Maybe Rak Christmas will shock the world

[pearl31]

:noidea:

One can hope. And as long as there's hope...

 

[CorduroyG]

if he can play like he did at cincy we can go far. big IF, but at least he proved he can do it, unlike dashonte riley.

 

[cusetown1]

I really can't believe people are discounting Rak. When he started against Cinci he did great. All he needs is confidence, lets hope he has time to build it.

 

[iommi]

I really can't believe people are discounting Rak. When he started against Cinci he did great. All he needs is confidence, lets hope he has time to build it.

Two days should be plenty of time to undo an entire season of two minutes (tops) and you're out.

 

[JLine]

I have faith in Rak.

 

[pearl31]

(by "world" I mean the general sports-world public who are saying we have no replacement for Fab - just watched Around the Horn and PTI and that was the consensus - not one single mention of Rak)

 

[iommi]

Rak has talent...but he can't possibly have any confidence the way he was handled this year. He only has two days of practice. :bang: If he were given some real minutes this year and a chance to work through his mistakes...

 

[moqui]

Two days should be plenty of time to undo an entire season of two minutes (tops) and you're out.
. . . Rak has talent...but he can't possibly have any confidence the way he was handled this year. He only has two days of practice. :bang: If he were given some real minutes this year and a chance to work through his mistakes...

he played in all 33 games and logged 339 minutes - that's more than 10 minutes per game - roughly 2x as many minutes as Dash Riley got. He also got some key opportunities against quality opponents, so he is not going in cold.

Finally, he has more than 2 days of practice here. He gets two days, then the equivalent of a competitive scrimmage vs. UNC-A.

On the flip side, Frank Martin and Larry Eustachy can toss out all the SU game tape they would use to prepare for their second round matchup. They are going into that game cold.

I am far more worried about the 2nd weekend than the first.

 

[iommi]

he played in all 33 games and logged 339 minutes - that's more than 10 minutes per game and more than 2x as many minutes as Dash Riley got. He also got some key opportunities against quality opponents, so he is not going in cold.

Finally, he has more than 2 days of practice here. He gets two days, then the equivalent of a competitive scrimmage vs. UNC-A.

On the flip side, Frank Martin and Larry Eustachy can toss out all the SU game tape they would use to prepare for their second round matchup. They are going into that game cold.

I am far more worried about the 2nd weekend than the first.

His total minutes don't impress me. Most of the them were against the weak sisters of the poor. The only meaningful minutes Rak played were at CIncy and against UConn is the BET... I think he's a good athlete and will be more helpful to us in #51's absence than Baye (because at least Rak can catch and finish open opportunities)...but I still think we'll be playing 4 on 5 on offense.

 

[cusetown1]

Rak has talent...but he can't possibly have any confidence the way he was handled this year. He only has two days of practice. :bang: If he were given some real minutes this year and a chance to work through his mistakes...

so blame it all on Jim?

 

[iommi]

so blame it all on Jim?

I blame Jim for yanking Rak every game before he had a chance to work up a sweat and build up his confidence. Yea, I blame Boeheim for that. Christmas was the #1 rated Center in his class. He has a ton of talent. Now, he'll be thrown to the wolves.

 

[SoBristol]

Rak has talent...but he can't possibly have any confidence the way he was handled this year. He only has two days of practice. :bang: If he were given some real minutes this year and a chance to work through his mistakes...

Well, sure, the 45 second approach isn't an ideal way to develop a young center/PF, but Rak got a lot of work in practice against decent competition.

He has some skills on offense that he hasn't shown off yet. He can rebound. Won't have a lot of trouble matching Fab's 7 rebounds per game. The challenge will be that he can be overpowered and won't block 4 shots per game. Makes this first weekend a lot more interesting!

 

[cusetown1]

His total minutes don't impress me. Most of the them were against the weak sisters of the poor. The only meaningful minutes Rak played were at CIncy and against UConn is the BET... I think he's a good athlete and will be more helpful to us in #51's absence than Baye (because at least Rak can catch and finish open opportunities)...but I still think we'll be playing 4 on 5 on offense.

How many teams can replace their starting center with a player like Rak? Rak is chomping at the bit.

 

[Cusefan95]

Rak has talent...but he can't possibly have any confidence the way he was handled this year. He only has two days of practice. :bang: If he were given some real minutes this year and a chance to work through his mistakes...

Wow, you're a freaking joy to have around. It's possible he's thinking he's got a chance to show JB he should have gotten significant minutes and is looking to prove the world - including JB - wrong. But feel free to keep insisting the glass is half-empty...

 

[Garbs]

all he needs to do is rebound rebound rebound

 

[cusetown1]

I blame Jim for yanking Rak every game before he had a chance to work up a sweat and build up his confidence. Yea, I blame Boeheim for that. Christmas was the #1 rated Center in his class. He has a ton of talent. Now, he'll be thrown to the wolves.

sometimes being thrown to wolves is a good thing.

 

[iommi]

Wow, you're a freaking joy to have around. It's possible he's thinking he's got a chance to show JB he should have gotten significant minutes and is looking to prove the world - including JB - wrong. But feel free to keep insisting the glass is half-empty...

I believe in Rak--wish the coach did all year. JB stunted Rak's development this year. You disagree? And I'm not a negative poster. I'm justifiably pissed off today and have a right to be.

 

[cusetown1]

There is no center on our side of the bracket that this team be should be scared of. none. They have depth, talent, length, leadership. Fab being gone changes none of that. It will just be tougher.

 

[moqui]

I still think we'll be playing 4 on 5 on offense.

Fab did not create his own offense, he had to have buckets handed to him by his guards, so it is not that much of a drop off

 

[cusetown1]

yes it's not like Jimmy was drawing up plays for Fab.

 

[cusetown1]

I freaking love watching how teams overcome adversity. One of my favorite things about sports.

 

[Ghost]

I really can't believe people are discounting Rak. When he started against Cinci he did great. All he needs is confidence, lets hope he has time to build it.

Throw me in this camp. It may have only been a few minutes here and there, but the block on Drummond, a couple of those rebounds in the same game, his performance against Cincy - I think he's capable of holding his own.

I've been clamoring for more Rak minutes for months - I guess I got my stupid wish.

Anyway, he's not going to be a difference maker, but if he can compete - and play hard - who knows.

 

[raf4488]

Fab did not create his own offense, he had to have buckets handed to him by his guards, so it is not that much of a drop off

Yeah, we're not exactly going to miss his repertoire of post moves. Plus, our defensive rebounding will get better because it can't get worse, right? CJ needs to be a man on the boards.

 

[otto123]

so blame it all on Jim?

Do you blame anything on Jim? He's just the head coach

 

[br801]

Two days should be plenty of time to undo an entire season of two minutes (tops) and you're out.

You're just spreading the joy everywhere today, aren't you?