2012 - Bruce Marshall 6'10" PF/C - Signed MO State

I'm not saying Caleb is a great rebounder- he isn't. But he has been trying to put a body on someone most of the time during the conference season. He doesn't get many but we have gotten better rebounding numbers because Caleb is putting some effort into not letting his guy get the easy board. Biz gets several rebounds because Caleb and others have put a body on their man and not allowed their guy to get to the ball before it reaches Biz.

Caleb is a very good play, but I agree he doesn't have the drive or tenacity needed to be the NBA caliber player we thought he could be. If he played with a fire hed be unstoppable.

Agree with you totally, if he had a burning fire in him, he would not be here. God gave him some very good shooting skills, just not the fire to do enough with those skills.

My hope is MSU/Lusk can build a strong and consistent basketball power that competes for the MVC every year and plays in the NCAA most or all years. I wonder sometimes whether some fans that post on here think that is actually possible or not. I mean no disrespect to anyone, but I think expecting less is a lack of confidence in the program and the team.

To accomplish the goal mentioned above the team will need a talented and balanced roster year after year. The team must have a true point guard with few weaknesses. Sharp shooting players at the 2 and 3 and 4 are a must. Centers are needed that have the size and demeanor to defend around the basket and consider every rebound as their own. A bruiser that is an enforcer and can influence the game on the defensive end of the court is necessary. Of course the team must have athletic ability, quickness, shooting, coachability, size, and chemistry. Converting a shooting guard to run the point sometimes may be required, but should not be the normal strategy for the next year by the coaching staff and be the basis for recruiting. Using an undersized player at center might be required some seasons, but it should not be the "strategy" for winning the conference the next year.

There are some undersized and unbalanced teams that win some games and even put together successful seasons. My goal as a fan is not for MSU to settle for the previous comment. I want to see MSU be a consistent contender and have a reserved place at or near the top of the MVC standings every year. To accomplish that goal the team needs to have talent and balance on the roster. UE has a smaller team this year, and even with one of the stars in the Valley they are in danger of playing on Thursday night in St. Louis.

This year MSU has a first year (at MSU) player at point who really struggles shooting from the floor and the free throw line. The player with the size to defend the inside does not have the mentality or personality for that role. He is a shooter and a scorer. Watch CP on offense and most of the time you will smile. He is good, real good. The Bears have been a little soft up the middle this year. The outside shooting most fans expected from NS and CC and others just has not been there. Many of us assumed the two redshirts would contribute this year. The expectation was that CT would get a lot of minutes and would be a factor this year. Most expected KW to start like he finished last year. None of those things materialized this year. And still, with a brand new coach, MSU may claim third place, and be considered a contender to win the automatic bid in St. Louis. That is pretty impressive.

So how de we get from here to there? That is where a lot of the posts on this board are focused and directed. Who should be recruited for the team for next year? What does the team need the most? Coach has said AD will run the point with DoW and MM helping. We have to get outside shooting from several players returning and incoming. The team is going to be small in terms of length and bulk. Power forward will be a deep position. Small forward should be a strength as well. BM may play center some next year as a freshman. He will gain experience during the year, and will probably gain strength monthly. He has the heighth. The question is whether he has the strength and mindset to play center next year. In a perfect world there would be a player who has all of the obvious requirements for a MVC center next year that would allow the coaches to use BM based on his natural skills and size.

I am really excited about BM joining the Bears. He is the kind of dedicated and determined player I really enjoy supporting. I will cheer as loud as anyone next year no matter who is on the court for the Bears. It looks unlikely at this moment that coach will agree to RS BM next year. He will be the only player taller than 6' 7". And Bruce can shoot the ball!

I stopped reading right around there.... Can we get to one before worrying about/expecting being there every year?

I don't think there's a problem with having long term hopes. It's not like fans hoping for something grander is going to impede the team's focus in the short term.

I hope we get to that point too, but we haven't been to ONE since 99 before I was a fan. I'd just like to make it back to ONE before expecting to be in it every year.

If we have a coach and AD that does not expect and it is in the master plan to get to the NCAA nearly every year, then we need a change! I know we do though. Because if you are not planning on success it will not happen, others who want it more will take it away everytime! I am impressed with the development of some other MVC programs, I do believe that the MVC now has some great coaches who others might want to make an offer to some day. I think EU has made good strides this year, they have given all the good teams fits. I bet CU does not want to see them again after last night, EU gave them the game in the end. UNI has a great coach and program to model after, they will be back, count on it. CU will be there for the long haul, coach will probably stay the rest of his career there. WSU will be there as long as Marshall stays. IlSU is pretty good this year and I hope we do not see them any where this year, to athletic for the Bears to handle. Who wil be the InSU at this year's tourney, HOPING it is the BEARS!

Caleb would be incredible in a high low offense as a PF and a primarily zone defense.

We should have 6 more NCAA apperances - 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2011. 5 of those are Barry Hinson's fault.

The discussion is interesting and helpful. Agree the Bears need to get to the NCAA. The question is what are you shooting for? Get to the NCAA? Or build a consistent top program? The latter will result in getting to the big tournament most years.

One point of my earlier comments was to say the team this year has actually overachieved given the personnel. The Bears this year have not had what I would call a balanced roster. Fans saying things like " we can win with smaller players", "we do not really need a center taller than 6' 7", "such and such team has won without a center" etc. seem to concede the real blue chip players to the "BCS" programs. I think Lusk can recruit a couple talented centers along with the other players needed to build a winning program.

The difference is living hand to mouth and getting lucky one year and making the tournament, or building a program that will compete for championships each year. That stability referred to here is based on competent leadership that establishes goals and processes that get the program to that level. It is possible here at MSU.

You are probably right. I would call that using a player where their natural size and talent dictates. CP would probably fit that role much better.

No. 5 Douglass (B) vs. No. 4 Fayette (6 p.m. tip-off): You know, I’ve only seen Douglass play once, but that was more than enough for me. This team has the potential to be the most dangerous team in this tournament. Everyone in the Mid-Missouri area is ready to see the clash of the area’s top two scorers: Fayette’s Bruce Marshall and Douglass’ James Hughes. At this time last week, I thought this was going to be a push. Then, when I found out Rudy Williams wasn’t going to be available for the Falcons this week, I was very doubtful the Falcons could win this game. But on Friday, when Fayette went on the road and nearly beat Centralia, with Bruce Marshall scoring only 12 points, I went back and forth between this game all weekend. I’m not confident with this pick, and even though Bruce Marshall has only averaged 17.6 points per game, I think other players will step up and win this game that should come down to the wire. Prediction: Fayette 76, Douglass 73.

http://hocosportsblog.wordpress.com/

Douglas win over Fayette:

http://m.columbiatribune.com/photos/galleries/2012/feb/28/basketball-douglass-78-fayette-64/

Appreciate your comments, but honestly, BM sounds like an ideal redshirt. I'm willing to go 10-17 next year f it means we will vastly improve from there.

You wonder how long it will take him to get acclimated to playing against bigger, stronger players, but man that kid has a sweet shot. Takes a little bit of tme to get it off, and you'd like to see a little better movement out of him, but as far Junior highlights go, you can't ask for a ton more.

Based on the fact that he pretty much doubled his numbers in almost every category I would think his sr video would be much more impressive.

Thanks TN, kid can flat shoot the ball from long range, give him a power move inside and he could be come another McD type player with range. Would hate to have to use him at a 5 position with that range, could like him a lot, sweet shot for sure.

Not always easy to look merely at numbers and expect better highlights. You can be the same player and double your shots per game to double your numbers. I'm always more worried about tools and projection than I am high school 1A stats. The only time I get worried about stats is when they don't have them, and they should based on level of competition.

I would defer to coach Lusk's evaluation of how to best use BM, but I agree completely with 4bears. It looks like BM has the ability to play around the basket, but his natural skills surface when he can post up or make a mid-range jumper or score three from outside. The question may be his ability to defend a quick 3 or 4 for the other team. Just hope he does not play center by default. If Lusk can identify a good center maybe BM can develop into a genuine advantage for the Bears in the MVC. A player with size who can handle the ball pretty well and can flat out shoot it from anywhere. Please note how many blocks BM has as well. For sure those blocks come against smaller opponents, but BM is accustomed to blocking shots. If BM has the footwork and quickness needed, he could become a nightmare for other teams.

I am reminding myself right now as I hit the post reply BM is still a high school student. Forgive me for my optimism. I am excited though that BM is on the way to Springfield.