Runnin' Rebel play-by-play broadcaster will provide insights and observations throughout the season.
Jon Sandler will regularly provide insights and observations throughout the season.
Editor’s note: - This will be a regular weekly feature where Runnin' Rebel play-by-play broadcaster Jon Sandler will provide insights and observations throughout the season on the team, individual players, opponents, travel, coaches, etc.....
Nov. 3, 2009
It seems that every year at this time we all have the same feelings—excitement about returning players, anticipation about new talent, questions about size and chemistry, expectations about results….What all of this reflects is the passion the Runnin’ Rebel fans have about their team. I love it and I try to do my best to give that passion a voice. Through this column, I hope that I can also provide you with some special insights into the Runnin’ Rebels.
Here are some very early observations:
This group is, by far, the most athletic and deepest the Runnin’ Rebels have had in a very long time…Coach Kruger will have multiple options at every position early on. For that reason, try not to get too caught up on early season lineups and substitution patterns—it is going to take a bit to sort all of this talent out.
Don’t get too concerned with the bigs—with Darris (who looks terrific so far), Matt (healthy and becoming a leader), Brice (looks like he spent the summer at a health spa--in great shape) and Carlos (tremendous basketball instincts), the Rebels have a ton of possibilities at the 4 and 5…but they will all have to be a part of the pressure, up-tempo style that the coaches are emphasizing.
The Rebels lost a ton of senior production—Wink, Rene, Joe and Mo, regardless of your feelings about how things finished up last year, were tremendous contributors to the program. Replacing them won’t be easy or done quickly—but the pieces are undoubtedly in place to do so.
Tempo, Tempo, Tempo—everything at practice is about pressure and pace—hard and fast. I think the coaching staff is excited about the athleticism of this group and is going to take advantage of it at both ends of the floor. As a result, I don’t think this team will struggle to find its identity.
Patience—sometimes it doesn’t mix too well with all of the passion mentioned earlier, but it might be wise to exercise some. Yes the Rebels are talented and athletic. But they are young and relatively inexperienced. Although the schedule is, as usual, heavy on home games early, SIU, UNR and K-State are all quality opponents and Louisville will be very talented and looking for payback…The early MWC schedule is brutal—but more about that in a future column….
One last thing—we will all miss Gondo. He led the league in passion for Rebel Basketball. But having another Runnin’ Rebel legend like Robert Smith moving into the analyst chair is a tremendous plus. He knows the game as well as anyone, he knows the program, he knows the conference—please give Robert time to get used to the job (it is not as easy as one might think)—I know you will enjoy his work. Talk to you again next week…
