Predictions for the season

[JB53]

Well, we're down to 10 players now. Derrick Buchanan has quit the team.

Is it still possible to take Matt Lipski and put him on the active roster??? We're getting pretty thin at post/forward.

[JB53]

Well, we're down to 10 players now. Derrick Buchanan has quit the team.

Noticed Derrick Buchanan with the redshirts at Thursday nights game. Heard it's an academic issue? If that's the case can he play again this year or is he done 'til next year? In any case it looks like at least for now he is back with the team?

[Humboldt Super Fan]

I'm going to put it very simple. The 10 players that are on the active roster now are going to be the guys that will have to get the job done for the rest of the season. Cal Poly Pomona mainly went with an eight man rotation with 10 active players on the roster last year and won it all. So, it can be done.

I don't know what is the issue with Derrick Buchanan at this time, but he is still not the roster as a redshirt. Plus, I think Buchanan would not qualify for a redshirt season since he played more than 25% of the games of the season. I could be wrong on the redshirt rule. I know one thing, I would not count on Buchanan coming back to help on the front line this season.

[jacksfan]

It's pretty ironic that in October there were 21 guys listed on the roster and we were projecting how all these guys were gonna get PT. I actually like the fact that we're down to 10 players...makes substitutions and the definitions of roles simpler...but it sure would be nice to have gotten Lipski eligible. Could you imagine this team if he and Marcus Hall could've played this year?

For the rest of this season, I like the 8 players we've got in the rotation though. Some tough games are ahead on the schedule however, including games @ Pomona, San Bernardino and SF State, and at home vs. Chico, D Hills, and CSULA. The CCAA is so strong this year. It would be a shame if 4 teams from the conference don't get into the regional...and they probably won't.

In looking ahead to next year, assuming the core players and redshirts return, HSU is going to be ridiculously deep. Coach Kinder and staff has set themselves up for some tremendous success for the near future. Rob Walters will make the frontcourt extremely formidable next season, with Lipski, Hunter and Baxter already in the mix there. Broome, Sperling, Hall, EBK, and Clark will solidify the backcourt...the team is already 9 deep, and I'm leaving out Esters, Brown, and the freshman redshirts. And you know they're going to recruit 2-3 SOLID JC players in the spring as well, along w/ 2-3 great high school kids.

Yeeeeeeeeeeee...

[jacksfan]

What a season...and the best is yet to come. With 2 games left to play AT HOME, the Lumberjacks have already clinched a share of the CCAA championship. Who would've thunk it? It's interesting to go back and revisit our predictions in October. We all assumed the team would lose some games early on and likely make a run at a regional spot in February. Nobody saw a chance to host the regional tournament.

With 2 games left in the regular season, do the Jacks host the regional? Do they have to win the CCAA tourney to do so? The CCAA tourney is different from the GNAC tourney, in that the CCAA semifinals and finals are at a neutral site, whereas the GNAC tourney takes place at the home of the #1 seed...Central Washington. Think Central has an advantage there?

Predictions on the rest of the season? Do the Jacks win the final 2? win the CCAA tourney? Host the regional? Win the regional? Make noise in Springfield? WIN IT ALL?

I vote for all of the above. Yes, that's my positive, wishful thinking side...but is there any reason to go against that trend? All the Jacks have done all year is win. Now that it's all on the line and the team appears to be peaking, winning is really the only option.

Ain't it great to be a Lumberjack?