I have a few spare minutes at work and I have been caught up in all the recruiting news that is coming out. Has anyone noticed that Majerus has been pretty much out of sight in the national media. Usually he is brought in for the tourney after the Utes lose. This year, he hasn't been anywhere. Plus even though the tourney is still going on, the rumors haven't begun with Majerus. It's early, sure, but this time last year there were rumors going all around about where Majerus was going. Not the case this year. With that said, I think a previous poster said it correctly, he needs a PG and he isn't about the let another poser team like UNLV/UNM/BYU or Wyoming upend the Utes run through the MWC. Further, he sees that he has the talent and potential leaders to take the Utes deep into the tourney for the next two years, and he needs quality and deep guard play. I agree, he is a man on a mission.
Well, we are not only a deep team, but we are a versatile team. Here is my position analysis and which players could play which position. This isn't assuming that anyone transfers. I know there will probably be a shakeout and one, maybe two people will transfer. Each of those players, however, is low on the depth chart and doesn't really factor heavily into this. I guess from this, we can tell which players really should transfer.
...First time in a long time that we will have experienced PG play from pure PGs and be as deep as this. If Sharp were to leave, I think that Colbert would be a nice piece of the puzzle. He was lost on the court, but he didn't get overwhelmed by the opposing defenses too often. He is strong and a pretty good defender. You can't really deny, though, that Sharp has done absolutely everything that Majerus has asked of him. So, it's a tough call, but one of those guys pretty much has to leave.
...Jacobsen, because of his size and he having a year to learn the system probably has more upside. I know nothing about Bradley's discipline or defensive effort, but Jacobsen being the son of a coach has been able to feel out his role in the offense. With that said, however, Bradley can reportedly shoot the lights out. He could be a great sixth man at the beginning of the season splitting time with many different line ups. Johnsen and Caton should be good reserves in this spot, especially in the beginning because they are both really good defenders. The good thing about the last two, Jeff and Trace can also play the three. So, when we decide to go big, they can slide down into the two position and play there as well. But, Caton's minutes might be squeezed.
...Of course Britton should get the nod as the season progresses because of his size, heart, and overall talent at the 3. I am still a firm believer, that it will take a while for him to get his legs under him. I don't think he will start at the beginning of the season, but could by MWC. Why? Well, his patella tendinites could be a problem, require surgery, perhaps and that would slow his ability to shake off the rust from his mission. J. Johnsen and Caton could see huge minutes at the 3. From what I remember, though Caton isn't really all that tall...but I do remember he had a man's sized body (thickness). When we go small, and bring in Spivey and Bradley at the 1 and 2...to give us the added three point threat, we could slide Jacobsen over to the 3 and then really work the ball around when defenses throw the zone at us. That would keep defenses close to the shooters, allowing them to throw down low to the big men.
...From what I've heard, Burgess is going to be an active post player, with hopefully a medium range jump shot. The medium range jump shot, if indeed he has one, will be good because we can use the height advantage in other positions, like Spivey and Jacobsen, to use some post moves and give ourselves and added dimension. Burgess could really get a lot of points and rebounds with his back to the basket, which should be nice. I think Hanno didn't have that dimension and wouldn't fight as hard, as Burgess is known to fight in practice, for position down low. This should help out a lot. Cullen could come off the bench as the 8th guy off the bench to dispell Burgess and give the added dimension of the 3, further drawing out opposing defenses' big men and giving our other tall position players to get inside and post up, get offensive rebounds. Spivey's stats lead me to believe that he like to crash the boards. We all know that successful Majerus teams have a large rebounding margin in their favor. They were always near the top of the NCAAs, but not this year. We need to bring that back. Incidentally MSU, was tops this year, and they did a piece on CBS. They had all their men crash the boards after a shot went up. That is what we need as well. I think that our small guys could help us out that way. Cullen also needs to beef up. Yes, even though everyone says that Majerus doesn't want B. Johnsen at the PF, but come on. He's about as large as Cullen, and has the quickness to blow by most PFs. When we go small and quick, this is the guy we want to run the floor, if Burgess can't. You know it and I know it, Britton will play some time at the PF. He doesn't have the size to bang, but look what he did with Mahktar N'Dyaie! Puzey, well, he is a good player, but I don't think that we will need him. He is all heart and hustle, though, and if there is a way to keep him and he doesn't mind sitting on the bench and playing spotty minutes, then by all means, be my guest.
...This is the absolute key position, in my mind. Why? Well, Althoff is the only senior on next year's team. After that, it's going to be Allred and Godfread that will take the helm. So, I believe that this next year, Althoff is going to have to put up some second-team All-MWC type numbers. The presence of Burgess down low should take some pressure off of Althoff, but he has to get close to double digit rebounds and hopefully 8-10 points EVERY game. He won't be more active on the court, and he isn't going to change his game so radically from now until the next season. So, he has to benefit from a better backcourt to get him the ball where he can score. Allred is the key for a deep tournament run for both of those years. If he can learn the system and if he can learn from Burgess and the coaching staff, he will be a solid contributer off the bench and then take the load next year at the C. A quality back up will allow Althoff to become more active on the shot-blocking end and hopefully be a defensive force down low. Again, with the smaller line up Burgess could play minutes at the Center and be a quick center who could run the defense ragged.So, we will have a very versatile, and much more athletic than we were this year, that's for sure. But all in all, I don't know if we are going to sign anyone else. I am just guessing, though. But, if you think that there will probably be one transfer now, any more players could upset the balance between upgrading what you have and getting rid of academically challenged players, and screwing over your loyal players.
So, here is my list of the 13 scholarship players:
SpiveySorry, but Sooooo long, it's been good to know ya...
Bradley
Colbert
Jacobsen
Caton
J. Johnsen
B. Johnsen
Cullen
Burgess
Althoff
Allred
Godfread
SharpGonzo = Puzey
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