After two scrimmages, 1 thing we know, 3 TBD

[DomeHolmes]

Things started out shaky with the mishmosh lineups, but after we hovered around 22 points for a few minutes, Red put in the “starters” and we looked like a totally different team, scoring almost 30 points in less than 10 minutes.

What I think we know, is that the starters will be Carlos, JJ, Lumpkin, Freeman, and Bell. Choppa should be the first off the bench at guard. Petar and Davis will both get minutes.

TBD:

-Who will be the fourth guard? Today there was good and bad from both Cuffe and Taylor. A little more good than bad from Taylor and a little more bad than good from Cuffe. Cuffe is not a point guard. To me he seems to more be like a 6 foot version of Stevie Thompson than a guard. So far after two scrimmages nothing is settled here. Will Westry be the guy?. Right now Taylor has the edge.

-Will Davis or Petar be the clear cut first forward or will it be situational? What we have not really seen enough sample size of after two days is which one will work best with Lumpkin? I think Petar could be very interesting as a high low combo with his passing ability as well as Lumpkin‘s. But when we play five out, as long as Davis and Lumpkin remain a threat from three, it gives Davis an advantage to iso and back down a weaker defender without a center in the post. If we want to play through Eddie, Petar might be the best option, but if we are not, it might be Davis.

-Finally McLeod. Devo said he should get seven minutes. A lot of people didn’t seem to think so but unless we’re playing small ball, he will have to. That being said, I believe he had eight or nine points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes. I believe he had similar stats the other night too. Normally our back up centers give us nothing, and what he has given us stats wise is pretty good, but from the “eye” test, it does not look good. I think there’s two questions with him. Can we play zone with him in where he could be more effective On D, and can he learn to get closer to the basket more consistently to be a garbage man? After a a few minutes, he found his groove there.

 

[grepal]

Things started out shaky with the mishmosh lineups, but after we hovered around 22 points for a few minutes, Red put in the “starters” and we looked like a totally different team, scoring almost 30 points in less than 10 minutes.

What I think we know, is that the starters will be Carlos, JJ, Lumpkin, Freeman, and Bell. Choppa should be the first off the bench at guard. Petar and Davis will both get minutes.

TBD:

-Who will be the fourth guard? Today there was good and bad from both Cuffe and Taylor. A little more good than bad from Taylor and a little more bad than good from Cuffe. Cuffe is not a point guard. To me he seems to more be like a 6 foot version of Stevie Thompson than a guard. So far after two scrimmages nothing is settled here. Will Westry be the guy?. Right now Taylor has the edge.

-Will Davis or Petar be the clear cut first forward or will it be situational? What we have not really seen enough sample size of after two days is which one will work best with Lumpkin? I think Petar could be very interesting as a high low combo with his passing ability as well as Lumpkin‘s. But when we play five out, as long as Davis and Lumpkin remain a threat from three, it gives Davis an advantage to iso and back down a weaker defender without a center in the post. If we want to play through Eddie, Petar might be the best option, but if we are not, it might be Davis.

-Finally McLeod. Devo said he should get seven minutes. A lot of people didn’t seem to think so but unless we’re playing small ball, he will have to. That being said, I believe he had eight or nine points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes. I believe he had similar stats the other night too. Normally our back up centers give us nothing, and what he has given us stats wise is pretty good, but from the “eye” test, it does not look good. I think there’s two questions with him. Can we play zone with him in where he could be more effective On D, and can he learn to get closer to the basket more consistently to be a garbage man? After a a few minutes, he found his groove there.

I am really hoping Chance
Comes in and plays well.
Kyle has not shown much that makes the team play better.

 

[721Comstock]

Things started out shaky with the mishmosh lineups, but after we hovered around 22 points for a few minutes, Red put in the “starters” and we looked like a totally different team, scoring almost 30 points in less than 10 minutes.

What I think we know, is that the starters will be Carlos, JJ, Lumpkin, Freeman, and Bell. Choppa should be the first off the bench at guard. Petar and Davis will both get minutes.

TBD:

-Who will be the fourth guard? Today there was good and bad from both Cuffe and Taylor. A little more good than bad from Taylor and a little more bad than good from Cuffe. Cuffe is not a point guard. To me he seems to more be like a 6 foot version of Stevie Thompson than a guard. So far after two scrimmages nothing is settled here. Will Westry be the guy?. Right now Taylor has the edge.

-Will Davis or Petar be the clear cut first forward or will it be situational? What we have not really seen enough sample size of after two days is which one will work best with Lumpkin? I think Petar could be very interesting as a high low combo with his passing ability as well as Lumpkin‘s. But when we play five out, as long as Davis and Lumpkin remain a threat from three, it gives Davis an advantage to iso and back down a weaker defender without a center in the post. If we want to play through Eddie, Petar might be the best option, but if we are not, it might be Davis.

-Finally McLeod. Devo said he should get seven minutes. A lot of people didn’t seem to think so but unless we’re playing small ball, he will have to. That being said, I believe he had eight or nine points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes. I believe he had similar stats the other night too. Normally our back up centers give us nothing, and what he has given us stats wise is pretty good, but from the “eye” test, it does not look good. I think there’s two questions with him. Can we play zone with him in where he could be more effective On D, and can he learn to get closer to the basket more consistently to be a garbage man? After a a few minutes, he found his groove there.

I LOVE LUMP!!!!

“Lumpkin”?

Is that an attempt at a nickname for Eddie “Dry Rub” Lampkin?

Dude’s trimmed down quite a bit -
Not sure that’s fitting.


Dunno why all the shade at the Highlander.
Dude had a GREAT game last night.
WGAF about the “eye test” - he boarded and scored and was incredibly effective in limited minutes.

Other than when going small ball benefits US, Eddie & Naheem should split the 40 mins at C.
Something like Eddie 28-30, Naheem 10-12.

 

[FireballPhil]

My worry is the defensive side of the ball...there really isn't any. We play to loose and allow to many open looks from three. If they hadn't been such a poor shooting team, they might have kept it close ACC games are going to be nail biters unless they can tighten up the D and then when they do, don't get blown by. Keep their man in front of them and stay close so you can get a hand in their face on shots. They look like they are playing some sort of "prevent" man to man. I don't like it. Offensively I feel you are pretty spot on, I have the same basic impressions.

 

[bballbeadle]

Does anyone think Freeman still looks a little lost out there?

 

[721Comstock]

Does anyone think Freeman still looks a little lost out there?

C’mon people.

It’s the second game scrimmage of his Frosh year in college.

He’s not gonna look like Giannis out there.

If it’s Dec or Jan and he’s still struggling on D, then maybe I’ll join you in the pearl-clutching.

Let Red cook.

 

[tptcuse]

Does anyone think Freeman still looks a little lost out there?

He looked like his shins or ankles were hurting.

 

[billsin01]

He looked like his shins or ankles were hurting.

Yeah, something looked a little funky. He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of lift around the basket. Anyone else notice that? Kid is exceptionally skilled and super long so I can see the massive potential, but I'd agree with you -- something might be bugging him (shins or ankle) because he doesn't have the spring I would think he'd have (even if he's not the super quick-twitch type of athlete that Jeremi Grant was).

 

[billsin01]

C’mon people.

It’s the second game scrimmage of his Frosh year in college.

He’s not gonna look like Giannis out there.

If it’s Dec or Jan and he’s still struggling on D, then maybe I’ll join you in the pearl-clutching.

Let Red cook.

I'm in the middle on this. One, it drives me crazy here that every off-season a bunch of folks build every player up to be all-americans, then we struggle in two games in the regular season and half of the same people want everyone benched and Red fired. Pumping the brakes isn't a terrible thing.

That said, what I will say about Freeman is that he's been very productive in both scrimmages and I don't feel like he's actually played that well. I mean that as a compliment. As in, I think he may be hurt or banged up a bit somehow and I don't think he really knows where to be all the time ... and yet he's putting up 14 and 8 or whatever. That's impressive.

 

[Newhouser]

I think Freeman will be fine. He does get lost on D sometimes but most of the team does.

That being said his offensive game does not seem all that advanced. Holding out hope that he is effective in more than just transition.

 

[Orangezoo]

I'm in the middle on this. One, it drives me crazy here that every off-season a bunch of folks build every player up to be all-americans, then we struggle in two games in the regular season and half of the same people want everyone benched and Red fired. Pumping the brakes isn't a terrible thing.

That said, what I will say about Freeman is that he's been very productive in both scrimmages and I don't feel like he's actually played that well. I mean that as a compliment. As in, I think he may be hurt or banged up a bit somehow and I don't think he really knows where to be all the time ... and yet he's putting up 14 and 8 or whatever. That's impressive.

Part of it is strength I think too. He is still pretty lean so around the hoop he doesn’t create space for himself. He moved well otherwise to me. His awareness was better last night than the first game. He seems good on the glass and has a nice looking shot.

 

[Orangezoo]

My worry is the defensive side of the ball...there really isn't any. We play to loose and allow to many open looks from three. If they hadn't been such a poor shooting team, they might have kept it close ACC games are going to be nail biters unless they can tighten up the D and then when they do, don't get blown by. Keep their man in front of them and stay close so you can get a hand in their face on shots. They look like they are playing some sort of "prevent" man to man. I don't like it. Offensively I feel you are pretty spot on, I have the same basic impressions.

Defense was more aggressive last night but did a nice job speeding up SR. It was a different look and we looked to run a lot more too. I still saw a team playing around with different looks. I expect we will adjust based on opponent. The guards defended well for the most part which is what we need the most especially JJ.

 

[Niastri]

I don't get why people bag on the Highlander so much.

He's kind of like a guy with a bad swing in baseball, who still somehow is very productive.

McLeod doesn't look great out there, he kind of drifts around and sometimes seems like he's uncertain.

Yet at the end of the day he's a hugely productive player. 9 and 7, with a block and a steal yesterday in 14 minutes? For a backup!?

Awesome.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm in the middle on this. One, it drives me crazy here that every off-season a bunch of folks build every player up to be all-americans, then we struggle in two games in the regular season and half of the same people want everyone benched and Red fired. Pumping the brakes isn't a terrible thing.

That said, what I will say about Freeman is that he's been very productive in both scrimmages and I don't feel like he's actually played that well. I mean that as a compliment. As in, I think he may be hurt or banged up a bit somehow and I don't think he really knows where to be all the time ... and yet he's putting up 14 and 8 or whatever. That's impressive.

Yep, sometimes a guy is so talented that they can't help but make an impact when they're on the floor.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't get why people bag on the Highlander so much.

He's kind of like a guy with a bad swing in baseball, who still somehow is very productive.

McLeod doesn't look great out there, he kind of drifts around and sometimes seems like he's uncertain.

Yet at the end of the day he's a hugely productive player. 9 and 7, with a block and a steal yesterday in 14 minutes? For a backup!?

Awesome.

One of the commentators put it best last season. He's a one play per possession guy. He'll block the shot, but not get the rebound. He'll catch the pass, but struggle making the move to get a good shot up.