JonforOSU
02-23-2010, 10:04 PM
Board seems a little dead lately. Busy time of year for everyone I'm sure. I'll try to stir it up a bit
How about how Travis Ford is leading this young team to a NCAA tourney?
He's going to earn 2 consecutive trips in his first two years at the helms? Barring a complete breakdown. Don't worry, I just knocked on wood. It's obvious that this was a homerun hire for Holder.
Keiton Page has stepped it up. He always plays better off the ball. IMO, leave Gulley in there and if you have to bring the ball up with Page and then dish it off to Gulley to start the offense, then so be it. Page needs to be out on the wing or up top all the time. Minimal screens and using his quickness to get open. If he could work on a shot fake, drive in jumper it would be another dimension to his game that could be a huge advantage.
Ray Penn and Fred Gulley look great for the future. I think Gulley will gain confidence in his offense at some point this year. The increased playing time with Penn being out will help and his defense is an asset period. Penn looked good too. I've told some friends, that he was playing better than Eaton when he was a freshman.
The Pilgrim and Moses drama seems to have settled. Pilgrim is playing well and Moses knows his role and plays it well when he doesn't think too much. They are a good one two punch down low. Pilgrim has some basketball IQ, he knows where to be and how the offense is flowing. He plays solid defense and is shot block threat down low. He leads Moses by 7 blocks, and Pilgrim has played in less games than Moses by 1 game. So it was a wise move for Ford to start playing Pilgrim more. Much to Moses shagrin, he didn't like that. So? He's learned to play his role, which is a pretty big role for this team. He rebounds well, has a decent game down low, and plays good defense.
Moving on.
Nicks a level headed player who plays great D, rebounds, is a threat on the wing, takes care of the ball, and can pass. I'm glad he's healthy. He's got another year and I think he can be the same type of player off the bench that he is now, but a year improved.
I'm still looking to see these bigs play more. I know we have two good inside players in Moses and Matt. But Ford already throws Dowell, Franklin, and Gulley in for some minutes, why not the bigs as well? Why does every basketball player over 6-9 turn into a "project" the minute he crosses the Payne county line? Maybe they need more girth to them? Who knows. I think they need more minutes
Obi once again is the X factor this year. I think he relishes that roll and loves being the leader, the guy who is gonna keep the team together, all the while being blazing hot behind the arc this season at 45% and 44% from the field. Dude needs to start makin free ones though. Obi's play down the stretch will be crucial not only to making the dance, but also how far we go once we get there.
James Anderson is a lottery. Period. Take a look at the draft this year. He's gotta be in the top 10. My opinion. I'm biased as hell, but his numbers and impact on every single game justify my bias. I hope he gets the hype he deserves. He's exactly what you want in basketball player.
That is all.
How about how Travis Ford is leading this young team to a NCAA tourney?
He's going to earn 2 consecutive trips in his first two years at the helms? Barring a complete breakdown. Don't worry, I just knocked on wood. It's obvious that this was a homerun hire for Holder.
Keiton Page has stepped it up. He always plays better off the ball. IMO, leave Gulley in there and if you have to bring the ball up with Page and then dish it off to Gulley to start the offense, then so be it. Page needs to be out on the wing or up top all the time. Minimal screens and using his quickness to get open. If he could work on a shot fake, drive in jumper it would be another dimension to his game that could be a huge advantage.
Ray Penn and Fred Gulley look great for the future. I think Gulley will gain confidence in his offense at some point this year. The increased playing time with Penn being out will help and his defense is an asset period. Penn looked good too. I've told some friends, that he was playing better than Eaton when he was a freshman.
The Pilgrim and Moses drama seems to have settled. Pilgrim is playing well and Moses knows his role and plays it well when he doesn't think too much. They are a good one two punch down low. Pilgrim has some basketball IQ, he knows where to be and how the offense is flowing. He plays solid defense and is shot block threat down low. He leads Moses by 7 blocks, and Pilgrim has played in less games than Moses by 1 game. So it was a wise move for Ford to start playing Pilgrim more. Much to Moses shagrin, he didn't like that. So? He's learned to play his role, which is a pretty big role for this team. He rebounds well, has a decent game down low, and plays good defense.
Moving on.
Nicks a level headed player who plays great D, rebounds, is a threat on the wing, takes care of the ball, and can pass. I'm glad he's healthy. He's got another year and I think he can be the same type of player off the bench that he is now, but a year improved.
I'm still looking to see these bigs play more. I know we have two good inside players in Moses and Matt. But Ford already throws Dowell, Franklin, and Gulley in for some minutes, why not the bigs as well? Why does every basketball player over 6-9 turn into a "project" the minute he crosses the Payne county line? Maybe they need more girth to them? Who knows. I think they need more minutes
Obi once again is the X factor this year. I think he relishes that roll and loves being the leader, the guy who is gonna keep the team together, all the while being blazing hot behind the arc this season at 45% and 44% from the field. Dude needs to start makin free ones though. Obi's play down the stretch will be crucial not only to making the dance, but also how far we go once we get there.
James Anderson is a lottery. Period. Take a look at the draft this year. He's gotta be in the top 10. My opinion. I'm biased as hell, but his numbers and impact on every single game justify my bias. I hope he gets the hype he deserves. He's exactly what you want in basketball player.
That is all.