personal thoughts on each player

[Bp4thebest]

Vaughn: best player this year. runs the point like he has done it his whole life. plays like an upper classman. scores and penatrates well. looks even better then last year

Warren: good defense. doesnt shoot alot. will give maybe two good offensive days but will be consistent. made strides list year.

Gentry: best asset is defense. guarded wing well in both ex. on players who moved with the ball. will have a couple of streaky games.

Sikes: under rated. good size at natural position. shoots well from 12 feet and in and can shoot long too. good role player but better last year when he played all the time.

Williamson: toughest we got. only one to this point who attacks the glass like a guy that can rebound in the big east. that will change with experience though. him and vaughn most big east ready.

Adam: not great ball skills but was better around the basket then i thought he would be. doesnt rebound as well as a 6'10'' guy should but his size will naturally make him a rebound threat.

McClain: played half the time in scrimmage and still had 3 blocks against bellmarine. if he played all the time he would avg about 3 thats his best asset.. gives uc a finisher that we lacked last year. combined his production with adam and you get the numbers of a dominating big man.. should combined for atleast 12 reb. 15 pts and 3 blocks a game.. something we lacked in the big east last year.

Davis: better then his rating. isnt exceptional in any part of his game yet but is solid in everything. good passer.

Mitchell: built like a brick house. can drive exceptionallly well. can shoot.. will have improving defense. chance to be the fresh that steps b/c he maybe big east ready. im pulling for him

Bishop: maybe even better then alvin. i dont think he is personally but i hear he is and im impressed with his play. his stock has risen the last year and i still feel he is under rated. he will be all big east freshman i think.. him or alvin

wilks: great athlete. can rebound well b/c of his leaping ability. most rebounds will be coming in from the perimeter and leaping over top for them which will turn into alot of tip backs when he matures. will be the flash and show of the team although bishop and williamson and alvin can too.. he may be the most talented freshman and has a chance to take his game to the next level

Belton: very thick. will be used for some breather min this year and will stick around the most.. trying to compare his value to this team to maybe a bj grove or rob flowers.. maybe not as good but thats what he will bring us.. will always be around the basket though

Miller: dont know if he will play unless we are blowing teams away or if someone gets hurt but i hear mick loves his effort so if mick gets a chance he will probably play him.. i wish we were dominating so he could be the next meeker and play at the end alot.. he has worked hard and deserves it.. he isnt a bad player.. good size too.. i hope he is working the players hard in practice! he has gaurded the likes of kirkland muhammad downey and white in practice who all were around for the huggs era and knows how to work the other players in practice!

i could talk all day about some of the players but this is the first thing to pop in my head.. anything ppl wanna add or disagree on id love to hear your opinion.. i follow the team alot and will know them from the start a little better then some ppl but i dont know everything.. anyone follow any of these players well?

[GoCats1994]

Not sure Vaughn will be the leading scorer. Love his ability to hit the free throws - which will help his points-per-game. Although until he shows that he is a better ball handler, he won't get as many opportunities to have the ball in his hands down the stretch (meaning...the FT opportunities will still be limited).

I think Williamson still may be their most active player on the boards. He may not have the most talent on the team...but the guy likes to hit the boards...especially on the offensive side of the court. Assuming his knees can stay healthier than last year, he may surprise enough to be the leading scorer.

[Mick's Da Man]

In the Bellarmine game, John Williamson played harder than anyone on the team. Stuff that doesn't show up in the stat column.

If he plays that way all year, he will be a force.

[Cats4Ever]

big shortfall in Warren's game is his drives to the basket, and to campus, and to...................

badabing, badaboom

make sure you tip the waitress on the way out

[tophat]

Not sure Vaughn will be the leading scorer. Love his ability to hit the free throws - which will help his points-per-game. Although until he shows that he is a better ball handler, he won't get as many opportunities to have the ball in his hands down the stretch (meaning...the FT opportunities will still be limited).

I think Williamson still may be their most active player on the boards. He may not have the most talent on the team...but the guy likes to hit the boards...especially on the offensive side of the court. Assuming his knees can stay healthier than last year, he may surprise enough to be the leading scorer.

Vaughn is the best ball handler on the team, and the ball will definitely be in his hands when the game is on the line. He'll also likely be leading scorer.

[bearcatmark]

I want to see Vaughn throughout the year before I call him the "best ball handler on the team" That was a major weakness in his game last season. He looked improved against DII schools, but I'd like to see some consistency throughout the year. Last season Warren was our best ballhandler.

[Bp4thebest]

Not sure Vaughn will be the leading scorer. Love his ability to hit the free throws - which will help his points-per-game. Although until he shows that he is a better ball handler, he won't get as many opportunities to have the ball in his hands down the stretch (meaning...the FT opportunities will still be limited).

I think Williamson still may be their most active player on the boards. He may not have the most talent on the team...but the guy likes to hit the boards...especially on the offensive side of the court. Assuming his knees can stay healthier than last year, he may surprise enough to be the leading scorer.

i totally agree with u especially on williamson.. but in the scrimmages vaughn controlled the ball real well but i dont know what thats worth yet we will see

[Bp4thebest]

In the Bellarmine game, John Williamson played harder than anyone on the team. Stuff that doesn't show up in the stat column.

If he plays that way all year, he will be a force.

100 percent true

[Nerf]

Not that it's a big deal, but I noticed walk-on Walter Lewis didn't return this season. Considering he only played in 1 game last season, you can certainly understand it, but was there any official word regarding his absence?

Again, not a big deal, just curious.

[IKnowMoreThanYou]

I would just like to add that Larry Davis could be the best on ball defender on the team and has the quickest hands defensively and can really shoot it as well. Also I think Bishop even as a freshman will have a calming influence on the floor and all around is the most versatile guy on the roster. He can rebound, shoot, pass, dribble, defend and has a Big East ready body right now. Good post.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Not that it's a big deal, but I noticed walk-on Walter Lewis didn't return this season. Considering he only played in 1 game last season, you can certainly understand it, but was there any official word regarding his absence?

Again, not a big deal, just curious.

UC needed walk-on(s) for practice last year. Not needed this year. Connor Barwin not back, either.

[Bp4thebest]

I would just like to add that Larry Davis could be the best on ball defender on the team and has the quickest hands defensively and can really shoot it as well. Also I think Bishop even as a freshman will have a calming influence on the floor and all around is the most versatile guy on the roster. He can rebound, shoot, pass, dribble, defend and has a Big East ready body right now. Good post.

well i guess u know more then us

[Thegreatone]

Vaugn- is the best scorer and offensive player... However he cheats on D, he is more concerned with getting a steal than staying in front of his man. You will see a lot of steals but not the best D IMO.

Williamson- I do not understand peoples obsession with him. He cant play. I appreciate the effort he puts forth, it is nice but guys he is not a basketball player. I have said it before he is a less talented and left handed Eric Hicks. Hicks was a high motor overachiever that had zero touch! His motor will get him the boards and D so I want him in the lineup but lets not confuse him with something that he is not.

McClain- He needs to get dunked on a few times to learn the intensity. I want to see him get posterized so he can develop that nastiness that he will need. If he can become a Donald Little for a couple seasons before he develops his offensive game I will be happy. Donald was a defensive beast and he could rebound... a moron yes, but he could play D and rebound.

I dont really feel like getting into everyone else but I might later... I dont think that Mitchell is going to dominate like everyone is thinking, he needs to learn how to pass the basketball. Oh and I think Warren could be the MVP of this team, he plays great in your face D and has a quality offensive game.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

well i guess u know more then us

Actually not necessarily. It's just his/her nickname on this forum.

[Bp4thebest]

Actually not necessarily. It's just his/her nickname on this forum.

it was a joke..

[Nerf]

UC needed walk-on(s) for practice last year. Not needed this year. Connor Barwin not back, either.

Was there an actual statement made to that affect, or are you just speculating? Because it doesn't make complete sense considering Miller is back; and it was announced at the end of last season that Barwin's not returning because he's concentrating on football.

[Bp4thebest]

Vaugn- is the best scorer and offensive player... However he cheats on D, he is more concerned with getting a steal than staying in front of his man. You will see a lot of steals but not the best D IMO.

Williamson- I do not understand peoples obsession with him. He cant play. I appreciate the effort he puts forth, it is nice but guys he is not a basketball player. I have said it before he is a less talented and left handed Eric Hicks. Hicks was a high motor overachiever that had zero touch! His motor will get him the boards and D so I want him in the lineup but lets not confuse him with something that he is not.

McClain- He needs to get dunked on a few times to learn the intensity. I want to see him get posterized so he can develop that nastiness that he will need. If he can become a Donald Little for a couple seasons before he develops his offensive game I will be happy. Donald was a defensive beast and he could rebound... a moron yes, but he could play D and rebound.

I dont really feel like getting into everyone else but I might later... I dont think that Mitchell is going to dominate like everyone is thinking, he needs to learn how to pass the basketball. Oh and I think Warren could be the MVP of this team, he plays great in your face D and has a quality offensive game.

williamson may shoot better then hicks and is working on his shot.. not saying he is hicks.. not even close.. but he his alright and he plays hard enough to play in the big east and thats why he dominated up intil last year.. he knows how hard u have to play to play in this con and the incomers dont yet.. he needs to play the most with vaughn early in the con schedule till the new guys see what they r into! warren is great defensively but not team mvp.. plus he is hurt!

[Big B]

Williamson is a natural scorer and has played facing the basket his entire career until he came here and was asked to play with his back to the basket because of the lack of size. I'm sure he was looking forward to playing small forward again with the addition of Adam, Mike and Anthony. Then Mike goes down and he's back to power forward. Hopefully he not regreting his commitment to UC.

[Thegreatone]

Oh no doubt going against smaller players is going to help him and I never want to question his desire... he is a beast. Saying that I dont think he is a good basketball player.

[tophat]

I want to see Vaughn throughout the year before I call him the "best ball handler on the team" That was a major weakness in his game last season. He looked improved against DII schools, but I'd like to see some consistency throughout the year. Last season Warren was our best ballhandler.

One of the reasons Mick has given Vaughn the ball as the PG on this team is because he considers him the strongest ball handler. And I agree from watching this group last year.

Every other returning player has real limitations. Williamson's a good athlete, but he's too small as a PF and lacks the skill to play effectively away from the basket. Healthy knees will help, if they are truly healthy.