Regarding Bacon....he transferred in from Coppin so it make take him some time to adjust to A10 level of play.....and certainly Bad Boy Mower level of play. If this had not been a Covid year, he may have sat out this season to work on his game with the team in practice. Now he gets an extra year and gets to actually learn - on the job - as in real games this year.
As for Stockard, I think he is still trying to get used to our speed and style of play. He certainly has skills and once he gets used to our speed and style, he will contribute even more.
Meanwhile both Ward and Corey are doing a great job for us under the basket. Throw in Brown-Jones, Levi, and Bacon as they build their way into our game........Our front court is looking great. Hopefully we stay injury free.
What BRF said. I am not at all discouraged about BMB. Remember, the plan was to shirt him this year, let him work on his body and get used to higher level basketball. He was the best thing about a low level, low achieving team last year and is still climbing a steep learning curve. Throw him in there against soon-to-be-NBA level players on the front line, and SURPRISE he gets pushed around. He may never develop -- things happen -- but it is silly to draw conclusions at this point.
My main takeaways from the last 3 days:
1. We hit on ALL FOUR freshmen. Watching Ace in his first 3 games as a college freshmen, going vs NCAAT teams, with his 3:1 assist/turnover ratio has me giddy and seeing visions of a young Ed Sherod. And Jamir, Josh, and MBJ all showed to be big enough for the moment right out of the box. Which brings me to . . .
2. This team is 100% dog. There were times in games 1 and 2 when a more fragile team (like some very recent VCU teams) would have just retreated. Down 10 or up 10, this team had the same game face. No pouting, no resignation, just
dog. It is so refreshing, and really so shocking, to see a team with NINE underclassmen be so tenacious regardless of score.
3. Regarding the front line, aside from BMB mentioned above. You do realize that after a poor rebounding performance vs the NBA-bound bigs from WVa that we out-rebounded Memphis, don't you? Corey and Hasan were outstanding, especially given the level of competition. Cisse was the #10 recruit in the country last year, has a 7'4" wingspan and was
thoroughly outplayed by Hasan. Look at the stat sheet; it is all there.
4. I cannot wait for Wednesday. I watch every game cognizant of the fact that it may be the last game of the season, and I take it on its own terms. If there is a completed season, I like our chances to be playing meaningful games when it ends. If there isn't, I know that the nucleus of this team is going to be with us for years, growing together. I CANNOT WAIT!