Basketball trivia

[SaveFerris]

Pollard's not going to become a shooter or a scorer but he needs to be able to at least finish around the rim. I'm also hoping he continues to go to the jump hook he was using a bit last season but that's going to take time as well.

 

[avabob1]

I hope he can become a high energy Rob Corkrum

 

[avabob1]

I know I harp on 3 point shooting, and admittedly I have a bias since I have loved long range shooters since before the 3 point line. However in today's game the 3 point shot is the great equalizer, and will become even more so as teams like Golden State set the tone for the college game as well as the pro game.

You need to have 3 real good shooters on the floor and you can compete, even without the 4 star athletes.

 

[ElComanche]

I agree and know that the cougs will be improved in many facets of the game However,.i wonder if two or three guys will separate themselves from the pack and become the scorers.on this team. I also think that Pollard has a much better jump shot then he is being credited for. I watched him a couple of times in prep school and he displayed a good mid range jump shot. i wonder where it went?

 

[avabob1]

Flynn, Franks, Daniels, Hinson, Chidum all have good looking jumpers. Skaggs can shoot if he can compete athletically. Haven't seen Acquaah shoot, but he is reputedly a scorer. Also have no idea what kind of shooter Bernstein is.

 

[jourdand]

Pollard has a very solid mid range jump shot but scoring was not his role last year. I believe he will have a breakout year this season. Franks will fill a spot this year but Pollard is a better all around player than Franks except for rebounding. I was disappointed with Pollards rebounding last year.

 

[ElComanche]

I think that Pollard s bout with mono had a big impact on his stamina and conditioning and that his rebounding will be much better this year. i have read avabob s comments on Pollard s jump shot and wondered why he thinks that Pollard cannot shoot a jumper? I have also read jourdand s criticism of Frank s footwork and other aspects of his game. One wonders why there is such a split by fans on their respective abilities?I hope that both players have good years and that they have both improved their game.

 

[SaveFerris]

Pollard had trouble finishing at the rim last year but it was his first year. He will improve his game but I don't think he has the skill of a Corkrum (will never forget that game against Stanford/Adam Keefe!). I'm hoping for a Critton. A banger who rebounds/defends, can score with his back to the basket, and a good garbage guy. If he can find a mid-range game then great! He seems like a smart kid, gives good effort, and hopefully has the work-ethic so I would expect him to improve a lot over the next 2 years.

 

[avabob1]

Watch Pollards touch on distance. He has been well coached in mechanics, but if you look at his touch he does not have a feel for distance. You can see it even more so in his free throw shooting. Maybe I am wrong and he will improve, but normally touch is something you are born with and comes naturally with repetition. See Marcus Capers. Nobody worked harder on his shooting at WSU.

 

[SaveFerris]

Watch Pollards touch on distance. He has been well coached in mechanics, but if you look at his touch he does not have a feel for distance. You can see it even more so in his free throw shooting. Maybe I am wrong and he will improve, but normally touch is something you are born with and comes naturally with repetition. See Marcus Capers. Nobody worked harder on his shooting at WSU.

You have a point if you compare Capers to a Kyle Weaver or even Mike Bush with the latter 2 who seemed to have better "touch" from the start even when they were clanking shots early in their career. Both became good out to 3.

As a former "clanker" for most of my high school years (level difference withstanding) I really believe almost anyone can improve their shooting if they go about it the right way. Doesn't mean they become Klay Thompson or Eddie Hill but I think you can become at least competent in most cases. Weaver/Bush at WSU. Magic Johnson was always a great talent but became a solid 3-point shooter at the pro level. Again, I'm not saying Larry Bird, Steph (or Dell) Curry but a lot better.

I have always wondered what some players are doing to improve their shooting?

 

[ElComanche]

I decided at look at last s year s stats. They are interesting . Franks averaged 16.4 mins,had a ,FGP 44%, and a FTP 732% .He scored 3. 3 pts, and had 6.3 rbs per game. Pollard played 8.5 mins ,shot 47.2 ,FTP 625 and averaged 1.8 rbs and 1.8 pts per game I also cherry picked out V Daniel s Stats. He surprisingly played 17.1 mins per game ,had a .400 FGP and shot only...500 FTP. He also shot 36 % from 3 pt land.

 

[ElComanche]

On the recruiting front,.Shaq Carter a 6'9 240 juco from Fla will visit the cougs on 9/2. He just visited Rutgers and will also visit Xavier.next month.

 

[ElComanche]

Other news Ike I is now in camp with a team from Nigeria. Oregon State just recently offered Aguir Agau a 6'6 SG whom the cougs offered in June.

 

[ElComanche]

Other news Brandon Clarke has committed to Gonzaga. Aguir Agur recevied an off fer from Tulane. The cougs identified him early but now others have joined the chase for the 6'6 guard

 

[ElComanche]

It is less than a month before basketball season officially opens.That was fast The big question will soon be answered. Will WSU, with a collection of " No Names" players have a successful above .500 season? The staff has assembled a group of players who are long lean,athletic basketball players. The players are not highly rated but all seem to have "potential" So did the staff do a very good job in evaluating under rated talent or did they settle for the bottom of the heap players as many fans obviously think?The question will be answered within a months time. I think that the cougs will have a good season and believe that the cougs did a good job of finding good players who will fit the style of play which Kent wants to play.The program has to win games and have a good season, This has to happen before they can successfully recruit the more highly rated players whom fans have been clamoring for.

 

[ElComanche]

Eli Abaev 6'8-205 juco PF from Fla is visiting the cougs this weekend he averaged 7.4 rbs per game to lead his team He is the teammate of 6'9 Shaq Carter who will also be visiting the cougs this weekend

 

[ElComanche]

Eli Abaev averaged 4.8 pts and 7.4 rbs per game while averaging 19.4 mins played per game he shot .598 FGP and 50 % from 3 pt land (5-10) and 49% FTP .The videos show an active player who can run the floor,put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket He can also run the fast break and shows good all around skills One would assume that his stats will be better this year.I would assume that the cougs can land him if they really want him and they have already offered.