Men's and Women's Basketball Teams.....Off-Season

[jdelta02]

Any thoughts?
Updates?

[StarkVegasSteve]

Thoughts:

1. I would've loved to have seen our team get a shot to play their way in. Don't know if they would've accomplished it but when we were clicking this year, we were dangerous.
2. Losing Reggie and Tyson, and possibly Woodard and Nick, will hurt next year. There's no way around it. However, I do feel like this will allow us to play faster and put 4 guards on the court with Ado.
3. If Stewart and Molinar make jumps in the offseason they'll be very good players for us next year.
4. It's going to be interesting to see what we'll get out of King and Butts next year. I felt like King could've given us some minutes this year off the bench with how well he shoots from deep.
5. De'Veion Smith will be an impact Freshman next year. This kid is special. His bounce is unreal. He's probably a two and through guy. The best comparison is a shorter more explosive Ja Morant. Got to work on his shot from deep though.

[jdelta02]

Best to the 2019-20 seniors.....
- Jordan Danderry (women"s team)
- Tyson Carter (men's team)
- EJ Datcher (men"s team)
- Mitchell Storm (men's team)
- Reggie Miller (men's team)

Men's Team
Deivon Smith- impact freshman point guard coming in for the men's team. Another newcomer, Tolu Smith has been projected as an impact player as well. With 1 season already in the system, Elias Kings is on course to contribute more next season. Expecting big freshman to sophomore jumps for DJ Stewart Jr and Iverson Molinar. Questions around the status of Robert Woodard and Reggie Perry moving forward. Abdul Ado is expected back for his senior season. Then you have K. Feazell, Prince Oduro, and Q. Post currently in the mix as well.

Women's Team
Currently...everyone is back except Jordan Danberry. Adding 2 freshmen signees (Hayes and Gaston), and 1 eligible transfer (S. Cooks). May add at least 1 more to this group. My opinion, the most improved player from the start of the season until the end of the SEC Tournament was Cochise College transfer Yemiyah Morris. Rickea Jackson and Aliyah Matharu pace the expected returnees....including Jessika Carter, Myah Taylor, Chloe Bibby, JaMya Mingo-Young, Xaria Wiggins, Andra Espinoza-Hunter, Jayla Hemingway, and Yemiyah Morris. Again, Morris has been coming on strong at center...she's the sleeper of this whole group.

Off-season is a very good time to get better.

[99jc]

Dansberry may get another year if she wants.

[captaindog]

I?ll be interested to see if anyone leaves for more playing time. Although I never really got the sense any of the returning players were unhappy you have to know some want to get on the court and may not see an avenue for that here.
I agree that Y Morris greatly improved toward the end of the season. I?m hopeful for a big jump after an offseason in the weight room and doing individual work. Many times this year her reaction speed seemed slow.
With S Cooks being eligible we have several options. Coach Schaefer has mentioned her as more of a back to the basket post with J Carter as the four and R Jackson at the three. That lineup would be extremely athletic and interchangeable. You could have Y Morris as the backup post and C Bibby as the backup four. Of course C Bibby has done a great job as a glue type player and will have another season to heal. Because of that I could see her starting over Cooks with Carter starting at the five.

[Ezsoil]

I think the eligibility only relates to spring sports...ie ...those that start in the spring like Baseball, softball, etc.

[captaindog]

That is correct. However there is some discussion of the winter sports as well. Regardless, even if she gets another season, I would be surprised if J Danberry returned. She is about to get her graduate degree and not sure if another season would help her draft stock.

[jdelta02]

Off-Season (Women's Basketball)

A possible point of emphasis for the women's basketball program during the off-season.......
Coach Schaefer's point guards have been outstanding the past few years with assist to turnover ratio (very well coached)...still need to much more develop their perimeter shooting abilities. My opinion, the point guard position being much more of a perimeter threat, scoring threat is a big key with this team. Not that they necessarily need to score a lot, but be versatile to what the team needs from them against various defensive schemes, ect. Also, the ability to consistently make pull-up jumpers (short, mid-range, long) as well. Key word...versatility. Would help a lot if these players put up as many perimeter shots as possible during the off-season. Team as a whole needs to work a lot on perimeter shooting (including mid-range and shorter jumpers. Also, helps give the guards more options than trying drive all of the way to the basket out of the weave, especially against packed in zones.

Suggestion (players): Heavy dose of putting up various perimeter shots during offseason, and shooting form adjustments when and if needed
Shoot, shoot, shoot........shoot, more shooting, shoot...........

[captaindog]

Being a point guard for Coach Schaefer is like being a ?systems quarterback?. His coaching of the point guard position places a bigger demand on the ability to grasp his system than it does pure talent. Of the current players A Matharu by far has the best perimeter shot as well as midrange shot and driving for layups. However I?m starting to think she is much valuable as a primary scorer. M William had a great perimeter game but would not always look to score first. A Matharu needs to be looking to score whenever possible. Hopefully M Taylor and J Mingo-Young will use the offseason to develop that part of their game.

[99jc]

[QUOTE=jdelta02;1237662]Best to the 2019-20 seniors.....
- Jordan Danderry (women"s team)
- Tyson Carter (men's team)
- EJ Datcher (men"s team)
- Mitchell Storm (men's team)
- Reggie Miller (men's team)

Men's Team
Deivon Smith- impact freshman point guard coming in for the men's team. Another newcomer, Tolu Smith has been projected as an impact player as well. With 1 season already in the system, Elias Kings is on course to contribute more next season. Expecting big freshman to sophomore jumps for DJ Stewart Jr and Iverson Molinar. Questions around the status of Robert Woodard and Reggie Perry moving forward. Abdul Ado is expected back for his senior season. Then you have K. Feazell, Prince Oduro, and Q. Post currently in the mix as well.

Women's Team
Currently...everyone is back except Jordan Danberry. Adding 2 freshmen signees (Hayes and Gaston), and 1 eligible transfer (S. Cooks). May add at least 1 more to this group. My opinion, the most improved player from the start of the season until the end of the SEC Tournament was Cochise College transfer Yemiyah Morris. Rickea Jackson and Aliyah Matharu pace the expected returnees....including Jessika Carter, Myah Taylor, Chloe Bibby, JaMya Mingo-Young, Xaria Wiggins, Andra Espinoza-Hunter, Jayla Hemingway, and Yemiyah Morris. Again, Morris has been coming on strong at center...she's the sleeper of this whole group.

Morris will not start at center Sidney Cooks will...but she will be a good backup.

[RocketDawg]

That is correct. However there is some discussion of the winter sports as well. Regardless, even if she gets another season, I would be surprised if J Danberry returned. She is about to get her graduate degree and not sure if another season would help her draft stock.

She could be the only WNBA player with a PhD.

[jdelta02]

I have Sidney Cooks as a starter as well. Wouldn't rule anything out on how the coaching staff utilizes her. Expect a very skilled, versatile frontcourt player with various capabilities. Strengths being her stretch 4 related abilities. Also, Coach Schaefer mentioned possibly switching her with Jessika Carter. These two kinda interchangeable.

Look for continued big strides in Y. Morris' progress over the off-season. Coach Schaefer has mentioned her as a possibility at the 5. Mentioned needing for her to be on the fast track, make a big jump from this past season to next. Coaching staff will utilize (when and as they see fit) various combinations regardless who starts the game. Also, don't forget about Chloe Bibby. Then you have newcomer DeYona' Gaston as well. In the past, when asked about his lineup, Coach Schaefer, at times....."see how practice goes." Indicated that his players really compete in practice. Remember Jessika Carter mentioning as well, that they compete hard in practice for minutes.

[jdelta02]

Off-season transfers starting to make themelves known

[MSUDawg4Life]

delete

[tcdog70]

Men's team
1. Nick
2.DJ
3. Tolu Smith
4-Ado
5. Woodard

with Molinar and Freshman Smith top 2 off the bench.

pretty damn good team.

[jdelta02]

Reported....

Devin Butts- transfer portal
Prince Oduro- transfer portal

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Reported....

Devin Butts- transfer portal
Prince Oduro- transfer portal
This is good.... neither were SEC talent.

[jdelta02]

Elias King- transfer portal

[ejdallas322]

Hope we try to hit the portal for a proven solid player

[jdelta02]

Coach Schaefer indicated in a recent interview that all of the players have gone back to their homes, including Chloe Bibby having recently flown back to Australia. Also, no reports of players transferring out.

Be good if the coaching staff would stay in regular contact with these players, helping to assist them through this, help provide guidance and resources, ect. Same with the athletic director and university (including university president) as a whole. Also, the SEC and NCAA can stepup and help these student athletes....being/having been sent home due to what's going on.

- Prayer
- Continue to check in on them, support, ect
- I've heard about the online classes
- Also, need the online tutoring, other resources (including financial)
- Online workout guidance and instructions
-See about them getting in contact with facilities, coaches, former coaches, trainers, ect....near them. These and others can possibly assist

Same for the men's team and the other sports. Keep an eye on the the incoming signees, commits, and recruits as well