Comments

You know even I was a little bit taken aback at the suggestion of trading McKie.  Then I realized it was not just for Ari, it was also for JT.  But the real difference maker is the “whole coaching staff” part of the trade - which means we’d be rid of Buzz!  I’d hate to lose Battle or McKie, but if the plus is no more Buzzball?

The Deacon said, “Bzdeliks system looks like a complete piece of crap, and no, we won’t be rebounding worth a crap…better hope Wellman prepares a little better for the next coach”  So true, and glad to see that you do recognize the need for “the next coach” but RW apparently does not and does not care. There is NO wise use of time that includes RW’s buddy Buzz.

gt on 01/02/2012 (2:52 pm)

WOW… what kind of Kool-Aid are you two drinking?  Trade McKie for Ari Stewart? With decisions like that, you would do worse than Bzdelik did last year… Genius..lol…

While DeRosiers is a barely palatable copy of a Ricardo Peral (some range, lots of inconsistency and no strength to rebound), putting in the tall front line only gets us without anyone to play in the second half… Carson cant play consistently yet, and neither can Walker… There is no way, playing a big lineup will do anything but give the other team a blank check to run us out of the building in the first ten minutes, we just dont have the right bigs for that type of play over any real length of time…

While I am not a Buzz-Inner, I just dont think you can take a mediocre team with only two ACC-caliber players and expect them to do much with no real bench to speak of… I havent seen the “level of talent” you have, while screaming at Tony “Broderick Hicks” Chennault driving in with no where to go, Carson “I got jelly hands” unable to rebound, and Ty “I still got a chance at the NBA” Walker going out of position to swat at balls to get on the highlight reel…

I like Chase and Daniel and even Fields, but to play the minutes needed, they just dont have the level of ability to contribute consistently (much like Carson who really needed a year or two before playing significant minutes)... It will be 2 more years before we see some results after next years class gets here and gets a year under its belt…

While the “level of talent” was supposedly there with Ari and JT, the desire to play with the team wasnt… Look at McKie for your proof, nobody fights harder each game even all last season.  The others can go play street ball with their “toughness” (lol) somewhere else… We won’t see them in the NBA regardless of where they play now…

Yes, Bzdeliks system looks like a complete piece of crap, and no, we won’t be rebounding worth a crap, but jeez they look more like a team than i ever expected this year - you know its going to be a couple more years of this, better hope Wellman prepares a little better for the next coach, and uses this time wisely…

The Deacon on 01/01/2012 (9:57 pm)

Now, now, you know those were bad apples that didn’t belong at Wake Forest in the first place with their ink and their street game. They were me first players that would never buy into the team concept. They had to go!!!!

I swear I’d trade Bzdelik, the whole coaching staff and ANY two players on the roster to have Ari and JT back.

Ok ok maybe I’d think about it if I had to give up McKie, but given Ari’s abilities at 3, that would probably be an acceptable loss.

The reality is you have some street smarts and toughness to succeed at this level. Ari and JT had that, Jeff Bzdelik does not

JoeyD on 01/01/2012 (9:00 pm)

Too bad Bz couldn’t provide the kind of leadership that Ari, JT, and/or Melvin needed.  With them on board, we would have had the makings of a real team - if we had a real coach…

gt on 01/01/2012 (5:12 pm)

I like the talent and the mix of talent on this team. I could go 8-8 in the ACC this year with this team.

I would be using an 8 man rotation. My starting lineup would look nothing like Bzdelik’s. I would be starting Harris, Fischer, McKie, Desrosiers and Walker. Meschirakov and Chennault would be my top reserves with about 20-25 min each. I would use Greene for foul trouble and as a backup C.

Offensively I’d use a lot of high screens for CJ Harris. Let him penetrate and get to the foul line. I would use a lot of 3-4 inversion taking advantage of Carson’s range at 4 and McKie’s inside power at 3.

We have 3 legitimate big time scorers (McKie, Harris, Fischer). We have a 7ft 7ft 6-8 frontline. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t compete with anyone in the country EXCEPT we’re convinced we can’t.

Anybody that can’t coach this team can’t coach basketball PERIOD

JoeyD on 01/01/2012 (3:03 pm)

JoeyD - I agree that the coach is the problem.  But it’s a bigger problem than just player positioning.  Buzz’s offensive scheme is a joke.  Yale out-rebounded us by 11 and got 13 more shots at the basket than we did.  Not a good sign going into ACC play.  Buzz has no idea of how to adjust his tactics to maximize the talent he’s got.  He’s a one trick pony and his “trick” isn’t very good.  GIVE THE TEAM TO BATTLE NOW!

gt on 12/30/2011 (11:08 pm)

Steve,

I’ve been begging for that answer and screaming for that solution for two years.

Carson Desrosiers is a major program European 4, and a pretty effective one. He’s not a C at the major college level and never will be.

Travis McKie is one of the best 3s in college basketball. He’s undersized at 4 and gets manhandled by any major college 4.

Ty Walker is more than capable of defending the 5 position. Daniel Greene is certainly an adequate backup at 4 or 5 and Meschirakov is capable of keeping our size at 3 and as a back up 4.

The only time we need either Fischer playing 3 or McKie playing 4 is when we’re trying to apply pressure, change tempo and make things happen.

We have passable PG play. Our SG with CJ and Chase is as good as any in the country.

Despite what we hear over and over, talent is not our problem!! We can be good and we will be good if our coach will put the right people in the right places.

JoeyD on 12/30/2011 (12:00 pm)

This team has no identity because the coach has no identity. Thank goodness this second season of Bzboring is almost over.

Bzdork on 12/29/2011 (10:54 pm)

Dan, your comments are very accurate. It raises the question of why Coach does not try Walker and Derosiers, and Mckie on the court at the same time—-have you asked that question?

It seems an obvious solution.

steveh on 12/29/2011 (9:47 am)

Dan,

Would you agree that the team’s rebounding this year will be a great gauge of Coach Bzdelik’s ability to develop players?  Of all of the characteristics that make up a great basketball player, isn’t the ability to rebound the simplest to learn?  Someone who is not considered a “natural rebounder” certainly has a better chance of improving into an “excellent rebounder” than someone who isn’t a “natural shooter” developing into a consistent long-range threat, no? 

I think we can look beyond the numbers a little bit here too.  For instance, we will need to pay attention to how the players are positioning themselves for the rebounds.  Is there a noticeable effort to put a body on every player to clear the defensive board?  This should all translate into more rebounds in general, but I think it’s helpful to watch that stuff just to ensure that progress is being made.

DC on 12/28/2011 (2:45 pm)

“if the presence of a 7-0 center with the wingspan of a condor can help turn a horrendous rebounding team into a merely mediocre one.”

Get used to that word - “mediocre”.  It’s going to be the best we can expect from Wake basketball as long as RW’s ego is running the show.

gt on 12/28/2011 (2:13 pm)