Bench issues

[LDopaPDX]

I don't post much here because I'm admittedly not a basketball guy.. but with that said, does it appear a bit alarming to anyone else that we're only about 6 players deep?

It seems like Sir Washington / Julian Harrell are relatively interchangeable at guard, but beyond that, it doesn't seem like we have much talent behind our starters. IF- big if- we stay healthy and avoid foul trouble, we could conceivably win many more games. However, it does seem like we have very little to depend on behind our top 6 and not much on the shelf for next year.

Does anyone see it differently? Do we have some big time redshirts in waiting? Or are we highly dependent on recruiting or getting some transfers for next Fall?

 

[93bird]

This is a good question. There are a lot of guys in street clothes on our bench, and I have no idea about their potential. However, we have some young guys in uniform that pass the eye test. Gibson, and Henderson come to mind first. I think Benzel and Ferris could continue to develop as good shooters too. With Blizzy as a junior, and Felix a senior, we'll still have some talent. The big need will be at point guard. McBroom has been great and I don't see anyone filling his shoes right now. Also, Venky's defensive toughness will be tough to reproduce. First things first. Win back to back Big Sky titles.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

93 Bird,
Here are the ones not suited up. #10 Michael Wearne FR 175lbs, 6'2" (Expected to Redshirt) From Australia, I tease him about I didn't know we had Brothers down under, seemed like a very nice individual. I would say that about all our Players (very nice individuals. #12 Grant Gibb 6'5" FR 185 from
Longview, WA, #22 Rico Nuno JC 6'8" 250lbs , from Diablo Valley Col, Half Moon Bay, Calif. He played earlier, but now have a broken foot, on Crutches. #40 Geremy McKay TR 6'7" 225 lbs from Australia, University of Albany) Have to sit out 2015. #40 Mario Soto 6'6" 205lbs, TR from Calif, Concordia (Irvine)Expected to Redshirt. 5 Players will be ready for next year. The young man that I fell in love with his playing when I first saw him, was #34 Jesse Hunt FR 6'7" 210lbs, from Australia, (Sir Francis Drake High, Calif, 15), looked great out of High School, until he got hurt in one of the games, he is slowly coming back.
10 Straight, need some help to take down Montana, and it could be a very great year for the Eagles. Go Eagles!!!!! Vic Wallace

 

[marceagfan5]

I don't post much here because I'm admittedly not a basketball guy.. but with that said, does it appear a bit alarming to anyone else that we're only about 6 players deep?

It seems like Sir Washington / Julian Harrell are relatively interchangeable at guard, but beyond that, it doesn't seem like we have much talent behind our starters. IF- big if- we stay healthy and avoid foul trouble, we could conceivably win many more games. However, it does seem like we have very little to depend on behind our top 6 and not much on the shelf for next year.

Does anyone see it differently? Do we have some big time redshirts in waiting? Or are we highly dependent on recruiting or getting some transfers for next Fall?

We have a ton of freshman this year, our bench is full of them. Besides Reid, Nuno, and Washington, everyone else on the Bench is a freshman, and Nuno and Washington are only sophomores....

Our Freshman will be good players, they just need to get some more playing time, which will happen next year with the departure of Mcbroom and Jois. We have some talent, its just really young right now. Hayford does a great job and brining in 4/5 year kids, I think the problem was he brought in a ton of youth his first two years and now those kids are all Seniors and Juniors, so we have some gaps to fill...

 

[Rafter_Reese]

This is a good question. There are a lot of guys in street clothes on our bench, and I have no idea about their potential. However, we have some young guys in uniform that pass the eye test. Gibson, and Henderson come to mind first. I think Benzel and Ferris could continue to develop as good shooters too. With Blizzy as a junior, and Felix a senior, we'll still have some talent. The big need will be at point guard. McBroom has been great and I don't see anyone filling his shoes right now. Also, Venky's defensive toughness will be tough to reproduce. First things first. Win back to back Big Sky titles.

I have heard Hayford say that redshirt point guard Michael Wearne was considered to be one of the top 2 points guards coming out of Australia in his class. I know Hayford is very high on that kid. Quite a few schools were looking at him. He could be something special. I have a feeling Mario Soto is going to be a great shooter as well. He's a 6'6" guard that Hayford says has "great skill as a shooter." I can already see the eags putting Felix (6'5") in one corner, and Soto (6'6") in the opposite corner. Let Blizzard and Harrell drive and kick and the eags should once again be lethal from outside letting those guys shoot over the top of smaller guards. Not to mention when Benzel comes in to do his thing. Eags also signed what appears to be the 68th best shooting guard in America according to ESPN. That's a pretty high ranking for a Big Sky recruit. He is 6'4" and his name is Jacob Davison. Website below.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/databaseresults/_/page/3/sportid/18/class/2016/position/SG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bottom line is that we are really going to miss Venky though. I'm hoping Geremy McKay can bring some of the same energy that Venky brings night in and night out. It will be hard to replace his explosiveness. There's not many guys out there like him. I believe that if we are going to continue to be a force in the Big Sky we are going to need to find guys like Jois. To me, it's more about toughness than finesse. You can be a great shooting team all day long, but without some defensive attitude, it's going to be hard to win year-in and year-out against the great teams. Just my :twocents: . Anyways, there are some difference makers on the bench right now. The Big Deal is that we have Blizzard back for 2 more years. We can run the offense through that kid all day long. He has one of the most unique skill sets I've ever seen come through the halls of EWU. Truly an eventual Big Sky MVP.

go eags!

 

[EWURanger]

Earlier on in the season, we were seeing a lot more guys coming off the bench. That seems to have changed some since BSC play started...not sure what the change in approach is. It's a given that Sir Washington is going to get solid minutes as a 6th man coming off the bench, but after that it's anyone's guess.

Agree that we have what looks to be some great freshman talent, both guys that are playing and guys redshirting. On Wearne, I believe he had to get surgery earlier this year, otherwise he may have played this year.