newmexicuse
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- Aug 15, 2011
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This was supposed to be a seriously mediocre year by Cuse standards. The win over a ranked UConn in a huge rivalry game makes it look like we should get our 20+ & have a great chance to go Dancing.
So that begs the question what has changed as compared to pre-season expectations:
The GOOD (maybe even the EXCELLENT) -
The far and away biggest positive is the play of Lydon. The kid is two years ahead of schedule in the way he has been playing. Outide touch, inside toughness, great FT shooting, shot-blocking ability, and rebounding. He has brought it all to the table in a way that really makes this team jell.What he is doing for us and the way he plays just reminds me of what KP is doing for the Knicks so far this season. Kid looks way bigger than 6'8".
My next biggest positive is the play of Malachi. Everybody figured he could shoot and would get his points, but the big surprise is his toughness and rebounding in being able to nail down the three spot and how well rounded his game is for a frosh.
G, Trevor, and Roberson - all upper classmen who are doing what they are supposed to be doing. G just seems to get better and better and he is more and more comfortable at the point which really isn't his natural position. Trevor seems more consistent from outside. A big reason is that we now always have three or four B-52 threats on the floor so the D's cannot 100% key on him. Tyler R seems more aggressive in trying to score and seems more beastly off the glass.
DC2 - He was a huge ???? going into the season. He has responded with strength in the middle and off the glass. He is still a total O non-factor, but that could well improve as the season progresses. He should be strong enough to get at least a few inside hoops per game.
Jimmy - always does his best work when things look bleakest.
The BAD -
Howard - well he really hasn't looked bad in the few cameos that I have seen so far (one bad pass & the hook was really quick against UConn), but nonetheless he hasn't been able to secure rotation time for himself. Only going six deep is a short bench even by Jimmy's standards. I think Frank needs to play well enough to garb himself 5 to 10 MPG. We need a 7th guy to emerge and right now I think Frank has a great chance to be that player.
The UGLY -
Kaleb - I can't help but think back to the HS vids. He had strength, penetration, and finishing ability and a decent enough outside shot. Even last year, as many problems as he had by being thrown into the fire, his one strength was the pullup J. Where has all ofthat gone ? I have only seen two games, but he just simply looks lost in space. Too much E-W dribbling and when he does penetrate - no pullup J, no finish at the rim, no decisive pass to get an asssist. He just has zero confidence out there. Can he play through it and pull himself up buy the bootstraps or is he destined to have a totally lost season ?? I KNOW this kid has some heart & guts by the way he used to play - he just really has to reach deep inside of himself and salvage his season and his career at the Cuse.
Chino - really hard to tell whether he hasn't progressed at all or if Lyon has just totally taken minutes that might have been his. I can't see him being a regular in the rotation, but there will be games where due to foul trouble or injury that we will need 5 to 10 minutes of rebounding and D - hope he can deliver when his number is called.
Fouling and Foul Shooting - too much of one and not enough success of the other. Gotta improve both of these areas or it will cost us some games.
So that begs the question what has changed as compared to pre-season expectations:
The GOOD (maybe even the EXCELLENT) -
The far and away biggest positive is the play of Lydon. The kid is two years ahead of schedule in the way he has been playing. Outide touch, inside toughness, great FT shooting, shot-blocking ability, and rebounding. He has brought it all to the table in a way that really makes this team jell.What he is doing for us and the way he plays just reminds me of what KP is doing for the Knicks so far this season. Kid looks way bigger than 6'8".
My next biggest positive is the play of Malachi. Everybody figured he could shoot and would get his points, but the big surprise is his toughness and rebounding in being able to nail down the three spot and how well rounded his game is for a frosh.
G, Trevor, and Roberson - all upper classmen who are doing what they are supposed to be doing. G just seems to get better and better and he is more and more comfortable at the point which really isn't his natural position. Trevor seems more consistent from outside. A big reason is that we now always have three or four B-52 threats on the floor so the D's cannot 100% key on him. Tyler R seems more aggressive in trying to score and seems more beastly off the glass.
DC2 - He was a huge ???? going into the season. He has responded with strength in the middle and off the glass. He is still a total O non-factor, but that could well improve as the season progresses. He should be strong enough to get at least a few inside hoops per game.
Jimmy - always does his best work when things look bleakest.
The BAD -
Howard - well he really hasn't looked bad in the few cameos that I have seen so far (one bad pass & the hook was really quick against UConn), but nonetheless he hasn't been able to secure rotation time for himself. Only going six deep is a short bench even by Jimmy's standards. I think Frank needs to play well enough to garb himself 5 to 10 MPG. We need a 7th guy to emerge and right now I think Frank has a great chance to be that player.
The UGLY -
Kaleb - I can't help but think back to the HS vids. He had strength, penetration, and finishing ability and a decent enough outside shot. Even last year, as many problems as he had by being thrown into the fire, his one strength was the pullup J. Where has all ofthat gone ? I have only seen two games, but he just simply looks lost in space. Too much E-W dribbling and when he does penetrate - no pullup J, no finish at the rim, no decisive pass to get an asssist. He just has zero confidence out there. Can he play through it and pull himself up buy the bootstraps or is he destined to have a totally lost season ?? I KNOW this kid has some heart & guts by the way he used to play - he just really has to reach deep inside of himself and salvage his season and his career at the Cuse.
Chino - really hard to tell whether he hasn't progressed at all or if Lyon has just totally taken minutes that might have been his. I can't see him being a regular in the rotation, but there will be games where due to foul trouble or injury that we will need 5 to 10 minutes of rebounding and D - hope he can deliver when his number is called.
Fouling and Foul Shooting - too much of one and not enough success of the other. Gotta improve both of these areas or it will cost us some games.
