Post by eagledynasty on Nov 17, 2019 9:12:33 GMT -5
After that gauntlet of games and the high school we played for homecoming, here are some of my thoughts:
Hard not to be impressed. The fact that we were in it until the end against 3 very quality teams on the road bodes well for playing anyone (much less any Big South foe). Unless there is a total regression, this team will be playing for the regular season title without a doubt.
The good:
-Defense and rebounding----who is this team? Just a total turnaround from last year. The influx of new guys are all tough, physical, and have size. Now that we've seen it for 3-4 games, I have to think this is indeed who we are. Also the fact that we can run 10-11 guys out there without much drop off bodes well for maintaining this level of physicality and defense over the course of the year. This looks much more like a tough Marshall era team than anything I've seen recently, and frankly, I love it.
-Burns: Wow. While he needs to lose some pounds and get in better shape, the sky is the limit for this guy. He reminds me of Big Al Jefferson with the array of moves in the post and his touch is incredibly soft. Just an elite offensive player already and only a freshman! The offensive talent of this kid is sort of stunning.
-The overall athleticism of our freshman class is impressive. King and Claxton look a little raw offensively (which is expected since they are frosh) but size and athleticism wise---they will be tough for the Big South to handle particularly as they grow/get better. Claxton just has a nose for the ball, cleaning up junk, getting loose balls, playing tough D. He's going to be really good.
-The natural comparison everyone wants to make for Jones is Keon, but they are different players. Jones looks more like a natural facilitator while Keon was a score first guy. The shot will begin to fall, but Jones will probably struggle to get anything in the paint (unlike Keon) for at least the first couple years. But the kid can move the ball, handle it, and while he's had some defensive lapses, he wants to be good as a on ball defender. He's gonna be great.
-Vaudrin: He's just a mismatch for just about anyone. But a big guy on him and he's fast enough to get around him, but a small guy on him and he can back him down and use his old school YMCA old guy moves on him. I think he's going to have to find the balance, he tried to do too much in the ETSU game, but he's clearly a great pick up and particularly in the Big South is going to be someone that is really tough for other teams to figure out how to guard.
The Bad:
-Free Throw Shooting: Looks like free throw shooting in particular is going to be an issue this year. Vaudrin isn't a shooter but will get to the line a lot. Lots of guys that look like they will be sub 70% shooters from the line. Though I do expect to improve as Ferg, Falden, and Jones have all somewhat struggling so far and they won't continue to.
-3 pt shooting: I think this will improve. The freshmen are adjusting, and guys like Falden have slumped out of the gate (with a lot of rim outs). But so far we haven't been good from 3.
And while neither good nor bad, I think we are going to have to figure out who and what we are......Vaudrin and Burns are unique talents---but neither really fit the run and gun 3 pt team we've had for the last 3 years. Both are very talented half court iso guys...so how are we going to play---we've looked better so far as a team that slows it down, pounds the paint and crashes the boards/plays good D. But how does that fit with having a bunch of shooters that their main focus is taking and making 3's? (Jones, Corbin, Falden, etc?)
No matter the case, lots of young really good talent now on the team. The future has not looked brighter since the early years and looks of the couple classes with guys like Torrell Martin, Phillip Williams, Bradshaw. These young guys are going to be good.
