The 20-21 College Basketball Season is almost upon us (assuming it even happens, I would set the O/U at actual games played at about 15 right now), and the Football season is circling the drain so I thought it would be a good time to talk about what the Pokes are going to look like this year.
Overall, a challenging situation for Linder to try to implement his program under COVID restrictions and then a program "pause". Combine that with 8 newcomers (7 of which have never played D1 ball) and I think the results may be a lacking a little bit this year, but I am still excited to see how it takes shape. Overall, the top of the league is very strong (BSU, USU, SDSU, UNLV) and the middle is solid (Nevada, CSU). To me, the league could be the strongest since 13-14 this year, but it will be tough to truly gauge due to COVID scheduling limitation in OOC play. With that in mind, I think we will see a lot of losses this year for the Pokes.
Even though I don't expect a lot of wins, I do expect to see development and the beginning stages of what Linder's program will look like at UW. We have a relatively young team who will still mostly have 2 or more years of eligibility after this year. I am sure there will be transfers, etc., but this could be our core for a couple of more years so it is a great opportunity to see a group develop together.
The rotation is a real mystery to me. A few things we know about Linder:
1. He wants to shoot 3's
2. He doesn't want the other team to shoot 3's.
3. He likes to use a primary ball handler to manage the high pick 'n roll to initiate possessions.
With that in mind, here is my guess at a rotation:
Starters:
G - Marcus Williams (Fr.) - Dunking against bad defense in a practice video doesn't impress me, but his High School highlights/accomplishments and the way the staff talks about him tells me that he has a high level of talent. There is a gap on this roster for a true primary ball handler (see #3 above) and he might be able to fill that gap and start as a True Freshman. Not sure if he starts the season as the starter, but I think he will be a heavy minutes guy from the very beginning.
G - Kwane Marble (So.) - I love the fight that he showed last year. Too often under AE we were a very passive team, but Marble doesn't play that way. A few Wyoming fans have speculated that Williams could be a Josh Adams type (maybe wait till he plays first), but Marble is the guy that embodies the attitude that Josh Adams played with. I am not sure how quickly he will adapt to Linder's system. He was our best player down the stretch with Maldo at less than 100% so expectations are high.
G - Hunter Maldonado (Jr.) - If Maldo and Thompson stick around for all their eligibility we are going to learn what it is like to be a BYU fan. Maldo is entering his 4th year in the program and he could play 6 if it all works out. An impact player on both sides of the floor when healthy, keeping him in good health is critical for this team. A young team needs someone that they can rely on down the stretch and that will be Maldo. Excited to see what he can do when fully healthy and with an offensive system that promotes space and play making.
F - Jeremiah Oden (Fr.) - I actually have no idea who will play this spot. A 4-guard lineup with Foster? Drew Lamont? In the absence of any real feel, I will pick the most exciting outcome. Oden is the highest profile recruit of the incoming class and one of our more high profile recruits in recent years. With his size and skills, would appear to be the perfect "4" man for the modern game and Jeff Linder. Might be a lot to ask a Freshman, but would sure be fun if he came in and excelled.
F/C -Hunter Thompson (Jr.) - Like Maldo, he will be ready for a pension by the time he leaves UW if he sticks around for his whole eligibility. The fit here is obvious, Linder likes his players to shoot 3's and Thompson likes to shoot 3's. The problem in previous years is that he really didn't make them at a high clip. How much of that was the offense and the quality of the shot? We will find out. If he can hit at a high percentage it could be a great fit. Can he rebound at even an acceptable level? I am not sure and our general lack of size and athleticism in the front court is my biggest concern for this team. I think we are still going to get worked on the glass. One thing to think about is that while we know Linder has been very complimentary of HT and his expressed his interest in having a big that can stretch the floor that isn't how he played at UNC. At UNC they played basically 40 minutes of a true big man that operated as a roll man, rim protector. We don't have that player right now, but if Nelson or Ike develop it will be interesting to see how it looks in future years.
Bench Rotation:
G - Kenny Foster (So.) - On paper, you would have to think Foster would be a starter and if I had to actually wager what Linder will do I would probably put Foster instead of Oden in and assume a 4-guard lineup. Regardless of whether or not he starts, Foster will be a high minute guy and a critical piece. Does his shooting come together?
G - Drake Jeffries (Jr.) - Skinny, but a good shooter and a good athlete. Seems like someone that could come off the bench in one game and hit (3) triples in a row and come in the next game and play 11 minutes without taking a shot.
F - Drew Lamont (Jr.) - Was a great shooter at the JC level so I expect to play some minutes at the 4 and even at the 5 even though he is not big enough for that. We just don't have a lot of options in the front court.
G - Xavier DuSell (Fr.) - Haven't heard as much about him as some of the other newcomers in the pre-season. Still seems like someone that could come in and really shoot the ball.
Limited Time:
F/C - Eoin Nelson (So.) - I want to be wrong about this one. Who doesn't love the idea of a big Irishman running the court and dunking on fools? Still, he played a modest role at Otero and it is a big jump from there to the MWC. This feels like more of a long term project.
F - John Grigsby (Fr.) - Originally a walk-on, will get Mueller's scholarship this year. Seems to have some nice potential, but probably not an immediate impact.
F/C - Graham Ike (Fr.) - Will not play in the early part of the season due to his injury recovery, but the option to extend eligibility allows for the possibility that he may play later in the year. I am very excited about his long term potential.
How does everyone else see the rotation?
Overall, a challenging situation for Linder to try to implement his program under COVID restrictions and then a program "pause". Combine that with 8 newcomers (7 of which have never played D1 ball) and I think the results may be a lacking a little bit this year, but I am still excited to see how it takes shape. Overall, the top of the league is very strong (BSU, USU, SDSU, UNLV) and the middle is solid (Nevada, CSU). To me, the league could be the strongest since 13-14 this year, but it will be tough to truly gauge due to COVID scheduling limitation in OOC play. With that in mind, I think we will see a lot of losses this year for the Pokes.
Even though I don't expect a lot of wins, I do expect to see development and the beginning stages of what Linder's program will look like at UW. We have a relatively young team who will still mostly have 2 or more years of eligibility after this year. I am sure there will be transfers, etc., but this could be our core for a couple of more years so it is a great opportunity to see a group develop together.
The rotation is a real mystery to me. A few things we know about Linder:
1. He wants to shoot 3's
2. He doesn't want the other team to shoot 3's.
3. He likes to use a primary ball handler to manage the high pick 'n roll to initiate possessions.
With that in mind, here is my guess at a rotation:
Starters:
G - Marcus Williams (Fr.) - Dunking against bad defense in a practice video doesn't impress me, but his High School highlights/accomplishments and the way the staff talks about him tells me that he has a high level of talent. There is a gap on this roster for a true primary ball handler (see #3 above) and he might be able to fill that gap and start as a True Freshman. Not sure if he starts the season as the starter, but I think he will be a heavy minutes guy from the very beginning.
G - Kwane Marble (So.) - I love the fight that he showed last year. Too often under AE we were a very passive team, but Marble doesn't play that way. A few Wyoming fans have speculated that Williams could be a Josh Adams type (maybe wait till he plays first), but Marble is the guy that embodies the attitude that Josh Adams played with. I am not sure how quickly he will adapt to Linder's system. He was our best player down the stretch with Maldo at less than 100% so expectations are high.
G - Hunter Maldonado (Jr.) - If Maldo and Thompson stick around for all their eligibility we are going to learn what it is like to be a BYU fan. Maldo is entering his 4th year in the program and he could play 6 if it all works out. An impact player on both sides of the floor when healthy, keeping him in good health is critical for this team. A young team needs someone that they can rely on down the stretch and that will be Maldo. Excited to see what he can do when fully healthy and with an offensive system that promotes space and play making.
F - Jeremiah Oden (Fr.) - I actually have no idea who will play this spot. A 4-guard lineup with Foster? Drew Lamont? In the absence of any real feel, I will pick the most exciting outcome. Oden is the highest profile recruit of the incoming class and one of our more high profile recruits in recent years. With his size and skills, would appear to be the perfect "4" man for the modern game and Jeff Linder. Might be a lot to ask a Freshman, but would sure be fun if he came in and excelled.
F/C -Hunter Thompson (Jr.) - Like Maldo, he will be ready for a pension by the time he leaves UW if he sticks around for his whole eligibility. The fit here is obvious, Linder likes his players to shoot 3's and Thompson likes to shoot 3's. The problem in previous years is that he really didn't make them at a high clip. How much of that was the offense and the quality of the shot? We will find out. If he can hit at a high percentage it could be a great fit. Can he rebound at even an acceptable level? I am not sure and our general lack of size and athleticism in the front court is my biggest concern for this team. I think we are still going to get worked on the glass. One thing to think about is that while we know Linder has been very complimentary of HT and his expressed his interest in having a big that can stretch the floor that isn't how he played at UNC. At UNC they played basically 40 minutes of a true big man that operated as a roll man, rim protector. We don't have that player right now, but if Nelson or Ike develop it will be interesting to see how it looks in future years.
Bench Rotation:
G - Kenny Foster (So.) - On paper, you would have to think Foster would be a starter and if I had to actually wager what Linder will do I would probably put Foster instead of Oden in and assume a 4-guard lineup. Regardless of whether or not he starts, Foster will be a high minute guy and a critical piece. Does his shooting come together?
G - Drake Jeffries (Jr.) - Skinny, but a good shooter and a good athlete. Seems like someone that could come off the bench in one game and hit (3) triples in a row and come in the next game and play 11 minutes without taking a shot.
F - Drew Lamont (Jr.) - Was a great shooter at the JC level so I expect to play some minutes at the 4 and even at the 5 even though he is not big enough for that. We just don't have a lot of options in the front court.
G - Xavier DuSell (Fr.) - Haven't heard as much about him as some of the other newcomers in the pre-season. Still seems like someone that could come in and really shoot the ball.
Limited Time:
F/C - Eoin Nelson (So.) - I want to be wrong about this one. Who doesn't love the idea of a big Irishman running the court and dunking on fools? Still, he played a modest role at Otero and it is a big jump from there to the MWC. This feels like more of a long term project.
F - John Grigsby (Fr.) - Originally a walk-on, will get Mueller's scholarship this year. Seems to have some nice potential, but probably not an immediate impact.
F/C - Graham Ike (Fr.) - Will not play in the early part of the season due to his injury recovery, but the option to extend eligibility allows for the possibility that he may play later in the year. I am very excited about his long term potential.
How does everyone else see the rotation?
