Pro Am Question

[GoMarquette32]

Will anyone be posting a box score of the stats from tonights pro am?  Can't remember if anyone did last year.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

I think that they kept some level of stats beginning last season; I can't remember how quickly the site was updated with that type of information. I'll be doing what I have for the past two years and tweeting some observations from the stands: @Wegz17

[Dawson Rental]

I have a better Pro-Am question.

Since Wes is apparently the only current NBA player, should the league be renamed the Wes-Am?
I suggest that we make it MUScoop policy to only refer to the league this way.

[4everwarriors]

Doesn't necessarily mean the other players aren't pros in other things, does it?

[Dawson Rental]

Doesn't necessarily mean the other players aren't pros in other things, does it?

That's right, I forgot about Bernard Toone.

[jsglow]

Last year it was Chris Grimm putting the 'big body' on some guys.  You could almost see the 'I still got it!' wink.

[Brewtown Andy]

I have a better Pro-Am question.

Since Wes is apparently the only current NBA player, should the league be renamed the Wes-Am?
I suggest that we make it MUScoop policy to only refer to the league this way.

Apparently Jerry Smith played 20 minutes for the Nets this year.

[avid1010]

I have a better Pro-Am question.

Since Wes is apparently the only current NBA player, should the league be renamed the Wes-Am?
I suggest that we make it MUScoop policy to only refer to the league this way.

i can't believe the pro-am will make it much longer...i go once a year to get a look at the new guys and see if anything shocking shows from last years players.  then the basketball is so poor that i leave after a quarter.  i have to believe there are a million things the mu players could be doing in place of the pro-am that would be better for their development. 

[GGGG]

i can't believe the pro-am will make it much longer...i go once a year to get a look at the new guys and see if anything shocking shows from last years players.  then the basketball is so poor that i leave after a quarter.  i have to believe there are a million things the mu players could be doing in place of the pro-am that would be better for their development. 

Like what?  Before this they were simply playing pick up games all summer long.

[Skatastrophy]

i can't believe the pro-am will make it much longer...i go once a year to get a look at the new guys and see if anything shocking shows from last years players.  then the basketball is so poor that i leave after a quarter.  i have to believe there are a million things the mu players could be doing in place of the pro-am that would be better for their development.  

Yesterday they had a 3 hour practice before going to the Pro-Am (that's the reason that Ferguson wasn't there on Saturday).  They were forced to play the games while they were completely gassed.  I think that's valuable for the guys, plus it looks like they're having fun

[Dawson Rental]

Apparently Jerry Smith played 20 minutes for the Nets this year.

And was back in the developmental league before the end of the season, thus I said current NBA player.

[avid1010]

Like what?  Before this they were simply playing pick up games all summer long.

what i have seen the last two years at the pro-am is worse than the all-mu player pick-up games i've watched.  if you feel the players develop thanks to the pro-am that's your opinion...understanding that they can physically put x amount of hours into basketball and training per day, if i were an mu player you wouldn't see me participating.  i'd rather be developing or resting.  imho the competition just isn't good enough to even allow the guys to work on areas of needed development in a game setting.  

it hasn't taken the place of pick up games either...and i don't know if you've ever watched all-mu player pick up games, but they get more intense then the pro-am. 

[TedBaxter]

The all-MU pickup games are intense, but its against the same players in the same venue every day.  They start to know every move and I think it gets kind of boring for them. 

[avid1010]

The all-MU pickup games are intense, but its against the same players in the same venue every day.  They start to know every move and I think it gets kind of boring for them. 

i get that, but i think it also forces them to work on their weaknesses, which is why i always enjoyed watching those games.  i think it was good for dj to hear jerel tell him he couldn't make a 3, to see diener push novak around, etc.  i also felt like the defense they were seeing from their teamates was/is much more similar to what they will see in a BEAST game when their opponent also knows them very well, which is why i took issue with making light of "pick-up" games.  everyone on the team was better for every minute they played a pick-up game with diener on the court...the 3 amigos played hard, as did zar and jimmy...haven't seen any of the current players in that role, but i haven't been around at all to watch.  i hope someone is taking on the challenge.

i guess boring to me would be pounding on some kid from a D3 school when i'm a D1 talent...don't get me wrong, i have no problem with them playing if they find it fun, and it's a great summer fix for fans...especially young kids.  i just see them playing at 50% compared to the pick-up games.

on a side note...gardner came in the small gym after his game yesterday and was really limping...i remember someone posting the same thing after friday's game.  is it just the way his body responds after a hard days work or does he have nagging injuries?

[Hamostradamus]

i can't believe the pro-am will make it much longer...i go once a year to get a look at the new guys and see if anything shocking shows from last years players.  then the basketball is so poor that i leave after a quarter.  i have to believe there are a million things the mu players could be doing in place of the pro-am that would be better for their development. 

So you go every year, watch one quarter of one game, then leave? Sultan is right, pick up games against the same people for 6 straight months gets a little old. The competition always improves as the tournament goes on and players get used to each other. Last year Nankivil and Cadougan looked uncomfortable together in the first game, but by the end of the tournament they looked like they had been playing together for years. From what I hear, the players like it because its fun and they can stay in shape (tons of run and gun) in the summer.

[Hamostradamus]

i guess boring to me would be pounding on some kid from a D3 school when i'm a D1 talent...don't get me wrong, i have no problem with them playing if they find it fun, and it's a great summer fix for fans...especially young kids.  i just see them playing at 50% compared to the pick-up games.

on a side note...gardner came in the small gym after his game yesterday and was really limping...i remember someone posting the same thing after friday's game.  is it just the way his body responds after a hard days work or does he have nagging injuries?

last year Dejuante Wade owned a bunch of MU and UWM guys, same with Myles McKay. Although Vander and Davante did look like they were not struggling too much yesterday. Gardner wasn't limping during the game, so I am guessing the limp isn't much to worry about.

[GGGG]

It's also only two games a week...on Friday evening and Saturday early afternoon.  Likely not taking away from anything else they are doing.  And they wouldn't be playing if Buzz didn't see value in it - which is likely why you don't see UW players playing.  Different philosophy.  

[avid1010]

So you go every year, watch one quarter of one game, then leave? Sultan is right, pick up games against the same people for 6 straight months gets a little old. The competition always improves as the tournament goes on and players get used to each other. Last year Nankivil and Cadougan looked uncomfortable together in the first game, but by the end of the tournament they looked like they had been playing together for years. From what I hear, the players like it because its fun and they can stay in shape (tons of run and gun) in the summer.

if it's just for fun so be it (and i would think it's more fun for the guys that don't typically get to play against mu caliber players), but to think mu players use this as a means to stay in shape or develop their game is insulting to what the players do on a daily basis in regards to conditioning and development.  i haven't been at mu practices or pick-up games since the TC/early buzz era, but to compare the two on a developmental/conditioning level isn't correct...imho.  nor are the pick-up games the same 10 guys or just current mu players.  many solid prospects have walked out of the pick-up games getting their tails whipped...doesn't happen at the pro-am if you want to compare intensity, effort and quality.