|
|
Post by steveaztec on Jul 16, 2010 9:19:07 GMT -8
are they doing a "Midnight Madness " type of opening practice i hope they do!! I wouldn't count on an actual "midnight madness". Fisher doesn't care for them and they have done it once or twice with very small turnouts. I think we will see something like last year. An open house in the afternoon on a Saturday. They run thru a practice and introduce the players. That was fun and I thought well done. |
|
|
|
Post by steveaztec on Jul 16, 2010 9:20:54 GMT -8
... Mehdi will have a good year and contribute much more than many think. If he contributes anything meaningful, that will be much more than I think. I'm a Mehdi hater. Sorry. Just can't help myself. Personally, with the roster we have, I don't see him getting anything more than a cameo appearance every game. No problem. We all like some and don't like others. Let me get this right....You hate Mehdis game?........But you loved Luke Nevilles game?  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2010 9:24:33 GMT -8
Agree with LTB. We will certainly need him at some point this season though, and he is a valuable guy to have deep on your bench. Injury/illness is a factor at some point every season. He will help us out at various points this season, just not on a nightly basis.
However, I am very pessimistic at this point at what Shelton can realistically contribute over the course of a season, and I see Mehdi as much more valuable than Alec Williams at this point in their respective tenures with the team. At this point, I see Mehdi as our 11th man... potential to be 10th or even 9th based on injuries.
*Would be great if he proves me wrong*
|
|
|
|
Post by pokinsky on Jul 16, 2010 10:11:06 GMT -8
The most beneficial thing for this year, and next year, would be for Shelton and Williams to win the majority of the minutes at backup F and F/C. Shelton has already proven his value when healthy, .. but how many minutes can he play safely?
Williams has a solid shooting stroke and handle (possibly even better than Cheriets) and he has a good bball IQ. But what we really need from our forwards, in addition to shooting, is toughness and rebounding. Cheriet has never been a very physical player ... so if Williams can get into great shape and bring a physicality along with IQ and shooting ... he should earn minutes at both SF and PF.
This is the scenario I'm rooting for ... because it will be comforting knowing Williams will be a solid F who will ease the losses of White, Thomas, Carlwell and Cheriet. I'm hoping he weighs in closer to 238lbs this year, down from 268.
|
|
|
|
Post by hoobs on Jul 16, 2010 10:49:13 GMT -8
........But you loved Luke Nevilles game? Ummmmm.... 7'2" 265 vs 6'9" 218 If Cheriet was 6'11" & 240+, then LTB & I would both be more excited about his game as a backup PF/C. But he's not. So we're not. |
|
|
|
Post by nonpostpete on Jul 16, 2010 10:50:55 GMT -8
I am much more optimistic about what Mehdi can bring to the team this season. He is a bright kid, who will now be in his third year in the program and his fourth year at playing JC/college ball. He has height and length, can play some inside and definitely outside. He also can spend some time at all 3 forward positions.
The good thing is that he brings some depth to help the team minimize minutes needed from Tim Shelton, while still providing a smart experienced presence who can contribute on the floor. His last season, there was more than one game where Mehdi helped offensiively to break down a zone defense and get the offense on track. He also had some dud games where his shot was not working. I hope he has improved his toughness and rebounding, but still expect some valuable minutes from him this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by steveaztec on Jul 16, 2010 10:51:15 GMT -8
........But you loved Luke Nevilles game? Ummmmm.... 7'2" 265 vs 6'9" 218 If Cheriet was 6'11" & 240+, then LTB & I would both be more excited about his game as a backup PF/C. But he's not. So we're not. Reminder.....Amoroso, at 6-7 250 dominated Luke Neville almost every time he played him. In our system (IMO), if we had Luke Neville this year, he would play back center and get about as many minutes as Mehdi will this year. 10-12. |
|
|
|
Post by pokinsky on Jul 16, 2010 11:09:42 GMT -8
Amoroso didn't dominate Neville. Neville's numbers were better head to head, and Neville forced us to double and triple the entire game putting our entire frontline in foul trouble. (Neville avg. almost 10 FT's per game against us).
Neville was goofy and awkward but if we had Neville ... Cheriet and Carlwell would never get off the bench.
|
|
|
|
Post by Section T(urn Up) on Jul 16, 2010 11:14:28 GMT -8
I see some comments about Alec Williams basketball IQ/shooting touch/handles. I am wondering where people get this impression of his game from? I was at every game last year and saw him put up a feathery jumper a couple times from the baseline, but I didn't see anything that would persuade me either way about his handles or basketball IQ. It seems like it's quite speculative to state an opinion either way about Williams given how little of him we saw during the season.
I am not calling people out; I actually just am wondering if those who are offering comments on his abilities have seen more of him in HS or maybe practices or rumors or something more than the very limited minutes we saw from him last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by steveaztec on Jul 16, 2010 11:14:51 GMT -8
Amoroso didn't dominate Neville. Neville's numbers were better head to head, and Neville forced us to double and triple the entire game putting our entire frontline in foul trouble. (Neville avg. almost 10 FT's per game against us). Neville was goofy and awkward but if we had Neville ... Cheriet and Carlwell would never get off the bench. We doubled and tripled Neville? I don't think so. We collasped on him when the ball went low, because he couldn't move Ammo and he was so slow it caused problems for him. If we had Neville, no time for Cheriet and Carlwell? Disagree again. In fact, I'm not sure how much better Neville was than Carlwell right now. I think I would rather have Carlwell. Carlwell isn't getting a lot of time right now because he is playing behind a border line pro player in Malcom Thomas. Neville would effect Mehdi's time at all. Medhdi can play 2 and possibly in a pinch 3 spots. Neville could only play one spot. Just my opinion. |
|
|
|
Post by steveaztec on Jul 16, 2010 11:34:49 GMT -8
Amoroso didn't dominate Neville. Neville's numbers were better head to head, and Neville forced us to double and triple the entire game putting our entire frontline in foul trouble. (Neville avg. almost 10 FT's per game against us). Neville was goofy and awkward but if we had Neville ... Cheriet and Carlwell would never get off the bench. I have to correct myself on the domination Pokinsky. Ammo at 6-8 250 merely played the 7-2 275 Neville even in all games and outplayed him a couple of games. Here are the stats (keep in mind that Ammo only played about 25 minutes a game and Luke "The Stiff" played around 35 a game). 2007/2008 Head to head... Ammo 10 points 8 boards Luke 12 points 8 boards Ammo 11 points 6 boards Luke 10 points 5 boards 2008/2009 Ammo 17 points 8 boards Luke 17 points 7 boards Ammo 3 points 8 boards Luke 12 points 3 boards Ammo 11 points 15 boards Luke 18 points 15 boards _________________________ Total head to head career... Ammo 52 points 45 boards Luke 69 points 38 boards |
|
|
|
Post by pokinsky on Jul 16, 2010 12:28:11 GMT -8
I see some comments about Alec Williams basketball IQ/shooting touch/handles. I am wondering where people get this impression of his game from? I was at every game last year and saw him put up a feathery jumper a couple times from the baseline, but I didn't see anything that would persuade me either way about his handles or basketball IQ. It seems like it's quite speculative to state an opinion either way about Williams given how little of him we saw during the season. I am not calling people out; I actually just am wondering if those who are offering comments on his abilities have seen more of him in HS or maybe practices or rumors or something more than the very limited minutes we saw from him last year. High school hype is all I'm going off of, considering he hardly played last year. He had some decent hype coming in last year, suggesting he had game .. but he also clearly has an appetite. He was listed at 230-245 in high school and he will only live up to his potential if he can get back down to that weight ... or less. " He has the ball skills to step out and play on the perimeter." goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111208aaa.html ESPN .. " What separates Williams from most players his size is his general understanding of the game. He has tremendous savvy around the basket and can hit the 3-point shot with regularity." sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/columns/story?columnist=francisco_joel&id=3441828 |
|
|
|
Post by hoobs on Jul 16, 2010 12:46:08 GMT -8
Okay, I'll re-clarify my comments about Mehdi. Here's how I assess our post players:
M Thomas > T Shelton (if healthy) > B White > B Carlwell > M Cheriet > A Williams
I firmly believe, from what I remember of Mehdi's game, that he is NOT a perimeter player and will not see time at SF. I think I remember him being outright ugly trying to dribble the ball on the wing. Not saying he all elbows and sloppy... just not a SF. Therefore, IMO he sits behind Thomas, Shelton, White, & Carlwell for playing time... which means very little PT if you ask me -- UNLESS something bad happens... like Tim's knees not holding up, then his minutes increase.
|
|
|
|
Post by pokinsky on Jul 16, 2010 13:33:54 GMT -8
Amoroso didn't dominate Neville. Neville's numbers were better head to head, and Neville forced us to double and triple the entire game putting our entire frontline in foul trouble. (Neville avg. almost 10 FT's per game against us). Neville was goofy and awkward but if we had Neville ... Cheriet and Carlwell would never get off the bench. I have to correct myself on the domination Pokinsky. Ammo at 6-8 250 merely played the 7-2 275 Neville even in all games and outplayed him a couple of games. Here are the stats (keep in mind that Ammo only played about 25 minutes a game and Luke "The Stiff" played around 35 a game). 2007/2008 Head to head... Ammo 10 points 8 boards Luke 12 points 8 boards Ammo 11 points 6 boards Luke 10 points 5 boards 2008/2009 Ammo 17 points 8 boards Luke 17 points 7 boards Ammo 3 points 8 boards Luke 12 points 3 boards Ammo 11 points 15 boards Luke 18 points 15 boards _______________________ Total head to head career... Ammo 52 points 45 boards Luke 69 points 38 boards A couple other important head to head stats over those 5 games ... Blocks: Ammo 1 Luke 11 Wins: Ammo 2 Luke 3 NCAA Bids: Ammo: 0 Luke 1 and you said we never doubled him, but that we collapsed on him (whats the difference)? Nevill was slow and awkward but effective. He struggled against Ammo's low center of gravity ... but he could a shot against him any time he wanted ... 3.bp.blogspot.com/_Fngei9VY1LM/SZ4eFCliOkI/AAAAAAAABsE/oWr9EoWuEiU/s400/68d07d8a-d92b-4b23-a545-c5209b37057c.jpg |
|
|
|
Post by monty on Jul 16, 2010 17:01:44 GMT -8
Ammo neutralized him, we had to do somethings to help out and get the ball out or make him go quick when he got great position, but Nevell didn't control the game on the offense end and Ammo played some of his better games - for what we needed and the overall team, Ammo was a + and Nevell was a -
|
|
