Washburn Recap
They will get better.
They have to get better.
And when they do, look out.
After Last nights 98-79 exhibition win over Washburn there are many lessons to be learned for both fans and players. We as fans must recognize that it takes time to learn, that basketball is hard, and that high school coaching sucks. We must look at these new players and in them see the failings of the AAU system that dominates youth basketball and prevents these players from learning the fundamentals that make the game great.
As for the team, I am sure Coach Self has a long list of items that he believes need the attention of his team in their upcoming practices. I know that he has been preaching ball control, team defense and good shot selection in practice. I know that he has told them over and over that college basketball is a different world than anything they have done before, that it is harder and that the opponents are better than anything they have seen before. After last night, I imagine some of the eyes are open and the players are hopefully more willing to believe what they are being told. After all, that was Washburn in November, not North Carolina in March.
That being said, lets talk about individual performances, starting with the faces we know and leading into the ones we don’t.
Sherron Collins continues to play to level of his surroundings. Guarding Derrick Rose in the title game, he showed how good he can be, how fast he is and how strong. He controlled the tempo, handled the ball without turnovers, made smart passes and took good shots. On the floor with D-2 guys and freshman, he played like a street ball star who had too many free Starbucks on Election Day. Dribbling so fast he lost his balance, rushing passes to ill-prepared teammates, gambling himself out of defensive position. This we cannot have. He must be the leader. He must be the calming center, the veteran who can say to the others “I have done this before, follow me” That job cannot be left vacant.
Grade for Last night C
Cole Aldrich looks like the same guy from last year. I was hoping to see a bigger stronger Cole. I wanted a more aggressive, physical Cole. I am not disappointed in the mental errors, that is a by-product of his dramatic increase in minutes. But physically, he does not show the improvement I had hoped to see.
Grade B
Tyrel Reed would have played more last year, if not for his injury. He shows no signs of slowing down. Great shot selection, good defense, smart passing, just a solid game all around.
Grade A-
Brady Morningstar must have spent his entire red shirt year running shuttle drills. How do you get that quick, that quickly? Don’t get me wrong, he’s not Sherron quick. But do you remember how slow he was? Same player, just faster.
Grade A-
Connor Teahen found something valuable to do on the court besides shoot a three. He also found that being more active and on the court more often means you have a chance to make more mistakes. Perhaps if he continues to develop he could become a Brady Morningstar type contributor by the end of the year.
Grade B-
Everyone else grades out at a D. Turnovers, bad shots, bad fouls, lazy defense, and mental errors. Typical of Freshman? Sure, but remember, if these guys, this new class, if they learn to play the fundamentals, if they go back and drill with my 8th grade coach and play error – free basketball, if they find a way to do that they will make everyone forget Mario and Brandon and Darrell and Julian and Sacha. If.
They have to get better.
And when they do, look out.
After Last nights 98-79 exhibition win over Washburn there are many lessons to be learned for both fans and players. We as fans must recognize that it takes time to learn, that basketball is hard, and that high school coaching sucks. We must look at these new players and in them see the failings of the AAU system that dominates youth basketball and prevents these players from learning the fundamentals that make the game great.
As for the team, I am sure Coach Self has a long list of items that he believes need the attention of his team in their upcoming practices. I know that he has been preaching ball control, team defense and good shot selection in practice. I know that he has told them over and over that college basketball is a different world than anything they have done before, that it is harder and that the opponents are better than anything they have seen before. After last night, I imagine some of the eyes are open and the players are hopefully more willing to believe what they are being told. After all, that was Washburn in November, not North Carolina in March.
That being said, lets talk about individual performances, starting with the faces we know and leading into the ones we don’t.
Sherron Collins continues to play to level of his surroundings. Guarding Derrick Rose in the title game, he showed how good he can be, how fast he is and how strong. He controlled the tempo, handled the ball without turnovers, made smart passes and took good shots. On the floor with D-2 guys and freshman, he played like a street ball star who had too many free Starbucks on Election Day. Dribbling so fast he lost his balance, rushing passes to ill-prepared teammates, gambling himself out of defensive position. This we cannot have. He must be the leader. He must be the calming center, the veteran who can say to the others “I have done this before, follow me” That job cannot be left vacant.
Grade for Last night C
Cole Aldrich looks like the same guy from last year. I was hoping to see a bigger stronger Cole. I wanted a more aggressive, physical Cole. I am not disappointed in the mental errors, that is a by-product of his dramatic increase in minutes. But physically, he does not show the improvement I had hoped to see.
Grade B
Tyrel Reed would have played more last year, if not for his injury. He shows no signs of slowing down. Great shot selection, good defense, smart passing, just a solid game all around.
Grade A-
Brady Morningstar must have spent his entire red shirt year running shuttle drills. How do you get that quick, that quickly? Don’t get me wrong, he’s not Sherron quick. But do you remember how slow he was? Same player, just faster.
Grade A-
Connor Teahen found something valuable to do on the court besides shoot a three. He also found that being more active and on the court more often means you have a chance to make more mistakes. Perhaps if he continues to develop he could become a Brady Morningstar type contributor by the end of the year.
Grade B-
Everyone else grades out at a D. Turnovers, bad shots, bad fouls, lazy defense, and mental errors. Typical of Freshman? Sure, but remember, if these guys, this new class, if they learn to play the fundamentals, if they go back and drill with my 8th grade coach and play error – free basketball, if they find a way to do that they will make everyone forget Mario and Brandon and Darrell and Julian and Sacha. If.
posted by AaronO @ 7:09 AM
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