Next Seasons Roster

[Chuck]

Success of this team depends on the status of 3 potential starters: Relph, James and Williiams. I'm optimistic if alll are wearing a Bonnie uniform this season, but this remains questionable. Assuming all 3 players will be playing, I agree with Mangham the starters:

Lex James
Michael Lee
Wade Dunston
Ahmad Smith
Tyler Relph

I agree with Copenhagen, I am hoping to see a set rotation with players knowing their roles, which allows them to get in the flow of the game. As for Carson, his PT depends on the status of Tyler. My best guess would be he wil see significant PT. Carson is a rugged PG, lacking the quickness of a Tyler, Marques or a Tim Winn. Strength of Carson's game is taking it to the basket, he struggled with his jump shot. I can't see him him playing the 2 guard.

[O2level]

I hate to say it, but for Carson doubling his output, two times zero is still zero. You have to be a field general to play the point, his output last year proved he is not that man.

[Chaz]

Frosh comparison :

Smith averaged 18.8 mins/game;6 pts;2.3 rebounds; had 47 assists & 40 T/O

Carson avaraged 22 mins/game;4.9 pts; 1.9 rebounds; had 64 assists & 65 T/O.

Smith's a much better shooter...give Isiah time. Smith played on a much better team when he was a frosh.

[MFS]

Great post! Carson is never going to be Marques or JR, but he can be a contributing player. He was asked to do far too much as a freshman, and he's not necessarily a true PG anyways. I think his game is very similar to Ahmad and he could develop into a decent player in the next few years.

[FroMunga]

Keep in mind there is a lot of time between now and the start of the season. There is no telling what other troubles lie ahead with this cast of characters. Hopefully everyone can make it thru this weekend without getting into trouble.

[magnusbu]

Or how much improvement that can be made as a team and as individuals

[LumsdnA10Academc98]

Your 2005-06 Bonnies:
PG- Relph
SG- Smith
SF- Lee
PF- James
C- Kovacevic
6-7th- Lottin, Williams
8-10th- Dunston, Hawkins, Diggs
The fact of the matter is: this is the most talented backcourt we've had in years. Relph and Smith are going to get their 32-37 minutes each. I don't see many minutes for Relph at the two, citing the awful PG production Solomon stomached last year while Relph sat beside him. Anyone honestly think he's not going to have the ball in Tyler's hands as much as possible?
That doesn't leave much room for the likes of Carson, Carter, or even Dunston. Hawkins is bigger and more athletic than any of them and Diggs is a finer better handler. If there's one thing Solomon has shown, it's his willingness to play the best five guys, regardless of who's who, ask Kern Carter.

[Chaz]

Let's not put too much pressure on Hawkins just yet and put him in the same cooker as Carson was last year.

[hnk373431]

So you are saying that Wade Dunston who scored in double figures 14 times and who led the team in scoring in 10 of the team's 28 games is not going to start? Think he is a solid scorer who will be even more effective with Relph in the lineup. See a starting lineup of
1.) Relph - Saw him play in high school on two occasions. Good ball handler and shooter but best attribute is that he never backs down. His hard nosed style will rub off on teammates. Diggs sounds like a solid point guard who will provide minutes. Hope Relph is not suspended at the beginning of the season though. With the A-10 so competitive next season, this team needs to get some confidence and get off to a good start.
2.) Dunston - How can you keep the team's 2nd leading scorer out of the lineup?
3. ) Smith - Solid all around. Strong rebounder. Really improved his outside shot. Will be 2nd team all A-10 at the least.
4.) James/ Lee - Never seen James play but like the idea that he brings intensity. Lee will make an all conference A-10 team before he is done.
5.) Ivan. Hopefully will add some interior defense. Book on Williams at Siena was that he had the tools and huge potential but played lazy. Will be an improvement over last years 5's but wonder how a player who had a difficult time with MAAC centers will do against Iti and Temple's centers.
Lottin will add a three point threat at the 3. Carter is athletic. Maybe he is ready to contribute. Like Carson a lot more than most of the board readers. He may surprise if he develops an outside shot. Hawkins sounds like a solid addition. Don't envy Sol in finding playing time for everyone. Am I optimistic? Yeah!

[magnusbu]

Easy to see how Dunston may not start. He was inconsistent in his scoring, had turnover problems, and did not play the greatest defense either. Now we have 7 new guys ready and eager to step in and contribute this season. Relph and Smith are pretty much a given starters. That takes up 2 gaurd spots. After that, I am starting to think that our best option would be to have Lee at 3, James or Williams at 4 and Ivan at 5. But, I do see Dunston as a contributor off the bench.

[Chuck]

MFS said:

Great post! Carson is never going to be Marques or JR, but he can be a contributing player. He was asked to do far too much as a freshman, and he's not necessarily a true PG anyways. I think his game is very similar to Ahmad and he could develop into a decent player in the next few years.

If he is not a true PG, then what is his position. With his height and jump shot, he is not a shooting guard. Some other stats in this frosh comparison:

Ahmad shot: fg 41.9%, 3 pointers 41.7% and ft 69.6%
Carson shot: fg 32.1%, 3 pointers 25.0% and ft 59.5%

Another fact is Ahmad as a freshman scored 19 more points than Carson, despite playing 132 less minutes. Ahmad played much better than expected as a freshman, while Carson struggled. It's way too early to write off Carson, but I do not agree with the comparison.

[jh]

Nice squad...but you under estimate how good hawkins will be

[magnusbu]

I agree completely with Hawkins. His numbers may not have been the greatest, but look who he was playing with. I think he will be one of those unselfish type players that we really need that also has a ton of ability. He will definitely be a key contributor this season.

[LumsdnA10Academc98]

Dunston will not start next year. The talent level, especially in the backcourt, is far beyond what it was this time a year ago when he started.
So what if he was our 2nd leading scorer, we went 2-26. For the reasons magnusbu documented (inconsistancy, ball handling, defense, outside shot), Dunston will see a reserve role on this much-improved squad. After all, if we need Wade Dunston to be our starting shooting guard, are we really that good?
Also, Solomon has shown more than a willingness to cut a player's minutes despite one's past merits. Patrick Lottin will attest to that. Having James and then 3 guys 6'10"+ gives Lee the luxery of developing a SF. He and Patrick will see amost all the minutes at the 3, which just doesn't leave much time to be had at the 2 spot.
Sure, Dunston will contribute next year, but contributing might only mean 20 minutes/game, a role for which he and our team are both better suited.

[sireltonruddock]

LumsdnA10Academc98 said:

Dunston will not start next year. The talent level, especially in the backcourt, is far beyond what it was this time a year ago when he started.
So what if he was our 2nd leading scorer, we went 2-26. For the reasons magnusbu documented (inconsistancy, ball handling, defense, outside shot), Dunston will see a reserve role on this much-improved squad. After all, if we need Wade Dunston to be our starting shooting guard, are we really that good?
Also, Solomon has shown more than a willingness to cut a player's minutes despite one's past merits. Patrick Lottin will attest to that. Having James and then 3 guys 6'10"+ gives Lee the luxery of developing a SF. He and Patrick will see amost all the minutes at the 3, which just doesn't leave much time to be had at the 2 spot.
Sure, Dunston will contribute next year, but contributing might only mean 20 minutes/game, a role for which he and our team are both better suited.

Exactly. This team's talent level is significantly improved form last year. The additions of Peaches and Hawkins in the backcourt will take a lot of Dunston's minutes. If we really want to get over the hump, we need to recruit over the heads of players like Wade Dunston. He is a solid off-the-bench contributer in the A-10, but is by no means a go-to-guy. Go Bonas!