LA Officially Opens Men's Basketball Practice

[Cajunsmike]

.....Oh I love to do this especially to MIKE.....WHAT IS THE STARTING LINEUP AND THE TOP RESERVES?

Heard to say as I don't know who will be point guard. I could be completely wrong but here is a guess. Temple at point guard, Russell at the two guard, Julien at three, Dou Gueye at 4, and Smith at 5. Johnson will be sixth man and play as much as any of the 3 to 5 guys. Some may be surprised to see me predict a pure freshman will start at point guard and I am saying that simply due to his credentials. You are not the Mississippi Player of Year in his class without talent. Freshman Wilson will see significant time especially when we need his defense. After that everything is up for grabs. However I will say that PJ Hardy ends up playing more every year than people expect in the pre season and he is the only scholarship senior so he will get time somewhere.

[Cajunsmike]

How many teams qualify for the SBC Tournament?

10 but only final four get to New Orleans. Top 2 regular season seeds automatically get there. Seeds 3 and 4 get home games for chance to get there. Others have to play multiple games.

[Hatch]

Heard to say as I don't know who will be point guard. I could be completely wrong but here is a guess. Temple at point guard, Russell at the two guard, Julien at three, Dou Gueye at 4, and Smith at 5. Johnson will be sixth man and play as much as any of the 3 to 5 guys. Some may be surprised to see me predict a pure freshman will start at point guard and I am saying that simply due to his credentials. You are not the Mississippi Player of Year in his class without talent. Freshman Wilson will see significant time especially when we need his defense. After that everything is up for grabs. However I will say that PJ Hardy ends up playing more every year than people expect in the pre season and he is the only scholarship senior so he will get time somewhere.

I can see a situation where Russell starts alongside either Hardy or Wilson and the ball handling duties are divided between them. However I hope you are correct on Temple being able to step in as a true freshman as I prefer a true PG running the show. I also think Johnson starts and you see Julien in that 6th man type roll, or maybe Smith comes off the bench for a slightly smaller and quicker starting lineup. I would suspect Durey Cadwell to be a regular in the rotation as well.

[AirBill]

Heard to say as I don't know who will be point guard. I could be completely wrong but here is a guess. Temple at point guard, Russell at the two guard, Julien at three, Dou Gueye at 4, and Smith at 5. Johnson will be sixth man and play as much as any of the 3 to 5 guys. Some may be surprised to see me predict a pure freshman will start at point guard and I am saying that simply due to his credentials. You are not the Mississippi Player of Year in his class without talent. Freshman Wilson will see significant time especially when we need his defense. After that everything is up for grabs. However I will say that PJ Hardy ends up playing more every year than people expect in the pre season and he is the only scholarship senior so he will get time somewhere.

No love for Trajan Wesley? Thought he looked pretty good for a freshman last year. Think he's outclassed that badly?

[zephyr]

As I stated in another thread my bigger expectations are on next year I will say that if the Cajuns don’t at least make a trip to the Smoothie King Center this season I will be disappointed.

Cue the extension

[Grantvb]

Who’s gonna have the breakout year?

[zephyr]

I can see a situation where Russell starts alongside either Hardy or Wilson and the ball handling duties are divided between them. However I hope you are correct on Temple being able to step in as a true freshman as I prefer a true PG running the show. I also think Johnson starts and you see Julien in that 6th man type roll, or maybe Smith comes off the bench for a slightly smaller and quicker starting lineup. I would suspect Durey Cadwell to be a regular in the rotation as well.

I don't think there is any way Julien will be coming off the bench.

[Policarp]

No love for Trajan Wesley? Thought he looked pretty good for a freshman last year. Think he's outclassed that badly?

Trajan is very good......you don't lead a team to 6A championship in TX without a strong point.

[Cajunsmike]

No love for Trajan Wesley? Thought he looked pretty good for a freshman last year. Think he's outclassed that badly?

Trajan missed some of the summer workouts due to a minor injury. Not sure if he has come back healthy for fall semester. If so, he may get time as a backup point guard similar to his role last year.

[Hatch]

I don't think there is any way Julien will be coming off the bench.

And I would say the same about Johnson. They both could start with Julien at the 3 and Johnson at the 4. It could also be a situation where the coaching staff thinks one has the personality to not be bothered by coming off the bench and playing significant minutes similar to Stove a few years ago. Maybe Mike knows more about that kind of situation than me and that’s why he suggested Johnson as the 6th man.

[RaginDave]

So we had 5 players enter the transfer portal from last year and I see 3 of them are clearly playing somewhere else, but not sure on the other 2. Does anyone have any information on these guys.

Justin Miller -- Detroit Mercy
Jeremy Hayes -- Angelo State
Eli Mouton -- LSU Eunice
RJ Gladney -- No information
Jerekius Davis -- No Information

[Hatch]

So we had 5 players enter the transfer portal from last year and I see 3 of them are clearly playing somewhere else, but not sure on the other 2. Does anyone have any information on these guys.

Justin Miller -- Detroit Mercy
Jeremy Hayes -- Angelo State
Eli Mouton -- LSU Eunice
RJ Gladney -- No information
Jerekius Davis -- No Information

As far as I know neither are with another program. Davis was going into his 5th year (redshirted here as a freshman) and did not have a degree in hand so going to another D1 program was not an option for him.