Western Michigan

[ThomasMac]

jenifer... - guys just shoot over him without a care

This exactly. This isn't brought up enough by Mick or his staff. Sure Jenifer is somewhat quick and moves well laterally but anyone at anytime can shoot over him. The same was true for Kevin Johnson in the past. As an offensive player you love seeing a shorter guy guard you because it's so much easier to get a shot/pass off without an issue.

Don't get me wrong, I love hard workers, smart kids, etc (Jenifer and KJ are both). But sometimes you're just limited by your genetics and it is what it is.

 

[cincrulz11]

This exactly. This isn't brought up enough by Mick or his staff. Sure Jenifer is somewhat quick and moves well laterally but anyone at anytime can shoot over him. The same was true for Kevin Johnson in the past. As an offensive player you love seeing a shorter guy guard you because it's so much easier to get a shot/pass off without an issue.

Don't get me wrong, I love hard workers, smart kids, etc (Jenifer and KJ are both). But sometimes you're just limited by your genetics and it is what it is.

quick guards also go around him with ease. you saw it 3 times vs osu.


he makes the right switches, he fights through screens. he uses his strength vs less athletic guards.



but better players light him up.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Keith looked really good. Hope he plays more. only way he is going to learn. Brooks doesn't look great. He will struggle against better teams.

Thought Brooks looked solid last night? Played against a legit 7 fter.

 

[cincyguy13]

Thought Brooks looked solid last night? Played against a legit 7 fter.

Can't tell if you are agreeing or not. Just to clarify, I did not think he was great. Solid numbers but misses layups and gets block by the rim more than anyone. He does not seem to move well either. I just think he will struggle against bigger schools. I was big on Brooks as a freshman and even as a sophomore but he has not progressed like i thought. Think they would be better playing small most of the time. Especially with their switching defense

 

[cincyguy13]

quick guards also go around him with ease. you saw it 3 times vs osu.


he makes the right switches, he fights through screens. he uses his strength vs less athletic guards.



but better players light him up.

I agree, he does things right but it doesn't matter because he is 5'7 and has no effect on the game. The only thing he does that helps, is take a charge every once in a while, other than that, he is just a body

 

[waterhead]

Did this get better?

Only Broome made a 3 I think out of that group so I don’t think it got better. Cumberland made our percentage go up a little.

Moore didn’t shoot. Williams didn’t shoot. Fredericks was 0 for 2.

 

[waterhead]

This exactly. This isn't brought up enough by Mick or his staff. Sure Jenifer is somewhat quick and moves well laterally but anyone at anytime can shoot over him. The same was true for Kevin Johnson in the past. As an offensive player you love seeing a shorter guy guard you because it's so much easier to get a shot/pass off without an issue.

Don't get me wrong, I love hard workers, smart kids, etc (Jenifer and KJ are both). But sometimes you're just limited by your genetics and it is what it is.

Jenifer has to get right up under someone to be a good defender. That’s the only way he can disrupt a shooter. He is pretty good at it but any good guard can create some space. Once the space is there anyone can shoot over him. And when you play right up under someone...if they get by you...you can’t recover.

Again...he is good at the only way he can defend...but he has to be damn near perfect for not to get exposed

 

[skyblade]

Can't tell if you are agreeing or not. Just to clarify, I did not think he was great. Solid numbers but misses layups and gets block by the rim more than anyone. He does not seem to move well either. I just think he will struggle against bigger schools. I was big on Brooks as a freshman and even as a sophomore but he has not progressed like i thought. Think they would be better playing small most of the time. Especially with their switching defense

I disagree completely. He missed a few makeable shots, but put up very good numbers vs a solid 7 footer. I wasn't that high on Brooks at the beginning of the season (thought Nsoseme would beat him out), but so far Brooks has more than earned the starting role. He is progressing nicely and getting more comfortable scoring every game. He's not an incredible athlete, but is a very good one and he far superior to Kyle Washington who managed last year.

Also, who are we going to play if we go small? Who has earned the minutes? Fredericks? Moore?

 

[cincyguy13]

I disagree completely. He missed a few makeable shots, but put up very good numbers vs a solid 7 footer. I wasn't that high on Brooks at the beginning of the season (thought Nsoseme would beat him out), but so far Brooks has more than earned the starting role. He is progressing nicely and getting more comfortable scoring every game. He's not an incredible athlete, but is a very good one and he far superior to Kyle Washington who managed last year.

Also, who are we going to play if we go small? Who has earned the minutes? Fredericks? Moore?

Disagree about brooks. I don’t care about athletes. Can they do anything. I’ve seen enough athletes.
Good point on your second point. I didn’t really think that small ball lineup out. Not many options. Can’t play Moore if he can’t make a shot. Which there is no proof he can

 

[cincrulz11]

He's not an incredible athlete, but is a very good one and he far superior to Kyle Washington who managed last year.

what

 

[IDC]

Can't tell if you are agreeing or not. Just to clarify, I did not think he was great. Solid numbers but misses layups and gets block by the rim more than anyone. He does not seem to move well either. I just think he will struggle against bigger schools. I was big on Brooks as a freshman and even as a sophomore but he has not progressed like i thought. Think they would be better playing small most of the time. Especially with their switching defense

Back to back double doubles, despite competition that's good productivity

 

[skyblade]

what

superior in athleticism. Not in play, but I think he will get there.

 

[waterhead]

superior in athleticism. Not in play, but I think he will get there.

Brooks has issues backing one average defender down for a score. Let alone an above average D1 player with above average help D ready to pounce. Clark could back down one guy and make another defender commit to determine if he wanted to pass the ball or keep going to the hoop. Washington rarely gave up the opportunity to score and was still hard to defend when the D knew he was taking the shot.

Our bigs aren’t good at either. I will be happy with controlling boards and defending the rim and scoring 8 easy points in the flow of the game. Under no circumstances can we put the ball in their hands in crucial situations.

 

[juckerrules]

Brooks has issues backing one average defender down for a score. Let alone an above average D1 player with above average help D ready to pounce. Clark could back down one guy and make another defender commit to determine if he wanted to pass the ball or keep going to the hoop. Washington rarely gave up the opportunity to score and was still hard to defend when the D knew he was taking the shot.

Our bigs aren’t good at either. I will be happy with controlling boards and defending the rim and scoring 8 easy points in the flow of the game. Under no circumstances can we put the ball in their hands in crucial situations.

If I'm the opposing team & know I really only have to defend 3 guys in a crucial situation, it makes my job pretty simple.