Let's talk about Next Year

[wavybone]

Roster next year if we get Zhaire Smith.

Barford/Beard/Glasper
Macon/Garland
Hall/Jones/Smith(?)
Thomas/Bailey/Cook/Hazen
Gafford/Thompson

Not really sure about that 3 spot right now. Could see Mike starting Barford, Macon, and Beard but with all the length we'll have, I think it'd be better to start Hall or Jones there and give them those minutes early.

This will likely be the deepest and longest Mike Anderson-coached team that we've had since he began his tenure. If one player were to transfer, I would like for us to try to get another big man. Will be tough to get a quality point guard with all the guards we already have on the roster.

[The_Iceman]

Roster next year if we get Zhaire Smith.

Barford/Beard/Glasper
Macon/Garland
Hall/Jones/Smith(?)
Thomas/Bailey/Cook/Hazen
Gafford/Thompson

Not really sure about that 3 spot right now. Could see Mike starting Barford, Macon, and Beard but with all the length we'll have, I think it'd be better to start Hall or Jones there and give them those minutes early.

This will likely be the deepest and longest Mike Anderson-coached team that we've had since he began his tenure. If one player were to transfer, I would like for us to try to get another big man. Will be tough to get a quality point guard with all the guards we already have on the roster.

I like a starting lineup of 6'3" Barford, 6'3" Macon, and 6'5" CJ Jones. Have 6'0" Senior Beard lead the two freshmen, 6'5" Garland and 6'6" Hall in the 2nd unit.

That's gives you a very well rounded two units. I don't see us getting Zhaire Smith unless someone on the roster leaves.

Let's say Macon were to go overseas for some reason, I would say the lineup would go Barford/Jones/Hall, then Beard/Garland/Smith.

[jabber71]

Right after the game Roy Smith said the game with Arkansas was the most difficult game all season for them. That is saying alot!

[Letsroll1200]

Barford
Macon
Jones or Hall
Bailey - I'm hoping he can become a solid starter. This guy can bring some good things on the defensive end of the court.
Thompson

Beard - Back up. Has a tendency to play like a undersized two guard.
Thomas - Would be a valuable back up
Garland - Will be a solid 4 year player
Gafford - It's going to be hard to keep him out the first 5
Cook - I think he is a transfer option.
Hazen - ?
? - We need to find another guard on this roster.

[JayBell]

1) I think Thomas was great down the stretch.  His 13 points against Seton Hall were needed and it matched his season high.  Whether he starts next year or not, he's clearly one of the top three post players for Arkansas.  He matured during the season, but don't count out another improvement from him in the offseason.

2) Cook definitely didn't "emerge."  He faded.  I guess he can be seen as a transfer option, but if he comes back, I expect him to be a very solid rotation player.  JUCO transfers are always better in the second season.  That's a tantalizing prospect with Barford and Macon, but a second-year bump could make Cook a consistent contributor too.

3) The debate over what to do with the 3/G/SF position is going to rage endlessly until next season.  I think we all agree Hall should at least be in the rotation at that spot instead of being shoehorned in as another undersized 4/PF.  You can obviously run a third guard there too as Anderson has done for a majority of his time at Arkansas.

I just think you underutilize Bailey by continuing to shoehorn him as an undersized 4/PF in a deep post player rotation.  I think he and Hall handle the ball well enough that you could emphasize defense and athleticism by going big at the 3.  Pressure defense is what made Arkansas so much better down the stretch, not a third ball handler.

[Corkscrew Johnson]

Macon's defense hit another gear during the past few games.  If he can play that way every game, like the season is on the line, he would be an all-American defender.  He also started slashing and getting to the rim more.  I really, really hope he comes back, could be something special. 

[ErieHog]

I disagree on the rougher earlier. This year we had 2 major contributors, Barford and Macon trying to get acclimated to D1 ball and develop chemistry. Next year, assuming they return, we will have 2 bonafide scorers who know the system and how to play. The freshman won't be counted on to contribute much offensively, so they can be brought on slowly. And, IMO the offense can be more efficient with more PT for Trey, who is an outstanding passer.

Just my thoughts.

No proven interior offense is a huge problem.   You can't be just perimeter oriented against these teams-- and you lose the only real rim protection on the roster, to boot.

You're going to ask a few guys who have had conditioning and foul issues to be bodies that get rebounds as well.   That's a significant step back--    you are going to be asking an absolute ton for a young big like Gafford to come in and be the anchor of your defensive back line. 

Regardless of how good the recruit is, they rarely get it quickly-- and bigs tend to develop slower defensively in general, on top of that.

[ShadowHawg]

We have never had a big man like Gafford. Ultra athletic and the most aggressive around the rim we have ever had.

He doesn't have to do a lot. Alternatively a few shots and get some boards. That's pretty much what Moses gave us yesterday.

Thompson is giving a lot more these days as well. I look for him to work on his body over the off season.

This will be a different team next season. Gafford won't have to be a phenom.

[Youngsta71701]

No proven interior offense is a huge problem.   You can't be just perimeter oriented against these teams-- and you lose the only real rim protection on the roster, to boot.

You're going to ask a few guys who have had conditioning and foul issues to be bodies that get rebounds as well.   That's a significant step back--    you are going to be asking an absolute ton for a young big like Gafford to come in and be the anchor of your defensive back line. 

Regardless of how good the recruit is, they rarely get it quickly-- and bigs tend to develop slower defensively in general, on top of that.

Believe it or not Gafford will be a better rim protector and rebounder than Kingsley. His offense wont be there from the word go but everything else will. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he averaged a double double as a freshmen.

[Corkscrew Johnson]

No proven interior offense is a huge problem.   You can't be just perimeter oriented against these teams-- and you lose the only real rim protection on the roster, to boot.

You're going to ask a few guys who have had conditioning and foul issues to be bodies that get rebounds as well.   That's a significant step back--    you are going to be asking an absolute ton for a young big like Gafford to come in and be the anchor of your defensive back line. 

Regardless of how good the recruit is, they rarely get it quickly-- and bigs tend to develop slower defensively in general, on top of that.

This is a safe assumption.

However, I think you underestimate a few things:

1. The development of Macon and Barford.  In the early part of this year, Macon was just a 3 point threat, and Barford was essentially a bystander...hard to argue we were playing with 3 true offensive scoring threats at the beginning of the year.  By the end of the year, the former became a defensive monster and a true threat to get to the rim, and the latter became a genuine scorer.  I expect some further development during the offseason, but even if there's not...we haven't had senior guards like that in a long, long time.  Long time. 

2.  I don't expect Gafford to step into Moses' shoes for a year or more.  But I also think a frontcourt by committee of Thompson, Thomas, and Cook will give us enough size to compliment Gafford's development.  Don't forget Moses wasn't giving us all-SEC contribution until midway through the season, to such a degree that it became a media storyline during every game in December and January. 

3.  We don't matriculate in a vacuum.  Everyone loses players.

I am actually concerned about the Manny Watkins role on the team, the Darrell Hawkins position.  Good hard-nosed defense, basketball IQ, leadership, the glue.  Sure he had some offensive limitations, but you always want a few of those guys on the roster.  Who will step into that role?

[The_Iceman]

We have never had a big man like Gafford. Ultra athletic and the most aggressive around the rim we have ever had.

He doesn't have to do a lot. Alternatively a few shots and get some boards. That's pretty much what Moses gave us yesterday.

Thompson is giving a lot more these days as well. I look for him to work on his body over the off season.

This will be a different team next season. Gafford won't have to be a phenom.

Gafford plays like a 7-footer. Love the WCS comparisons.

https://twitter.com/Hudl/status/843794261040492544

[ErieHog]

This is a safe assumption.

However, I think you underestimate a few things:

1. The development of Macon and Barford.  In the early part of this year, Macon was just a 3 point threat, and Barford was essentially a bystander...hard to argue we were playing with 3 true offensive scoring threats at the beginning of the year.  By the end of the year, the former became a defensive monster and a true threat to get to the rim, and the latter became a genuine scorer.  I expect some further development during the offseason, but even if there's not...we haven't had senior guards like that in a long, long time.  Long time. 

2.  I don't expect Gafford to step into Moses' shoes for a year or more.  But I also think a frontcourt by committee of Thompson, Thomas, and Cook will give us enough size to compliment Gafford's development.  Don't forget Moses wasn't giving us all-SEC contribution until midway through the season, to such a degree that it became a media storyline during every game in December and January. 

3.  We don't matriculate in a vacuum.  Everyone loses players.

I am actually concerned about the Manny Watkins role on the team, the Darrell Hawkins position.  Good hard-nosed defense, basketball IQ, leadership, the glue.  Sure he had some offensive limitations, but you always want a few of those guys on the roster.  Who will step into that role?

Part of Macon and Barford's development this year, was off of their ability to use the bounce to react to the overcompensation of double downs on Moses-- that's when Barford's game really took off, when he realized he could use that extra half step to get to the rim.

Next year, they'll be more seasoned and experienced-- but will have to get theirs off the bounce, without that assistance.       They'll be better players, but it won't mean that they won't have struggles.

Thomas and Bailey may well be the lynchpins of how next year turns out;   if you can keep Thomas at his per minute production rates, and limit turnovers and bad shot selection, but bump him from that 17 range, up to 27,  it would go a very long way to making the Gafford transition easier.

Thompson still is much better suited, defensively, to be on the '2nd big' option for the other team-- we saw that in his conference and NCAA tournament play, when Moses went to the bench.  He's going to have to grow considerably to be our lead post defender out of the gate.