@siu_2011 To me, true bigs are players who can score in high/low post, defend inside, and rebound both ends. Two bigs should bring back offensive rebounding. Over the years there has been a shortage of good bigs so teams adapted by playing small. SIU played small for many years because they had no choice. Now they could have Rupert, Ebube, Hornecker, and possibly Hensley as bigs. We need to use them and make them a strength. We need to force other teams to match up to us! Two bigs could increase our shooting percentage, get more free throws and fouls drawn, more offensive rebounds, and force defensive help which opens up our perimeter shooters. Coach Mullins' inside offense emphasizes getting the ball inside by dribble penetration rather than passing it inside. It has not worked for four years!
Trent Brown knocking down the three pointer from the logo last season with his future teammate Jovan Stulic hand in his face.
https://twitter.com/SIU_DawgPound/status/1679160625757585415
I've watched Troy play 2 full seasons and like his versatility. That being said, I would personally be surprised to see him in the top 3 scoring and more surprised to see him average double digits. He is incredibly SLOW on the dribble drive (some mentioned that as a strength) and has no post game whatsoever. He has shot surprisingly well from deep, which has impressed me, but not sure where the rest of the points will come from. I see him more as a guy who can distribute, bring the ball up on occasion and present a matchup issue for the opposing team. I think at least 2 of our newcomers are going to join X as the top 3 scorers. I also am HOPING that Ebube, while not your typical post scoring threat, will use his God given physical talent to bully the MVC. REgardless of any of this, I cannot wait for the fall !!!!!!!!!!!
@insaluki I agree with most of your post, but disagree on Ebube, that man is instant offense, he is a scoring machine. If he can play D good enough to stay on the floor, he might be the leading scorer. He averaged 3.2 pts last year in only 4.1 minutes per game. When he was in, he was scoring, and mostly by dunk.
It looked to me like when Ebube was in, the other players looked for him. I think they knew he was hard to stop if he got the ball in his hands. I REALLY hope to see more minutes for him and Cade this year.@insaluki I agree with most of your post, but disagree on Ebube, that man is instant offense, he is a scoring machine. If he can play D good enough to stay on the floor, he might be the leading scorer. He averaged 3.2 pts last year in only 4.1 minutes per game. When he was in, he was scoring, and mostly by dunk.
I want to see Mullins show the ability to run the offense through the low post when the situation presents itself.
Is that X in a knee brace?
https://twitter.com/SIU_Basketball/status/1680346371201613825
Is that X in a knee brace?
https://twitter.com/SIU_Basketball/status/1680346371201613825
Think he slipped on a slick spot in practice and they’re calling it a sprain
I am very high on Ebube's potential for sure, especially if he is in the shape he LOOKS to be in right now. He will surely get his points. At least in high school and AAU, he scored most of his points via the put back, dunk, etc variety and did not seem to have a lot of true post moves. Again, however, I expect him to use his strength and physicalness to hopefully bully the MVC bigs this upcoming season.
I am very high on Ebube's potential for sure, especially if he is in the shape he LOOKS to be in right now. He will surely get his points. At least in high school and AAU, he scored most of his points via the put back, dunk, etc variety and did not seem to have a lot of true post moves. Again, however, I expect him to use his strength and physicalness to hopefully bully the MVC bigs this upcoming season.
What we see out of Ebube next season should tell us a lot about the staff's development capabilities (hopefully in a good way). Clearly there is a lot of physical upside with him, and this will now be his third year in the program, with a roster very much in need of new sources of production. Time for a big jump.
Nice, both put on 10+/- pounds of muscle during summer workouts. Davis looks D1 ready. Sharp is skinny for 6'3" but looks pretty strong for his weight. I think Davis could get significant minutes this year. Hoping he can play at least 10-15 minutes a game. Would be nice to see him and Ferguson share the 3 spot. Would make for awfully athletic SF's!https://twitter.com/JCSPerformance/status/1686081158457524245
There should be substantial minutes available for Ferguson and anyone else who can knock down some 3s with any regularity. There aren't a lot of established outside shooters on the roster ... and there are a lot of available 3s to take with Lance having moved on. 😆
Stulic should help in that regard, but hopefully other guys can develop into threats from outside, too. And we'll see what version of Trent Brown we get in Year 5 ...
Saw yesterday some workout photos posted by the Saluki Basketball social account and it looked like D'Amico might have been wearing some sort of boot off to the side (someone commented on that), but that post appears to have been taken down on Twitter? Odd. There are still some photos up on Instagram, and the good news is it looks like XJ might be back on the floor.
