ESPN Blue Ribbon preview: VCU

Great write-up....gotta give that ESPN group some credit for actually covering most every aspect of this years team.

I would imagine the info on the rest of the CAA is equally well thought out and concise.,
 
well it's well researched and thorough because Litos wrote the previews for Blue Ribbon. So not shocking that they'd be fact-filled and pretty darn funny.
 
By far the most informative and best written pre season analysis of the Rams that I have seen.
 
Half-baked Mcbride said:
Great write-up....gotta give that ESPN group some credit for actually covering most every aspect of this years team.

I would imagine the info on the rest of the CAA is equally well thought out and concise.,
Click to expand...

I do have and insider account - Just do not know the politics of what and how much of the article I can post?
Let me know and I will cut and paste some snipits tonight.
 
Like he said, if anyone wants the Insider on any of the other teams I will be happy to PM them to you, unless an admin gives me the thumbs up to cut and paste the entire articles on the board. If so I will.
 
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS: OLD DOMINION
BACKCOURT: A
BENCH/DEPTH: A
FRONTCOURT: A-
INTANGIBLES: A

ODU is replacing first team All-CAA performer Gerald Lee, a four-year mainstay for the Monarchs. Taylor knows his two biggest wild cards are the maturation of Bazemore and the ability of Carter to let his talent play every night.

"With the graduation of Gerald, we'll see what [Carter] can bring to the table," Taylor said.

Still, ODU is heavy on chemistry and appears to have the senior leadership that allows it to flourish.

"This group has the chance to leave with more wins than any senior class in the history of the school, and that's something to work toward," Taylor said. "The key is to do what we did last year -- we didn't want player of the week; we wanted to be the team of the week. We don't get caught up in [external] goals. We pride ourselves on being tough to beat every night and keep to our core values in terms of our work and of honoring defense."
 
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS: George Mason Patriots
BACKCOURT: B+
BENCH/DEPTH: A-
FRONTCOURT: A-
INTANGIBLES: B


Piranhas may have gotten Mason, not sharks. The Patriots weren't a horrible shooting team nor a terrible defensive unit. However they were last in the conference and 312th nationally in free-throw percentage (.642) and 11th in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio (11.8 apg, 13.7 tpg). Those are killers in a conference known for two-possession games with three minutes to play.

"The very, very first thing for us to improve upon is defense and rebounding the ball," Larranaga said . "If we just do those two things, we'll be dramatically improved. We weren't even close to playing the kind of defense that can win the CAA. There were several teams that were better than us in that respect, and it's a point of emphasis."

The talent is there to make a run at the conference title, and the Patriots will be in the hunt. A true point guard and a little mental toughness will go a long way.
 
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS: OUCH!!!
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: D
FRONTCOURT: D
INTANGIBLES: C

Peterson may end up playing a four guard lineup borne not from strategy but from necessity. He entered the school year with only two players taller than 6-5 on the roster. There is the physical toll of rebounding disadvantages and problems guarding taller players at every position. Then there is the emotional toll of those bigger and stronger players pushing you around for 40 minutes.

Still, Tomko, Grant, and Rendleman have the talent to keep UNCW competitive.

"It will be a challenge, but at the same time we've got to stay positive and look at the long run," Peterson said. "Positive things are going to happen for us. I don't like losing. I don't like that at all."
 
ODU deeper than us? I beg to differ. But then again that's just my opinion.

We have guard depth out the ying yang and if the freshmen bigs develop nicely we will have decent depth there as well.
 
how can odu get an A for the backcourt that cannot shoot the 3? In their exhibition against a rebuilding Va State squad, odpu was 0-11 from behind the arc. No wonder they rebound so "well", there are plenty to be had...
 
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