As expected Rodriguez is gone, FIU continues to have significant turnover every year, it really hurts on starting strong and chemistry.
FIUPantherFan wrote:
With Diaz and Draper graduating, you have a large void in the front court. Here is who is returning...
Starters
(PG) Kimar Williams (So.) 6-1 - Started most of the 2nd half of the season and was really inconsistent. You can tell that there is talent there, but needs to improve ball handling and needs to cut down on turnovers. Also, when will we ever have a true pg who can distribute the ball.
(SG) Donte McGill (Sr.) 6-3 - Our leading scorer should return for his senior season. I was truly surprised by Donte, he can slash, he can shoot and is basically a higher level Dennis Mavin.
(G) Jason Boswell (Sr.) 6-6 - He hasn't turned the corner and if anything he regressed his Jr. season. I'm not sure you don't go smaller and let Eric Nottage be the starter and help Kimar with ball handling.
(SF) Elmo Stephen (Sr.) 6-7 - Elmo will have to step up, he was injured to start the year and we need his spot up shooting ability.
(PF) Hassan Hussein (Jr.) 6-9 - I was really excited to see his development this year and unfortunately he was injured. I think Hassan can become a good player for us, not the inside presence that Adrian was but a good player.
Reserves
(G) Eric Nottage (Jr.) 6-2 - Just as inconsistent as Kimar with not as much upside. However, with how badly this team handles the press, you might want to start him to have 2 average ball handlers.
(F) Michael Douglas (So.) 6-5 - Didn't see much of him, when I did see him, didn't think much of him. He was supposed to be a shooter, yet he was 4-15 from the FT line. Not good.
(C) Nate Brown Bull (R-Fr.) 7-1 - Was injured early on, and when he was in, he was really raw. I hope another year in the gym and better coaching can develop him as we will need someone with his size to match up with other teams.
(F) Cameron Smith (Jr.) 6-7 - Defensive specialist, needs to not be such an offensive liability because he will probably be the only one that can give the front court players a rest.
(G) Ray Rodriguez (Sr.) 6-2 - I don't think he is here next year, very inconsistent.
Incoming (Verbals)
(PG) Greg Shead (Fr.) 5-11 - Lightly recruited and unless he is a ball handling, assist specialist who can come in an distribute the ball, he will be stuck behind Williams and Nottage, however, if he can handle the ball, then it should help us out.
(C) Raekwon Long (Fr.) 7-0 - 3*** Center from North Carolina, seems to be a little better developed than Brown Bull, if he comes in, he could challenge for playing time and could be a capable replacement for Diaz down the line.
That makes 12 players. Nottage is a walk on, I think he deserves a scholly at this point unless you have someone amazing in the wings and then he might leave. I think FIU could conceivably add 7 new players, the 2 incoming above, and then I believe Rodriguez is gone and someone else always leaves surprisingly. That leaves you with only 10 schollies, including the 2 new ones, so you have 5 more to give after that. That means, that once again, this team will be playing for C-USA tournament time only, no way can you integrate that many players and be good at the start of the year.
Evans - I like Evans, his teams never quit and they rarely get embarrassed, however, his teams are bad fundamentally. Can't shoot free throws, terrible at handling or applying pressure and sometimes get out rebounded by much smaller teams. I think he needs to bring in a Coach who is a knows x's and o's coach to supplement his talent evaluation skill. However, if you don't fire Turtle for having horrendous fundamentals, then I doubt you fire Evans for being merely bad. Besides, I doubt you can find someone who is going to be better, and remember, Evans didn't really produce at Norfolk, until his 5th year.
I really don't think we will be much better next year than this year, but maybe they will surprise us. Go F I U!
