Exhibition Game Sunday - St Martins

[Rich Lewis]

Never saw Franks as timid. First half he started Franks, Flynn, Daniels, Pollard and Hinson. Second half Acquaah replaced Hinson in starting lineup. Franks and Flynn are sure starters. Beyond that who knows. At this point I liked Langston a lot more than Skaggs. Hard to tell though. Like someone said above Skaggs looks sloooow. I don't think he even took a shot. Guess you're talking about Mickelson. He did not play. Neither did Ergas. Mickelson might be a redshirt. They don't need another point.

 

[SaveFerris]

Stats doesn't show Skaggs taking a shot. It does show Pollard taking a 3? Maybe with the clock winding down or something.

I would think Daniels getting the start is driven by Acquaah's shooting more than anything. Too bad on Skaggs and Chidom. Chidom was always a project so still hold out hope but maybe it will take a couple years.

 

[avabob11]

Chidum has enough skills at 6-9 that you can't give up on him, but I don't see us getting much from him this year.

I want to see Acquaah shoot some more. Really awkward looking with a very high release from over his head. He tried two from the corner early in the first half and they weren't close, but he has the same stroke on his free throws and he was 11-16 with most of the misses rim rattlers. If he can knock down enough to keep defenses honest it will really help him getting to the rim.

 

[ElComanche]

Interesting Kent aid that Chidom played a lot better the second half? His stats do not look bad for the game.I never really held out much hope for Skaggs as his scholarship seemed almost an afterthought. This early in the season,i think that Daniels experience is the reason for him starting and that will change as the season progresses.Somehow i think that Kent feels that Chidom will get his minutes. Maybe it was jitters due to inexperience? I did not see the game so i am only speculating

 

[avabob11]

I dont think Chidum played more than about 10 minutes total. I see some upside, just have a feeling we won't see much this year. Hinson development is a key, assuming Bernstein steps right into being able to contribute. Hinson is a big strong 6-4 guy who looks like a player. Nice left handed stroke.

 

[SaveFerris]

As much as I was looking forward to Robbie Cowgill his first game I have to admit I was a bit concerned until seeing him a few more times. He seemed a bit awkward and was a light 190. I'm not saying we get the same player in Chidom because I don't see the quickness but it's not unusual for some nerves the first few times on the floor in limited playing time. Agree though that we shouldn't expect too much this year.

On the other hand we definitely need Hinson to become a prominent player and desperately need him to knock down 3s. Both Acquaah and Hinson look physical and should help us a lot from that standpoint. Hope the upper body size hasn't hurt their shooting though.

It was good to see a slimmer and stronger looking Franks as well.

 

[YakiCoug]

As much as I was looking forward to Robbie Cowgill his first game I have to admit I was a bit concerned until seeing him a few more times. He seemed a bit awkward and was a light 190. I'm not saying we get the same player in Chidom because I don't see the quickness but it's not unusual for some nerves the first few times on the floor in limited playing time. Agree though that we shouldn't expect too much this year.

On the other hand we definitely need Hinson to become a prominent player and desperately need him to knock down 3s. Both Acquaah and Hinson look physical and should help us a lot from that standpoint. Hope the upper body size hasn't hurt their shooting though.

It was good to see a slimmer and stronger looking Franks as well.

Still too early to say anything about this team.

 

[avabob11]

At least it is pretty apparent Acquaah is the real deal.

 

[SaveFerris]

I do think we can put an interesting team on the floor once Bernstine is back. Acquaah, Hinson, and Bernstine sound pretty physical and athletic with 2 of the 3 being scorers and Flynn and Franks both can shoot and Franks is in much better condition. No idea whether it competes but that group should be able to defend, rebound, and score.

 

[gazooks2]

I am optimistic about this team What i liked most about the film clips was the sharing of the ball and players making the extra pass. I also liked Acquaah driving in under control to the basket.

 

[avabob11]

That's the lineup I hope can jell. Pollard off the bench at a post and Daniels at a guard spot is a good start. I font see a lot of depth but more quality 1 thru 7. Cooper may be okay too.

 

[ElComanche]

I think that they have about 8 solid players. Cooper will be a big help against bigger teams and with basket defense..Eight players is what most teams count on and rotate through the eight during the season.I am disappointed for Ergas as i thought he would be able to help this year.

 

[avabob11]

Not sure what happened with Ergas. He didn't play and I have heard nothing about his status

 

[ElComanche]

One cannot make many assumptions based on one game. But it does give hope that the team will be improved this year.. It will be interesting to see how things look after about 4-5 games into the season. Cooper will be back and Bernstine should be ready for spot duty at that time if all goes well.

 

[avabob11]

I predicted a couple months ago that Franks might be a 12 and 7 type producer this year. If Franks can do that, and Bernstein can approach 10 and 7 we have replaced our front line rebounding and most of the scoring from last year. Also improved the defense significantly.

 

[gazooks2]

I agree and the athleticism and teamwork will be significantly better this year.The size will be the same or better as the wings are much bigger than last year.I still have hope for Arinze and i note that he had 3 rbs in only 8 minutes of action. He is one to keep an eye out for as he is skilled.,long, athletic, and has a solid overall game. Perhaps he may contribute this year.

 

[ElComanche]

The Sunday game will give fans more of an idea of what to expect this year

 

[jourdand]

One exhibition game in makes it really hard to judge a team but to me it brought more fear for the upcoming season than it did optimism. Ergas didn’t play so he is either injured or still not up to par. Chidom played sparingly so potential or not he is not going to be the answer/ contributor we were hoping for. Bernstein would have to move from the Big Sky conference and improve his numbers in the PAC 12 in order to be a 10 and 7 guy, possible but not very probable. He was a good Big Sky player that if we are lucky will translate to an average PAC 12 player. Not sure if Cooper is injured but in practice he looked far from ready. Acquaah and Flynn will make for a very good back court once they figure out how to compliment each other and excited for Hinson to continue to improve as the season goes along. We struggled and were down at half to a D11 school who was 17-13 last year not sure I’m happy with that but it’s better than loosing to a D 11 school. Franks was a bright spot which is a big plus in my book because I’ve never been as high on him as others if he can score and rebound consistently it will go along way in helping the talented back court.

I’m holding final judgement out for awhile but I don’t see this team as better than last years team but we will know more in a month.

My rotation by PAC 12 play
1 Flynn
2 Acquaah
3 Hinson
4 Franks
5 Pollard/ Bernstein

Daniels first guard off the bench with either Pollard or Bernstein being first big off the bench. Cooper might see time if for no other reason than to give some fouls.

 

[ElComanche]

i really think that you are undervaluing Bernstine. but ,of course,we tend to disagree . I think that the team will be far better than last years team. As you say.we will know in time. but your evaluation is worse than the little guy on the other board..I will make a judgement very early and say this team will be fun to watch

 

[avabob11]

Funny how two guys can see the same thing with different interpretations. I wasn't expecting much out of either Ergas ir Chidum this year. I think a player like Bernstein can be a very solid contributor going from Big Sky to PAC 12. Agree totally on Flynn and Acquaah. As for Franks It may have just been an exhibition game, but 32 and 10 is impressive against any caliber opponent. Maybe I will be wrong but I have been predicting a major blow up year for him all along, and Sunday didn't do anything to dampen those expectations

I know it will still be about whether this group can jell, but I like the key pieces that I was expecting to contribute really well.

 

[ElComanche]

Thats sports. So either one of us can say" i told you so" before the year is about half over.It just seems to me that a few posters would just ike to see Ernie go. That will not happen for a few years so they will have to grin and bear it.We will have to see how Franks does when a top defensive player guards him

 

[7ICoug]

Yeah we will grin and bear it just like you did with the previous Coach. Ha.

 

[jourdand]

Like mentioned 32 and 10 is impressive no matter who it’s against. I don’t think I’m undervaluing Bernstine just not overvaluing him. Getting our first grad transfer is a big step and getting one who will contribute makes it that much better. But from watching him play he is a close to the basket player and at 6-8 220 that is going to be undersized for the PAC 12. He is not overly athletic or overly skilled just a hard nose player who turns the ball over quite a bit. He is a good pick up and will play solid minutes and possibly start but how often do people on this board bad mouth players by saying they are “Big Sky type players” and how many times have we heard that we don’t want coaches out of the Big Sky because the league sucks? Just saying he didn’t make the all Big Sky teams that went three deep. So that doesn’t make me confident he will be anything more than an average PAC 12 player.

 

[ElComanche]

Hmm Ernie calls Bernstine an extremely athletic and talented player. Perhaps mere of Kent s known hyperbole? I really have seen him play against Arizona s big front line and he played them off their feet. He was quicker and played very aggressively that game and had his team in the lead for a good part of the game.

 

[SaveFerris]

Ernie exaggerates most of the time but it's not like we don't need what jourdand described in his post. If he's healthy he will definitely help.

 

[avabob11]

I have no idea what to expect from Bernstein. He be as a borderline double figure scorer and had solid rebounding numbers in the Big Sky. I don't discount that level of hoops as much as some people, and his performance against AZ was impressive.
My guess is he starts and puts up similar numbers to his big sky average for us.

 

[ElComanche]

I see Bernstine as a high energy type of guy who can help a team with his enthusiasm,hustle and ability to make the big play. He has athletic ability and can sky and make defensive stops. Bernstine played very well against Arizona . I read where he had games with doubles in points,rebounds and assists. The unselfish, high energy type of play, was absolutely what was missing from last years' team. It is energy with a purpose as Bernstine has a high basketball IQ. Pollard is the same type and he was not at the top of his game last year.Every team needs guys like them and both will definitely help. Cooper with his size and athletic ability will help the team as a shot blocker. Cooper is not a stiff whom a coach puts out there just to clumsily foul another team's best player. This team has more upside than what others are predicting..