Offseason 2020 (weirdest year)

[n.ogdencat]

Well, 2020 has been absolutely weird and that includes the transformation of Weber State Basketball. After Coach Rahes worst year leading the program and arguably, the third year in a row the program has slid a bit, Rahe decided to pull a 2007 and recreate the entire roster (he needed to get a couple new assistants and drop some of his antiquated approaches).

Recently, Wildcat fans were shocked to learn that developing and occasional starter Tim Fuller was transferring (no idea where he will end up). Two days later we know why after Denver big man and brother of former Wildcat recruit Emmanuel Nzekwesi, David Nzekwesi commited to Weber. We can argue a number of things but he does bring a bit more athleticism to the 5 position, along with Tavian Percy committing two days earlier.

Needless to say, (I like Bricks comment) I’ll definitely need a program next year. Regardless, the talent level and experience has been drastically increased. It really bugs me that there are no local/community ties (John, Morris, and Fuller ended that) on this team with Kham Davis being are most local guy, coming from Colorado.

Out of all the moves which ones are good, bad and just plain ugly? How competitive will we be? And lastly, does Randy right the sinking ship?

 

[Tube Socks]

It really bugs me about the lack of local ties as well, and I would argue with your statement that talent and experience have drastically increased. WSU have more upperclassmen for certain, but looking at most of them, there isn't much actual experience there and their stats are not impressive.

Let's start with Zahir Porter. Freshman year at NYIT played in one game, 18 minutes with 12 points, 2 threes and a steal. Dropped to a JC, at Independence he played in 28 games averaging 10 points on 40% shooting. He shot almost 33% from 3. Hardly impressive, especially considering this was a juco. Not an upgrade.

SEIKOU SISOHO JAWARA played in 29 games averaging 16 minutes as a freshman. He averaged 4 points of 44% shooting, 35% from 3. No other stats to speak of. He played more at the end of the season but the production still wasn't there. Fairly high level competition and he was just a freshman. At least he is a sophomore with more room to get better, but this is not very impressive either.

TAVIAN PERCY in two years at New Mexico averaged 7 minutes as a freshman and 10 minutes as a sophomore. Averaged about 1.5 points. No production at all. Decent shooting percentages as a sophomore but again, no shots. No significant stats at all. Not an upgrade.

ISIAH BROWN - This is the worst one in my mind. He has lots of experience, averaging 30 games a year, and 29 minutes a game last year at GCU, where he averaged 9 points on 43.5% shooting, 34% from 3. Good free throw shooter and almost 4 reb per game. Poor assists for a guard. Not a bad player but clearly nothing special especially for a grad transfer with only one year of eligibility. At least some of the other unimpressive recruits have time to get better.

BALINT MOCSAN this one in my mind is fine. We were not good with 3 point shooting last year, and that's what he brings 43% from deep and an excellent free throw shooter. Questions about defense and returning from an injury.

DONTAY BASSETT, grad transfer from Florida. Big time competition, but again, very little experience. As a freshman and sophomore he averaged 7 and 11 minutes respectively averaging about 2 points and 2 rebounds a game. Okay shooting percentage and poor FT percentage, just no production. In my mind the jury is out. Could be good with minutes, just not much to go on.

DARWESHI HUNTER seems like a good pickup. Situation reminds me of Davion Berry, really talented scorer at the DII level. 21 ppg as a career 51% shooter, 39 from 3. Almost 2 steals per game, almost 6 rebs per game. Three years left, if he can keep that level of production in the Big Sky he could be a fantastic player.

DAVID NZEKWESI played 2 years at Denver and as a sophomore averaged 17 minutes with 6 points on 43% shooting, 22% from 3. Poor FT shooting, 3 rebs and no real other stats to speak of. This isn't like Bassett where he wasn't getting minutes on a high level program, this is Denver, more like our own level. He wasn't getting great minutes and he wasn't producing much. Plus he looks out of shape in his pics and clips. He shoots the 3 (although not well) which Fuller could not do, but Fuller averaged 7 points and 5 rebs on 64% shooting in 20 minutes as a freshman. You tell me.

I did not want to lose Fuller, Zdor and Jordan and maybe Barnes off last year's team, feeling that without selfish guards and a terrible offense that enabled them, these players could really have contributed. You could say the same about them that I am saying about most of the transfers, that they are unproven, but there is something to be said for continuity in a program and the chance to develop with game opportunities. After trading out Fuller, it was kind of the last straw and I am not sure I will be there this year, and it takes a lot for me to say that. This team could be good but they could just as easily super suck like last year. So I disagree with Tal's statement about talent and experience upgrades. And I think there were and are much better players available in the portal than what we signed. I guess the question is whether they would play here.

 

[DeeScott]

Come on people, there hasn't been a basketball post since June 6, nearly two weeks! Is Weber basketball that unexciting?!

 

[oldrunner]

Come on people, there hasn't been a basketball post since June 6, nearly two weeks! Is Weber basketball that unexciting?!

This is no longer a basketball fan site. Unless you have something negative or devicive to say, don't come on this site. If you are an actual fan, you will need to find another way to communicate with like minded people.

 

[Brick3’s]

Come on people, there hasn't been a basketball post since June 6, nearly two weeks! Is Weber basketball that unexciting?!

I’m not sure what you expect. We hardly know any of the players. The Coaches don’t seem to care. Now we have Old’s saying we’re negative because we expect excellence from the program. It’s crazy to care more about the program than the program cares about its fans! Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

 

[DeeScott]

I was just hoping the guys were on campus, able to start workouts, and someone may have seen them. That's all. Could have worded that better.

 

[n.ogdencat]

I was just hoping the guys were on campus, able to start workouts, and someone may have seen them. That's all. Could have worded that better.

From what I have heard athletes can participate in voluntary workouts. If you keep your eyes pealed you might see a basketball player. However, most players have not returned to the university and are not scheduled to be here until after July 1. As for the football team, they have a more organized arrangement occur; yet, still on a voluntary and limited basis. Teams must conform to NCAA, state, county, and university health standards and policies.

However, as for the team, I'm cautiously optimistic. I really hope I'm not drinking too much of the purple kool-aid though. Last season, after becoming drunk on the purple stuff, I ended up eating a lot of crow. We were terrible. Personally, I think we have a lot of talent and are a lot taller and longer.

 

[BigWaldO]

Several of the players have now arrived and I heard from someone within the program that one of the new players has tested positive for COVID. Not sure how it will affect the teams summer plans but it seems a delay in training might make this offseason even weirder

 

[oldrunner]

Several of the players have now arrived and I heard from someone within the program that one of the new players has tested positive for COVID. Not sure how it will affect the teams summer plans but it seems a delay in training might make this offseason even weirder

If that is true, there would have to be some mandatory quarantining for that player and any contacts. If it was done right, there should not be very many contacts that happened before the test results were back. I think that the procedures in place did not allow for any full team meetings for the first three weeks. I think that test results are back within 4 or 5 days. I have heard that there are no team activities scheduled until after July 20th. That should leave plenty of time to work through this. Hopefully, this will just be a bump in the road and that nobody suffers any illness. I'm sure that the procedures were all set up anticipating that there would be positive test results on 1% to 3% of the student athlete population. Those are the estimates for the general population. The BSU football team had 15 positive, so I heard. Utah has been getting about 5% positive results and those are mostly just people with symptoms. About half, or so, of those with the virus don't have any symptoms.

 

[WSUfan1]

Several of the players have now arrived and I heard from someone within the program that one of the new players has tested positive for COVID. Not sure how it will affect the teams summer plans but it seems a delay in training might make this offseason even weirder

If that is true, there would have to be some mandatory quarantining for that player and any contacts. If it was done right, there should not be very many contacts that happened before the test results were back. I think that the procedures in place did not allow for any full team meetings for the first three weeks. I think that test results are back within 4 or 5 days. I have heard that there are no team activities scheduled until after July 20th. That should leave plenty of time to work through this. Hopefully, this will just be a bump in the road and that nobody suffers any illness. I'm sure that the procedures were all set up anticipating that there would be positive test results on 1% to 3% of the student athlete population. Those are the estimates for the general population. The BSU football team had 15 positive, so I heard. Utah has been getting about 5% positive results and those are mostly just people with symptoms. About half, or so, of those with the virus don't have any symptoms.

Thanks Doc! :lol:

 

[oldrunner]

Several of the players have now arrived and I heard from someone within the program that one of the new players has tested positive for COVID. Not sure how it will affect the teams summer plans but it seems a delay in training might make this offseason even weirder

If that is true, there would have to be some mandatory quarantining for that player and any contacts. If it was done right, there should not be very many contacts that happened before the test results were back. I think that the procedures in place did not allow for any full team meetings for the first three weeks. I think that test results are back within 4 or 5 days. I have heard that there are no team activities scheduled until after July 20th. That should leave plenty of time to work through this. Hopefully, this will just be a bump in the road and that nobody suffers any illness. I'm sure that the procedures were all set up anticipating that there would be positive test results on 1% to 3% of the student athlete population. Those are the estimates for the general population. The BSU football team had 15 positive, so I heard. Utah has been getting about 5% positive results and those are mostly just people with symptoms. About half, or so, of those with the virus don't have any symptoms.

Thanks Doc! :lol:

You're welcome. :lol:

 

[Brick3’s]

I want/need college hoops this season, but I find myself watching what Pope is doing at BYU more than the overhaul of Weber State hoops and I don’t even like BYU!

I think Rahe has made this a hard program to support! 2 or 3 returning players, running off mission kids. Hoping that the excitement of Weber State hoops returns someday! :wall: