2017-18 PSU Men's BB Thread

[Tom McAndrew]

Inside The Hall: 2017-2018 ITH Season Preview -- Penn State Nittany Lions

GoPSUsports.com: Penn State MBB Holds First Practice

Black Shoe Diaries: How Many Wins Does Penn State Need to Make The NCAA Tournament?

 

[bison13]

Most athletic team in a long time but need to knock down a much higher percentage of shots. That starts with getting the offense initiated much earlier in the shot clock and turning defense in to offense with more pressure. Hopefully the sophomores all step up.

 

[bdgan]

I think PSU is short two players. A big PF that can score down low and a good perimeter shooter.

Carr. Stevens, & Watkins should be better in year two. I expect Reaves & Garner to perform similar to last year. I'm not sure if we have anybody to replace Banks' 3 pt shooting. Pierce is interesting but he's no a wide body. Is Wheeler a perimeter shooter?

 

[BisbeeMike]

I don't have Reaves stats but if I'm not mistaken he did shoot the ball slightly better last year, than the year before. If he can take another step forward?

 

[paulrandythomas]

I think PSU is short two players. A big PF that can score down low and a good perimeter shooter.

Carr. Stevens, & Watkins should be better in year two. I expect Reaves & Garner to perform similar to last year. I'm not sure if we have anybody to replace Banks' 3 pt shooting. Pierce is interesting but he's no a wide body. Is Wheeler a perimeter shooter?

THIS. We are lacking a dead eye shooter from long and a bruiser inside. Better than we have been in a while, but will enter the season and probably finish on the NCAA bubble level. The future is bright, but we aren't quite there and are missing a piece or two.

 

[bdgan]

THIS. We are lacking a dead eye shooter from long and a bruiser inside. Better than we have been in a while, but will enter the season and probably finish on the NCAA bubble level. The future is bright, but we aren't quite there and are missing a piece or two.

Watkins averaged 10 pts and 8 rebounds last year. He could be one of the best in the B1G by his junior year. Like you said we need a bruiser to complement him and there is no such person on the roster. Stevens could also be great as he gets bigger but he's a SF, not a bruising PF.

Carr is a nice player but his best offense seems to be using his size to shoot over smaller guards in the paint. I have no idea what to think of Wheeler. Garner regressed last year. Reaves is a solid defender but not a great scorer.

Last year's recruiting class was a huge disappointment. PSU has 3 very good freshmen and there was a great opportunity to add a sharpshooter and a bruiser to put this team in the top 1/3 of the B1G. Now we need to hope Buttrick or Harrar outperform. By the time the fab 3 become seniors.

 

[AWS1022]

THIS. We are lacking a dead eye shooter from long and a bruiser inside. Better than we have been in a while, but will enter the season and probably finish on the NCAA bubble level. The future is bright, but we aren't quite there and are missing a piece or two.

Oh boy, the future is bright again....years and years of looking ahead to next year...much like Pitt football.

 

[paulrandythomas]

Watkins averaged 10 pts and 8 rebounds last year. He could be one of the best in the B1G by his junior year. Like you said we need a bruiser to complement him and there is no such person on the roster. Stevens could also be great as he gets bigger but he's a SF, not a bruising PF.

Carr is a nice player but his best offense seems to be using his size to shoot over smaller guards in the paint. I have no idea what to think of Wheeler. Garner regressed last year. Reaves is a solid defender but not a great scorer.

Last year's recruiting class was a huge disappointment. PSU has 3 very good freshmen and there was a great opportunity to add a sharpshooter and a bruiser to put this team in the top 1/3 of the B1G. Now we need to hope Buttrick or Harrar outperform. By the time the fab 3 become seniors.

Agreed bdgan, for the record I have only missed a handful of home games in the last 25 years, I am dying for these dudes to succeed. Stevens and Carr are players, Watkins must contribute, Reaves and Garner may have diminished roles but are crucial. It's there..... maybe. May depend on the young guys as to what they can bring.

 

[bison13]

Banks was not as good as man on here make him out to be. Terrible defender, no offensive game outside of spot up 3's and the only two conference teams he scored more than 12 were Illinois and Rutgres. Only other good games were Colgate and Mason. Did nothing against quality teams, scored 48 points in all of February if you take away the Illinois game, thats just over 5 a game on 10-47 from 3.

They now have the athletes to play more aggressive on D and get some more layups. They also are big, though not powerful inside, Moore and Paige can protect the rim. I would play some more zone and try to trap out of it, seems liek Reaves, Carr, Bostick would excel in it.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Watkins averaged 10 pts and 8 rebounds last year. He could be one of the best in the B1G by his junior year. Like you said we need a bruiser to complement him and there is no such person on the roster. Stevens could also be great as he gets bigger but he's a SF, not a bruising PF.

Carr is a nice player but his best offense seems to be using his size to shoot over smaller guards in the paint. I have no idea what to think of Wheeler. Garner regressed last year. Reaves is a solid defender but not a great scorer.

Last year's recruiting class was a huge disappointment. PSU has 3 very good freshmen and there was a great opportunity to add a sharpshooter and a bruiser to put this team in the top 1/3 of the B1G. Now we need to hope Buttrick or Harrar outperform. By the time the fab 3 become seniors.

Spot on...

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Penn Live: Cheltenham's Jack Clark sets commitment date; Penn State in the mix for rising prospect

 

[BlueBand]

Penn Live: Cheltenham's Jack Clark sets commitment date; Penn State in the mix for rising prospect

Recruiting is going backwards.

 

[Raffycorn]

This is the most talented roster, IMO, since Penn State joined the Big Ten. It's not a perfect roster, yes, and there are weaknesses - Pierce looked encouraging in the Bahamas, and Shep has got to be that consistent deep threat - but it's still a better, deeper roster than even the early Jerry Dunn teams with Lisicky, Earl and Booth. The conference is probably deeper than it was then, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.

 

[LionJim]

I don't have Reaves stats but if I'm not mistaken he did shoot the ball slightly better last year, than the year before. If he can take another step forward?

Went from .077 to .322 in 3-point percentage. Much better but he really needs to get this up to .390 minimum. I'd be surprised if that doesn't happen.

Reaves's Statistics

 

[bdgan]

Went from .077 to .322 in 3-point percentage. Much better but he really needs to get this up to .390 minimum. I'd be surprised if that doesn't happen.

Reaves's Statistics

Reeves might improve but expecting him to be a major 3 pt threat is quite optimistic.

 

[NittanyPirate]

They took their lumps last year. This year they will be the ones dealing them out.
23 total wins, 12 conference wins, and a 6 or 7 seed in the NCAAs

 

[mfb5053]

Banks was not as good as man on here make him out to be. Terrible defender, no offensive game outside of spot up 3's and the only two conference teams he scored more than 12 were Illinois and Rutgres. Only other good games were Colgate and Mason. Did nothing against quality teams, scored 48 points in all of February if you take away the Illinois game, thats just over 5 a game on 10-47 from 3.

They now have the athletes to play more aggressive on D and get some more layups. They also are big, though not powerful inside, Moore and Paige can protect the rim. I would play some more zone and try to trap out of it, seems liek Reaves, Carr, Bostick would excel in it.

Banks used to frustrate me to no end. He would chuck up garbage all the time and was always a liability on D.

 

[LionJim]

Reeves might improve but expecting him to be a major 3 pt threat is quite optimistic.

He'll never get to .450, if that's what you mean. But, really, .390 is well within his reach.

 

[NewYC]

Inside The Hall: 2017-2018 ITH Season Preview -- Penn State Nittany Lions

GoPSUsports.com: Penn State MBB Holds First Practice

Black Shoe Diaries: How Many Wins Does Penn State Need to Make The NCAA Tournament?

Having another big body and scoring threat underneath would be big, but without a consistent 3 point sharp shooter I have my doubts they can do enough to make the NCAA. Hopefully someone's shooting became more consistent in the off season.

 

[bdgan]

He'll never get to .450, if that's what you mean. But, really, .390 is well within his reach.

He's not a spot up shooter. He had 19 3s last year. Some teams have kids that make over 100.

 

[fairfaxlion2]

This is the most talented roster, IMO, since Penn State joined the Big Ten. It's not a perfect roster, yes, and there are weaknesses - Pierce looked encouraging in the Bahamas, and Shep has got to be that consistent deep threat - but it's still a better, deeper roster than even the early Jerry Dunn teams with Lisicky, Earl and Booth. The conference is probably deeper than it was then, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.

Agree. Most talented roster in 20 years. Of course, there have been some really lean times in that stretch.

 

[Erial_Lion]

but it's still a better, deeper roster than even the early Jerry Dunn teams with Lisicky, Earl and Booth. The conference is probably deeper than it was then, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.

Disagree completely, I feel good about the starting five, but depth is the big concern. That 95-96 team had WAY more depth than this team, going 10 deep with two good guards in Donovan Williams and McKnight, a banger in Big House, another big with Metzger, and a youngster in Jarrett Stephens that got better every game.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

They took their lumps last year. This year they will be the ones dealing them out.
23 total wins, 12 conference wins, and a 6 or 7 seed in the NCAAs

Love your optimism.....but it's not happening in 2017-8.