Alright, on to part two of my season preview. This time, I'm focusing on the individual players. Some of these guys I've watched for a year plus, but most of em I've just watched for the three games I've attended so far, so these are purely initial impressions. But first impressions are often accurate, as they were last year, in my brief analysis of Hobbs, Weems, Rhine, Mayhew and Brumfeld after a few games. Which of this year's batch will go the way of Weems and McFarland and thrive and improve throughout the season? Which players will go the way of Hobbs, Brumfeld and Mayhew and play very little, show no improvement and fade and not even be on the team next year?Onto the players...
#34 Kyle Weems (sophmore)
This guy is our star, plain and simple. And we've got three full more years of watching him get better. Sweet. He basically became our star player during the second half of last year, his freshman year. Weems can score from all over the floor, though he seems to fall in love with the three point shot a bit too much sometimes (most 3's attempted on the team last year, only 28% made). He's made some big shots from outside though. He seems like he's money from inside the three point line - I wish he'd take more mid-range jumpers (47 % from inside three point range last year). He's athletic, can get past guys on the outside, can finish at the basket or can pull up for the 10-15 footer off the dribble. Also is money at the line (82% FT shooter). He can, and hopefully will, take over games when we're struggling on offense and need him to score. Well on his way to being a MSU stud.
#44 Will Creekmore (junior)
He changed his number this year, but unfortunately, despite his off season work and weight gain, he seems to be the same player he was last year. And that player wasn't that good. He was a starter a lot of last year, he started the first game vs. Auburn, and appears to be our starter at the 5 spot this year. Last year, I remember him missing a lot of shots inside, and us forcing a lot of plays into Creekmore. Hopefully, with our increased offensive options this year, there will be less need for that. He just doesn't seem to have an inside game, and when he does get good position in the post, he can't finish with any consistency. That's what I saw from him last year, and that's what I've seen from him so far this year. He really didn't have the opportunity to show his game vs. Auburn, as we ran very few plays for him (or anyone) in the post, but I really hope he can get better, as that will help the team in the long run, and help free up some outside shooters if we can establish something inside. I just don't have high hopes.
#23 Cardell McFarland (sophmore)
Another holdover from last year, and a big part of our future. He was slowed a bit at the start of this season with a hand injury, but played a lot of minutes versus Auburn. He didn't start the first game, but I imagine that as he gets healthy, he'll be in the starting lineup soon enough. He's got a nice outside shot and can take people off the dribble, if need be. Handled the ball a lot last year, but seems more like a 2 guard. Luckily, we have more true point guards this year, so maybe he'll be able to play off the ball a bit more.
#00 Justin Fuehrmeyer (senior)
Our only senior. I had high hopes for Fury after his first two years, but he never seemed to get his groove and improve last year under Cuonzo. He's currently out with a hand injury, and I don't know what to expect from him this year. Even if he comes back, he's probably just a role player and a backup point guard. Maybe he can regain his outside touch and defensive tenacity when he comes back, but we'll see.
#10 Adam Leonard (junior)
One of our 3 juco transfers (from Eastern Kentucky). Good outside shooter, and our starting point guard. Based on what I've seen so far, he's already better than the Lauries ever were. Was 4-7 from three point range in the first game vs. Auburn, and he had a nice outside touch in the Exhibition games too. Can shoot the outside shot off the dribble and on the move with good accuracy. A good ball handler and made some nice passes in his first few games. I'm excited about this guy.
#15 Jermaine Mallett (junior)
Another juco transfer, and a starter this season. He's listed at 6'3", but seems to play bigger than that. He did everything in the first game vs. Auburn. Played the most minutes, had 12 points (on only 6 shots), 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Very athletic. Plays the 2/3 spot on the floor, and has a good inside/outside game. Like many of our newcomers, has good ball handling skills and can get by his guy on the perimeter. Cuonzo has talked him up, and he could become a star by the end of this year.
#2 Nafis Ricks (junior)
Our last juco transfer. I had high expectations. He was the national juco player of the year last year. I figured he'd be the starting point guard this year. Unfortunately, he's struggled, at least from what I've seen so far. Had several had turnovers handling the ball in the exhibition games and the game vs. Auburn. Ricks just hasn't ever seemed in tune with the team this year. With his credentials, I hoped he would provide a nice athletic spark, but I just haven't seen it so far. Doesn't have an outside shot from what I've seen, and when he does get past guys, I don't remember him finishing. Didn't play many minutes in the first game (partly due to fouls), and needs to pick it up quickly to become an integral part of the team.
#1 Keith Pickens (freshman)
One of our 3 freshman this year. A starting guard in the first game, but could lose his spot once McFarland gets healthy or Ricks turns up his game. Has played an unspectacular (but not bad) guard so far this year. He's only a frosh, but he doesn't look bad. One of our athletic newcomers, but probably just a role player this year.
#20 Michael Porter (freshman)
Another freshman. A 6'6" big man (at least for the Valley). Kinda reminds me of Randal Falker from SIU with the size and inside presence, but it might just be the dreads. He played the first Exhibition games, but had an appendicitis shortly before the Auburn game, and will be out til early December. In the exhibition games, he showed good tenacity on the inside, fighting for loose balls and rebounds, and bodying up other teams' post players. Haven't seen much offensive game out of him, mostly garbage points cleaning up on the inside, but I like the athleticism and tenacity I've seen on both ends so far. When he comes back, he may not be a starter, but I see him being one of the first bigs off the bench.
#33 Jerome Jones (freshman)
Our last freshman, a 6'5" forward. Good size, but doesn't seem to play inside very much. Had a nice driving the lane thunder dunk in the first exhibition game, but not much play vs. Auburn. Kind of a chucker. Has got a funny looking outside shot that doesn't inspire much confidence, but he made a few of them in the exhibitions. Could be a bit too raw to really contribute this year, but we'll see as the year progresses.
#21 Caleb Patterson (sophomore)
A 7-foot big man now eligible to play after sitting out from last year following his transfer from Colorado. My impressions so far of Patterson are - eh. He's tall. He seems athletic enough, but I haven't seen any impressive play in the post from him, and he doesn't exactly seem to dominate on the boards inside. Weird for a 7 footer. When he does get the ball inside, all I've seen him do is take fade away jumpers, and miss them most of the time. Fade away jumpers from a 7 footer in the Valley? Really? Unless you've got the touch of Hakeem (or Danny Moore, for that matter), I don't want to see you shooting fadeaways. We've got plenty of other (and better) offensive options I'd rather see shoot jumpers - I don't want to see our 7 footer do it. It would be huge if he can become an inside presence in the Valley, but I don't see it happening. There was probably a reason he played very little as a 7 footer on a last place Big XII team.
#30 Ryan Jehle (junior)
He's a solid player. Got decent size, can play inside or outside. Always seems to play hard and get after it on every play. Classic scrappy player and garbage cleanup man, that gets the most out of his athletic ability, that can provide solid minutes and occasionally hit the open outside jumper if needed. What can I say? I like seeing Jehle out there, even though he doesn't play much. Had decent minutes vs. Auburn, but unsure if the minutes will keep up when Porter gets back. We'll see. Also, still looks like Clint Baer.
#50 Isaiah Rhine (sophmore)
Lastly, our 6'10" big man off the bench. Still looks very raw and somewhat nonathletic. But hey, he's big, so he'll get minutes. Plays hard, but is not fast nor quick. Gets rebounds, I guess. Cleans up some messes inside, but has no real post game to speak of. Still, right now, I have more faith in him than I do Patterson. Still has 3 years to complete his development, so hopefully we see some signs of his improvement this year, and have something to look forward to as he heads into his junior and senior seasons.
So there you have it - initial impressions of all the 2009-2010 Bears. Lots of newcomers, lots of room for development. Get used to these names. We've only got one senior, so we're gonna have a few years to see these guys develop and hopefully thrive under Coach Cuonzo.
Alright, Ima post this again, because I love it more each time I see it. Mallett is just nasty.
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