It is a few days old, but there was some good news out of the BC's private scrimmage with St. Joseph's. Although we trailed when it was starters vs starters, BC won the event and made 14 3-pointers. That type of output should be very exciting. If it is a sample of our mindset we are going to cause every team we play problems. I know chucking 3s is not foolproof. However, if teams clamp down on us, we know Hanlan can penetrate and score at the basket. It should also open up things for Anderson. Maybe this really is Donahue's chance to go "all in." We've got a super tough schedule and an experienced team and an AD who didn't hire him. Why not try to shoot the lights out every night? What's the worse thing that could happen?
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One rotation guy who is not a shooter is freshman Garland Owens. BC's been a bad defensive team for a long time now. Having one good energy/defensive wing like Owens is not going to change that. But as long as Owens can help slow down the other team's best player, we can go without his offense.
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I always seem to come back around to Dennis Clifford, but he's still such an unknown. When thinking about Darryl Hicks' likely redshirt, I started thinking that a Clifford redshirt is probably a good idea too. This team has an effective big man in Magarity. It looks like we will have enough depth and offense and we know Clifford is not going to be healthy enough to start the season. Instead of rushing him back, why not let him sit the whole season and get 100% healthy. It is a move that would certainly benefit Dennis. He could recuperate and hopefully regain his old form. It think it would also help our scholarship distribution. A healthy 5th year Clifford could lead a team after the departure of Anderson and Jackson and others. The only drawback is losing him in this critical season. I am not doctor or basketball coach, so this may be premature or plain dumb (probably both). I just think sitting him is the best long-term decision for Clifford and Donahue.
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I've thought about red shirting Clifford as an option as well. Hindsight of course is Eagle Eyed, but I think they should have done it last year when they had the chance after a handful of games in December, and he was clearly showing he'd never be 100% last season. More hindsight, but why did they wait so long for him to have surgery ? Not really sure they're getting great medical advice with him.
have you read they don't play defense?
have you read the pro scouts say RA and hanlan are so week on defense?
did you read that the next practice was 3 hours of defense because they were so bad?
I think he did say "BC's been a bad defensive team for a long time now."
One thing I'm not sure of though is "The team has an effective big man in Magarity." Can we really say this yet? If Dennis isn't red shirted perhaps Donahue isn't sure if he's seen enough yet to say it either. If Clifford sits out the first 5 or 6 games, Donahue can see Magarity play against some good teams and make the decision in December.
seeing clifford walk around campus, you would never know he had that surgery. he looks good and it sounds like he will be on track to play from very early on, if not the beginning.
Is Bando said above, the year to redshirt Clifford was last year especially after the injury at Penn St where he was on crutches for weeks after already being hurt.
As for this season with Clifford, I'll believe in him contributing when I see it. Chronic knee problems for 7' don't just go away.
Great post
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