bradley_townie wrote:siudawgs wrote:Missouri State is better than the sixth-most talented roster so if they are picked here, it's pretty clearly based on the program's track record of perceived underperforming with talented rosters.
Bears fans, how do you see the backcourt rotations playing out with Lee back in the mix?
Also curious if Carper is healthy/expected to give some good minutes in the paint.
This is where I am at with Missouri State. Dana Ford has had championship level talent on many of his teams the last several years but hasn't been able to put a complete season together with that talent. I look at the teams remaining and it's hard to make an argument that Missouri State leapfrogs one of them.
Perceptions are funny , and while i get the thinking on Mo St , there's certainly another view. Consider MSU has finished t5th, 2nd, 3rd the last 3 seasons or an average finish of 3.3 . Bradley has finished 1,5,8 for an average of 4.6, UNI, 8, 1, 5 for an average of 4.6, and SIU 3, 6, 9, for an average of 6. The only team in the league with a higher average of finish is Drake. So MSU has been far more consistent than the other 3 and overall better. The fashionable thinking is to say MSU has underachieved because they have more talent , but honestly, that's bs . We've had good talent, but no one in this league is significantly out talenting the other solid teams. Ford has some obvious deficits , they're easy to pick out over time watching; yet just as obviously, he's able to beat the majority of the coaches in this league a majority of the time . Talent seems a lazy answer for a situation where no school has a big advantage in recruiting.
That said , as to other questions, Lee , Mason, and Mayo will all play starters minutes . My guess is Lee is held back a bit at first , but will definitely be on the court in late game situations . He's the floor general and Mason is needed as a second scorer to Chance Moore and can handle the point when Lee isn't on the floor. Mayo is the glue guy , the physical defender, the emotional leader , and we look for him to improve his shooting and offensive play. Freshman Davion Hill is in the Mayo mold ; transfer Kramer from SLU is a spot up shooter who is currently injured and will miss the start of the season. It's a quick athletic backcourt.
Carper will play against certain teams and situations. Neither Bensen or Edwards are particularly bulky and go 6'8, 6'9 and about 225. Carper will play against teams that have bigger frontlines we need to match up better with. He's classic big and slow , but has some nice presence around the goal and people forget he was a starter as a soph at Hawaii, but been injured alot since. I like our frontline , could use one more body there , but those 3 + Donovan Clay will battle with most pretty effectively.
Posted: October 25th, 2023, 5:13 am