Postgame Thoughts... Lehigh

[Orangezoo]

I'd be a lot more excited about him if he were a more explosive athlete; maybe some time in our weight room will get him there. It's hard to be the role player that kinda just mucks things up when you're SF/PF sized and struggle to get up as much as he does. Not impossible but it lowers the ceiling for sure.

Big thing about Brown is he isn't stationary on offense, defends really well and doesn't bring the ball down in the paint. His offensive game is very much Like a Rick Jackson style. He won't be dropping double digits often but seems he can hold his own.

 

[Cstate]

I mentioned this during halftime of the game thread….Mintz takes two dribbles, spins, and elevates on his mid-range jumper in a flash! Dude is lightning quick when it comes to that move. He played very well last night

 

[Newhouser]

wish the football team could schedule like this.

Brown will look good against weak competition. Smart. Heady. But seems to lack the explosiveness to compete against the better ACC front courts.

Jimmy and Cole competed against ACC front courts (Cole especially on the glass). I think Brown can hold his own there. Garbage man with a bigger body who most importantly with our backcourt - does not require shots to impact the game.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Night and day better than the exhibitions. Pleasantly surprised. I thought both defenses looked pretty good. Communication was quite good in the man and the wings did a good job switching on the perimeter. Copeland was a turnstile on defense. Joe can’t stand four feet behind his man playing post defense. Offensively, the movement was much better and everyone looked for Jessie. Like JB said after the game, we need to incorporate Bell and Taylor into the game. Find ways to get them open looks. Bell’s three was a nice screen down and his shot looked sweet. They both will learn from this game. Hima is a big dude with a wingspan that doesn’t stop. He looked good in the zone. He has to be ready with his hands up when guys flash into the mid post area. He should be able to block everything in the paint. Colgate will be a really good test next week.

 

[FrancoPizza]

He’s a only a freshman. He reminds me of players pit would get that would kill us on the boards and put backs.

If we face a team that zones us then yes I’d expect him to do well.

 

[goofnoff]

I mentioned this during halftime of the game thread….Mintz takes two dribbles, spins, and elevates on his mid-range jumper in a flash! Dude is lightning quick when it comes to that move. He played very well last night

A lot of guys can do that move. The nice part about his is that he has the touch for the shot to go down. So he makes a great move and then he buries the shot. It makes JB smile...a lot.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Benny and Bell -- not a good debut. Bell had zero rebounds.

Sy needs to play more.

Really? I swear I remember Bell coming down with a couple defensive rebounds.

 

[RF2044]

Really? I swear I remember Bell coming down with a couple defensive rebounds.

 

[cuseincincy]

Can someone give me a player comparison for Maliq Brown? I can’t come up with a good comp. He’s very smooth, but not flashy. Maybe too early to tell. I’d love to see him put on another 20lbs of muscle.

Wendell Alexis

 

[RF2044]

Can someone give me a player comparison for Maliq Brown? I can’t come up with a good comp. He’s very smooth, but not flashy. Maybe too early to tell. I’d love to see him put on another 20lbs of muscle.

Freshman year CJ Fair.

I think his future is more of a 4 than a 3 that CJ developed into, but I see a lot of similarities with the court awareness / advanced feel for the game, being in the right place at the right time for rebounds, high percentage inside scoring, etc.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

wish the football team could schedule like this.

Brown will look good against weak competition. Smart. Heady. But seems to lack the explosiveness to compete against the better ACC front courts.

I agree. I know he’s had good games and has been in the right place at the right time… I just am very hesitant in him against real comp. Prob why I am so high on us needing Benny.

 

[AZOrange]

I’ve always been super positive about Cuse hoops but man I see long term struggles for this squad. Athleticism is improved but I don’t see a dominant player yet (maybe Judah can be) and most just seem like complimentary parts right now. Throw in the fact that we are 6-7 new guys and I’m not too excited (yet). In the past when our O was not as good we were dominant D and I haven’t seen that yet.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

Freshman year CJ Fair.

I think his future is more of a 4 than a 3 that CJ developed into, but I see a lot of similarities with the court awareness / advanced feel for the game, being in the right place at the right time for rebounds, high percentage inside scoring, etc.

Roberson comps are fine. CJ Fair even as a freshman was on a different level. Brown moves around very awkwardly.

 

[phil77]

I’ve always been super positive about Cuse hoops but man I see long term struggles for this squad. Athleticism is improved but I don’t see a dominant player yet (maybe Judah can be) and most just seem like complimentary parts right now. Throw in the fact that we are 6-7 new guys and I’m not too excited (yet). In the past when our O was not as good we were dominant D and I haven’t seen that yet.

I will hold my judgement until we play a team with equal or more athleticism. We struggled in recent years against "weaker" teams because of that so it is nice to see that is back but I won't be able to get a true feel for the team until another squad puts out equal or better athletes.

 

[shandeezy7]

Bell had as many rebounds as a dead guy in 16 minutes. Symir had double the rebounds as Benny in the same number of minutes played. That's somewhat concerning for your two starting forwards against a small team.

Jesse has the potential - if he can stay healthy and out of foul trouble - to be an All-American. He's tall, athletic, coordinated and a really smart basketball player. He'll be a focus of our offense and him and Joe have great chemistry. Guards love easy assists, and a drive and dish to Jesse is almost an automatic assist.

Mintz will have his struggles for sure against better competition, but I love his confidence and the speed at which he plays the game - fast but in control, for the most part. Not sure we've had a PG with handle as good as his since Jonny Flynn. He's not quite as athletic as Flynn (who was an athletic freak), but he's bigger, which should hopefully bode well for his ability to finish.

It's also good to know that we have a veteran like Symir to back up Mintz in times when he's struggling. Give him time to recollect on the bench and get back out there. I don't think there's another player on the team that can match Symir's motor, and knows how to run and offense and move the ball around.

 

[kcsu]

Big thing about Brown is he isn't stationary on offense, defends really well and doesn't bring the ball down in the paint. His offensive game is very much Like a Rick Jackson style. He won't be dropping double digits often but seems he can hold his own.

Brown lets the game come to him. He is a natural.

 

[goofnoff]

I will hold my judgement until we play a team with equal or more athleticism. We struggled in recent years against "weaker" teams because of that so it is nice to see that is back but I won't be able to get a true feel for the team until another squad puts out equal or better athletes.

This is, of course, the correct way to view things. I think you nailed it.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I’ve always been super positive about Cuse hoops but man I see long term struggles for this squad. Athleticism is improved but I don’t see a dominant player yet (maybe Judah can be) and most just seem like complimentary parts right now. Throw in the fact that we are 6-7 new guys and I’m not too excited (yet). In the past when our O was not as good we were dominant D and I haven’t seen that yet.

I hate to say it, but this roster has all the ingredients to be a dominant zone team and it's not going to realize that potential because the weak link in that chain is going to play the most minutes since he's our most experienced player and only proven shooter.

 

[SWC75]

I missed the majority of the game…..when our boys came out playing man I fainted l, hit my head and was out cold for a bit………I kid I kid.

We will consider that in evaluating your future posts...

 

[SWC75]

Brown immediately caught my eye. Agree with the other comments -he's intriguing.
For a first game, very fluid and confident in what he was doing out there.
I liked the way he moved and how he positioned himself on both ends of the floor.
Yes, the jury is out until we see Brown against better competition-
but what a nice contrast to freshman Benny.

And, so far, sophomore Benny. I think Benny could learn from him. He might wind up doing that from the bench.

 

[goofnoff]

I'm totally fascinated by all the possible options and ways this team can go. I didn't see a dog on the court last night. This is like a box of popcorn. We're munchin' on some and already sticking our hand in the box for more.

 

[atlanticuse]

I was impressed by Hima. Looks bigger than I thought.

 

[Niastri]

What does the tfahw in that hashtag mean?

 

[pearl31]

Maliq looked great.
The backcourt looked promising.
The m2m defense looked promising.
Jesse's output and no foul trouble looked promising.
Hima as a solid backup C looked promising.

Benny?
Shooters?

and how is #42 on Lehigh a d1 basketball player?

 

[Eric15]

Show Benny vintage Dennis Rodman highlights. Defense, rebounding, hustle will earn him time at PF.

Agree. There is a role for Benny on this team, it's just not scoring. He needs to spend almost all his time in the paint. When he is on the perimeter, something negative often happens (flat jumper, traveling call, etc.)

He actually had a couple nice entry passes to Jesse last night.

At this point I think "Kristof Ongenaet" is basically the ceiling for Benny.