Bellarmine

[david aka the TYZ]

The defense had its many lapses in the first exhibition but fortunately not many D-1 teams will play offense as effectively as Bellarmine does. Not to say their talent was great but their execution on alot of plays was. Mick knows that and that is one reason he loves to play them. Obviously this team is young and defense is one of the things that will take some guys time to adjust to but I wouldn't expect them to look as foolish as they did against all the teams we play this year. Things that stood out to me were obviously the play of Ellis and also the play of Moore and Morman. Moore had a couple of freshman moments of just blindly looking to shoot but he seemed comfortable in there and actually made some lay-ups. And DeBerry actually dunked the ball when given the chance. I miss that. Morman really impressed me. He was given the opposing player fits all night, can't believe he was only credited with two steals. They'll be some games where the refs might want to blow a quick whistle on him, but I love a guy that just antagonizes on the ball. He will be tough to keep off the floor, especially as much as Mick loves defense.

 

[BCM]

He will be tough to keep off the floor, especially as much as Mick loves defense.

Do what the coach wants, get the PT. Amazing how that works out, eh? It baffles me that more of them don't figure this out

 

[bearcat jeff]

Interested to see how the defense plays this weekend. I love Mormon and Clark. I think we will see a more aggressive player than we did from him this past game.

 

[L-T]

Interested to see how the defense plays this weekend. I love Mormon and Clark. I think we will see a more aggressive player than we did from him this past game.

I love the Clark "hype". But, my first impression of him was not a good one based on how he looked the other night. The good news is that this team will be better equipped to withstand "off" nights from players because of the depth. Obviously, we can't judge our true depth based on these games against Mick's sacrificial lambs that he schedules. But, based on the first impression, they passed the eye test...in my opinion. I see a lot of potential in this roster and I hope Mick spends as much time on the offensive side of the ball as he does on defense for a change.

 

[#BearcatNation]

I love the Clark "hype". But, my first impression of him was not a good one based on how he looked the other night. The good news is that this team will be better equipped to withstand "off" nights from players because of the depth. Obviously, we can't judge our true depth based on these games against Mick's sacrificial lambs that he schedules. But, based on the first impression, they passed the eye test...in my opinion. I see a lot of potential in this roster and I hope Mick spends as much time on the offensive side of the ball as he does on defense for a change.

I agree, he looked a bit out of sorts, but I was very impressed with his game in the Bahamas, if you watched that. Just looked like a natural scorer with great instincts. Although the other night wasn't encouraging, I think he'll step it up on Saturday.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

I agree, he looked a bit out of sorts, but I was very impressed with his game in the Bahamas, if you watched that. Just looked like a natural scorer with great instincts. Although the other night wasn't encouraging, I think he'll step it up on Saturday.

I know it's been said but seriously this is by far the most impressive and talented team Mick has had. Just thinking of the highlights and SportsCenter top 10 plays here with Morman, Ellis, Shaq and Clark

 

[L-T]

I agree, he looked a bit out of sorts, but I was very impressed with his game in the Bahamas, if you watched that. Just looked like a natural scorer with great instincts. Although the other night wasn't encouraging, I think he'll step it up on Saturday.

Yeah, that game was really puzzling to me. I was expecting so much and saw so little. He didn't even seem interested. The effort wasn't there either. Had I seen him busting it up and down the court, I would have been ok with an off night, but I didn't even see the effort, or even a hint that he is a real player. I know that he will probably be very good, but that effort was not a good one the other night. I think the thing that worried me the most was that he looked very slow and didn't look very athletic. I guess we'll assume it was nerves and hope we see the real player back tomorrow.

 

[L-T]

I know it's been said but seriously this is by far the most impressive and talented team Mick has had. Just thinking of the highlights and SportsCenter top 10 plays here with Morman, Ellis, Shaq and Clark

From an offensive perspective, I agree. From a defensive perspective, it could be his worst. But, that is Mick's specialty, so hopefully we'll see huge improvement in that area as the season progresses.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Yeah, that game was really puzzling to me. I was expecting so much and saw so little. He didn't even seem interested. The effort wasn't there either. Had I seen him busting it up and down the court, I would have been ok with an off night, but I didn't even see the effort, or even a hint that he is a real player. I know that he will probably be very good, but that effort was not a good one the other night. I think the thing that worried me the most was that he looked very slow and didn't look very athletic. I guess we'll assume it was nerves and hope we see the real player back tomorrow.

I think you are the first and only person ever to say anything about Clark not looking very athletic.

 

[L-T]

I think you are the first and only person ever to say anything about Clark not looking very athletic.

I'm basing my opinion on seeing him live and in person one time. In that one "live" game, he showed nothing. I don't get enamoured with highlight videos. I'll make an opinion based on what I see them do in person. Remember, Gelawn Guyn supposedly has a 42" vertical, but how many times have we ever seen great athleticism out of him? But, I bet he had some amazing highlight videos from high school. When I see Clark's athleticism in person, I'll comment on it. Until then, I'll embrace being the "one and only".

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I'm basing my opinion on seeing him live and in person one time. In that one "live" game, he showed nothing. I don't get enamoured with highlight videos. I'll make an opinion based on what I see them do in person. Remember, Gelawn Guyn supposedly has a 42" vertical, but how many times have we ever seen great athleticism out of him? But, I bet he had some amazing highlight videos from high school. When I see Clark's athleticism in person, I'll comment on it. Until then, I'll embrace being the "one and only".

This is Guyn's 4th year. Clark has played 1 exhibition game. It's a little unfair to compare the 2 at this point.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

This is Guyn's 4th year. Clark has played 1 exhibition game. It's a little unfair to compare the 2 at this point.

L-T was not comparing the two, rather he judges players off how they play in real games and what he sees. Yes he did have a rough first game. I'm hoping that's just nerves and I am looking forward to seeing him this Saturday change our views from his first performance

 

[jacobkdoyle]

L-T was not comparing the two, rather he judges players off how they play in real games and what he sees. Yes he did have a rough first game. I'm hoping that's just nerves and I am looking forward to seeing him this Saturday change our views from his first performance

I just dont get how anyone can legitimately be worried about Clark's athleticism. So he is labeled as unathletic until he shows he isn't in a real game? And he gets 1 exhibition game to prove it? Absurd.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

KJ started slow last year. In the beginning of the year, he couldn't hit a shot to save his life, at the end of the season, his confidence was through the roof and so was Mick's confidence in him. Small sample size.

 

[L-T]

I just dont get how anyone can legitimately be worried about Clark's athleticism. So he is labeled as unathletic until he shows he isn't in a real game? And he gets 1 exhibition game to prove it? Absurd.

Com'on, you're making a big deal out of nothing. It was an observation of one game. Clark had been built up to the point that I couldn't wait to see him play. What I saw was very disappointing. He looked very slow and unless I missed it, he didn't really have a single "athletic" moment. He just seemed to be going through the motions and wasn't really involved in much of what was happening, and his stats bear that out. There were other new guys who came out and played with confidense and made a significant impact on the game. I made very positive observations about Moore and Morman and Ellis. I'm not the only person who was disappointed in Clark.

 

[bearcat jeff]

It'd be absolutely silly to base any opinions of any player or the team as a whole on one exhibition game where scheming was at a bare minimum and the newcomers are feeling their way thru still. Let's not forget this is a process and the deeper we get into this the better this team will be.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

I know in the past that the team would still have a 3 hr practice on top of the preseason games. Maybe Chad or someone else could enlighten us if they did, but if they did it could explain why some of the bigs were a little slow.

 

[TheLongHaul]

I just dont get how anyone can legitimately be worried about Clark's athleticism. So he is labeled as unathletic until he shows he isn't in a real game? And he gets 1 exhibition game to prove it? Absurd.

calm down dude, he was saying he didn't see it in that one exhibition game. he wasn't insulting your mother.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

From what I've heard about Clark and just him being in the starting lineup I'm willing to bet that he will lead us in points for at least one game or more this year and plenty more for rebounding and blocked shots. I'm curious if Mick sticks with him Saturday in the starting 5 or brings him off the bench. I hope he keeps him in the lineup

 

[L-T]

It'd be absolutely silly to base any opinions of any player or the team as a whole on one exhibition game where scheming was at a bare minimum and the newcomers are feeling their way thru still. Let's not forget this is a process and the deeper we get into this the better this team will be.

Yes, we all understand (and haven't forgotten) that this is a process. This is a freaking fan forum where we run the full spectrum of giddiness to depression from game to game and come on here to state opinions. I realize that Morman and Moore could potentially "stink up the joint" tomorrow and Clark may look like Lebron. Then we'll have a whole new set of opinions based on "2" games. And, at the end of four years, we'll have a final opinion based on about 130 games. It's actually "not" silly to base an opinion on a player or a team based on one game. That one game is the only factual history we have on this current team so there's nothing wrong with having an opinion if that opinion is based on actual facts.