what I see is hesitancy.

HearstMining said:

---

bearister said:

---

I have seen K2 make a couple of extremely quick drives to the hoop this season that I find very, very encouraging.

---

I agree on K2! He's an intriguing guy.

People don't seem to mention it much, but I think Andre Kelly has had a nice year after starting the season way out of shape. He has a nice inside offensive game with either hand, rebounds well, and has hit a few 12-15 ft shots which leads me to believe that could become a larger part of his game. He also seems play harder and smarter on defense. We've seen that he can gain bad weight, so Fox needs to give him an off-season fitness program to follow and figure out ways to get him a few more shots next season. He could be another Markhuri Sanders-Frison!

---

Yes, Kelly has perhaps been the brightest bright spot. (Bradly is by far our best player, but we already knew that.)

Regarding the comparison between Andre Kelly and Markhuri Sanders-Frison:

MSF as a junior: 3.3 ppg; 3.0 rpg (struggling with injuries, as I recall, plus playing behind some talent like Boykin)

MSF as a senior: 10.9 ppg; 7.4 rpg


Andre Kelly as a junior: 10.2 ppg; 6.6 rpg (been healthy and is not playing behind any talent to speak of, but still...)

Andre Kelly as a senior: To be decided. Stay tuned!

Note: You can bet all the players have professionally designed off-season workout programs to follow. Kelly has made significant progress on his body the past 2 1/2 years. I'd love to see him take that final step. 2020 was hard, given the restrictions. Role model (for long-term development): Draymond Green

I'm hoping all of our players progress over the summer. But how many of our current players, as they are now but in perfect health, would start on a team in the upper half of a power conference?

stu said:

---

I'm hoping all of our players progress over the summer. But how many of our current players, as they are now but in perfect health, would start on a team in the upper half of a power conference?

---

One, of course. But that's where we're at right now. We're BOUND to be a little better next season, but we'd LIKE to get up to around .500 in the conference (like to be even better, but we will walk before we run). So how might that happen? We will need several of the returnees to have their best-ever seasons and 1-2 of them to somehow get significantly better. Then we hope a couple of the recruits can contribute early and that Bradly and his minions mesh even better and that Fox's direction sinks in even more.

I'm not about to place money on us getting to 9-9 in conference next season, but I'm hoping we can approach that.