Last season, with all the new players coming in and sort of the changing of the guard, there was a little more to talk about. This year there isn't so much mystery.
Once again, about half way thru practice, Kruger brought the same 7 together as the red shirts. My stated opinion has been and still is that these 7are all good but not yet great players that can compete well in the top half of the conference.
Past the 1st 7 there is a drop off to Tyler. He will get some playing time and my hope is that he will have his best season ever. There is another little drop off to Booker and another little one to Cole. Booker will get to play some too. Cole mayby not so much. My hope is that they both get better.
Hamilton took a big step backwards yesterday. With the 7 best players all on one side, Hamilton didn't have much help around him and was just swallowed up. He was being swarmed from all sides and didn't respond very well. He looked clumsy and awkward and it brought into question how much help he would actually be. Once again, my hope is that it was nothing more than one of those two steps forward one step back deals.
Bennett was really putting on a good show again. He is getting at ease with and accurate with those 8-12' jumpers. I never really thought that he would be able to add that to his game. He is proving me wrong. Thru his own efforts he is building a pretty good case that he and Spangler both need to be on the court.
It has gotten to the point that Buddy, Cam, and Spangler are expected to have a good practice every day. That is usually the case.
Cousins hasn't done anything wrong these first few days. He has been pretty good. But, he was outstanding in a few of those pre Europe practices. Steady Hornbeak has continued to be steady Hornbeak. Woodard has really taken some big steps forward. There was never any doubt that he was going to be a good one. But now, there is some tangible evidence starting to show up. His shooting consistency has improved a lot. He is no sharp shooter. But, he can score some. He is really quick around screens and gets into his jumper
smoothly. Early on, he just plain and simple couldn't guard Hornbeak. He has now transition into a pretty decent defender and for the most part holds his own against all three of the soph. guards. When they get him now, it has more to do with a 6'4" guy getting a shot over a 5'11" guy than it has to do with a quick guard taking advantage of a weak defender.
All of the regular practice watchers will occasionally be granted a little chit chat time with an assistant coach. Every one of them seems to think it is their job to tamp down expectations. I think that it is in their DNA. It is always we lost this guy or that guy or this skill or that skill and oh my I don't know what we are going to do. Fair enough. They can sell. I don't always have to buy. But, I did get this candid admission out of one of them yesterday. The comment was " we are light years ahead of where we have ever been defensively."
Once again, about half way thru practice, Kruger brought the same 7 together as the red shirts. My stated opinion has been and still is that these 7are all good but not yet great players that can compete well in the top half of the conference.
Past the 1st 7 there is a drop off to Tyler. He will get some playing time and my hope is that he will have his best season ever. There is another little drop off to Booker and another little one to Cole. Booker will get to play some too. Cole mayby not so much. My hope is that they both get better.
Hamilton took a big step backwards yesterday. With the 7 best players all on one side, Hamilton didn't have much help around him and was just swallowed up. He was being swarmed from all sides and didn't respond very well. He looked clumsy and awkward and it brought into question how much help he would actually be. Once again, my hope is that it was nothing more than one of those two steps forward one step back deals.
Bennett was really putting on a good show again. He is getting at ease with and accurate with those 8-12' jumpers. I never really thought that he would be able to add that to his game. He is proving me wrong. Thru his own efforts he is building a pretty good case that he and Spangler both need to be on the court.
It has gotten to the point that Buddy, Cam, and Spangler are expected to have a good practice every day. That is usually the case.
Cousins hasn't done anything wrong these first few days. He has been pretty good. But, he was outstanding in a few of those pre Europe practices. Steady Hornbeak has continued to be steady Hornbeak. Woodard has really taken some big steps forward. There was never any doubt that he was going to be a good one. But now, there is some tangible evidence starting to show up. His shooting consistency has improved a lot. He is no sharp shooter. But, he can score some. He is really quick around screens and gets into his jumper
smoothly. Early on, he just plain and simple couldn't guard Hornbeak. He has now transition into a pretty decent defender and for the most part holds his own against all three of the soph. guards. When they get him now, it has more to do with a 6'4" guy getting a shot over a 5'11" guy than it has to do with a quick guard taking advantage of a weak defender.
All of the regular practice watchers will occasionally be granted a little chit chat time with an assistant coach. Every one of them seems to think it is their job to tamp down expectations. I think that it is in their DNA. It is always we lost this guy or that guy or this skill or that skill and oh my I don't know what we are going to do. Fair enough. They can sell. I don't always have to buy. But, I did get this candid admission out of one of them yesterday. The comment was " we are light years ahead of where we have ever been defensively."
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