It won't really show in the highlights because he's barely played in their actual games, but Fennell has been practicing with one of the NBL teams for awhile now and that's definitely a talent level above what he'll face in college, so hopefully he can hit the ground running here.
I think this is low key a big deal.
Yup, Fennell splashed a few of what SWC used to call “No, no, no… Yes!” Shots. Ones that are a bad choice until they go in. I hope he doesn’t shoot too many 35 footers here.
Well we’re coming from 0 so that’s better at least.
I look at that as a maturity thing. Playing with guys that are older and more experienced. A lot different than playing with all teenagers.
I like big guards, 2 of our 3 final games had big guards, Sims in 96, and Billy in 03.
MCW was also a big guard. Helped get us to the FF. Not to mention Silent G.
What about Petar's game made it seem like he'd be good in the future? He wasn't particularly athletic, wasn't a high energy spark-plug, and didn't really do one thing well.
Petar demonstrated an awareness of how the game should be played. He did some smart things, and he did some basic things that our other players just didn't do. Yes, he was 'compromised' athletically. And maybe his ceiling isn't high. And he was a freshman and new to this country and this competition, so—not a finished, polished player. I think he was as good/better than i expected. I also think that if we are going to be a good team, we do need players who are better, so i'm surprised he left but not disappointed, if that makes sense.
But his actual numbers were 2.6 ppg and 3.2 rpg. He hit 5 of 12 3-pointers. He played 13 mpg, he was not our second most important offensive or defensive player.
He would learn better defensive positioning and not get as many whistles. He had some skills on offense and wasn't a total zero as a scorer. Some bigs score on accident. Petar didn't score a lot, but when he did there was intention.
I'll admit, I wasn't watching many games past January.
I would counter that he might have been the most fundamentally sound player on last year's roster. He blocked out his man on the boards better than anyone else. He hustled after 50/50 balls. He handled the ball as well as any of our front court players (and some of our guards).
And when he set a pick he actually stayed there til his man was blocked. A lost art in modern college basketball.
I wonder why we didn’t work harder to keep him, aka offer him a bit more money. Most fans liked him and felt he had real upside. You’d think the coaches would feel the same way.
