I thought Ball and Hempfling were the guards?:jump:

 

I hope you Highlands guys recover quickly from me posting in a basketball thread.:laugh:

And Dowling's the center:laugh:

Saw a "gaggle" of Bluebird 'Ballers runnin' the streets yesterday. Is this "organized" or are the 'Birds gettin' serious on their own??

Scott Draud is not walking through that door, right?

 

I'm talking in recent Willie years.

 

He sure isn't and he NEVER DID MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY EITHER !

While the Birds have many good guards this year I am not sure they have a true point guard. I understand Simpson as a combo guard but how much does he really make the other players on his team better? It seemed to me at times last year that other teams did not respect the shooting of his teammates when he drove to the goal to see if he could take his man and other teams were able to send an extra guy at him. They seem to me to have a collection of good guards who don't necessarily complement each other very well because of the lack of a true point guard although I suppose the return of a good outside shooter in McGraw and the addition of Kowolonek as capable outside shooters on the wings and baseline might make Simpson's drives harder to stop as it will more difficult for teams to collapse back to help with the risk of those two hurting them with open 3s.

 

Stein gives great effort but the lack of a true big man (in height) likely continues to hurt them as well unless there is someone new or who has grown that I am not aware of.

 

Finally, does anyone know if Austin Collinsworth is returning to the hardwood this year? I know he was rehabbing a leg during the season last year.

He sure isn't and he NEVER DID MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY EITHER !

 

But he's still a Bird, right?

But he's still a Bird, right?

 

His jersey's still hangin in the gym:thumb:

If McGraw is healthy, he is more than capable of being the point. (drive-dish-defense). His outside shooting will be a bonus, but not a priority. SR leadership at the point will help make the Birds a real threat this year come tourney time! (hopefully Kowolonek will follow Greg like a puppy and learn!)

His jersey's still hangin in the gym:thumb:

 

Good old can't beat them buy them attitude! Heck he's not even from the same county. And they call the private schools the bad guys.:sssh:

Unless he went to Moeller too, what about Micheal Eaton?

Unless he went to Moeller too, what about Micheal Eaton?

 

Scrappy kid, he's a true yard saler (garbage collector). He will give you 8, 4 and 3 most nights.

How many Seniors does Willie keep?

How many Seniors does Willie keep?

 

He has a core of Sr's this year that have been with the program for entire career, I cant imagine he starts cutting. They usually keep 29 on the bench anyway.

 

Heck last year the chairs went all the way to the locker rooms.

How many Seniors does Willie keep?

 

Simpson, McGraw, Eaton, Stein, Simons, Hurtt and Ball. IMO the remainder of the team will consist of sophomores some of which will get significant minutes this year.

Simpson, McGraw, Eaton, Stein, Simons, Hurtt and Ball. IMO the remainder of the team will consist of sophomores some of which will get significant minutes this year.

 

Looks like Willie will have his hands full keeping a happy ship. No Jrs.??? Outside of Kowolonek, what Soph will be ready for varsity PT?

Looks like Willie will have his hands full keeping a happy ship. No Jrs.??? Outside of Kowolonek, what Soph will be ready for varsity PT?

 

Its hard to fault a guy for playing the best players on the court. I think there may be some question as to why some JR's may not play as much varsity as either sophomores or a couple seniors but thats the way it goes. Unfortunately for the JR class there is a very good bunch right behind them and a group of veterans above them. They are a nice bunch of kids but looks like they might get sandwiched.

 

You never know, if some of them blossom and step up they may be taking some of those Seniors minutes. Or maybe they need to just step up in preseason practices and not let those sophs get the best of them. At the end of the day it comes down to who is going to help Willie win and in the end it that will be riding on Simpson/McGraw this season anyway.

 

I gurantee Simpson will shoot atleast 30 times a game.