VIRGINIA AT MARQUETTE
- Virginia's top player is Mike Scott, but freshman guard KT Harrell was impressive and shot it well.
- Marquette got good production from freshman big man Davante Gardner. Senior guard Dwight Buycks and forward Jae Crowder also played well.
This is via his blog, at http://jeffgoodman.yardbarker.com/blog/jeffgoodman
http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=573249&SPID=67721&DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=205022441
Great find by the immortal puju.
Quote from: TillysDad on November 02, 2010, 04:38:02 PM
VIRGINIA AT MARQUETTE
- Virginia's top player is Mike Scott, but freshman guard KT Harrell was impressive and shot it well.
- Marquette got good production from freshman big man Davante Gardner. Senior guard Dwight Buycks and forward Jae Crowder also played well.
I really, really think that Gardner is going to turn out to be the big man in this line up by the end of this year. It sounds like he has the offensive game that we have been seeking from the likes of Otule for the past few years.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on November 02, 2010, 04:45:48 PM
I really, really think that Gardner is going to turn out to be the big man in this line up by the end of this year. It sounds like he has the offensive game that we have been seeking from the likes of Otule for the past few years.
He's a really interesting player, but he fouls more often than I've seen in a long time (not really, just since Yous). It takes so little effort for him to toss a guy across the court. He (along with most freshmen) will take a while to get used to the speed of other players able to get position on him.
Another challenge that our big guys have seen is that they have nobody to play against for most of the non-conference season and exhibition games. By the time we get to conference games where they get to play against players of their size our guys haven't had the experience to handle a skilled senior big-man. I've always taken that as one of the reasons it takes big dudes so long to develop. Feast or famine with the competition.
It's great to read good things about Davante Gardner. It seems that very little has been reported about his play so far until this blog. Curious to learn how much weight he has lost during the past few weeks of boot camp and practice. Is he really 6"8" or 6'9" as some blogs have reported? We can use his athleticism this year.
Bennett echoing what Beilein said last year.
"We saw probably more team quickness and speed and physicalness than we could replicate, perhaps," said Bennett, whose team returned to practice Monday after taking Sunday off.
"They're very aggressive, so it was good to go against that. They really pressure the ball. They just make it hard for you, and they really run in transition.
"That was as quick a team as I can recall," Beilein said Friday. "Stopping them from getting in the lane is really hard when they're so quick at so many positions."
Without getting too giddy, if Gardner gives any consistent production, this team could really surprise.
Gardner's shooting touch will allow him to fit in well with guys like Blue and Smith who don't want a big man in their way when getting to the hoop. Very encouraging that he is having a nice start to his freshman year.
Gardner was probably the most pleasant surprise at the midnight madness scrimmage. He didn't hit the three he took, but it looked like a natural stroke. He turned the ball over when he took it coast to coast, but he didn't look awkward dribbling full court. He didn't get much lift when he went up for rebounds and putbacks, but you can tell he knows how to use his body well, and Todd Smith will fix that in time. He's definitely skilled, and once he gets used to the speed of the game, I think he'll be really good. You could definitely see why Buzz recruited him: he can pass, dribble, and shoot. Which means he has good hands, more than we can say about an MU big in a loooooooong time.
Here is the best thing about Gardner right now: He provides size in practice and preparation. Otule and Fulce (and everyone else really) now have a big man that will challenge them to become better and give a better idea of what game experience will be like.
Otule has 3 full years of eligibility. I think he will contribute this year, but think about how he can push Gardner to become a better player, let alone how he can get better in years to come. Neither is a top recruit, but work and persistence (toughness) will take them a lot farther than any 5 star rating in Buzz's system.
Quote from: T-Bone on November 02, 2010, 10:09:43 PM
Neither is a top recruit, but work and persistence (toughness) will take them a lot farther than any 5 star rating in Buzz's system.
I appreciate hard work and hope Gardner, Fulce, and Otule give us strong interior presence, but I would take the talent that comes with a 5 star rating to succeed in Buzz's system.
If we have a team of four star athletes/top JUCOs in the other spots and a smart coach, we can compete with anyone with hard working three stars inside though which is probably more of your point.
Quote from: T-Bone on November 02, 2010, 10:09:43 PM
Neither is a top recruit, but work and persistence (toughness) will take them a lot farther than any 5 star rating in Buzz's system.
Hard work beats tallent when tallent doesnt work hard. Buzz recruits guys that are tough and push themselves.
also reading the VA article Bennett sounded like we really whooped up on them which i like to hear.
Quote from: seakm4 on November 02, 2010, 10:58:55 PM
Hard work beats tallent when tallent doesnt work hard. Buzz recruits guys that are tough and push themselves.
Yeah but "tallent" kicks as* when it works hard...and most talented players do.
Quote from: seakm4 on November 02, 2010, 10:58:55 PM
Hard work beats tallent when tallent doesnt work hard. Buzz recruits guys that are tough and push themselves.
also reading the VA article Bennett sounded like we really whooped up on them which i like to hear.
Do you speak in sound bites in real life?