Quote: Dallas has always needed a big guy to play alongside of,....
Thank you for saying that, I hate it when people crap on Lauderdale because he's not very good on offense. His hustle and toughness inside is all we need. Everybody on the team is starting to learn there role early. We will be very tough to beat even for Sparty.
Great game, Candy. Ball movement was just crazy good for it being this early in season. Like to see Big Sully able to pass out of the post.
This group is loaded with talent, and also has the leadership (Lighty) that is needed to make a run in March. I have never been a big fan of Thad's coaching abilities. He has no excuses with this team. All the pieces are there. Let's see how they grow.
I am still concerned about our rebounding (as evidenced in 1st half)...
Yeah in terms of players knowing there role you can't ask for much better.
Bufford - Just a flat out scorer Diebler - Sharpshooter Lighty - Mr. Everything Sullinger - Inside pressence on offense Lauderdale - Inside pressence on defense
With the exception of Sullinger we have 4 very experienced guys starting. Lauderdale and Sullinger compliment each others playing styles extremelly well. Our bench is also nasty because we have Aaron Craft who can be very efficient at PG and help bufford rest. Deshaun thomas will give us points off the bench. As you guys saw tonight our best offensive line up was sullinger at C and thomas at PF. That's a good line up to have if you need to make a come back in a game. I have 2 concerns though. Our defense did a poor job communicating in the 1st half. 2nd we got out muscled for rebounds. I'll take it at this point early in the year.
imagine what happens when Sullinger rotates properly (I thought part of the problem on rebounds was he was constantly trying to figure out where he was supposed to be).
I am real excited about this team, but I always come back to Thad not being a good enough coach to win it all.
Obviously he is one of the best recruiters in the country, so I certainly do not want to replace him, but I just would like to see him grow in terms of game preparation and in game adjustments.
I think he's a very good coach. I like his system and his philosophy. His offense without Turner is extremelly balanced. I love how much we pass and feed it inside. Everytime florida pressured us we always found an open guy. That was either smart playing by our guys or excellent preperation.
However, if he can't win with this team I'm going to start to question him as a coach not a recruiter.
Louisville fans talking about losing only 4-6 games this year, and making the Final Four, because they beat #18 Butler last night, who everyone knows has no business in the Top 25, and are only there because of their finish last year.
If butler had heyward they'd be a national championship contender.
OSU lands another future stud big man in amir williams. It's insane how good Thad is at geting these guys. Oden, Koufous, Mullens, and now Sullinger. Granted Mullens was a bum, but still Matta is insane at recruiting period.
Quote: Williams is a high level talent that can score from about 12-15 feet and play above the rim. He has off the charts upside and as he learns to play with great energy and effort on a consistent basis his production will increase in scoring, rebounding and block shots. Williams can be as good as he desires.
Quote: Scott is a solid all around point guard that can make a team run very smooth. He has a nice mid range game but must work to extend his range. His instincts and decision making makes him special.
Quote: Thompson has the size, talent and skill to be productive in every game he plays. He can make plays off the dribble and his overall versatility makes him special. Added strength, consistent effort and an improved jumper take this young talented players game to the next level.
Quote: Ross is as talented and skilled as any player in the class of 2011 but until he learns to play hard on both ends of the floor and provide consistent production he will underachieve. If he becomes consistent than the future is very bright.
Quote: Great looking prospect that has worked hard and improved rapidly so far this summer. He can score, rebound enough to demand the defenses attention and has great upside definitely one of the class of 2011 post players that is on the rise.
Quote: McLemore, who used to play mostly inside for his high school team, is still developing his perimeter game, but is naturally gifted and should evolve into one of the premiere wings in the country. His time spent at Oak Hill Academy should not only improve his game by competing daily against excellent teammates, but should also help prepare him for the rigors of college basketball.
Well, probably no one else wanted them quite that bad ......
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I was pretty happy with the way the Terps hung right with the #5 Pitt Panthers last night.. played well but you can't go 14-30 from the foul line and then lose by 9... a good early season showing though...
Now Maryland gets a good Illinois team in the consolation game that is also coming off a tough loss to Texas.. hope for a good game.
Quote: and I'm prepared for all the smack talk I'll get from Candy
I busted out laughing after I read that
Can't believe brandon knight looked like an actual PG. Then again it was a weird night because Harrison barnes went like 0-13. That does bring me to my next point. The media and UNC fans overreacted to UNC signing him. One of the greatest freshman of all time? The first freshman to ever receive pre-season All-American honors? Placing an NIT team (who actually were the first team to make the NIT while being .500 or worse) that lost their best player to the NBA in the top 10 because of him? He's a very good player but come on
Seriously? Harrison Barnes? Come on, the kid is going to be good, but to put him on this list after 2 games, one of which includes an 0-12 shooting display
Seriously? Harrison Barnes? Come on, the kid is going to be good, but to put him on this list after 2 games, one of which includes an 0-12 shooting display
Is that the top 15 hyped incoming freshmen list? If not then it's a joke to have him on it... Kid has played like 2 games and he's one of the top 15 freshmen of all time, he's an all-American, freshman of the year, Naismith winner... hell give the kid the Heisman.
Seriously? Harrison Barnes? Come on, the kid is going to be good, but to put him on this list after 2 games, one of which includes an 0-12 shooting display
Is that the top 15 hyped incoming freshmen list? If not then it's a joke to have him on it... Kid has played like 2 games and he's one of the top 15 freshmen of all time, he's an all-American, freshman of the year, Naismith winner... hell give the kid the Heisman.
Did you guys read the accompanying notes? They didn't say Barnes was one of the greatest freshmen of all time, they just used him as a contemporary example of a good freshmen to introduce their list:
Quote: If he wants to be one of the best freshmen in NCAA history however, he has his work cut out for him. SI.com takes a look at the competition.
I'm looking forward to watching Isiah Washington rip through Kenuckys defense.
I probably just jynxed him now though
FYI OSU fans we play FSU on the 30th as part of the ACC vs. Big 10 challenge. I think the Big 10 could win it again this year. I really like there matchups.
Monday, November 29th Virginia @ Minnesota - Minny
Tuesday, November 30th North Carolina @ Illinois - Illinois Ohio State @ Florida State - OSU Michigan @ Clemson - Clemson Georgia Tech @ Northwestern - GA Tech Iowa @ Wake Forest - Wake
Wednesday, December 1st Michigan State @ Duke - MSU Purdue @ Virginia Tech - Purdue North Carolina State @ Wisconsin - Wisky Indiana @ Boston College - BC Maryland @ Penn State - Maryland
Interesting match up, UNC is young and will be unpredictable but an unranked Maryland team gave Illinois all they wanted.. so this one will be interesting.
Quote: Iowa @ Wake Forest - Wake
Wake Forest has lost to Stetson, Virginia Commonwealth and Winthrop.... You must not think much of Iowa..
I would predict that the Big 10 might win this by a comfortable margin.. and I'm typically an ACC homer.
Quote: Michigan State @ Duke - MSU
My disdain for Duke is well known but.. really? I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I think the Big 10 will win it without this one.
Quote: I'm looking forward to watching Isiah Washington rip through Kenuckys defense.
13 points on 4-14 shooting
I knew that was coming. I'm like Bill Simmons when it comes to this crap.
How about UConn beating Michigan State. Ranked number 2? So much for those garbage coach's polls.
You still think UConn is the 11th best team in the Big East?
PS: We'll see what you guys got TopDawg. I hope you don't rebound all over us the way you did against the wannabe Huskies out of Washington. I have a hard time believing we're going to beat you. While I think that Kemba Walker is better than anyone you have at this point, your big white boy is probably as good as our PF (Alex Oriaki) if not better, and your freshman are probably better than our freshman. But there's definitely something I like a lot more about this year's Conn team than last year's. Can't wait!
We beat a GOOD Washington team last night. That had the feel of like a Regional Final game. Unbelievable game last night.
Sorry Petey, but we are WAY better than UCONN this year, we SHOULD beat you handily. The only thing that worries me is we're playing our 4th game in 6 days, and we are only 7 deep.
I'm not worried about Kemba Walker. He'll get his points, sure, but he does NOT go for 25+ tonight, guaranteed. DeAndre Liggins is one of the top 5 defenders in the country. Just look at what he did to Isiah Thomas last night. I've been harder on Liggins during his time at Kentucky than I have on any player we've had, but I have nothing but good things to say about him now. A top defender, and just all around hustler.
Quote: You still think UConn is the 11th best team in the Big East?
Kemba Walker is a one man wrecking crew. However I'm still sticking to what I've said. If we're basing a season off of early games then Duke and OSU should just play eachother right now.
Why would you say Duke should play OSU right now based on early games?
Just saying...
Ohio State has beaten North Carolina A&T, UNC-Wilmington, and Morehead State. Then an overrated Florida team. (Sorry, but Florida is not that good. I let the "experts" talk me into believing the hype, but then I realized, they are a team that BARELY snuck into the tourney last year, and didn't really improve much).
Kentucky has beaten East Tennessee State (a tournament team from last year), Portland (a team who had wins over UCLA, Minnesota, Oregon, and Gonzaga last year), and #11 Washington.