Here's a followup piece to this earlier article.
* Who is going to be the guy who takes (and hopefully makes) the last minute shot in a tied game or one in which the Spartans are down by one or two points? It helps if that individual is one who can generate space with his dribble so as to get a decent or good look. It also has to be a player who can make his free throws which is problematic if Brandon Clarke is designated due to his 56% accuracy at the foul line. Also, Clarke is now listed as a forward.
* What's interesting is the starting lineup as well as significant playing time still looks to be very fluid, probably based on who is contributing that night.
* The thought here remains that Ryan Singer must be a rebounding and defensive factor in order for the team to be successful. Whether he can score inside remains to be seen.
* Ryan Welage is not a really center but can he defend the more athletic and mobile power forwards he'll be facing?
* Will Cody Schwartz step up and display a multi-faceted offensive repertoire in his second season? If positioned at the three, can he defend there?
* Every player here has significant room for significant improvement in certain aspects of their respective games. Right now, there's not really a 'complete player' who will necessarily be a plus on both sides of the ball.
* Another major concern is who can be together out on the court without creating glaring holes? If Clarke is at the three, it's likely that both guards will need to be shooters. But it's desireable to have him defending the four, even at 210 pounds, because that will keep him around the basket defensively and on the boards. Can a frontcourt threesome of Singer, Welage and Clarke work? Or Singer, Clarke and Schwartz?
* Keith Fisher is a likely redshirt due to his recovery time.
* It looks like it will be a fascinating backcourt scenario with each talent appearing on the court in interesting combinations. E.J. Boyce will be there for outside-shooting needs with Terrell Brown in when dribble-driving and athleticism will be effective against the defense. Gary Williams Jr. possesses the most complete game offensive and finding him for open looks should be job one for his teammates whether he ia at the two or the three. A now leaner Jaycee Hillsman can also play the two and three but needs to demonstrate he can consistently produce. Isaac Thornton will don the 'what needs fixing?' uniform as long as that doesn't require shooting.
* Still not seeing Jalen James as a 25-30 minute a night guy at the point in the Mountain West but would love being proved wrong. Otherwise, it's freshmen Nai Carlisle and Isaiah Nichols. Both appear to have bodies ready for college and Nichols was impressive recently. Get the kids in there and accept the errors and miscues.
* Who, if anyone, will be the first to step up and out as the star of the team? Many would nominate Clarke but that's a premature assessment until he can make defenders play him honestly when he faces up
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