for big time basketball. Observations, Hawkinson still cannot play good defense. He was badly outplayed by Witljer He may have been pressing too much. The team is progressing buy was not ready for a big time team. The new comers are also pressing but will get better as they relax and adjust to big time basketball.. Why Kent tried Boese is beyond me. He will probably make a good coach but is a D111 basketball player.The team will get much batter as the season rolls along.
Not quite ready..
- Thread starter ElComanche
- Start date
congrats to the cougs thus far this season overachieving expectations within the pac 12, played the zags tough
http://bearinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?62260-cal-s-monster-class/page584
http://bearinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?62260-cal-s-monster-class/page584
I liked some individual things, but overall the play was very uneven. Hawk was in foul trouble and out of sync the whole game. Ike was too out of control but had some moments. Actually likes Callisons play for the most part, and Izundu is going to fun to watch this year. Really liked seeing Q get some shots to drop and be aggressive on O, and D.....well, work in progress. We really need more shooters that can knock down open shots/ transition 3s. I like the athleticism and think it gets better as the team understands their roles more.
Saw a lot to like last night, but the issues that exist go well beyond the 3 minutes Boese played. Predictable that El C would single him out but nobody is arguing that he should get more playing time. But of the players who should be playing, Callison impressed, Suggs had a poor game, Daniels didn't do much but he's a freshman, Izundu makes a big difference on defense, and Connor...although having some nice low post moves....is one of the most out of shape players I've seen in a long time. 3 trips down the floor and he was winded and needed a blow. Wonder how he moved when he was 30 pounds heavier last year?
The team has potential and I really liked the effort.
Glad Cougar
The team has potential and I really liked the effort.
Glad Cougar
Agree with Glad on how players looked last night. I anticipated a blowout for GU because we haven't played anyone, 7 new players, GU is talented, etc. Started that way but we didn't quit and were able to get back in it at the end of each half.
Que was the highlight for me. He took 1 or 2 horrid shots but in general made good decisions and kept us in the game. We needed him on the floor. He's one of the few players that can create good shots and knocks them down. I thought he had a good overall game and we need him to build from it and take off.
Longrus was the next highlight. He also kept us in the game with his defense on Wiltjer. Longrus was able to get up into Wiltjer and basically shut him down. I wanted to see Hawkinson matchup with Wiljer and I got my wish. That was a bad matchup for Hawkinson and he never found his game.
You could see signs of Callison taking over the point but he still has a long ways to go. Redding had some good moments but provides little offense. Ike had a pretty poor game last night. He started the season playing more under control and efficient but for whatever reason he tried to do too much last night. Typical game from Suggs so far. Maybe thinking too much early on but he looks to have more potential than he shown so far.
Somewhat of a mixed bag with the "bigs". The injury to Hawkinson might be holding him back still (???). He just didn't seem like himself although there was a sequence when he defended Sabonis that was one of his best moments in the game.
Clifford will continue to improve as he gets in better shape. I thought he got away with some body fouls but it was good to see him able to score at times against GU. I still think he needs an offseason to work on his body both fitness and strength but we need him to play into better shape. Like most of the roster he has a long ways to go,
Izundu needs to slow down a bit and hopefully can develop a post move he can score with beyond dunking. He wasn't able to get the easy dunks against a team the caliber of GU. He's a fun watch but he's not a complete post.
Que was the highlight for me. He took 1 or 2 horrid shots but in general made good decisions and kept us in the game. We needed him on the floor. He's one of the few players that can create good shots and knocks them down. I thought he had a good overall game and we need him to build from it and take off.
Longrus was the next highlight. He also kept us in the game with his defense on Wiltjer. Longrus was able to get up into Wiltjer and basically shut him down. I wanted to see Hawkinson matchup with Wiljer and I got my wish. That was a bad matchup for Hawkinson and he never found his game.
You could see signs of Callison taking over the point but he still has a long ways to go. Redding had some good moments but provides little offense. Ike had a pretty poor game last night. He started the season playing more under control and efficient but for whatever reason he tried to do too much last night. Typical game from Suggs so far. Maybe thinking too much early on but he looks to have more potential than he shown so far.
Somewhat of a mixed bag with the "bigs". The injury to Hawkinson might be holding him back still (???). He just didn't seem like himself although there was a sequence when he defended Sabonis that was one of his best moments in the game.
Clifford will continue to improve as he gets in better shape. I thought he got away with some body fouls but it was good to see him able to score at times against GU. I still think he needs an offseason to work on his body both fitness and strength but we need him to play into better shape. Like most of the roster he has a long ways to go,
Izundu needs to slow down a bit and hopefully can develop a post move he can score with beyond dunking. He wasn't able to get the easy dunks against a team the caliber of GU. He's a fun watch but he's not a complete post.
.The team had some bright spots.The adage"be quick but don t hurry applies to this team, The newcomers will only get better as the game slows down for them.The team kept battling back and showed promise. Hawkinson let his head play mind games as he kept trying to match up rather than just play his game.. Kent needs to shorten his rotations a bit and quit playing some players in hopes that they may be able to help.He needs to permanently bench a couple of players and play about 8 players extensively.The talent is there for the cougs to become a very good team.
Just curious....obviously we know about Boese. But what other players should Kent quit playing?
Glad Cougar
I look at this team as a work in progress! Yes I understand all teams are a work in progress, but with so many new players I think coach has taken the approach of getting real good at one thing before moving on to the next thing. First he focused on the up tempo fact break style he wants to play and he has gotten it where it needs to be. second came defense and while several players still have trouble it seems to be coming around. Hopefully the next phase to work on will be scoring out of half court sets. I was never a Bone hater but it was frustrating watching many of his teams struggle in the half court game. It was similarly frustrating last night watching how inept our half court offense was when we played a team of caliber. The only real difference was now we have players a little more capable of making tough shots because of they are more athletic. I think there were possitives and negatives last night but I feel in gneral this team is heading in the exact right direction.
A s far as Boese goes, he is not hitting his shots or for that matter taking his shots when they are presented. He missed his shot last night By a mile. (i'm sure he didn't want to take it but shot clock was running down) But he didn't hurt us at all. In 4 mins he had 1 assist and 1 steal 0 turn-overs, and I don't remember anybody scoring on him. He will not play real minutes if he doesn't start hitting his shots, he just doesn't bring enough other things to the table. I will almost be glad when he graduates just so ELs posts which often are intelligent and well thought out aren't ruined by what I can only discribe as hatred. I don't know why he hates Boese there are other Bone leftovers still on the team he seems fine with. Maybe Boese didn't call his sister for a second date.......
A s far as Boese goes, he is not hitting his shots or for that matter taking his shots when they are presented. He missed his shot last night By a mile. (i'm sure he didn't want to take it but shot clock was running down) But he didn't hurt us at all. In 4 mins he had 1 assist and 1 steal 0 turn-overs, and I don't remember anybody scoring on him. He will not play real minutes if he doesn't start hitting his shots, he just doesn't bring enough other things to the table. I will almost be glad when he graduates just so ELs posts which often are intelligent and well thought out aren't ruined by what I can only discribe as hatred. I don't know why he hates Boese there are other Bone leftovers still on the team he seems fine with. Maybe Boese didn't call his sister for a second date.......
We all know the value Boese brings to the table is 3-point shooting. That's why Kent went to him last night because other than Que nobody was forcing GU to defend the perimeter. The shot Boese took last night was awful and looked more like a pass than a shot. When he does get a few minutes he seems to play tight for whatever reason this season. Hopefully that changes because when he's on he's valuable off the bench.
We are definitely a work in progress. Que and Callison remain my 2 keys to the season but we need a healthy Hawkinson and a dialed back Ike. We also haven't seen Suggs play as well as he ultimately will over time. That's what this team needs is time playing individually, together, and in Kent's system. I think we have the potential to become a solid team but lots of work ahead to get there.
Kent is the one who has to decide what the rotation is going to be. In order for the team to develop cohesiveness they need to get to know each others moves and to develop confidence in each other. Kent has some decisions to make ,some very obvious ,and other which will not be easy.There are good 3 pt shooters on this team who can also run,play defense and rebound. The team does not need players out on the court who cannot do these things. And yes i will be glad to see these type of players gone.
I know Kent will decide the rotation, but you specifically wrote:
"Kent needs to shorten his rotations a bit and quit playing some players in hopes that they may be able to help.He needs to permanently bench a couple of players and play about 8 players extensively."
I'm really curious to see who YOU think should be benched permanently. Boese is one of them, who are the others? Just asking for your opinion, which you usually offer quite readily.
Glad Cougar
Again i am not in a position to wean out the players except for a leftover D 111 player from the Bonehead era. The playing time is decided in practice and that is why some players only get 3 minutes in game time. I guess the players will decide who rises to the top and who falls down the ladder some players are better at game time than others Some players need to accept their albeit a role model and bench cheerleader.
You say coach Kent makes the decisions and that playing time is earned in practice, yet you continually question those decisions and as such what coach sees in practice. Primarily when it comes to one player. It should also be noted that 4 of the 5 leftover Bone era players are 4 of our primary starters and players. Every team has bench players! Those players work hard and try to contribute in anyway they can, IF, they are not up to the task they won't play. That doesn't mean they should constantly be belittled, and blamed for going into a game when coach calls their name. Next time you watch a game, pay attention to the bench where the player you hate spends most of his time, he is far and away the most vocal and excited player on that bench. He jumps up fist pumping and yelling support for his teammates constantly. Watch when players come out of the game, see who is the first to meet them and give high fives and encouragement, watch who comes out the farthest on to the court during a time out to high five his teammates. Boese has never done anything to disrespect WSU or WSU basketball, he has been nothing but a great representative of WSU and WSU basketball, he is a solid student, apparently a good teammate and was a big part of some big wins WSU had last year. Why not give him a break???? He is not putting himself in the game...coach Bone is not calling up and putting him in the game...... it is coach Kent who wants him in the game!!!
Well then, perhaps you should say what you really mean, that there is one guy, not "a couple of players", who should be permanently benched. That way it will be more clear that you have it in for a single individual. Funny, I didn't see you complain last year about guys Kent brought in who contributed far less than Boese (Jackie Davis, Trevor Dunbar, and the guy you said would be starting last year, Aaron Cheatum), so it must be something personal about Boese. You do know that WSU would have had two less wins last year (UW and UO) without Boese...but that doesn't fit your narrative. I don't have a problem with his reduced playing time this year and he certainly had an ugly shot last night, but he's earned more respect than you are giving him.
You see some of us defend players like Boese only because you are the one who keeps bringing him up. Still mystifying how you singled him out last night when he played 3 minutes...as if he was the reason WSU lost.
Finally, you say some players need to accept their role....what have you seen from Boese to suggest that he hasn't accepted that role?
Glad Cougar
