What to look for today?

[FlyerShark]

I am going to the game today, but have not followed the team as closely as I used to. I know enough about Toppin, Crutcher and Mikesell, but little to nothing about all the other/new guys.

Any help would be appreciated! (And please, positive things only. Don't want a thread bashing any players.)

[Swampy Meadows]

I would look for good guard play from UD. Ibi Watson and Rodney Chatman can shoot the three and defend. It’ll be a good sign for the Flyers if C Jordy Tshimanga can get some PT. But what makes UD go is the chemistry between Obi and Jalen Crutcher.
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[Bill202]

Originally Posted by Swampy Meadows It’ll be a good sign for the Flyers if C Jordy Tshimanga can get some PT. Posted via Mobile Device

It'll be great to get him going before we go to Maui.

I'd like to see if Chase Johnson can begin to live up to expectations.

[frisco flyer]

Has jordy been practicing with the team? Full contact?

[Fudd]

I would like to see our guys search for someone to box out when the ball is put up for the shot. I noticed them shot-gazing while the other team finds lanes between them in the last game.

[ruechalgrin]

(1) On-ball defense (preventing easy passes, making shots difficult, and stopping the dribble drive);
(2) Weak-side help defense, when the on-ball defender is beat, good rotations to stop lay-ups and good rotations to close out shooters if stop ball;
(3) Rebounding including everyone boxing-out.
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[T-Bone 84]

Originally Posted by Fudd I would like to see our guys search for someone to box out when the ball is put up for the shot. I noticed them shot-gazing while the other team finds lanes between them in the last game.

I noticed that last Saturday myself. Very frustrating for a guy like me, whose only way into any game was to snag rebounds and play post defense.
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[shocka43]

Don't allow dribble penetration...that's what needs to happen for everything else to come together.

[OSU Flyer]

Ibi Watson on the defensive end

[cj]

Originally Posted by Bill202 It'll be great to get him going before we go to Maui. I'd like to see if Chase Johnson can begin to live up to expectations.

After 1 game? Give it some time.
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[Bill202]

Originally Posted by FlyerShark I am going to the game today, but have not followed the team as closely as I used to. I know enough about Toppin, Crutcher and Mikesell, but little to nothing about all the other/new guys.

Now that you've seen them, what did you take away?

[maddog07]

Originally Posted by OSU Flyer Ibi Watson on the defensive end

And does Ibi have any ability to penetrate, or is he just an outside shooter?
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[jack72]

Some guys start off as gangbusters their first game, like Marcus Johnson or Mikesell. Others, and most, start out slowly, like Crutcher or Landers. Sibert was 5-21 with 18 points total his first two games. We need to all give Chris and Ibi at least a dozen games to see what they can do.

Chris looked more relaxed yesterday, but Ibi still looked tight as a drum. In any sport you have to be relaxed, and as they say, it has to slow down for you.

[ruechalgrin]

Ibi will be fine. His defense was materially better in game 2 than game 1. He is 3/7 from 3pt or 43%, I would like him to shoot more.
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[momszer]

Who is Chris? Do you mean Chase?

[Swampy Meadows]

Originally Posted by jack72 Chris looked more relaxed yesterday, but Ibi still looked tight as a drum. In any sport you have to be relaxed, and as they say, it has to slow down for you.

You aren't the only one who has referred to Johnson as "Chris"--the PBP guy filling in for Bucky did the same thing several times last night.

[San Diego Flyer]

Originally Posted by Bill202 It'll be great to get him going before we go to Maui. I'd like to see if Chase Johnson can begin to live up to expectations.

Chase has already lived up to my expectations. He is an agile 6'9". He got released early by the NCAA. He is embracing his role as a sub with a great attitude and could start for a lot of teams. And now that he is healthy, Florida would like him back.

[Fudd]

I thought that the Coach Grant's comments in the post-game presser were interesting. When talking about the team development, he mentioned that some of these guys rarely get to play together, even in practice (Crutcher and Chatman was his example). They are normally pitted against each other in practice squads. I think we will be about 10 games into the season before we see our team play gelling, if it does gel.

Right now, I don't see a commitment to defense and rebounding like we will need to take down the big dogs. Hopefully that will develop. Jordy can't hurt our rebounding toughness.

[Don]

Originally Posted by San Diego Flyer Chase has already lived up to my expectations. He is an agile 6'9". He got released early by the NCAA. He is embracing his role as a sub with a great attitude and could start for a lot of teams. And now that he is healthy, Florida would like him back.

Yes, he could start for a lot of teams.....there are around 250 teams that are below the top 100. I will give him more time, but have not yet been impressed. Will gladly upgrade my appraisal when justified. At least he has understood that when he gets underneath it has to be slammed home, not laid gently off the glass where leapers reject them. He doesn't look quick enough to compete with good big men. I guess my expectations were too high after hearing all the pre-season hype.
For that matter, Ibi has a ways to go to live up to the pre-season hype too.
I certainly hope Jordy is as good as hyped.

[Monster Man]

Originally Posted by Don Yes, he could start for a lot of teams.....there are around 250 teams that are below the top 100. I will give him more time, but have not yet been impressed. Will gladly upgrade my appraisal when justified. At least he has understood that when he gets underneath it has to be slammed home, not laid gently off the glass where leapers reject them. He doesn't look quick enough to compete with good big men. I guess my expectations were too high after hearing all the pre-season hype. For that matter, Ibi has a ways to go to live up to the pre-season hype too. I certainly hope Jordy is as good as hyped.

Wow! That’s quite the assessment after two games. Chase has barely played college basketball. Essentially, he’s still in his freshman season. What’s with the quick-to-judge, knee jerk reaction from some so-called Flyer fans? Ridiculous

[ClaytonFlyerFan]

Did you find the secret half price beer stand?

[Chris R]

Ten days ago Ibi Watson was the second coming of Jesus after leading us in scoring and draining triples from long range. Now he's an overrated washed up transfer. I suspect in another 10 days he will be the second coming again.

Fans have an attention span of about 2 weeks. This is not an indictment on this forum, but sports fans in general.

Chase hasnt played basketball in 2+ seasons. He's two games into his UD career. I think the kid needs more time for a proper evaluation.

If you saw Keith Waleskowski in the frosh Red/Blue game, you would have wondered what Oliver Purnell was smoking when he offered him a scholarship. It may have been the worst performance by a scholarship player Ive ever seen. Slow and white didnt come close to encapsulating how overwhelmed and out of place he looked. Maurice Beyina looked more promising. Things can and do often change however if you give the cake mix time to rise. Some show up on Day 1 and are halfway there to a finished product. Other guys need 5-10 games under their belt to find their place. Still others need a year or two, and others never find what they are looking for altogether.

Two games is not enough of a data set to measure anything empirical. Let's see what these guys look like in mid-January. And its not like we need Ibi to suddenly become a 15ppg scorer. We're scoring in the 80s and 90s without trouble. We're getting points from many guys without trouble. His night will come. There are only so many possessions and shots in a game. And the number for each guy will dwindle once Jordy is on the court too.

Other than Obi, I think the rest of the scoring will be very sporatic all year. Mikesell, Jalen, Trey, Rodney etc will get 15 one night, then 4 the next, then 13, 17, then 4. All that matters is enough hot hands are hot on any given night and we seem to have enough bodies to give ourselves an honest chance at making that happen.

[flybye]

Chris, agree. This is a very talented roster. Some shaking off the rust and team learning each other. The key is Anthony and the staff. Can they tap the potential of this very strong group and more importantly can they instill a toughness and defensive mentality. Team needs to buy in to what he wants. If this team decides to play defense they are sweet sixteen candidate. After the too games thus far we have heard from our two best players...Jalen said after ISU “ we let up on defense” and last nite Obi said” we have not bought into what coach wants on defense” . It’s early and I hope fixable, but clearly a carryover of the last two years. Let’s hope to see more intensity for 40 min Tuesday and carry that to Maui.

[Alberto Strasse]

are newbies to Flyer basketball. Give them a chance to get their bearings in a completely new environment. They are both very talented players who will make us proud before their work is done. This team will jell given time.

[Bill202]

Originally Posted by Chris R Chase hasnt played basketball in 2+ seasons. He's two games into his UD career. I think the kid needs more time for a proper evaluation. All that matters is enough hot hands are hot on any given night and we seem to have enough bodies to give ourselves an honest chance at making that happen.

On Chase, I agree, which I noted him as someone to watch. He has a lot of real-game rust to remove.

It'll be up to AG to determine who is playing the defense and having the hot hand in each game. Unlike his previous seasons, he has more guns in the arsenal.

[shwag33]

2 weeks? You give fans waaaay too much credit.

[The Fly]

Originally Posted by shwag33 2 weeks? You give fans waaaay too much credit.

Agree. More like two halves.

[OSU Flyer]

Chase's injuries cost a lot of practice time at Florida. He's got more ring rust than your usual transfer

People look at the scoring with Ibi but with his athleticism/size he's got the ability to really help on the defensive end.

Mato and Cohill are too limited offensively right now but my hope was that Ibi could take the roll of being the defensive stopper.

[Glen Clark]

I remember when Devin Oliver was the weakest player of five incoming freshmen - and god forbid he should launch a three!

_____________________
Whether your glass is half full or half empty, you still have more to drink

[sheg]

Chase Johnson had played a grand total of 45 minutes of D1 hoops before the ISU game tipped off. Ibi Watson had played a grand total of 219 (UM played 79 games those two years, that's less than 3 mpg). Both had played zero minutes of real games with their teammates.

I'll give them a few more games before I start to panic.

[shocka43]

Originally Posted by The Fly Agree. More like two halves.

Two media timeouts...go re-read a game thread lol.

[shocka43]

Originally Posted by Glen Clark I remember when Devin Oliver was the weakest player of five incoming freshmen - and god forbid he should launch a three! _____________________ Whether your glass is half full or half empty, you still have more to drink

And he quickly became a top 15-20 player for many on here...