cowboysooner
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2008
- Messages
- 1,280
- Reaction score
- 15
First, the returning players looked fit and well conditioned. They also looked more comfortable, which in my view is important to each playing at or near their potential. I thought all the returning players looked at least a little improved and better than they did last year.
Second, the new guys are better than I expected, particularly KK. Bienemy looks like he will be a good player in time -- not sure who to compare him to. Miles may be the best wing on the team and is just a good player. He will be hard not to play. Calixte is clearly a high D1 talent. His skill and athletic ability are exceptional. His judgment was poor sometimes (tried to do too much) but this looked correctable. By conference, I think he will be a good one. He looks like he will be a very good defender, so that fact alone, will make us a better defensive team than last year.
I had no expectations regarding KK at all. During his recruitment, I read several articles and it didn't seem like he was heavily recruited or was much of a player. So, I just thought he was a plan B or C big, and would be a project. Small sample size, but he looks like a good player to me. First, he is listed at 6'10 and 205. Standing right next to them, he looks taller than that. He looks like he is about an inch taller than Muni. He is thin legged but has a strong upper body. He just looks like a well coached athletic big to me. We will see as the year progresses. But, I was surprised at how good he looked. He didn't look lost at all. He is clearly the back up center and not polla.
Freeman and Manek bot looked improved. In particular, I thought Freeman looked a lot more comfortable.
All in all, I think we will be about as good, if not slightly better, than last year. As for our record, that will depend in part on the opponents we play, but I think we end up with about the same record.
The key in my mind is Doolittle. If he plays exactly the way he played during this game, e.g. take the ball into the lane consistently and get good interior shots, we will definitely be improved. Naturally, he will need to make a better percentage that he did in the game, but his eye discipline will improved as the games go along. His game reminds me of Nolan Johnson, only he is several inches bigger and 20 pounds heavier. He could really be hard to handle if he will buy into this type of game and not just try and be a lazy catch and shoot guy.
Second, the new guys are better than I expected, particularly KK. Bienemy looks like he will be a good player in time -- not sure who to compare him to. Miles may be the best wing on the team and is just a good player. He will be hard not to play. Calixte is clearly a high D1 talent. His skill and athletic ability are exceptional. His judgment was poor sometimes (tried to do too much) but this looked correctable. By conference, I think he will be a good one. He looks like he will be a very good defender, so that fact alone, will make us a better defensive team than last year.
I had no expectations regarding KK at all. During his recruitment, I read several articles and it didn't seem like he was heavily recruited or was much of a player. So, I just thought he was a plan B or C big, and would be a project. Small sample size, but he looks like a good player to me. First, he is listed at 6'10 and 205. Standing right next to them, he looks taller than that. He looks like he is about an inch taller than Muni. He is thin legged but has a strong upper body. He just looks like a well coached athletic big to me. We will see as the year progresses. But, I was surprised at how good he looked. He didn't look lost at all. He is clearly the back up center and not polla.
Freeman and Manek bot looked improved. In particular, I thought Freeman looked a lot more comfortable.
All in all, I think we will be about as good, if not slightly better, than last year. As for our record, that will depend in part on the opponents we play, but I think we end up with about the same record.
The key in my mind is Doolittle. If he plays exactly the way he played during this game, e.g. take the ball into the lane consistently and get good interior shots, we will definitely be improved. Naturally, he will need to make a better percentage that he did in the game, but his eye discipline will improved as the games go along. His game reminds me of Nolan Johnson, only he is several inches bigger and 20 pounds heavier. He could really be hard to handle if he will buy into this type of game and not just try and be a lazy catch and shoot guy.