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Thomas more (exhibition)
- Thread starter mdchick
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As fast as we are going to play and as good as the defenses will be that we face this year...I think Diara and Harvey are going to struggle with quick decisions. Harvey is a frosh so maybe he will start to adjust to the speed very soon...I hope so...WAY too early to tell on him (so I will give him the benefit of the doubt). But Diara has been in the program and the faster he goes the worse it seems to get. I was (and still am) hoping he could be a big factor this year. Hoping it was just one of those games to forget but it was Thomas More.
Cronin wanted to slow the game down and now I understand why in some respects. Brannen wants to speed it up so he needs to keep recruiting kids with high BB IQ or just smart kids in general. McNeal is smart and can play at a fast pace (for example). Both Cumberlands have high BB IQ and just have those instincts you need.
Struggling to pick up a new system is one thing (let's say Williams)...but struggling to make quick decisions on the fly? You either have that or you don't. My guess is Harvey has the instincts to figure it out. Diara right now is a big question mark IMO.
Cronin wanted to slow the game down and now I understand why in some respects. Brannen wants to speed it up so he needs to keep recruiting kids with high BB IQ or just smart kids in general. McNeal is smart and can play at a fast pace (for example). Both Cumberlands have high BB IQ and just have those instincts you need.
Struggling to pick up a new system is one thing (let's say Williams)...but struggling to make quick decisions on the fly? You either have that or you don't. My guess is Harvey has the instincts to figure it out. Diara right now is a big question mark IMO.
cincrulz11
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Cronin wanted to slow the game down and now I understand why in some respects. Brannen wants to speed it up so he needs to keep recruiting kids with high BB IQ or just smart kids in general. McNeal is smart and can play at a fast pace (for example). Both Cumberlands have high BB IQ and just have those instincts you need.
i mean its as simple as recruiting basketball players vs recruiting athletes that play basketball.
brannen needs basketball players and i'd expect the days of shaq thomas, KJ, diarra, and to an extent KW are going to be over. high iq guys that can play fast and instinctively know where to be are going to be the new norm (at least i hope)
cincrulz11
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The thing that stood out to me most last night was we were always across midcourt in 2 seconds. Crossing the stripe at 28 left on the shot clock was such a beautiful thing.
i liked the motion on offense. constant moving. when we set screens, the other 3 guys don't just stand and watch.
i liked the motion on offense. constant moving. when we set screens, the other 3 guys don't just stand and watch.
i mean its as simple as recruiting basketball players vs recruiting athletes that play basketball.
brannen needs basketball players and i'd expect the days of shaq thomas, KJ, diarra, and to an extent KW are going to be over. high iq guys that can play fast and instinctively know where to be are going to be the new norm (at least i hope)
Yep! That's why I like 2020 so far. Could we have some higher star talent? Sure. Do we have some kids who can either play with speed, skills or IQ? Yes
But even 2019 so far I like MAW and Davenport. Harvey will get used to it in time...but he wasn't a real target for CJB either up until the time it presented itself.
TheLivingLegend
Well-known member
Exceeded my expectations...
McNeal
MAW
Davenport
JC2
Played around my expected level
Cumberland
Scott
Williams
Sorolla
Vogt
Under expectations
Diara
Harvey
Ill dump Keith into under expectation... If hes not going to crush the boards very hard he will lose minutes to Jaevin.
Loser Mentality
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I really liked what I saw last night. I'm thinking the starters were a little vanilla, kind of not tipping hand for OSU game. The second wave you could tell the difference in pace, due to most being Brannen's guys.
I couldn't use Thomas More as an evaluation tool period. Like Brannen said, it was good to get his guys to play basketball against other guys.
The most noticeable difference is the PG position. There were several occasions when coming down on offense, the bigs were receiving the ball in scoring position. Refreshing. To make a cut in this offense your head has to be on a swivel, because the ball is coming if your open.
I couldn't use Thomas More as an evaluation tool period. Like Brannen said, it was good to get his guys to play basketball against other guys.
The most noticeable difference is the PG position. There were several occasions when coming down on offense, the bigs were receiving the ball in scoring position. Refreshing. To make a cut in this offense your head has to be on a swivel, because the ball is coming if your open.
Loser Mentality
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Ill dump Keith into under expectation... If hes not going to crush the boards very hard he will lose minutes to Jaevin.
Which I think is either going to make Keith better or he will tap out. I can't see him tapping out though. Brannen wont bring out the best in Keith, Jaevin will. These are Keith's minutes to lose, due to a damn good shooter and ball player nipping at his playing time. Best scenario a coach could have.
The thing that stood out to me most last night was we were always across midcourt in 2 seconds. Crossing the stripe at 28 left on the shot clock was such a beautiful thing.
i liked the motion on offense. constant moving. when we set screens, the other 3 guys don't just stand and watch.
Yah we were racing across half court...that was nice! The movement was a little stale before the first substitution but then it got going. And I don't think Brannen thinks we are close enough on the pace yet.
Ill dump Keith into under expectation... If hes not going to crush the boards very hard he will lose minutes to Jaevin.
Towards the end of last year I started expecting less of him. He's not a 20 point guy. He can help fill a stat sheet. I could see him ending up 5th in scoring.
Perhaps the biggest thing to come out of this game was what is going to happen when Jarron gets denied the ball and face guarded against future teams. I mean he's a potential ALL American that will receive HEAVY attention.
McNeal and JC2 give us some options. Nothing against Williams or Scott but they aren't as good at creating points.
I was expecting Jaevin to be a very good 2nd option. But if McNeal can hit from deep this year...it's going to open things up for Jarron and the team as a whole a LOT more than we thought. I am not drawing any conclusions from McNeals shooting against TM but if he can CAN 35% plus from deep we will have a wide open offense.
McNeal and JC2 give us some options. Nothing against Williams or Scott but they aren't as good at creating points.
I was expecting Jaevin to be a very good 2nd option. But if McNeal can hit from deep this year...it's going to open things up for Jarron and the team as a whole a LOT more than we thought. I am not drawing any conclusions from McNeals shooting against TM but if he can CAN 35% plus from deep we will have a wide open offense.
I was really pleased with most everyone out there tonight. It's Thomas More, so it probably doesn't say much, but the offense was looking in better shape than I expected. There are criticisms, but overall it looked good for a first game.
Still miles to go, but compared to some other teams I've watched this week, the Bearcats are shooting pretty well and seem to have a grasp of at least what they want to do. Compared to Mick ball, I really loved the movement and the backdoor cuts. It seemed to open up some shooters and we actually looked like their was an offensive game plan. There seemed to be a nice balance of guys driving to the hoop, passing inside, and throwing it back out for an outside shot.
I do worry about the fast break three pointers. It's great if you're making them, but if you're on a fast break, the higher percentage is the layup/dunk and perhaps a foul. I admit, it was impressive that they shot 50% from 3 point land tonight. The majority of those we not really contested, so kudos to Brannen's system for giving the green light and hopefully that shooting touch continues.
We all know the bigs are not anyone's first or second pick right now, but I thought they actually played pretty well for a first outing. They were aggressive at times and didn't shy away from working for a shot, yet also were willing to pass out. It seemed like what you'd want them to do overall.
The best thing I can say about this game is that they really tried to score in balanced ways. Everyone got a chance, and for the most part people were in a position to succeed. That wasn't always the case in past years, and if the main one or two guys weren't on, then the whole team suffered.
I don't know that we can comment on defense as much because the opponent was just so physically overmatched. The Bearcats did not seem to lose their defensive identity. There was some pressing and guys played more in the face of their matchup than a looser zone. But it's early and a young-ish team and they are still learning about the college game.
So much fun to watch this team.
I think your analysis here is very good. I was looking at the box score last night and I think we had like 9 FT's. That's not going to get it done. We have to put some fouls on the opposition one way or another and it's not likely going to come from defense over compensating on our bigs like in recent years. The guards are going to have to create some contact.
sirthought
Well-known member
Good lawd...I hope Davenport ends up better than a Shaq Thomas. He already looks like he can develop some strength inside and hopefully he can learn to shoot some.