Men's Basketball: Mired in mediocity, mitigated by a mission to meet median with mega-tall men

I'm not sure what I'm least excited about: final exam study, getting my wisdom teeth out, or the USF men's basketball team. Exams will be over before Christmas, wisdom teeth recovery is pretty quick, but the basketball season is pretty darn long. So there's your answer.

I still have faith in Stan Heath. The team played harder and actually had plays with an intent to put a ball through a hoop. They didn't do it particularly well, but they tried. Which was an improvement from Bobbyball (about as exciting as watching curling).

Missing is Kentrell Gransberry, who I heard was recently cast to play Shrek for an off-broadway, off-continent team in France. Or he's playing the 5. Regardless, he was by far and away the most "Big-Easty" player we had. No other big man on the team, or in the conference, could bang like KG. He had a lot of flaws which prevented NBA success, but he will be sorely missed. His intensity was noticeable. No one will miss Holmes, Chin, Bozeman, or Curry.

Stan added three potentially strong pieces: Gus Gilchrist and Mike Mercer. Gilchrist tried to convince us that no one explained NCAA/ACC transfer rules (like Gary Williams didn't know that), while Mercer got kicked off of an SEC team. Given what SEC star players (as Mercer was) get away with, I don't even want to imagine what he did. That said, we know that Mercer can ball, and Gilchrist was thought very highly of by much bigger programs than ours. The third guy we got is the one who could be a big addition- Eladio Espinosa. We really need help up front, and GA said that he has a 42 inch vertical leap. Wow! He played a big role at Hargrave Military, so he has a good pedigree, too.

The other additions, Alex Rivas-Sanchez, Gaby Belardo, and Justin Leemow, don't excite me at all. Sanchez looks like he could be a more reliable rebounder than Ajayi, but if he couldn't 10 points a game in JUCO ball, how on earth will he be an offensive force in the best conference in the land? The Champ says that Belardo can shoot, which will be a welcome addition, but I'm not counting on him. I don't know much about Leemow- GA had a positive report, but I'll wait until the Big East season to make a judgment.

Stan had three other guys ready to go, but we won't have Teeng Akol, Gene Teague, or Dwan McMillan. Akol would have been a great get, but I'm glad that the university didn't eliminate any pretense of academic integrity by letting him in. Teague had some potential, but he looked like Zaronn Cann to me (or he could be DeJuan Blair). I though McMillan had Big East quickness and could have replaced Howard.

The returning guards have some promise. DJ should have been a pre-season conference honorable mention. He's a sure thing, so I won't really address him. All you need to know is that he was our only other Big-Easty player last year. I can't stand Chris Howard. That's all I'm saying about him. The onus for the season is on Jesus Verdejo. He needs to take the leadership reigns from KG and provide the heart for the team. He needs to pick up his defense a little and to be more consistent on the offensive end.

The team now has three Big-Easty players- Jones, Mercer, and Gilchrist. Verdejo could turn himself into a Big-Easty. That's 4 good players. Espinosa may be a 5th. The problem is, the 9th best team in the Big East has 4 great players and 8 good players. USF's only chance to beat a Pitt, Louisville, or really anyone else not named Rutgers, St. Johns, or Seton Hall is to hope that the opponent misses the bus and has to run from the hotel. And the three "bad" teams I mentioned will all make significant leaps. Rutgers in particular killed on the recruiting trail this year.

I propose a line up (after the semester ends) of Gilchrist, Espinosa, Verdejo, Jones, and Mercer. It's small, yes, but it is very athletic and has some scorers. Plus, Heath can get them amped enough to be a decent defensive unit.

That said, the depth isn't there. Looking at the schedule, I say 8-4 in the non-conference part (losing to Virginia, UAB, Vandy, and Oral Roberts in the tournament), and 5-13 in the Big East (wins over DePaul, Providence, and Cincy at home, and at St. Johns and Seton Hall). So 13-17 overall. In C-USA, this team would make the NIT. But the Big East is just too tough for us to compete over the course of two months.

Stan needs to secure Keith Clanton during this signing period. Take the line-up I put up above, subtract Verdejo and add Clanton, and that team would be decent, considering that the depth should pick up with this year's freshmen adding some experience, and then Noriega and Dumars coming in ready to give minutes. Gene Teague will be available, still, and his muscle could be useful. I'd like to give him a shot in the Big East, so if there is a scholarship available, lets give it to him.

Thoughts? Someone get The Champ over here.

Photo by Daniel Wallace | Times

Comments

[oldbigeastfan]

Where do you get off dumping on Seton Hall? FYI buddy, USF has NEVER beaten Seton Hall! That's not going to change anytime soon either!

Please, don't mention Seton Hall and Rutgers in the same breath! That's an insult to Seton Hall fans everywhere. RU shouldn't be in the Big East.

[Bulliever]

CSH,
I'm sure you are aware that a 5star recruit from Texas recently transferred to Sickles High School in Lutz. He's verbal committed to UNC and had offers from all over the country .. but showed no interest in the BEast.
Perhaps you should plan on attending a couple of Sickles games this year and see if he might like to be a big fish in a smaller pond vs. a little fish in a big pond. Maybe his Dad will agree.... you never know..... verbals are not binding.....We can use him !!!! Champ - you know 'bout this kid ? John Henson ....6'10" 200 lbs. The kids at Sickles are in awe - btw him with Jordan Davis + Kelvin Daniels should result in a nice state-run for Sickles.

[Tony]

We need to win the homes games we're supposed to win, play competitive ball on the road and have a good showing in New York at the Big East Tournament.