SCU Men's Basketball - Who Are These Guys?

                                                                                         

With the season starting next week, and, so many newbies to the program, lots of you are asking, "Who are these guys?"  

It's easy to read their bio's on the SCU website, but that doesn't give any hint as to what we can expect from our players in the flow of the game.  It's very hard to quantify how high school stats translate to the college level.  For example, Miguel Tomley (Fr).  He averaged 29 ppg in his last high school season in Canada and dropped 66 on a team in one game!  I guess he can really shoot it - but will he at this level?

In any case, here's my completely uneducated preview and introduction of the roster from what I've seen in practice so we know who's "that guy."  

I'll start with the bigs, because in the WCC this season, it's "go big or go home."

Jaden Bediako - 6' 10"  Freshman, Ontario, Canada

# 2 ranked prospect in Canada.  Likely to spell Willie Caruso and Zeke Richards.  Runs pretty well and shows some good defensive instincts.  Will work on college level post moves and short range spot jumper.  

Juan Ducasse 6' 9"  Sophomore, Montevideo, Uruguay

Missed all last year with a knee injury.  Has experience playing in high level international competition but will be his first year in Coach Sendek's system.  Versatility will be a big plus.  Has legit 3 ball range, can move and pass in up tempo scheme.  May Split time with Keyshawn Justice and DJ Mitchell.  A player to watch.


Donovan (DJ) Mitchell 6' 8" Junior, Clovis CA, transfer from Wake Forest

All around talent.  Shooter, rebounder and defender.  Should contribute right away.  Can drop a three, pull up in traffic and hit, and slash/finish at the rim.  Anxious to be on the court after his redshirt year. Could become one of the go-to leaders.

The guards.  Depth a plenty.

Jalen Williams 6 '6" Freshman, Gilbert, Arizona

Just as he's grown 8 inches since a HS Soph, his game is growing as well.  Will spell Tahj Eaddy, Trey Wertz, and others.  A threat anywhere.  Seven foot wing span.  Sneaky good  shooter and should be a factor in the up tempo game.  Lots of upside possible with JW.

Miguel Tomley 6'3" Freshman, Surrey, BC, Canada

Will spell Tahj and Trey at guard.  Has a rep as a great shooter and hopefully will become a deadly outlet for a three off the dribble or in transition.  If he can shoot it as advertised, he will will be a huge boost for a team that last year had big scoring lapses.


Giordan Williams 6' 3"  Freshman, Long Beach, CA

Will spell everyone in the rotation.  Confident scorer.  Will be an asset in the up tempo game.  Another three ball and finisher outlet.  As he adjusts to D1, he could be a valuable role player.


David Thompson,  6 '0" Junior Transfer from San Jacinto College, CA

Versatile, can play all Guard positions.  Will bring some needed toughness to the roster.  Not afraid to step up and shoot or defend.  Could be a very valuable contributor in the depth chart in the up tempo style and provide more defensive legs - sorely need from last year.


And there's more.  

The scoring "core" five are back.   Vrankic, Caruso, Eaddy, Wertz, and Justice who gave us over 82% of our points.  We will be the only team in the WCC with no seniors or grad transfers. 

The team will have had two scrimmages prior to opening on November 5th.  All the practice effort is nice, but as coaches say, you learn more about your team in a scrimmage than any practice.

With 13 of the first 15 games at home in Leavey, we'll find not only who these guys are, but more importantly who they become, a team stuck in the middle or who knows - a team on the rise! 


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SCU Men's Basketball - Did Our Team Pass Summer School?

The 2018-19 season for the Broncos started and ended the same way.  We came up "short" against Prairie View A&M and then San Diego in the WCC tournament.  All things considered, a 16-15 record wasn't bad, but short of some expectations.

Not only did we come up short against some beatable teams, we had a roster that was the "shortest" in the WCC.  For most games there were only 7-8 scholarship players and our two "longest" players were oft injured and one lost for the entire season.  

Well, in 2019-20 we won't be "short", we'll be L-O-N-G.  

We have a full scholarship roster with every player recruited by Coach Sendek and his staff.  We will be both deep and long.  Five players listed at 6' 9" or better.  Three more players 6' 6" to 6' 8."  Six who can play guard and some that have actual point experience. 

There are no seniors on the roster and six newcomers to Coach Sendek's system.  Four true freshmen - Tomley, Bediako, J. Williams, G. Williams.  Two transfers - D.J. Mitchell and David Thompson.  Add Juan Ducasse, who is listed as a sophomore, but is really a freshman since he was injured and hasn't played or practiced until this summer. 

The players arrived on campus and immediately started summer school both in the classroom and on the court.  Summer school on the court is limited to skill/strength development and some game situation time.  Did they pass Coach Sendek's summer school? 

Convos with the Coaches say - yes.  No one likes getting a "C", but the coaches love this groups "C" for competitive.   Last season, practices at times were sort of walk throughs; harder to develop players, who were competing against walk-ons vs this year, when the guy you're going against in practice wants YOUR minutes and is determined to get them.  In Coach's system, practice and game performances earns court time.  

There's a lot of "A" for attitude as well.  They show up, ready to go and devote lots of study hours in their Library (Gym) to get better.  It looks and feels different.  Even Coach Sendek, usually understated and matter of fact, was excited about this roster at the Coffee with Coach series.

Predicted game style will be up tempo all the way.  Push the ball on makes and misses and beat opponents up and down the court.  Not as much set offense, but more opportunistic.  We have 11 three ball shooters on this team; not like last year when you had a few.  We can go-go-go because we actually have legit depth.  No more wearing out Trey and Tahj every game.  Bring on Thompson, Williams, Williams, Tomley etc, etc. 

Same on defense - more fresh bodies and more size to deny the freeway to the bucket that happened at times last season.  Less worry over a foul here or there.  Get after it.

Season practices have started and include two closed scrimmages versus other teams.  Summer school is nice, but the real team G.P. A.* will start being measured on November 5th.

In non-conference, we will play 13 of 15 games at Leavey.  The WCC schedule will be once again school or "be schooled" with Gonzaga again the top dog.  

With 21 games at Leavey, it's time for us to show up as well.  We need to get our "C" on and cheer this young team on to new heights.  The new Athletic Excellence Center raises the stakes on our quest to be National.  We'll find out if this team and us, as season ticket holders and fans, can rise to the occasion!




* G.P.A. = Game Performance Average