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Post by Steve Aztec on Feb 4, 2011 19:42:18 GMT -8
I know, we are in the middle of our best year. It is great and very exciting, but most of you who know me understand that I like to look ahead as well as enjoy this season.
I am just looking at next year and very fired up. Most think we are going to be way down. Probably, but what is way down?
Way down from 30 wins? That would put us at about 23-24, which is very good. I think we can get 23-24 next season, even if Kawhi leaves. If he comes back, watch out again.
Here my early look at next season...
-Point Guard...Xavier Thames and LaBradford Franklin. DJ game is one of my favorite Aztec PG's ever, but next season we are going to be better and deeper at point than this year.
-2 Guard...Chase Tapley and James Rahon. We are very good here this season, but we will be better next season 2 guard. Why? Both Chase Tapley and Rahon are sophs and will only get better.
-Small Forward...Jamaal Franklin and Kevin Young. Jamaal is a player ready to explode. Kevin Young is very very good. I know there is a fine line with our 3's right now, but I think Billy White is the 3. (Kawhi also plays it sometimes).
I love Billy White, but Kevin Young is better all around than Billy White. No knock on Billy. Young is tough.
Next year we will be better at the 3 and deeper.
-Power Forward...Here is where it gets dicey, but not as much as fans think. Of course first off if Kawhi comes back, all is ok there and we are better next year at the 4. If Kawhi does not come back we still have Tim Shelton (Playing about 7 minutes a game this year and holding up). Hopefully Tim can play about 15 next season.
We also have a undersized power forward (who can also play the 3) in Alec Williams. I am convinced that Alec Williams is a very good player. I just hope he stays.
-At center we have Deshawn Stevens. Tim Shelton can also back up this spot and play a role like Wes Unseld did with the Baltimore Bullits in the late 60's. A powerful, banging 6-7 center, with talented forwards around him. (Williams, Kawhi, Young, and Jamaal).
And of course if Brian Carlwell apllies and is granted a 6th year, he is the starter and Stevens backs him up.
-With Kawhi and Carlwell back, we finish in the Top 10 next year.
-With just Kawhi or Carlwell back, we finish in the Top 15 next year.
-Without either Kawhi or Carwell, we finish in the Top 25 and win from 23-26 games.
Not bad.....I can't wait!!!!
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Post by smoketree on Feb 4, 2011 20:06:35 GMT -8
well done Steve....you are the best. i also think Alec will explode next year...he is working with a personal trainer and is playing well in practice....i know the staff was not thrilled he didn't redshirt, but i can't imagine he would leave after waiting in the wings these two years.
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Post by fmichigan on Feb 4, 2011 20:14:59 GMT -8
well done Steve....you are the best. i also think Alec will explode next year...he is working with a personal trainer and is playing well in practice....i know the staff was not thrilled he didn't redshirt, but i can't imagine he would leave after waiting in the wings these two years. I hope your right. He will get plenty of playing time next year. I just wish his parents wouldn't have got involved and he red-shirted this year. |
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Post by Steve Aztec on Feb 4, 2011 20:28:20 GMT -8
well done Steve....you are the best. i also think Alec will explode next year...he is working with a personal trainer and is playing well in practice....i know the staff was not thrilled he didn't redshirt, but i can't imagine he would leave after waiting in the wings these two years. My main concern is if Alec and the staff have forgiven each other over the redshirt year. If so, Alec will shine next year. If not? We have a hole to fill. |
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Post by sdsportfan on Feb 4, 2011 22:49:30 GMT -8
Well be solid at PG...but not better! DJ is one of the most important players the Aztecs have had in years. Not the most talented, but most important by far! His leadership will be sorely missed!
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Post by AztecPhil on Feb 4, 2011 23:20:59 GMT -8
Thank you Steve. This is exactly the type of information that I look forward to reading on this board.
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Post by Pasadenaztec on Feb 5, 2011 6:51:26 GMT -8
Too many "ifs" on the front line to be really optimistic about next year.
Realistically, I think we'll be hard pressed to continue our 20-win streak with next years team.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2011 7:04:28 GMT -8
lose too much experience and production next year to be great, but I still see enough talent to win 20+
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Post by pokinsky on Feb 5, 2011 11:28:08 GMT -8
A lot of IF's .. but we could be very good. Assuming Carlwell and Leonard are gone, we will have a lot of holes and new roles to fill on the inside which will be the biggest concern.
Backcourt:
It's possible that LBF doesn't see as much time as we think and we run a 3 guard lineup with Tapley at PG, Rahon at SG and Thames backing up both positions. DJ made a huge leap from SG to PG his soph to junior seasons and Tapley could easily do the same. (I know what you're thinking ... we have 2 true PG's in LBF and Thames, but when DJ goes to the bench now, Tapley fills in at PG)
Wing:
Franklin has shown glimpses of potential but can he handle the ball and penetrate? If we get Boyd, we will have another athletic player and great rebounder from the wing. Possibly Alec plays some 3 if we don't get Boyd. Possibly a lot of 3 guard lineups?
Frontcourt:
Huge holes to fill here especially if BC and KL leave. I expect Stephens and Young to be the starting forwards next year. But both have been prone to foul trouble in their careers .. so who backs them up is the biggest concern, in my opinion? Shelton can handle the inside, but for how long? Likely we will play small and go back to trapping everything that goes inside again.
Possible starters:
PG- Tapley, LBF
SG- Rahon, Thames
SF- J. Franklin, Williams
PF- Young, Shelton
PF- Stephens
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Post by nonpostpete on Feb 5, 2011 13:50:55 GMT -8
A lot of IF's .. but we could be very good. Assuming Carlwell and Leonard are gone, we will have a lot of holes and new roles to fill on the inside which will be the biggest concern. Backcourt: It's possible that LBF doesn't see as much time as we think and we run a 3 guard lineup with Tapley at PG, Rahon at SG and Thames backing up both positions. DJ made a huge leap from SG to PG his soph to junior seasons and Tapley could easily do the same. (I know what you're thinking ... we have 2 true PG's in LBF and Thames, but when DJ goes to the bench now, Tapley fills in at PG) Wing: Franklin has shown glimpses of potential but can he handle the ball and penetrate? If we get Boyd, we will have another athletic player and great rebounder from the wing. Possibly Alec plays some 3 if we don't get Boyd. Possibly a lot of 3 guard lineups? Frontcourt: Huge holes to fill here especially if BC and KL leave. I expect Stephens and Young to be the starting forwards next year. But both have been prone to foul trouble in their careers .. so who backs them up is the biggest concern, in my opinion? Shelton can handle the inside, but for how long? Likely we will play small and go back to trapping everything that goes inside again. Possible starters: PG- Tapley, LBF SG- Rahon, Thames SF- J. Franklin, Williams PF- Young, Shelton PF- Stephens I like that you're thinking pokinsky. I am sure Coach will also want to get both Tapley and Rahon on the floor, so you are not out of the question with Tapley at the PG. But, I also suspect he is going to want to get Thames on the floor, since he has good PG size, Pac 10 experience and has been with the program all season. Also, LBF has the best PG skills, but he has to work on his defense and has to get stronger. He is capable of making better interior passes than DJ, though he will also have more turnovers/minute without a doubt. Plenty of PG candidates. My guess is that Tapley, Rahon and Thames will each get lots of minutes in the backcourt and maybe LBF as well. Up front, if no Carlwell and Leonard, then we know there will be another player. Obviously, the team is not going with 9 players next season. Boyd is the one we expect, but I have to think another big body is also in the works. K.Johnson would be the guy, but we've been hearing about him taking a year at prep school, so...? Rahon/Franklin/Boyd at wing; Young/Williams at PF; Stephens/Shelton at Center is what I picture with the guys we know about. That means we'll have a size deficit and really need Shelton to stay healthy, as well as Alec to step up big time. Tapley, Rahon, Young, Thames would have to be the players filling the bucket. I'm curious to see if J. Franklin can also find a way to be a scorer. He scored a ton in high school. |
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Post by seagulljr on Feb 5, 2011 15:52:18 GMT -8
The thing I'm most concerned with for next year is rebounding. No doubt that franklin can jump out of the gym but I wouldn't be surprised to see our team rebounding slump a bit.
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Post by Section T(urn Up) on Feb 5, 2011 16:10:17 GMT -8
I don't see how we are assuming Young>White. BW was freshman of the year and following his soph season he was a preseason All-Conference pick. BW was/is a helluva player and I don't see how KY is allowed the presumption that he'll be better after 2, albeit good, years for a bad team in the WCC.
The frontcourt is thin next year as of now and there are a ton of question marks. How it pans out will be very interesting.
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Post by Blanco on Feb 5, 2011 16:12:48 GMT -8
Many people on here are very high on Thames. While I hope he has a positive impact on the team, is this optimism based on what he did as a frosh in WSH, his high school rating, seeing him play first hand or a combination of all three?
For those who have seen X play, is he more of a 1 or 2? Can he hit it from behind the arc?
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Post by ourtime on Feb 5, 2011 16:16:16 GMT -8
What a bout the kid who is coming in from Mizzou? Is he eligible next year? He's a forward right?
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Post by nonpostpete on Feb 5, 2011 16:21:54 GMT -8
Many people on here are very high on Thames. While I hope he has a positive impact on the team, is this optimism based on what he did as a frosh in WSH, his high school rating, seeing him play first hand or a combination of all three? For those who have seen X play, is he more of a 1 or 2? Can he hit it from behind the arc? For me, I have never seen him live, and only one game on tv when he was a freshman at WSU. He played significant minutes. He has very good size for a PG, something we haven't had except for Matt Thomas, but he seems to have more ability to finish than Thomas. He has size that will allow him to defend better than others. I think he is a PG, not a SG, and I have not seen him shoot great from outside. Not sure how good of an outside shooter he has become. |
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Post by smoketree on Feb 5, 2011 16:51:20 GMT -8
I have watched him in practice and I was very impressed. He has a beautiful release and can hit three pointers, although he prefers to shot the mid range jumper where he is deadly...He WILL start at point next year.
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Post by aztecwin on Feb 5, 2011 16:58:18 GMT -8
Nice analysis by Steve. We are now a very good program and attractive to the K Leonard type players.
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Post by pokinsky on Feb 5, 2011 17:34:32 GMT -8
Maybe the big we need comes from outside of CA? A new name popped up on Rivals as a recruit for 2011 .. a 6'5 PF out of Maryland Stephane Manga. Not sure if this is the big that will solve our problems but the fact an out of state name is listed makes me think the success of this year is opening up borders and minds of recruits that were not in the picture a few weeks ago. Also, 6'5 F CJ Blackwell is still in the running (I believe) and he is a strong rebounder and post player. rivals.yahoo.com/sandiegostate/basketball/recruiting/player-Stephane-Manga-120864 |
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Post by syaztec on Feb 9, 2011 1:39:22 GMT -8
Looked up Stephane Manga and could not find much info on him as a player. Just that he's a PF from France out of Maryland with a height ranging from 6'4 to 6'7 according to the different online sources. But I did find a few very interesting things on his facebook and twitter pages. On his facebook page under activites he has "2009-10 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team" and on his twitter he wrote on Jan 19, "California !!!! it's where I'll be next year" I'm no rocket scientist, but all signs are pointing to the Mesa!!  |
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Post by miners22 on Feb 9, 2011 7:07:39 GMT -8
I agree with pokinsky that Aztecs line-up could feature Chase at the PG in order for Fisher to start Rahon at the SG.
Or Fisher could go with Thames at the PG, Chase at SG and Rahon at SF.
Thames came to San Diego State for a few reason(s). He is a CA
native (loves the weather), was heavily recruited by SDSU and
he wants to be the starting PG. That is the main reason he left
Washington State. So, the PG battle is going to be between him
and LaBradford. I believe Thames will win the battle because he
is a better defender at this stage of their careers.
I am not certain that LaBradford is going to like that idea that he may be playing back-up PG next season. In fact, if LBF is not a starter or playing significant minutes next season, I look for him to transfer after his Sophmore season. It seems to me that he is not happy with the amount of his playing time.
Ideally, I believe Fisher would love to have Thames at 1, Chase
at the 2, and Rahon at the 3. The next two positions 4 & 5 are wide open. Thames is a good ball-handler, good mid-range shooter and excellent at penetrating the lane to score or dish
the ball to an open teammate.
And, Jamaal Franklin is going to push to for starter's minutes next season. Aztecs looking good for next season whether Leonard leaves or stays! All San Diego State needs is a few BIGS for next season.
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