my two cents

[kcsu]

Solid performance by the guys. Not a ton to take from these scrimmages but here are my thoughts.

Davis is going to see minutes. He is a big strong kid with skills. He can shoot it, rebound, pass and put it on the floor. He is an adult player who is going to get better as the year goes on.

Choppa is going to play as well. Nice stroke and he looks very smooth for a frosh. I see him as the third G.

JJ is our key. He looks to be 100 back. No issues with the hitch. He is our leader.

7 4 runs well and looks to be healthy. I believe he will get about 5 minutes per half maybe more.

Everyone else looks fine. Petar seemed a little off from the first outing, but I believe he is going to be solidly in the mix. Carlos is solid really like his game and I thought that Taylor had a nice night. Showed that he too will see some court time.

We have a deep team. We lack athleticism but we do have a group of high IQ players, and we have shooters. Every game is going to be a grind this year. I don't see us getting blown out or blowing out too many teams. Upside is a 6 seed outside is another bubble. Should be a fun ride.

 

[upperdeck]

It just seems like we have more kids capable of making shots if they take good ones.

 

[Niastri]

I have evolved into a McLeod fanboy over the off season.

I really hope he gets to average 16-18 minutes. The contrast in playing styles and endurance of both centers leads me to want to sub them in and out every 4 minutes or so.

McLeod has been really effective against good teams at times.

 

[mark79]

The big X factor is Chance. Imagine if he can contribute. Then we are REALLY deep. I’m not very confident here, but we can dream.

 

[Dcuse]

I have evolved into a McLeod fanboy over the off season.

I really hope he gets to average 16-18 minutes. The contrast in playing styles and endurance of both centers leads me to want to sub them in and out every 4 minutes or so.

McLeod has been really effective against good teams at times.

Can't say as I agree on this one.

 

[Orangezoo]

Solid performance by the guys. Not a ton to take from these scrimmages but here are my thoughts.

Davis is going to see minutes. He is a big strong kid with skills. He can shoot it, rebound, pass and put it on the floor. He is an adult player who is going to get better as the year goes on.

Choppa is going to play as well. Nice stroke and he looks very smooth for a frosh. I see him as the third G.

JJ is our key. He looks to be 100 back. No issues with the hitch. He is our leader.

7 4 runs well and looks to be healthy. I believe he will get about 5 minutes per half maybe more.

Everyone else looks fine. Petar seemed a little off from the first outing, but I believe he is going to be solidly in the mix. Carlos is solid really like his game and I thought that Taylor had a nice night. Showed that he too will see some court time.

We have a deep team. We lack athleticism but we do have a group of high IQ players, and we have shooters. Every game is going to be a grind this year. I don't see us getting blown out or blowing out too many teams. Upside is a 6 seed outside is another bubble. Should be a fun ride.

Red knows what’s up. If this team locks in and gets after it on defense and the boards- offense is easy for this group. Whether running off misses or taking advantage of having 5 capable shooters on the floor most of the time as well as an inside presence. If he can get these kids to realize that - there’s a lot he can do with this group.

 

[kcsu]

I have evolved into a McLeod fanboy over the off season.

I really hope he gets to average 16-18 minutes. The contrast in playing styles and endurance of both centers leads me to want to sub them in and out every 4 minutes or so.

McLeod has been really effective against good teams at times.

Im with you. I think that McLeod is going to make big contributions this year. Its all about match ups and based on who we are playing he is going to have an important role. As to Chance who knows. its been two years two different knees and now an illness? Personally im not expecting much this year. Next year yes but not this year.

 

[Orangezoo]

Im with you. I think that McLeod is going to make big contributions this year. Its all about match ups and based on who we are playing he is going to have an important role. As to Chance who knows. its been two years two different knees and now an illness? Personally im not expecting much this year. Next year yes but not this year.

Devo mentioned seeing Red having the team run a lot of zone in practice so I’m curious when he will bring that out and also have to expect it will be with Naheem out there

 

[billsin01]

I have evolved into a McLeod fanboy over the off season.

I really hope he gets to average 16-18 minutes. The contrast in playing styles and endurance of both centers leads me to want to sub them in and out every 4 minutes or so.

McLeod has been really effective against good teams at times.

I’ve kind of gone the other way with McLeod but I appreciate the faith. Hope you are proven right.

 

[kcsu]

Devo mentioned seeing Red having the team run a lot of zone in practice so I’m curious when he will bring that out and also have to expect it will be with Naheem out there

Bell Petar Freeman Mc are all solid zone players. Freeman's length combined with MC and Davis would make for a very stout interior.

 

[CardiacCuse]

Can't say as I agree on this one.

yeah me neither...

what are the people excited about mcleod watching??!?!

for me, he's the 4th best center on the roster

1. lampkin 2/3 freeman/Petar 4. mcleod

unless he somehow gets a lot better this year...i hope mcleod gets very limited run...he makes me pine for hima

* that said, vs certain teams, he may be useful for guarding the post i.e. teams with strong bigs who cant score from outside 10 feet

any team that can switch mcleod onto a guard will score at will...newsflash, thats pretty easy to do

 

[CardiacCuse]

We have a deep team. We lack athleticism but we do have a group of high IQ players, and we have shooters. Every game is going to be a grind this year. I don't see us getting blown out or blowing out too many teams. Upside is a 6 seed outside is another bubble. Should be a fun ride.

this team looks to be live by the 3 die by the 3...at least for now...will try to evolve beyond that but we will see

thats a recipe for blowing out anyone when hot...I think this team will get some blowout wins for sure, if not many.

the defense and rebounding right now are pretty bad, though, so unless that gets fixed there will still be a pretty low ceiling overall.

 

[CardiacCuse]

carlos and cuffe were sloppy with passing vs slippery rock...Im worried that vs better comp, that will show up often...they are small for this level, which shrinks their margin for error

 

[mark79]

yeah me neither...

what are the people excited about mcleod watching??!?!

for me, he's the 4th best center on the roster

1. lampkin 2/3 freeman/Petar 4. mcleod

unless he somehow gets a lot better this year...i hope mcleod gets very limited run...he makes me pine for hima

* that said, vs certain teams, he may be useful for guarding the post i.e. teams with strong bigs who cant score from outside 10 feet

any team that can switch mcleod onto a guard will score at will...newsflash, thats pretty easy to do

Agree. He is a big body but is slow of foot. As you said in certain situations though he could be an asset.

 

[DomeHolmes]

yeah me neither...

what are the people excited about mcleod watching??!?!

for me, he's the 4th best center on the roster

1. lampkin 2/3 freeman/Petar 4. mcleod

unless he somehow gets a lot better this year...i hope mcleod gets very limited run...he makes me pine for hima

* that said, vs certain teams, he may be useful for guarding the post i.e. teams with strong bigs who cant score from outside 10 feet

any team that can switch mcleod onto a guard will score at will...newsflash, thats pretty easy to do

He is slow, easily boxed out, often out of position, and not as aggressive as he could be.

that being said he probably leads the team in points per minute and rebounds per minute.

Quite puzzling. Still not sure what to think

 

[CardiacCuse]

He is slow, easily boxed out, often out of position, and not as aggressive as he could be.

that being said he probably leads the team in points per minute and rebounds per minute.

Quite puzzling. Still not sure what to think

just watch the game when he is in and see what happens with the defense...he gets blocks and rebounds and points yeah

but the other team also gets a bunch of easy scores as well

go watch the 1st half from about 13 mins to go to 8 mins to go again

theres things that dont show up in stats with mcelod that are very poor...like one play vs slippery rock where they passed right past him to the wing to get an open 3...but it was well within his radius and he should have had it...wont show up in the stas but was very poor

theres no stat for defensive awareness...even though it is very important...and if there was...his would be low

(and the center position, last line of defense, NEEDS good awareness to be effective)

if a player scores dunk but gives up 2 layups...is that good?

if he blocks a shot but loses his man the next possession is that actually good?

i would say no...but "analytics" people might say yes.

in the most minutes, NAHEEM HAD THE WORST PLUS MINUS OF ALL THE ROTATION PLAYERS FOR A REASON

 

[IthacaMatt]

Can't say as I agree on this one.

Yeah, I think 5 minutes a half is plenty. You have Eddie, of course, but both Petar and Freeman can also take a rotation at center when we go smaller.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I feel like pretty much everyone played better this game than Clarion, except for 1 or 2 guys. Everyone has been pretty good.

Lucas Taylor had nerves in game 1, but was much better tonight, especially in the 2nd half.

Cuffe started poorly, made some mistakes, but was more assertive for a nice 10 minute stretch in the 2nd half.

I thought that overall, despite the massive lead, we still played hard because guys are playing for their minutes, and there are more guys who can actually play on this year's team than we have had in a while. It didn't turn into garbage time and get sloppy until there were only about 4 1/2 minutes left.

Petar's a useful guy. Davis had a much better game, but does need to be more physical near the rim in his minutes on the floor. He can provide some toughness.

So happy to see Naheem play so many minutes, and generally look mobile, healthy and assertive on the offensive boards. Yes, he is foot slow, but when we play teams with monster big men we have an answer for a stretch or two in each half, if Eddie and others get in foul trouble.

Freeman is like Darryl Strawberry - effortlessly talented. He just puts up numbers without you noticing. Early career Billy Owens did the same. He needs to try a lot harder on defensive rebouds, but he has all the tools.

Elijah Moore will be our third guard by December. JJ was very solid, and got a couple shifts as PG, accompanied by Cuffe one time and Moore the other.

Chris Bell - great shooter, working harder on defense, a handful of rebounds. Needs some more variety in his offensive game. But I suppose it's early in the season, so let him groove his shot before he starts working on the other stuff (which he did show some of in game 1).

Eddie is a very solid guy. He's not an All American, but he's also not afraid of a moment, and he's got low post skills we haven't seen in at least a decade. He makes us a much better team.

I don't think our athleticism is as bad as some people are saying. Our rebounding will get better; we have the guys to do it.

On offense, we're seeing movement like it took us until February to put in place last year. I saw actual sets and plays. Pretty much zero isolation ball again this game. This is where having experienced players is clearly a benefit.

I feel like we are going to pull an upset or two in the early season. Experienced teams often start the season more quickly. I'm really liking what I've seen so far!

 

[Sbucketball]

this team looks to be live by the 3 die by the 3...at least for now...will try to evolve beyond that but we will see

thats a recipe for blowing out anyone when hot...I think this team will get some blowout wins for sure, if not many.

the defense and rebounding right now are pretty bad, though, so unless that gets fixed there will still be a pretty low ceiling overall.

We'll need to make 3s, but the good think this year is when we need to settle down, we can go inside for an old fashioned bucket from Lampkin. Didn't have that last year. It makes a difference because there will be shooting draughts.

 

[Niastri]

We'll need to make 3s, but the good think this year is when we need to settle down, we can go inside for an old fashioned bucket from Lampkin. Didn't have that last year. It makes a difference because there will be shooting draughts.

We have a bunch of guys you don't mind shooting 3s. I count 10, actually. Only McLeod and Lampkin are guys where you say "Oh $&;@" if they fire up a three (and Lampkin made one in the exhibitions.). I'm not thrilled about Majstorovic, Carlos, Davis and Cuffe taking threes, but I'm not yelling for them to get benched if they shoot one, either.

Any given day, some will be cold and some will be hot. Hopefully Red can ride the heaters a bit and it all evens out to a high percentage made on high volume.

For instance, Pitt made 190 conference 3s (9.5 per game) on 36% shooting. They had one great shooter in Hinson and a bunch of guys that were ok threats to make a 3. Sound familiar?

They rode that to 12-8 and 4th in the conference.

I think that is where we are right now, with a very high ceiling if Bell, Starling and Freeman move closer to their ceilings. It's not unheard of for sophomores to get better when they become juniors, and Freeman is a freshman, so he could be all over the place for a while, but he's got soooo much potential.