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Message: [QUOTE="Ghost, post: 1191891, member: 581"] I think Rak is one of those players that probably could have done more - if provided an opportunity. I forget what shot he missed at the buzzer last year, but JB made some comment about him having to hit that shot. Seemed absurd to me - kid touches the ball like 3 times a game, you can't expect him to hit much of anything. For big men the game has to be extremely frustrating at times. You're expected to bust your butt for positioning, but in our offense that rarely if ever leads to you touching the ball. JB/Hopkins have even commented at times about getting it inside more, but it never happens. It stunts the growth of the player. When you do get that one touch, you're so focused on scoring that you tend to go with a quick trigger - and that often leads to disastrous results. Overdribbling and losing the ball, awkward angle shots, etc...and the vicious cycle repeats itself. It's almost akin to when the bench players come in - they get those touches and they're in such a hurry to score that they often end up looking like spit. I think he could have been a viable option for more touches from his Sophomore year on. Not a focal point by any stretch of the imagination, but we did that kid no favors at all in his development as a basketball player. I also think he (and even Baye) were pretty good passers from the high post extended out to the three-point line, and were good at spotting the cutter and delivering the ball in stride (Cooney benefited a bit from that early on). We completely abandoned that at some point last year though. If you have a big man that can pass, get him the ball. When he's getting touches he'll figure it out - instead of trying to pound three dribbles as he crosses the lane and fires up an awkward shot, if he knows the ball is going to make it's way into his hands, he'll be more poised. Oh well. Who really knows. [/QUOTE]

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