Next Years Team

[Phantom]

And lookie here, we have...good roster problems Still on paper of course as we sit here on May 5, but already this team has a completely different and better look. Pedon's getting his dudes. This could be fun. Let's Go!!

 

[ScoreboardDotRace]

Foster is a heck of a use of the final scholarship. I think with his actual in game stats and our other potential/opportunity signees the birds should be preseason middle of the pack. Props to the staff for the portal season.

Think King Rice said some nice things about his time at ISU to Myles?

 

[DBird]

Don't overlook the incoming freshmen. Sooner or later next season I think there are some decent meaningful minutes for them.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Foster is a heck of a use of the final scholarship. I think with his actual in game stats and our other potential/opportunity signees the birds should be preseason middle of the pack. Props to the staff for the portal season.

Think King Rice said some nice things about his time at ISU to Myles?

Who are your four teams in the top four? And Why?

 

[Hamdonger]

What I like most about this roster is that it will present a very competitive environment and everyone will have to fight for their jobs/playing time. Even the returnees. Ideally, we get better as a result and team chemistry flourishes...hopefully...which we desperately need. Sounds good on 'paper,' anyway.

Congratulations to the coaching staff!

 

[Aggie]

Foster, Lewis and Banks probably start. Some games you may start the seven footer with them and just use a point guard, other games you start two guards. This allows the freshman to get at it at a pace where they can last out the season. No slump near the end of conference play. Lewis and Banks may be that forward/guard combo and one point guard and another big. That to me is an interesting lineup.

 

[MadBird]

But just a pail of cold water - I've tried to stay positive about Davis, but I've got three seasons of seeing him just being another guy, losing his starting job to a skinny freshman (who can score from all over and gave UW the boost Davis couldn't). Foster, you know, I'm reminded of our transfer from San Jose St., Mr. Fisher, came from a program with a couple seasons of miserable records and never really kicked in for us (not a total washout) - Foster comes to us from a 7-26 Monmouth team (much better the year before). Lieb, could hardly get any PT at all. So, hopefully they'll find what they're looking for here, MVC will suit them, Pedon will use them right and his scheme will fit, etc.

Okay, thanks, I needed that. Back to the kool-aid.

Happy Cinco de Mayo all!

 

[BirdGrad2011]

But just a pail of cold water - I've tried to stay positive about Davis, but I've got three seasons of seeing him just being another guy, losing his starting job to a skinny freshman (who can score from all over and gave UW the boost Davis couldn't). Foster, you know, I'm reminded of our transfer from San Jose St., Mr. Fisher, came from a program with a couple seasons of miserable records and never really kicked in for us (not a total washout) - Foster comes to us from a 7-26 Monmouth team (much better the year before). Lieb, could hardly get any PT at all. So, hopefully they'll find what they're looking for here, MVC will suit them, Pedon will use them right and his scheme will fit, etc.

Okay, thanks, I needed that. Back to the kool-aid.

Happy Cinco de Mayo all!

This is a flawed way of looking at some of these guys. Lieb couldn’t find PT because he was behind Coleman Hawkins then Kofi Cockburn or Dain Dainja. He looked solid when he did find the floor. Then comparing Keith Fisher and Foster is another flaw. Fisher averaged 10 and 6 in his only year here after only playing one at SJSU. I’ll take that about every time.

You may be right about Davis, but this also isn’t the B1G. He won’t be in the shadow of what his brother accomplished. The change in scenery could do wonders. Look at a guy like Darnell Brodie. He was awful in his 2 years at Seton Hall. Only became basically a 3 year starter and dominate force at Drake. We can pick and choose success stories and failures, but to project only the bad on these kids is unfair.

 

[Adunk33]

Yes. I would start them both. They are better at basketball than the 3 guys who are listed as 5's. And I don't have a lot of faith in the 5's not getting in QUICK foul trouble.
A question. Is a slimmed-down Walker a 5? I'm not a huge fan of these numbers anyway but if it's me I'm starting Lewis, Foster and rotating in Sissoko, and Walker and using Lieb when I have to. Those 4 kids are pretty damn athletic.

Foster and Lewis play the same position. Now, both of them could start and bring in Lieb/Walker off the bench to move to a "more traditional" line up and give opposing teams different looks. To me, Lewis is not a 3, especially in Pedon's system. He has shown the ability to hit the three ball a couple years back but really focused on getting in the paint and mid-range last season. That'll be his bread and butter. If you have Lewis at 3, Foster at 4 and say, Lieb at 5 inside the perimeters is going to be jam packed with bodies that will lead to many on the board saying "all we do is shoot 3s."

Some interesting quotes in here from Coach P (https://goredbirds.com/news/2023/5/5/mens-basketball-myles-foster-signs-to-play-for-isu.aspx)- one of his favorite things about Foster is....his potential. I'm not saying he won't be in a key role, just that I think Lewis has a proven track record. Yes, streaky at times but he was an 11/7.3 guy last year, mostly without a true 5. He's got a couple of them this year to work around and help out on the glass. To answer your question about Chase, a slimmed down Walker is still 280 (and improving-I believe they want him to play at 260), so I'm gonna say yeah, still a true 5.

Give JK the keys!

I've got Banks listed as the day 1 starter until JK gets his feet under him. Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Johnny starting by January. I'm with you, all for giving him the keys but there is something to learn with the calmness we've seen Banks play with over the years. Always seemed to control the flow of the game when he was in there.

Don't overlook the incoming freshmen. Sooner or later next season I think there are some decent meaningful minutes for them.

I think there will be a really interesting battle between Luke, Mal, and Ty for off guard/wing PT.

Practices will be insanely competitive next season. In scrimmages, you'll have 10 guys out there that are all D1 caliber as opposed with 5 walk-ons like they had a few years ago. Summer school starts May 22. You have to be enrolled in order to participate in official team activities.

 

[DaveBird10]

So I think Foster will start next to Lewis partially because I think they are your 2 best bigs/post players and a lot of that is based off of Sissoko started 11 games next to KLew and Sissoko is only listed at 6'7 himself. Either way those 2 will be in the game together a lot because of what they bring to the game.
Klew averaged 7.3rpg and Foster 6.6 so that's your 2 best rebounders and Lieb as the 3rd big. If we aren't controlling the boards next year then that will be disappointing. A shocking stat is Burford at 6ft was our 3rd leading rebounder last year at 3.7 which is great for a 6ft guard.

 

[FriscoBird90]

Steel sharpens steel. The incoming freshmen will practice against and with a stronger roster than that which was on paper just a few weeks ago, and that might make them better, sooner.

 

[Redbird222]

Certainly a fair point that I’ve thought about. In your mind, do you see them playing small ball with Lewis at the 5 and Foster at the 4 or do you see Foster dethroning “the general” and team captain, Klew?

Could be starting the game small and having a 7 footer coming off the bench to give teams completely different looks…I don’t hate that idea either.

I think the latter. I actually think Myles is the 5 and Lewis is still the 4.

 

[ScoreboardDotRace]

Who are your four teams in the top four? And Why?

I haven’t followed along with changes during the portal season for other teams. I still think Northern Iowa, Indy State…plus Drake and Bradley have gotten some decent guys too?

I’m just not slating ISU up there yet. Still too many variables for me.

Feel better than a few weeks ago.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Are we done recruiting?
Will Foster committing send Ryan Schmitt to the Portal? If Coach P could get another quality transfers does he convince Ryan to move on?

 

[Bird Friend]

Are we done recruiting?
Will Foster committing send Ryan Schmitt to the Portal? If Coach P could get another quality transfers does he convince Ryan to move on?

My guess is Pedon’s done for this year, regardless of what Schmitt does. He’s got 7 new guys to mesh with 6 returners. I think that is it.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

I haven’t followed along with changes during the portal season for other teams. I still think Northern Iowa, Indy State…plus Drake and Bradley have gotten some decent guys too?

I’m just not slating ISU up there yet. Still too many variables for me.

Feel better than a few weeks ago.

Northern Iowa and Belmont are the only ones at this moment I would put at #1 and #2. Other than that I’m not sure I see a solid #3 I would put over the Redbirds at the #3 spot.

 

[redbirdron1]

I am of the opinion Pedon wants Schmitt to get his degree here at ISU. I believe he is 17 hours short following spring semester.
IMO, Pedon has put a fair share of time into who leaves and who he shoulders to stay.

 

[Manchester Matt]

Northern Iowa and Belmont are the only ones at this moment I would put at #1 and #2. Other than that I’m not sure I see a solid #3 I would put over the Redbirds at the #3 spot.

Indiana State is going to be pretty damn good.

 

[cubird]

Depending on injuries, you are not playing all 13 guys big minutes once the conference season begins. Ideally this year's team will have a set 8 or 9 man rotation, guys outside that rotation that are ready for limited PT, and the ease of developing the freshman. We don't want to be in a position of having to play walk ons this year. As for Ryan, he bust his ass and is fundamentally sound. H

 

[Bird Friend]

One way too early prediction: