SpecialKHawk
Well-Known Member
This is my report having been in attendance for last night's game with Hampton. I did not see the scrimmage so this was my first glimpse. Being captain obvious, this was the first game for the team against an inferior opponent so take this for what it is worth.
First I want to say how impressed I am in general with what Fran is doing with this program. He is slowly adding better, more talented & multi faceted ball players which as a whole will eventually lift this program. When I look at some of the pieces and then think about the 4 kids he will be adding I cannot help but think that we will eventually have the kind of athleticism and skills needed to do some damage. I am a blown away by the length and skill sets on some of these guys and then adding 4 more to the mix next year. They continue to play an exciting brand of basketball.
I truly expect some struggles this season, especially given the well chronicled tough schedule which it is. I think this team is solid and looks to have better cohesion already. We may shoot the ball better from the perimeter as well. I saw a lot of unselfish play and a lot of effort. The struggles will probably occur with quick teams that can put the ball on the deck from multiple positions (staying in front of ball handlers) and maybe with some physical play around the basket. We were not soft by any means but there are times when our players get knocked/bumped a little and they lose the ball or fall down type of stuff.
The 3 players that stuck out the most and played great where White, Utoff & Clemmons.
White
Finally back to the 4 which is his best position to impact the game. He was absolutely relentless again in and around the basket as well as running the floor. It looked like classic Aaron White and it was so good to see. Playing out of position last year cost this team dearly.
The questions.... I'm not sure again about his ability to make an outside shot as a consistent part of his game. He hesitated on at least one open 3 look and took another missing. The other aspect is he does not box-out much instead relying on his athleticism to snag boards which usually works but there are times when an opponent gets a board they should not. He's a solid but not great defender as well. All-in-all his game will flourish though at the 4 this season.
Utoff
He looks much more aggressive and willing to take the shot this year although he hesitated on his very first open 3 look. After that there was no hesitation and he buried quite a few. He can really shoot it. He also looks a little stronger and was willing to go inside and snag some tough boards which he did. As everyone knows he has a nice all-around game. My favorite was his step back 3 in the second half - wow! He looks the part this year and should have been at the 3 last year with White at the 4.
Clemmons
Wow, has this guy come ready to play and improved his game. He's not an All-American but if this one game is any indication he is our best point guard. The gap between him and Gessell looks to be wide. He's in great shape and just has a nice all-around game like others. He can defend, handle the ball, distributed to teammates, shoots the ball very effectively with no hesitation (including 2 3's) and drove hard to the bucket when it was there. I could not have been more impressed with him given last season. He also looks to be a team leader that other guys look to. He has a no non-sense, tough mindset this season. He played the most at 2 but some at the point playing both equally well.
Uhl
Really like the looks of the kid. He has a game that he can do it all. Well rounded as I have noted for others and is the theme with the type of players Fran is bringing in. He is long and athletic, is able to put the ball on the floor, create shots for others, can knock down shots (including 3's) and is willing to play defense and rebound. He's not afraid at all. Really impressed with his potential. He's a year away physically to play the kind of defense that will need to be played but yet he is going to contribute this year. Is able to play the 4 some to spell White but can also play the 3. Looks like another Utoff with a little more ability to drive and dish. We got a good one.
Dickerson
Wow, this guy looks the part in terms of quickness, slashing and creating for others. He is a little erratic as he is learning how to play at this level and has to clean some stuff up but boy he possesses something that no one else on the roster has. There is an 'it' factor with him. He was disruptive on the defensive end creating several nice on-the-ball steals and looks like he will have the ability to defend quick guards. He creates shots for his teammates and is not afraid to take a shot when he is open. My favorite was when he went streaking down the court on the wing and got a pass from Gabe throwing it down for a dunk. The crowd went crazy. He also blew down with the ball in a hurry on a couple of fast breaks. Late in the second half I believe they had a lineup with Clemmons and him at the guards. That looked like real ball pressure we have not seen.
Woody & Gabe
Woody was Woody & Gabe was Gabe. Woody provided the physical presence and play. He is not afraid to knock down a shot when it is there and looks to have extended his range. He looks to be getting off the floor a little bit better but I am not saying he is suddenly jumping out of the gym. He's going to be solid but not overwhelming.
Gabe effected the game with his ability to get off of the floor. He blocked and/or altered a ton of shots. He's a pest around the basket on both ends. He skied for several impressive rebounds and ran the floor very well. He does not handle physical play though as well as Woody. There were some times where he was bumped and lost the handle on the ball or fell down.
Jok & Olgesby
We all know Jok has the ability and potential to light-it-up at times. He has improved his ability to play physical on both ends of the floor. He took it hard to the hoop drawing several fouls and his defense has improved some. I was actually impressed with his rebounding as he snagged several contested boards. He was not afraid to go inside to do some dirty work. He played both the 2 & the 3. He missed a couple of shots but then in the second half buried a 3 that barely touched the net. A volume scorer but you can tell has really worked on the other aspects of his game.
Olgesby looked ok but seemed a little rusty. He was having some difficulty staying in front of quick guys from Hampton who could put the ball on the floor. He missed some shots as well from 3 and 2. He will be fine but does not look as quick as some of the other guys we have. I think he will be what he has been. He did play some 2 & 3 like Jok as well.
Gesell
Most disappointing play of the night. He looked tired and slow. Was not able to finish twice going in. Missed a wide open 3 badly. Lost the ball once or twice. Average on defense. It was just one game ......but body language wise he looked like he knows he is the third best point guard on the roster. I really like Mike a ton as a young man but it just looks like others have improved in the case of Clemmons and they have brought someone else in with more upside in Dickerson. I hope this was just a one night deal but it makes me wonder. It is like a complete mindset role reversal from last year between Clemmons and Gesell.
First I want to say how impressed I am in general with what Fran is doing with this program. He is slowly adding better, more talented & multi faceted ball players which as a whole will eventually lift this program. When I look at some of the pieces and then think about the 4 kids he will be adding I cannot help but think that we will eventually have the kind of athleticism and skills needed to do some damage. I am a blown away by the length and skill sets on some of these guys and then adding 4 more to the mix next year. They continue to play an exciting brand of basketball.
I truly expect some struggles this season, especially given the well chronicled tough schedule which it is. I think this team is solid and looks to have better cohesion already. We may shoot the ball better from the perimeter as well. I saw a lot of unselfish play and a lot of effort. The struggles will probably occur with quick teams that can put the ball on the deck from multiple positions (staying in front of ball handlers) and maybe with some physical play around the basket. We were not soft by any means but there are times when our players get knocked/bumped a little and they lose the ball or fall down type of stuff.
The 3 players that stuck out the most and played great where White, Utoff & Clemmons.
White
Finally back to the 4 which is his best position to impact the game. He was absolutely relentless again in and around the basket as well as running the floor. It looked like classic Aaron White and it was so good to see. Playing out of position last year cost this team dearly.
The questions.... I'm not sure again about his ability to make an outside shot as a consistent part of his game. He hesitated on at least one open 3 look and took another missing. The other aspect is he does not box-out much instead relying on his athleticism to snag boards which usually works but there are times when an opponent gets a board they should not. He's a solid but not great defender as well. All-in-all his game will flourish though at the 4 this season.
Utoff
He looks much more aggressive and willing to take the shot this year although he hesitated on his very first open 3 look. After that there was no hesitation and he buried quite a few. He can really shoot it. He also looks a little stronger and was willing to go inside and snag some tough boards which he did. As everyone knows he has a nice all-around game. My favorite was his step back 3 in the second half - wow! He looks the part this year and should have been at the 3 last year with White at the 4.
Clemmons
Wow, has this guy come ready to play and improved his game. He's not an All-American but if this one game is any indication he is our best point guard. The gap between him and Gessell looks to be wide. He's in great shape and just has a nice all-around game like others. He can defend, handle the ball, distributed to teammates, shoots the ball very effectively with no hesitation (including 2 3's) and drove hard to the bucket when it was there. I could not have been more impressed with him given last season. He also looks to be a team leader that other guys look to. He has a no non-sense, tough mindset this season. He played the most at 2 but some at the point playing both equally well.
Uhl
Really like the looks of the kid. He has a game that he can do it all. Well rounded as I have noted for others and is the theme with the type of players Fran is bringing in. He is long and athletic, is able to put the ball on the floor, create shots for others, can knock down shots (including 3's) and is willing to play defense and rebound. He's not afraid at all. Really impressed with his potential. He's a year away physically to play the kind of defense that will need to be played but yet he is going to contribute this year. Is able to play the 4 some to spell White but can also play the 3. Looks like another Utoff with a little more ability to drive and dish. We got a good one.
Dickerson
Wow, this guy looks the part in terms of quickness, slashing and creating for others. He is a little erratic as he is learning how to play at this level and has to clean some stuff up but boy he possesses something that no one else on the roster has. There is an 'it' factor with him. He was disruptive on the defensive end creating several nice on-the-ball steals and looks like he will have the ability to defend quick guards. He creates shots for his teammates and is not afraid to take a shot when he is open. My favorite was when he went streaking down the court on the wing and got a pass from Gabe throwing it down for a dunk. The crowd went crazy. He also blew down with the ball in a hurry on a couple of fast breaks. Late in the second half I believe they had a lineup with Clemmons and him at the guards. That looked like real ball pressure we have not seen.
Woody & Gabe
Woody was Woody & Gabe was Gabe. Woody provided the physical presence and play. He is not afraid to knock down a shot when it is there and looks to have extended his range. He looks to be getting off the floor a little bit better but I am not saying he is suddenly jumping out of the gym. He's going to be solid but not overwhelming.
Gabe effected the game with his ability to get off of the floor. He blocked and/or altered a ton of shots. He's a pest around the basket on both ends. He skied for several impressive rebounds and ran the floor very well. He does not handle physical play though as well as Woody. There were some times where he was bumped and lost the handle on the ball or fell down.
Jok & Olgesby
We all know Jok has the ability and potential to light-it-up at times. He has improved his ability to play physical on both ends of the floor. He took it hard to the hoop drawing several fouls and his defense has improved some. I was actually impressed with his rebounding as he snagged several contested boards. He was not afraid to go inside to do some dirty work. He played both the 2 & the 3. He missed a couple of shots but then in the second half buried a 3 that barely touched the net. A volume scorer but you can tell has really worked on the other aspects of his game.
Olgesby looked ok but seemed a little rusty. He was having some difficulty staying in front of quick guys from Hampton who could put the ball on the floor. He missed some shots as well from 3 and 2. He will be fine but does not look as quick as some of the other guys we have. I think he will be what he has been. He did play some 2 & 3 like Jok as well.
Gesell
Most disappointing play of the night. He looked tired and slow. Was not able to finish twice going in. Missed a wide open 3 badly. Lost the ball once or twice. Average on defense. It was just one game ......but body language wise he looked like he knows he is the third best point guard on the roster. I really like Mike a ton as a young man but it just looks like others have improved in the case of Clemmons and they have brought someone else in with more upside in Dickerson. I hope this was just a one night deal but it makes me wonder. It is like a complete mindset role reversal from last year between Clemmons and Gesell.
