Fran on Eric May



He seems like a nice kid and I wish him well. At this stage in his career, I'd like to see the coaches turn him into a poor man's Daryl Moore. Tell him not to shoot the ball unless he is within 5 or 6 feet of the basket, don't let him handle the ball, and ask him to use his quickness against power forwards down low. Teach him positioning and anticipation for rebounding and defense against taller opponents. Those things require a strong will more than anything.

He can out hustle power forwards and most small forwards down the court for a few easy baskets a game. His lateral quickness makes him a liability on the perimeter defensively (I know he gambles and gets a few steals now and then), and his inability to handle the ball or shoot is even more problematic.

He is a hustle player. Let's turn him into a mini-banger who can guard some threes and fours and steal a few fast break baskets a game.
 


Leadership and depth is what he'll hopefully provide. Weather he starts or plays big mins or not. The great thing is if he is healthy next yr and is the same May of his frosh yr. Maybe he can provide a few highlights and play some physical D. And the good thing is if he can't go there are bodies behind him just a tiny bit better than Licklighters kid to put in. It should be an extremely competitive camp to see who plays the big mins this year.
 




I mentioned this earlier on Eric May; The only time Eric May has been completely healthy in the last two years, was the start of 2010 and a year ago, thru in the spring/summer/fall. Up until just before the pre-season practice started. Then his injuries started again. The guy has had several nagging injuries since the end of December 2010. If the EM could just stay healthy for most the pre-season and thru the season, the Hawkeyes would be much better off because of it...

The first couple of months in 2010-2011 season, EM lead the team, or was in the top 3, in all major categories. Including rebounding, scoring, assists and 3 pt %. Not to mention he can out jump the entire team.... He was shooting almost 50% from the 3pt stripe. The guy was killin it. Then he got injured........
 
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Seems like a good kid and his girlfriend is hot. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.
On the negative side, back injuries often linger and re-occur at the worst times. I fear we've seen the best of Eric May already.
 
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Anyone up to debate Fran's 'hyperbolic' sentiments again?

I am...

“(May) was playing better than anybody. Then when the games started, he wasn’t as good. He was still pretty good, then he got hurt.

I think this is all you need to read in order to order that crate of salt grains for Francis' next presser.
 


Reading the quotes from Fran in this article, he is not over his skiis on his praise of Eric May. He said he was playing the best last fall,but did not play as good in the games,then go hurt. Nothing hyperoblic about that. As was pointed out,May did have three good games to start the season,then got hurt.

And Fran simply said about his offseason...''he's better''. Did not say he was going to be a star. And when he talked about starting, Fran just indicated that Eric probably feels he can compete to start..fine,no hype there.

I think the important quote from Fran was ''He's my captain''.
Fran really values that senior captain role,and has had good ones in Jarryd Cole,Matt Gatens,and now it is Eric's turn. I think Eric will step up in that capacity quite well. If you watched him on the bench last year during games, he would often be seen counseling players who had just been taken out of the game, not joking around,but serious words to calm them down. I think the younger players have a lot of respect for Eric,which is the first prerequiste for leadership. He works hard, is a good guy,and has a hot girlfriend...all that works in a leadership role in college...ok,the girlfriend stuff is a joke,kind of.

On the court, I still think a healthy Eric May can be valuable. He can be a strong defender on taller guys,or wing guys,he can still make an open 3 pointer,as his percentage is respectable. I like to envision a Chris Kramer type role of inspirational defender off the bench who is not afraid to make a big shot.

You never write off seniors...Brommer and Archie notwithstanding, as we have seen with Jarryd Cole,Matt Gatens among others. Rob Wilson of Wisky had a huge finish to his senior season after being invisible for 4 years.
 


You never write off seniors...Brommer and Archie notwithstanding, as we have seen with Jarryd Cole,Matt Gatens among others. Rob Wilson of Wisky had a huge finish to his senior season after being invisible for 4 years.

That Archie dunk was/is still sick. If he was consistent with plays like that he could have been something.
 


I wonder if he could get a Jess Settles 2 yrs medical red shirt. Then maybe he could be healthy and could come back and play out his senior season. Poor guy hasn't been able to do much with his last two years.
 


Reading the quotes from Fran in this article, he is not over his skiis on his praise of Eric May. He said he was playing the best last fall,but did not play as good in the games,then go hurt. Nothing hyperoblic about that. As was pointed out,May did have three good games to start the season,then got hurt.

And Fran simply said about his offseason...''he's better''. Did not say he was going to be a star. And when he talked about starting, Fran just indicated that Eric probably feels he can compete to start..fine,no hype there.

I think the important quote from Fran was ''He's my captain''.
Fran really values that senior captain role,and has had good ones in Jarryd Cole,Matt Gatens,and now it is Eric's turn. I think Eric will step up in that capacity quite well. If you watched him on the bench last year during games, he would often be seen counseling players who had just been taken out of the game, not joking around,but serious words to calm them down. I think the younger players have a lot of respect for Eric,which is the first prerequiste for leadership. He works hard, is a good guy,and has a hot girlfriend...all that works in a leadership role in college...ok,the girlfriend stuff is a joke,kind of.

On the court, I still think a healthy Eric May can be valuable. He can be a strong defender on taller guys,or wing guys,he can still make an open 3 pointer,as his percentage is respectable. I like to envision a Chris Kramer type role of inspirational defender off the bench who is not afraid to make a big shot.

You never write off seniors...Brommer and Archie notwithstanding, as we have seen with Jarryd Cole,Matt Gatens among others. Rob Wilson of Wisky had a huge finish to his senior season after being invisible for 4 years.

This was exactly what I took from the presser. He wasn't anywhere near as glowing as he was in his assessments of Gatens, for example. I think May will have a solid year, nothing spectacular. His leadership will be more valuable than his play on the court. More like Cole than Gatens, though probably not as much production as Cole.
 


I wonder if he could get a Jess Settles 2 yrs medical red shirt. Then maybe he could be healthy and could come back and play out his senior season. Poor guy hasn't been able to do much with his last two years.

Not gonna happen, as he has played in a large majority of the games the past 2 years.
 


Potential break out season coming up for May.

Or he gets hurt.

Like my prediction? :D


It is a coin flip...but hopefully he can have a mostly injury free senior season like Moeaki. I am not saying he is on that high of a level, as TM was a 5-star TE, but the nagging injuries are not a bad comparison. A healthy EM could have a good-to-great senior year, if he stays healthy.
 




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