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Scrimmage observations

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:37 pm
by BleedOrange
My observations,

Team: The team was surprisingly cohesive and sharp this early in the season. Beyond that, they played loose. I don't recall our team appearing to enjoy playing so much as they did yesterday.

Clearly, Jakuboski, Marcshall, and Larson have all added much needed upper body strength. This will help Jak make plays and the perimeter and Marcshall stay out of foul trouble. Both of our freshman play like upper classmen and can help immediately. Overall, a guard play is greatly improved from last year. This team is DEEP.

(Knight, Calhoun, and Graves didn't play.)

Moten: He looked fabulous yesterday with the ball and shooting. From yesterday, he looks like he may have a huge year. He has transformed into a confident leader. His confidence has taken a 180.

Clements: Was very mobile on the perimeter. His ball handling has become very good. He is leading as well. He'll be a much more consistent presence on the perimeter this year. His confidence and leadership is also way up.

Jak: As mentioned, stronger. To my great relief, much more under control. His decision making has matured.

Miller: I saw nothing new or different, which is generally good. He missed some FTs badly.

Marcshall: He look good on the interior but he didn't seem to be in condition. He didn't shoot from the outside, but several times he ate someone alive inside.

Thomas: This kid is definitely a player. He's a pure shooter with a quick release and very good mechanics. He moves without the ball extremely well. He has great court instincts and has the knack of being in the right place at the right time. He got his share of boards. Additionally, he's very light on his feet and mobile. I don't remember him making any mistakes yesterday. If Thomas isn't part of the rotations from the beginning, I'll be dumbfounded.

Brown: Very self-contained on the floor. He didn't attempt to push it much and he played conservatively, which is just fine for a FR at this point. Good upper body strength. His shooting mechanics from the floor and line are perfect. He'll be a steady backup at PG.

Goins: Won't play this year but DID play last night. VERY impressive. He is a very strong, quick, and aggressive athlete. He loves to put ball on floor and drive. He starts his outside shot from above his head, so I suspect that he's just an average shooter. He comes across as a natural leader on the floor. He'll compete for a starting spot next. Best walkon in the history of BG basketball. Looks like he could be an excellent player.

Larson: Stronger. Showed signs of improved post moves. Like last year, he still needs a mitt. He's no golden glover. :)

Polk: Did what he does. Blocked shots, rebounded, occasionally got open.

Madlock: He is no longer the hesitant, lost freshman of last year. He showed that he can go to the boards aggressively. Gets off of the floor quickly. I still have the feeling that needs improve his activity in the half-court. He should step into the rotation and contribute quality minutes.

Sims: I didn't see any real progress yesterday. Made numerous bad passes.



In closing, I have a feeling about this team and program, a feeling I've never had before about BG hoops. Something is going to happen this year. Get on board, now. This will be quite a year for BG basketball.

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:00 pm
by cowboyjoe
I, too, was there. Bad start time being that the football game was over at about 7 or a little after. We got there late but we looked very deep and talented and a year more experience for all of our players that played last year. Marcshall, Miller, Knight, and Otis...look out inside this year. Thomas flat out can shoot it. Looks like Reimold did when he first got here. Very impressed overall.

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:19 pm
by BleedOrange
cowboyjoe wrote:I, too, was there. Bad start time being that the football game was over at about 7 or a little after. We got there late but we looked very deep and talented and a year more experience for all of our players that played last year. Marcshall, Miller, Knight, and Otis...look out inside this year. Thomas flat out can shoot it. Looks like Reimold did when he first got here. Very impressed overall.
Yeah, Thomas is a mobile version of John Reimold.

Re: Scrimmage observations

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:55 pm
by Metz
BleedOrange wrote: Moten: He looked fabulous yesterday with the ball and shooting. From yesterday, he looks like he may have a huge year. He has transformed into a confident leader. His confidence has taken a 180.
I was glad to see that yesterday. I've always thought he could be a hell of a player, I just don't feel DD ever really gave him that chance. I'm glad he, along with the rest of the team, actually looks like they are having fun playing the game!!

Re: Scrimmage observations

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:29 pm
by Falconboy
Metz wrote:
BleedOrange wrote: Moten: He looked fabulous yesterday with the ball and shooting. From yesterday, he looks like he may have a huge year. He has transformed into a confident leader. His confidence has taken a 180.
I was glad to see that yesterday. I've always thought he could be a hell of a player, I just don't feel DD ever really gave him that chance. I'm glad he, along with the rest of the team, actually looks like they are having fun playing the game!!
I made the point in the other thread that it certainly helps when your head coach isn't pacing up and down the court yelling and swearing obscenities every 15 secs and stopping play just to bark at players and complain over every mistep the players made.

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 4:35 pm
by Falconfreak90
Thanks for the update, fellas! Looking forward to seeing this team play and here's to a GREAT season!!

GO FALCONS!!!!!!

Re: Scrimmage observations

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:24 pm
by BleedOrange
Falconboy wrote:
Metz wrote:
BleedOrange wrote: Moten: He looked fabulous yesterday with the ball and shooting. From yesterday, he looks like he may have a huge year. He has transformed into a confident leader. His confidence has taken a 180.
I was glad to see that yesterday. I've always thought he could be a hell of a player, I just don't feel DD ever really gave him that chance. I'm glad he, along with the rest of the team, actually looks like they are having fun playing the game!!
I made the point in the other thread that it certainly helps when your head coach isn't pacing up and down the court yelling and swearing obscenities every 15 secs and stopping play just to bark at players and complain over every mistep the players made.

You guys are hitting on the fundamental problem with DD's approach. When it comes to basic human psychology, I have to wonder if DD has even a clue. DD was very harsh and negative and constantly on his players. He seemed to beat his players down. Clearly, his guys hated playing playing for him. Players were hesitant and unconfident on the floor. As a result, players didn't develop. Netter, Eyink, Black, and Klassen are examples of VERY talented guys that never grew into their abilities. The only real success story is Len Matela. (I'm tempted to include McLeod, but he never really got going until his senior year.)

Erik Crawford, Graham Bunn, Seth Doliboa, Chris Hobson, Scott Vandermeer, Austin Montgomery, Raheem Moss, Ron Lewis, and Steven Wright all left DD and had great results elsewhere (Hobson average 25ppg at a non-D1 school).

It's a whole new world now. BG basketball is fun again for the fans as well !!!

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:00 pm
by BGorDeath
I thought at one time I heard Lamonte scream at the players "that's a Mawel performance. We don't do that anymore!" Just kidding.

I thought both Eric and Otis looked more mobile and a tad quicker than in the past.

Joe Jak looked poised to run the offense.

Miller really needs to make FT. Could be a real liability in close games that we are leading when the other teams focus on him.

I got a tingly feeling in the second half watching the game. Only because my kids hit me in the nads.

Looking forward to the 8th!

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:05 pm
by ZiggyZoomba
BGorDeath wrote: Miller really needs to make FT. Could be a real liability in close games that we are leading when the other teams focus on him.
I don't think I've ever seen someone air-ball a free throw in a scrimmage before.

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:29 pm
by Jacobs4Heisman
ZiggyZoomba wrote:
BGorDeath wrote: Miller really needs to make FT. Could be a real liability in close games that we are leading when the other teams focus on him.
I don't think I've ever seen someone air-ball a free throw in a scrimmage before.
I'll never understand why guys with so much athletic ability struggle with free throws. They really aren't that hard. It just takes a little practice.

Makes me a little sick.

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:50 pm
by Falcon137
Jacobs4Heisman wrote:
ZiggyZoomba wrote:
BGorDeath wrote: Miller really needs to make FT. Could be a real liability in close games that we are leading when the other teams focus on him.
I don't think I've ever seen someone air-ball a free throw in a scrimmage before.
I'll never understand why guys with so much athletic ability struggle with free throws. They really aren't that hard. It just takes a little practice.

Makes me a little sick.
Why practice a free throw when you can practice dunkin' it and shootin' the 3 ball? (I hope everyone gets the sarcasm)

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:26 pm
by h2oville rocket
ZiggyZoomba wrote:
I don't think I've ever seen someone air-ball a free throw in a scrimmage before.
You never saw me play in High School did you, Grant?

Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:14 am
by ZiggyZoomba
h2oville rocket wrote:
ZiggyZoomba wrote:
I don't think I've ever seen someone air-ball a free throw in a scrimmage before.
You never saw me play in High School did you, Grant?
Considering that was probably pre-conception for me... no. ;-)

Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:36 am
by h2oville rocket
ZiggyZoomba wrote:
h2oville rocket wrote:
ZiggyZoomba wrote:
I don't think I've ever seen someone air-ball a free throw in a scrimmage before.
You never saw me play in High School did you, Grant?
Considering that was probably pre-conception for me... no. ;-)
Well, at least you had no preconceived notions about my play.

Re: Scrimmage observations

Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:38 am
by OSUFALCON
You guys are hitting on the fundamental problem with DD's approach. When it comes to basic human psychology, I have to wonder if DD has even a clue. DD was very harsh and negative and constantly on his players. He seemed to beat his players down. Clearly, his guys hated playing playing for him. Players were hesitant and unconfident on the floor. As a result, players didn't develop. Netter, Eyink, Black, and Klassen are examples of VERY talented guys that never grew into their abilities. The only real success story is Len Matela. (I'm tempted to include McLeod, but he never really got going until his senior year.)

Erik Crawford, Graham Bunn, Seth Doliboa, Chris Hobson, Scott Vandermeer, Austin Montgomery, Raheem Moss, Ron Lewis, and Steven Wright all left DD and had great results elsewhere [i](Hobson average 25ppg at a non-D1 school).[/i]It's a whole new world now. BG basketball is fun again for the fans as well !!!

Why must we continue to bring up DD? Then go on and say these guys were talented but DD didn't let them grow into themself. Give me a break! I'll give you Netter did have some talent but didn't have much between the ears. All those other guys were role players at best. Klassen excelled at his role, picks block outs and rebounds. Last I check BG is still D1, who cares if a guys averaged 25 points or for that matter 40 points in D2 or D3. Let's move on and focus on the future and forget our struggles from the past. Go BG