• Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your WyoNation.com experience today!

Future concerns for hoops

Cosmic Cowboy

Cosmic Cowboy

Well-known member
So Trey Washington will redshirt this season and we have seen all our Cowboys in action. I'm a little worried at our benches ability to create shots and get into the paint. Especially if we run into foul trouble like last game. I was hoping that Washington could get fit and give us an athletic spark to fill an Adams void when he's out. Not so. I feel like our bench plays pretty good D but will need to step it up on the offensive end a little more against athletic teams. It appears we will have to do that with very nice ball movement and motion which I believe we can do.

One more thing I know the future is now( A very BRIGHT now), but is anyone else really concerned about us in the paint next year? We're losing all 3 of our reliable bangers including a legendary badass, an athletic stud, and a solid hard worker who are giving us all of our valuable low post minutes. Tyrell Williams and Barnes are gonna have to be able to go as will our recruits straight out of high school. The pressure is on to get the most out of this year possible to help us recruit for the future and give us our kicks. Are we going small ball with a stretch 4 in Herndon next year??

Thoughts? :coffee:
 
Dude...don't even start talking about next year without Larry or DC or Grabau or Hankerson. That's depressing to think about right now.
We have a potential Sweet 16, definite Top 25 team. Let's enjoy this run and save that banter for summer time.

But I do know that Adams is going to be THE MAN next season. Herndon will be a rising star in the MWC, and McManamen will be a solid starter as well. Trey will be our PG most likely. All depends on the depth starting next season.

PG- Washington
SG- Adams (MWC POY)
SF- McManamen
PF- Herndon
C- Barnes?

Really not a bad starting lineup, but the depth is going to be a huge issue.
Adams may be a projected 1st round pick this time next year though. Our success will ALL depend on how good Shyatt and company are at reloading instead of rebuilding. Really won't surprise me if we hope for above .500 in MWC play, and contend for the MWC title next season- I have that much faith in the coaching staff.

But until then, let's just talk about how awesome this seasons is! We have 4 seniors, and a JR that make up the starting 5.
We have at least 2 MWC 1st teamers, if not 5 All-MWC players in some fashion taking the floor for tip each night.
Look out DU, its payback time. Same goes for you SMU!
 
I know it's depressing to talk about but its on my mind. That's what this forum is for too! Where else do Pokes fans get to go to discuss these thoughts especially when you don't live in WYO? This is probably my most negative post of the year but trust me I'll be involved in a ton more of the positive conversation because I'm just so amazed at all the hard work that's been done by everyone getting the Poke train back on the tracks.

Love this whole team we have now no doubt. It's hard for me to even pick a favorite player since I have so much respect for all of them man. I didn't even take into the fact how sad I'll be when Grabau and Hankerson are done. Those guys are fantastic players but we are more equipped to reload in those spots. This sort of highlights our one recruiting area weakness of not locking down enough power big men, which is maybe my only tiny half ass qualm with Shyatt. It's the SDSU envy in me I guess, I want us above the rim and loaded on the block controlling the paint with athleticism/power.
 
Cosmic,
I think you may be suffering from ”Waidlenextyer Syndrome”. It was first described in Brooklyn over 75 years ago, primarily in Dodger fans. Being a Cowboy fan, you have no drought always thought they would be much better next year and now that seems hard to believe.
If things start to get to rough:
1. Just keep saying to yourself “At least it’s not 1988, at least it’s not 1988”
2. Remember the level off improvement that has taken place in those you know you’re going to miss and imagine it in those gawky kids on the bench. There are several of them that are going to be real good when they learn how to play basketball.
3. If all else fails, I have found that beer helps.
I hope this insight will help you keep the anxiety to a bearable level.
 
BeaverPoke said:
Dude...don't even start talking about next year without Larry or DC or Grabau or Hankerson. That's depressing to think about right now.
We have a potential Sweet 16, definite Top 25 team. Let's enjoy this run and save that banter for summer time.

But I do know that Adams is going to be THE MAN next season. Herndon will be a rising star in the MWC, and McManamen will be a solid starter as well. Trey will be our PG most likely. All depends on the depth starting next season.

PG- Washington
SG- Adams (MWC POY)
SF- McManamen
PF- Herndon
C- Barnes?

Really not a bad starting lineup, but the depth is going to be a huge issue.
Adams may be a projected 1st round pick this time next year though. Our success will ALL depend on how good Shyatt and company are at reloading instead of rebuilding. Really won't surprise me if we hope for above .500 in MWC play, and contend for the MWC title next season- I have that much faith in the coaching staff.

But until then, let's just talk about how awesome this seasons is! We have 4 seniors, and a JR that make up the starting 5.
We have at least 2 MWC 1st teamers, if not 5 All-MWC players in some fashion taking the floor for tip each night.
Look out DU, its payback time. Same goes for you SMU!
Click to expand...

I kind of have a hunch that the Trey Washington redshirt is a prelude to an announcement that he is transferring. I think Lieberman and Conway are both better players than Washington, he knows it, and he will go elsewhere to get minutes. I have no info to support this pure speculation, but I don't think any of those three guys can really play off the ball so minutes at the one will be hard to come by for him.

I'm way more optimistic about our post Grabau/Hank/Nance/Cooke future than I was last year at this time, that's for sure. I think Adams will be dominant next season to help bridge the program to the next generation and I have seen enough of and heard enough about Herndon to believe that he's going to be a top player in the MWC from next year on. Of course you never really know, but by all accounts Conway will be a cornerstone of the program and with him and Lieberman I feel really good about the PG spot going forward. We'll have two more seasons of McManamen who will be a solid role player at worst. Aka-Gorski and Barnes are both massive upside guys. We'll have the juco guy Marshall who I presume will carry a big load right away and then we can see what we have with the new HS guys from Florida. We're in really good shape, with our biggest weakness again being frontcourt depth. What else is new?

Next year rotation:

Starting

PG - Lieberman
SG - Adams
SF - Aka-Gorski
PF - Herndon
C - Barnes

Conway
Marshall
McManamen
Williams (I'm guessing he's the first guy up to spell Herndon and Barnes)

I'd say next year is a bit of a developmental year where we might not make the tourney, but with Adams the only senior and capable players in the system to replace him we will be reloaded for another great season in 16-17.

Overall, the biggest reason I am seriously optimistic is the amazing job this staff has done developing these players. We've seen what they can do from start to finish now that the staff is in its fourth year and there is not a single guy who is in our 8 man, crunch time rotation that hasn't gotten SIGNIFICANTLY better in his time at Wyoming. Even Hankerson looks to be a different player than he was last year. The coaches have serious player development chops and we now have proof right in front of us.
 
Appreciate these well thought out responses. Yeah I'll try to cool my anxiety a little but hey I'm in a crazy ass city that will give you loads of that ahahahah....I am excited about next years class though. On paper looks to be one of our all time great ones. Yes I'll be more excited then years past as well no matter what. Just saying I'm hair worried about the bigs. Haven't seen the Benny Dees era as I'm too young to remember, but I've heard stories and they don't sound good. Hey I've seen the downfall first hand man, I was in the AA the day Bailey went down. Talk about a 10 year set back :cry:
 
Cowpoke - interesting about the Washington transfer speculation. The backcourt is going to be crowed indeed next year w/ Conway, Lieberman, and now Marshall. If Washington were going to help out a lot this was the year to do it.
 
agreed i'm going to enjoy this year for what it's worth and such, next year is just that, next year...lol
 
LanderPoke said:
Cowpoke - interesting about the Washington transfer speculation. The backcourt is going to be crowed indeed next year w/ Conway, Lieberman, and now Marshall. If Washington were going to help out a lot this was the year to do it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and there was some rumbling that he was unhappy with his PT last season. I'm just reading between the lines. I could be wrong.
 
Cowduck said:
LanderPoke said:
Cowpoke - interesting about the Washington transfer speculation. The backcourt is going to be crowed indeed next year w/ Conway, Lieberman, and now Marshall. If Washington were going to help out a lot this was the year to do it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and there was some rumbling that he was unhappy with his PT last season. I'm just reading between the lines. I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
It wouldn't shock me. Next season I see Lieberman starting at the point...He is just a better player. Not that Washington doesn't have potential, he certainly does, just in both of their limited experience Jeremy looks far superior handling the ball and defensively. Offensively I too believe Jeremy will be better. I do not want to see Washington leave, but our program isn't going to be made or undone by him.
 
Cowduck said:
LanderPoke said:
Cowpoke - interesting about the Washington transfer speculation. The backcourt is going to be crowed indeed next year w/ Conway, Lieberman, and now Marshall. If Washington were going to help out a lot this was the year to do it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and there was some rumbling that he was unhappy with his PT last season. I'm just reading between the lines. I could be wrong.
Click to expand...


I agree with you in that Washington could be leaving. When i heard he was red shirting the first thing I thought was that this could just be the beginning of him leaving. Of course I do not have anything to back that up either.

Also Aka Gorski is going to be a great player. He is supposed to be the best shooter on the team and he already has the physical build to play right now. Can't wait to see him with that splint off of his hand. Only thing we need is some experience from some of the younger guys coming in next year and we will be fine as the talent will already be there.
 
I mean if Washington wants to stay and play I hope he does. You guys might be right though about him leaving, especially if a guy like me is starting thread like this welp guess what??? Shyatt no doubt has these same concerns already and then some. Pure speculation but if Washington were to leave it would free up space to get another big right away...and if we make a sweet 16 run in the tourney? Well a major big might just want a part of that.
 
Cowduck said:
LanderPoke said:
Cowpoke - interesting about the Washington transfer speculation. The backcourt is going to be crowed indeed next year w/ Conway, Lieberman, and now Marshall. If Washington were going to help out a lot this was the year to do it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and there was some rumbling that he was unhappy with his PT last season. I'm just reading between the lines. I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

Who knows but if he was unhappy last year that would have been the year to transfer. Like the other guy that transferred last year. Now he has one more year in the system. Who knows what will happen but since he stayed past last year shows me he bought into the system and is committed. But who knows.
 
Cowduck said:
LanderPoke said:
Cowpoke - interesting about the Washington transfer speculation. The backcourt is going to be crowed indeed next year w/ Conway, Lieberman, and now Marshall. If Washington were going to help out a lot this was the year to do it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and there was some rumbling that he was unhappy with his PT last season. I'm just reading between the lines. I could be wrong.
Click to expand...


I actually thought the opposite by hearing the redshirt news. Truthfully I expected him to transfer for the reason you noted and the fact that it doesn't look like he will get huge minutes this year either. However, there is no reason to redshirt if he is going to transfer. He will have to sit out a transfer year no matter what and his clock started by playing next year, so whether or not he plays at UW this year he would still just have a transfer year and then 2 years to play at another D1 school.

Now, if he was transferring to a JC or D2 that would be different, but those tend to be last resort type options and not the type that are planned for in these scenarios. The redshirt season appears to be the coaching staff and the player investing in his development as a Cowboy.

Of course, I could be totally wrong.
 
Where did all this speculation that he doesn't work hard, he isn't as good as others, he is going to redshirt, and he is going to transfer come from?

Last I heard, the kid had a busted up ankle, and hasn't been able to play. Simple as that.
 
BeaverPoke said:
Where did all this speculation that he doesn't work hard, he isn't as good as others, he is going to redshirt, and he is going to transfer come from?

Last I heard, the kid had a busted up ankle, and hasn't been able to play. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

This is true. Shouldn't give up on the kid either cause if he wants to stay I'm sure he's looking to improve. I would've liked to see him play this year but truth is I doubt he'd have been in shape until at least conference. No matter what at least this decision gives him more games to play in college. That's always a good thing. I just had speculation of looking at it through the other lens of imagination. I certainly have zero inner insight on the real inner workings of our squad or who's doing what behind the scenes. I do know Trey is a big part of our SICK intros though right?
 
BeaverPoke said:
Where did all this speculation that he doesn't work hard, he isn't as good as others, he is going to redshirt, and he is going to transfer come from?

Last I heard, the kid had a busted up ankle, and hasn't been able to play. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

I didn't say he doesn't work hard. I'm no hoops expert but I think Lieberman has at least demonstrated that he's a better system fit than Washington if not out-and-out a better PG at this point based on what I've seen, and I expect Conway to compete for substantial minutes right off the bat next year. But I also don't have any indication of where the staff sees him in the pecking order.

He is redshirting this season, that has been announced by the staff. The timing of that announcement was a little odd, because we had been hearing basically since the injury that he would be ready to play a couple of weeks or so into the season and even as that date got closer we were hearing positive things about his prognosis. Slapping a redshirt on a true sophomore because he missed a half-dozen non-conference games but is otherwise healthy isn't something you see all the time, but then on the other hand maybe the prognosis on the ankle took a turn for the worse at his last doctors visit. I'm fully open to the possibility that Washington is happy here, will stay with Wyoming, will compete for his minutes next season. It seems like he's a good dude and a decent player. Basically all I'm basing my speculation on is: 1. Logjam at the point next year that I personally don't see shaking out in his favor, 2. Weird timing of the redshirt announcement, and 3. The vague rumblings about his dissatisfaction with his PT last year that I think (IIRC) he fueled with a tweet.

As to Nowhere's point, assuming that Washington is going to transfer I think it's a matter of semantics calling this season a redshirt or whatever. I think if he doesn't play at all for Wyoming this season he can transfer and be eligible to play next year at a new school, or at worst be eligible to play elsewhere next December.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top