Explorers lose to Yakama, but Wedman is not bad

[jbirdmontana]

Great Falls lost to Yakama i think it was 103 to 86, which is not surprising, but I am done bashing on coach Wedman. I was simply bitter about the Explorers releasing Marlyn Bryant after he was injured in training camp. Following tonight's loss I spoke with Wedman simply just to tell him I was a big fan last year and that he made a mistake in letting Marlyn go without seeing how he could really ball. Scott actually took the time to ask me questions about Marlyn and quiet simply put I told him he would start on this squad that the Explorers have assembled this season. Any Expos fan knows that Marlyn is better than William Maupins who starts at the 3 position. No one that was with the organization last year, Ryan Acra and Justin Wetzel namely, even bothered to tell Wedman that Marlyn had started many of the games last year even after Keith Salshieder returned from injury. Wedman just asked me a few question about Marlyn's abilities, but i sincerely apprechiate him hearing me out. Hopefully they will give Marlyn a second chance he is much needed.

Why wasn't Coach Wedman made aware of Marlyn Bryant's abilities, could it be to protect Mike Chavez's spot on the roster, because it would seem that the worse the team is the better the chance that Chavez would have of playing. The fans are not coming out to see Mike Chavez play like the organization had hoped, he played all of like 2 minutes 2 night, missing 2 shots, one an air balled 3. Justin Wetzel, assistant coach, and Mike Chavez are from the same area of the state and are friends, so of course he wants Mike on the team. This is not the way any pro franchise should be run.

After the game Yakama forward Elvin Mims, whom was passing by in the hall-way after the game asked me why the heck Marlyn wasn't out there playing. So please Coach Wedman and owner Tuckman bring Marlyn Bryant back to the team he belongs on.

[bull1104]

I told you Wedman wasn't arrogant...I'm glad you got to talk to him. ;)

[jbirdmontana]

Yes I have respect for him now, and he is getting up alot more and coaching.

[Minor Leaguer]

Am I the only person on these boards that is sick of hearing you consistently talk about how Great Falls needs to bring back Marlyn Bryant? I don't know if you are related to the guy or are his agent or what, but let's face it: The guy is not that great. Let's take a look at what he did for the team last year. He was tied for being their 7th leading scorer with 10.8 points per game. Yeah that is correct, 6 guys on the team averaged more points than him. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Great Falls obviously is having their problems this season, but I don't think the absence of Marlyn Bryant on their squad is one of them.

[kg21obf]

Thank you ML, I was growing very tired of the MB talk.

[Pounder]

When a player doesn't return, and doesn't necessarily (? in this case) jump to anything better, the issue is usually...

$$$!

I don't expect Wedman to complain about that.. if he wants to keep his job, that is.

I don't expect Tuckman to find any. Not the first Puget Sound guy I've encountered with a big dream and little else. I feel for the Explorers fans.

[jbirdmontana]

Well, well I guess you stats nerds that don't go to the games would have no clue what I am talking about. The game of basketball is not played on a stats sheet it is played on the court, so what yall are saying is that a player with good averages is good. William Maupins is a guard/forward for the Explorers this year and he has had games of 10 or more rebounds a few times, so one paper he looks good. But the stats sheet fails to tell you that the guy missed 3 layups, averages almost 3 turnovers per half, and air balled a 3. But hey yall believe what you want. I bet that you, Minor Leaguer, believes that Mike Chavez is worthy of being on the team. Stats are not everything, but to you they must be.

[jbirdmontana]

The Explorers problem is a lack of any good players, and also a lack of players with much experience outside of college. Nate Green is ok, Nate Johnson can be a good point guard, and Toppert can shoot when left open, and the big guys block alot of shots on Defense, but that is it. I will admit talking too much about MB, my apologies, but go watch the Explorers play, and then come talk to me.

[Minor Leaguer]

I watched the Explorers on numerous occasions last year. I stand by my initial post that Marlyn Bryant is not that great. You are correct that you can't base everything on the stat sheet. With that being said, he was never the guy that stood out to me on your team last season. That would have been Malik Moore. As for your assumption that I think Chavez belongs on the team, you couldn't be more incorrect. He is a bum as a player, but you have to understand that in a league like the CBA, it helps to have at least one local guy. There is also a thing called a salary cap. Once you stop looking at thing through those rose-colored glasses and start looking at things realistically, then come back to the board and post.

[jbirdmontana]

Minor Leaguer, You are more educated about the Explorers than I thought. Ok you call me out on MB, and it is true that he is a good friend of mine, but I haven't said that he is the greatest of all time. I am actually friends with alot of last years players, and I would love to have Malik back, but he is playing in Germany. Jamar Howard is now in Germany as well. My whole thing is that Marlyn is a very exciting player and a very likable guy, and I know that he has many fans here in GF including the teams' biggest sponsors. And they still have the opportunity to get him back here, thats all I am trying to say. Just please do me a favor and go watch the team this year, and tell me what you think, and be honest in what you see.

[Minor Leaguer]

jbirdmontana - I can respect that response.

[jbirdmontana]

I will never understand why the Explorers are keeping the whole team in place up here. The players that Coach Wedman brought in are not good enough to compete in the CBA, except for Keith Salshieder, Nate Green, and Nate Johnson. Cody Toppert can shoot, but i know many players from around the area that can shoot like that. They brought in Mike Peeples (?) and were all excited about his game but his high points in the two weeks plus that he has been here was 12, and that was in his first game. Will Maupins gets some rebounds, but that is all that he can do, and in pro ball a guy that plays the 3 position can run in and get the midrange rebounds. The big guys are ok, just none of them can shoot. Somebody please help me to understand why Great Falls continues to keep these guys around, money is not an issue most of the guys are all paid the same. I just heard last week that they were going to bring MB back, and that Mike Chavez was gonna be cut after the last home game of this homestand, and also that changes were gonna be made to get a better team out there. Well a week has gone by since i heard this and no changes have been made. Changes need to be made and they must be made soon, or no one is going to attend the games, and that includes me.

[MontanaFella]

It would be a shame to cut Mike Chavez, he isn't a great player but he is better than Joe Principe and just as good as William Maupins. You have Mike Harmon and Tyler Hughes who are basically just the same, no reason to keep both of them.

I hope Marlyn comes back, but if I was him, I would try to go somewhere else, this is a tough deal here.

If you check the D-League transactions you will find that quality players are let go every day, the Explorers should be able to get one or two of those guys. Although, who knows if Tuckman would by the ticket to get them here.

[jbirdmontana]

Montana Fella I like that you know what you are talking about. Marlyn went to Rio Grande Valley and worked out with them for 3 days. The coach said that he would have loved to have him on their team and that he would start for them, but they only have like 2 more moves (releasing and signing a player) to last them the rest of the season. And they needed a pg badly, and they need big men, so MB has been told that he is wanted here in GF, but there he sits at home.