Exciting game last night. I was really encouraged. I thought we'd struggle against Wofford, but we looked good most of the game. Here are some thoughts about the individual players last night.
- Mbakwe was my player of the game. He was rebounding like a mad man, scoring inside, playing aggressive hard-nosed defense, even hit a jumper. Frankly, he looked better than I thought he would. I know we were playing a short team, but I really liked what I saw from him. I'm still concerned about his ability to finish in the lane against taller teams, but it was a great first game for him, especially in the limited minutes he got. I really wish he would have played more than Colt, who couldn't finish.
- Colt couldn't finish. He still rebounded pretty well, and shut down Dahlman when he was on him. I think Colton will be essential to our success this year. I liked the moves he was making and the shots he was taking, he just wasn't knocking them down. I do wish he'd have made more direct moves to the basket though. Leave the jump hooks to Sampson, by and large, Colt.
- Sampson was making a lot of shots. As other people have noted, he's much better in rhythm than when he has to think about shots. Actually, I liked what I saw of Sampson on D too. He was blocking shots and playing good D, although he got lost a couple of times, and let the Wofford PF get free for some layups. On the whole, though, he was great. Made his outside jumpers, made a few shots inside, had a nice cut for a dunk. I think some of his success was due to Nolen's new ability to feed the post.
- Al Nolen looked like what we need him to be with Devoe out. He looks like Al at the beginning of two years ago. He got to the rack, he was making good passes in the lane, he knocked down a shot or two, but didn't look for his shot too much, and was actually able to finish in the lane. In addition, he played his usual aggressive nasty D, and moved the ball around well, including getting the ball into the post fairly well (or better than he has at times in the past). Nolen will be essential, despite the reasonably strong performance from Maverick.
- I owe Maverick a bit of an apology. He looked a lot better than I thought he would. He was cool and collected (except for his one terrible turnover), he moved the ball, and his D was okay as well. I'm not that confident that he can do more than what he did, but on the plus side, we don't need him to do more than what he did, which is come in, distribute a bit, don't turn the ball over, and give Al a breather. I think the emergence of Chip will allow Maverick to play limited minutes as well.
-Chip was a revelation. I've liked what I've seen from him every time I saw him play, but he's surprised me last night. He was aggressive, but in control. He got in the lane and finished, and he hit an outside jumper. I don't think we can rely on him from the outside, but given the dearth of people on the team he can get by people into the lane and finish, Chip is very important. Plus, he played tough D. I really liked what I saw from Chip, and I think he and Hollins will trade off in contributions from the frosh.
-Hollins didn't do much, but he looked okay. He plays very good D. I could see him being a DJ type of player by the end of his career. Plus, he's got a nose for the basket, and I really hope he can develop into a mid-range jump shooter. We don't have many of those, and if he can dependably hit those type of shots, we'll be great. I'm hoping that Rodney's break-out will continue, so anything we get from Hollins will be gravy.
- Rodney would be my third star, were this to be hockey. He wasn't making his shots, but he was looking for them, and that's encouraging. He was getting in the lane, going to the basket, and elevating over smaller defenders. Plus his D on Rundles and others was impressive. If Rodney continues to look for his shot, he'll have a chance to become the player we all hope he can be, and draft websites have predicted he'll be. It was important that Rodney play that well, considering that Blake was being covered all night.
-Blake was covered all night last night, and it's clear by this point in his career that, although he can help you if he's covered, by moving the ball well, and making nice cuts, he's never going to be able to shake the D and create his own shot. Other people picked him up, though, he played good D, and as I said, he was still valuable in other ways. I wish he could have figured out a way in his career to create his own shot, but he hasn't really shown it. I guess I should just be happy with what he is, which is the best shooter in the Big Ten, and one of the smartest players in the nation. Plus, he didn't have to hit outside shots last night, because big Mo was taking them for him.
- Mo looked pretty much like I thought he would. He was huge, he rebounded a little bit, and he was able to get his shot, inside and out. Unfortunately, he missed them. That's okay, I think he'll be valuable for us at some time this year.
- I was really happy to see Devoe there. He hugged Tubby's wife, he had some words with Tubby, he participated in everything, he looked involved, he looked happy. I really hope he'll take his five games or whatever, and be back. We could really use him.
- All in all, I'm happy with how the first game went. A nice win over Sienna, and we should have some nice momentum into the most difficult stretch of the pre-season.
- Mbakwe was my player of the game. He was rebounding like a mad man, scoring inside, playing aggressive hard-nosed defense, even hit a jumper. Frankly, he looked better than I thought he would. I know we were playing a short team, but I really liked what I saw from him. I'm still concerned about his ability to finish in the lane against taller teams, but it was a great first game for him, especially in the limited minutes he got. I really wish he would have played more than Colt, who couldn't finish.
- Colt couldn't finish. He still rebounded pretty well, and shut down Dahlman when he was on him. I think Colton will be essential to our success this year. I liked the moves he was making and the shots he was taking, he just wasn't knocking them down. I do wish he'd have made more direct moves to the basket though. Leave the jump hooks to Sampson, by and large, Colt.
- Sampson was making a lot of shots. As other people have noted, he's much better in rhythm than when he has to think about shots. Actually, I liked what I saw of Sampson on D too. He was blocking shots and playing good D, although he got lost a couple of times, and let the Wofford PF get free for some layups. On the whole, though, he was great. Made his outside jumpers, made a few shots inside, had a nice cut for a dunk. I think some of his success was due to Nolen's new ability to feed the post.
- Al Nolen looked like what we need him to be with Devoe out. He looks like Al at the beginning of two years ago. He got to the rack, he was making good passes in the lane, he knocked down a shot or two, but didn't look for his shot too much, and was actually able to finish in the lane. In addition, he played his usual aggressive nasty D, and moved the ball around well, including getting the ball into the post fairly well (or better than he has at times in the past). Nolen will be essential, despite the reasonably strong performance from Maverick.
- I owe Maverick a bit of an apology. He looked a lot better than I thought he would. He was cool and collected (except for his one terrible turnover), he moved the ball, and his D was okay as well. I'm not that confident that he can do more than what he did, but on the plus side, we don't need him to do more than what he did, which is come in, distribute a bit, don't turn the ball over, and give Al a breather. I think the emergence of Chip will allow Maverick to play limited minutes as well.
-Chip was a revelation. I've liked what I've seen from him every time I saw him play, but he's surprised me last night. He was aggressive, but in control. He got in the lane and finished, and he hit an outside jumper. I don't think we can rely on him from the outside, but given the dearth of people on the team he can get by people into the lane and finish, Chip is very important. Plus, he played tough D. I really liked what I saw from Chip, and I think he and Hollins will trade off in contributions from the frosh.
-Hollins didn't do much, but he looked okay. He plays very good D. I could see him being a DJ type of player by the end of his career. Plus, he's got a nose for the basket, and I really hope he can develop into a mid-range jump shooter. We don't have many of those, and if he can dependably hit those type of shots, we'll be great. I'm hoping that Rodney's break-out will continue, so anything we get from Hollins will be gravy.
- Rodney would be my third star, were this to be hockey. He wasn't making his shots, but he was looking for them, and that's encouraging. He was getting in the lane, going to the basket, and elevating over smaller defenders. Plus his D on Rundles and others was impressive. If Rodney continues to look for his shot, he'll have a chance to become the player we all hope he can be, and draft websites have predicted he'll be. It was important that Rodney play that well, considering that Blake was being covered all night.
-Blake was covered all night last night, and it's clear by this point in his career that, although he can help you if he's covered, by moving the ball well, and making nice cuts, he's never going to be able to shake the D and create his own shot. Other people picked him up, though, he played good D, and as I said, he was still valuable in other ways. I wish he could have figured out a way in his career to create his own shot, but he hasn't really shown it. I guess I should just be happy with what he is, which is the best shooter in the Big Ten, and one of the smartest players in the nation. Plus, he didn't have to hit outside shots last night, because big Mo was taking them for him.
- Mo looked pretty much like I thought he would. He was huge, he rebounded a little bit, and he was able to get his shot, inside and out. Unfortunately, he missed them. That's okay, I think he'll be valuable for us at some time this year.
- I was really happy to see Devoe there. He hugged Tubby's wife, he had some words with Tubby, he participated in everything, he looked involved, he looked happy. I really hope he'll take his five games or whatever, and be back. We could really use him.
- All in all, I'm happy with how the first game went. A nice win over Sienna, and we should have some nice momentum into the most difficult stretch of the pre-season.
