Friday Pro Am Observations

[Blackhat]

Not much new, here's some thoughts:

* Jamil Wilson, is a treat to watch, glides and is smooth, physical speciman; rare to find a 6'8" person who can move so fluidly.   Buzz will need to turn Wilson and Jamail Jones into Warriors cause right now they play lazy, no heart ball in this pro am....no defense,

Wilson's dad sounds like he knows ball and was telling Jamil he's got to be more intense on d.  Coaching staff will need to light a fire under those two fellas azzes and recalibrate their attitudes.

Don't expect big numbers out of Vander Blue this year.   Needs to become more confident in his game on the o end, if he can lockdown on d he'll play but his offensive game lacks confidence which leads to turnovers/a smaller court to guard in D I basketball.

DJO is a pleasure to watch, E Williams needs to keep refining his j. 

Wanted to leave with a more optimistic impression on D. Gardner.   Has a nice touch but his body composition is really going to hold him back....has tree trunks for legs, must have like a 12 inch vertical.   Not a shot blocking or rebounding presence.

Chris Otule needs to keep working with Todd Smith on his cleans and snatches and get more explosion, making good progress though. 

Reggie Smith is probably the most ready to play ball of the freshman right now. 

[BCHoopster]

Good observations,  Gardner maybe the best offensive player in the posts since RJax, but is clueless on D right now, his feet
on the D end are in cement.  Jamil as a great future but his game is lacking big time on the D end, offensively has to learn
to put the ball on the floor.  He might be OK against Syracuse playing a zone.  Vander needs a year in the weight room with
Todd Smith.  Reggie will play.  As Al says, the best thing about freshman, is they become sophomores.  This will hold true
for the above players.  There future is bright.  MU has three seniors next year and three juniors in age (Otule redshirt), add
two sophs, those guys will get first chance to get minutes!  Vander will get some just because he can play D.

[injuryBug]

My first night at pro am and Smith is electric.  He is an amazing athlete. He will play this year. 
I came away with a different impression of Gardner.  I was shocked at how slim he looked.  Yes he has big legs but he is not as big as I had thought.  I was also impressed with his quickness for his size.  Nice touch around the basket and good hands.  Reminds me a lot of Rjax.  Neither have great hops but will use their body to rebound and defend. 
Give the staff a couple months to work with him on his defensive positioning and he will help us out.
Blue needs work on his shot from deep, but I still love his game. 

Junior is really good!!!  He was maybe 60% when he came back.  The quickness he showed tonight along with his jumping ability shocked me.  On one play he attempted a tip dunk then grabbed 2 rebounds against Ooze and got fouled.  He is a true PG and leader on the floor.

I really like the mid range game from Ewill.
Can't wait for the season to tip off

[77ncaachamps]

If there's one thing Davante can do immediately is bang with Otule and EWill which will make them better in the post.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Vander Blue will play way more than Reggie Smith this season.

[NersEllenson]

Vander Blue will play way more than Reggie Smith this season.

I'm going to disagree with you...think there is going to be more PT available behind Junior..than behind DJO/Buycks..

[avid1010]

I'm going to disagree with you...think there is going to be more PT available behind Junior..than behind DJO/Buycks..

My opinion is there is more playing time available for the guard that is capable of playing the best defense, not turning the ball over, and hitting the open shot to at least hold his defender honest....that seems like Vander to me.  That being said, I've seen Smith play very little...I just like Vander's attitude about his role on the team.

[brewcity77]

Based on watching them, Smith right now brings more to the court. His speed is simply electric. I am glad Blue is willing to defend, but DJO is already a good defender. If Cadougan and Buycks both play defense, there won't be as much of a need for a stopper. Smith has a pace that no other guard (or player) on our team has. I didn't expect much from him initially, but after watching him a bit, I really think he could be a great change-of-pace player for us right from the start.

[NersEllenson]

My opinion is there is more playing time available for the guard that is capable of playing the best defense, not turning the ball over, and hitting the open shot to at least hold his defender honest....that seems like Vander to me.  That being said, I've seen Smith play very little...I just like Vander's attitude about his role on the team.

Posted this on the other board:  I've yet to see Reggie play in person, but just based on watching his incredible athleticism in the YouTube videos, and from what I'd heard from my cousin who is a HS Bball coach in the Chicago area..Reggie has been my pick for biggest surprise player on next year's team.  Freakish athleticism is something that has a way of changing games - so I see Reggie being a tempo/game changing type of player.  How much time will he get as a freshman?  Probably not much, but they will be ELECTRIC minutes.

Mo Acker's Dad refereed some of Reggie's games in High School and was quoted as saying something to the effect of...Vander Blue might be good, and the other freshman coming in...but Reggie Smith very well could be the best of the bunch.

[avid1010]

Based on watching them, Smith right now brings more to the court. His speed is simply electric. I am glad Blue is willing to defend, but DJO is already a good defender. If Cadougan and Buycks both play defense, there won't be as much of a need for a stopper. Smith has a pace that no other guard (or player) on our team has. I didn't expect much from him initially, but after watching him a bit, I really think he could be a great change-of-pace player for us right from the start.

Saying that DJO is a good defender so that negates Vander's ability to play solid defense, thus earning him minutes would also have to go in the other direction as DJO is a better offensive player than Smith.  If you're assuming that Reggie is just competing with Junior for minutes, and Vander against DJO/Buycks I can see that argument, but I've yet to hear what a great passer Reggie is, how he runs a team well, plays deffense, etc.  I get that he's athletic, but he's going to need to first handle/distribute the ball, play deffense and prove he can run an offense before he gets PT at PG.  I haven't hear much about his ability to do that.  I certainly hope he can...it's just difficult for a freshmen to do, and I haven't seen those aspects of his game highlighted.

[bilsu]

Vander Blue will play way more than Reggie Smith this season.
[/quot
I have been to every pro am session. While you can only see parts of the each game as you move from court to court, I am extremely impressed with Reggie Smith and I am not very excited about Vander. The only reason Vander might play more than Reggie is the fact that Reggie will probably only play point while Vander could see time at 2, 3 and point.

[bilsu]

My opinion is there is more playing time available for the guard that is capable of playing the best defense, not turning the ball over, and hitting the open shot to at least hold his defender honest....that seems like Vander to me.  That being said, I've seen Smith play very little...I just like Vander's attitude about his role on the team.

Reggie Smith is a much better outside shooter than Vander.

[bilsu]

Saying that DJO is a good defender so that negates Vander's ability to play solid defense, thus earning him minutes would also have to go in the other direction as DJO is a better offensive player than Smith.  If you're assuming that Reggie is just competing with Junior for minutes, and Vander against DJO/Buycks I can see that argument, but I've yet to hear what a great passer Reggie is, how he runs a team well, plays deffense, etc.  I get that he's athletic, but he's going to need to first handle/distribute the ball, play deffense and prove he can run an offense before he gets PT at PG.  I haven't hear much about his ability to do that.  I certainly hope he can...it's just difficult for a freshmen to do, and I haven't seen those aspects of his game highlighted.

Reggie Smith is a better passer and ball handler than Blue. Blue is a better inside player and is better suited for the three spot, which is not big enough to play in the Big East.

[CAINMUTINY]

I don't know who will play more/less but I came away unimpressed by Blue's performance;  however this seemed to more of an attitude/hustle issue.  The kid must have some serious upside if he is so highly regarded and I imagine Buzz and company will get him to play to that level as that is their primary objective.

[avid1010]

Reggie Smith is a better passer and ball handler than Blue. Blue is a better inside player and is better suited for the three spot, which is not big enough to play in the Big East.

On what basis are you making these statements?  I've watched Blue play plenty...never saw him best fit to play the 3?  You're saying Reggie is a better passer, ball handler and shooter than a very highly regarded recruit.  I hope you're posting this with more insight than just the Pro-Am.

[NersEllenson]

On what basis are you making these statements?  I've watched Blue play plenty...never saw him best fit to play the 3?  You're saying Reggie is a better passer, ball handler and shooter than a very highly regarded recruit.  I hope you're posting this with more insight than just the Pro-Am.

Considering Blue and Smith were both observed in the Pro-Am, and many have come away with the same impression - that Smith appears to be more ready to play NOW - why would you discount the value of observation of what's transpired at the Pro-Am?

[Thomas' Danish Delight]

I haven't seen anything besides Smith's highlights thanks to YoungMUFan and then a little bit of Blue in the U18 games...

but I think it's awesome that Reggie has people comparing him to a FIBA U18 Gold Medalist

[avid1010]

Considering Blue and Smith were both observed in the Pro-Am, and many have come away with the same impression - that Smith appears to be more ready to play NOW - why would you discount the value of observation of what's transpired at the Pro-Am?

Because I've been to high school games, AAU events, MU practices and the Pro-Am....out of the four, the Pro-Am is the least competitive, most unstructured and therefore the hardest to take anything from.  There's players scoring big points in the Pro-Am that have no right being on the same court as MU players.  I've also seen players who struggle with open-gym styles, like the Pro-Am, excel when they get in a more structured setting.  Guys with speed and athleticism do well in things like this Pro-Am (i.e. Jamil Wilson), yet he had far from an impressive freshmen year at Oregon, and it's clear in a more structured game he has some glaring weaknesses he needs to improve on.  The difference between an MU practice and the Pro-Am is night and day.  People seem to think that from watching the Pro-Am they can tell that Reggie Smith will walk onto the court and score in BEAST play...that's a joke.  From watching Vander play for the US, I am confident he can walk on the court, play solid defense, hit open shots and take care of the ball.  I've yet to see that from Reggie...not saying we won't, I just question why some posters believe he can.  I certainly hope they are correct.

[77ncaachamps]

I can only hope that Vander has much more to show in practices and BE games than in Pro-Am matches.

[Clam Crowder]

Vander has barely even worked with the coaching staff at Marquette. Vander didn't have the same need to impress that Reggie had entering this Pro-Am due to his being so highly touted as a player. I am sure that Vander will come to get more playing time than Reggie

[Mr. Nielsen]

Considering Blue and Smith were both observed in the Pro-Am, and many have come away with the same impression - that Smith appears to be more ready to play NOW - why would you discount the value of observation of what's transpired at the Pro-Am?

Because, it's only a Pro-Am. many of the players are not trying to hard. While Reggie Smith is playing with Wes Matthews, I think Reggie Smith is playing harder to look good in front of the $34 million dollar man.

Vander Blue coaches had great to say about him when he was on the US team this summer.

As Smith looked better than Blue at times, I would be shocked if Smith is playing more than Blue this season.

I'm looking forward to today as only one game is played at at time. I want to see how different or if at all they play at the AL. I think there might be some more fans at the AL than at Homestead because of the closer drive.

[NersEllenson]

I don't want to this to devolve into a Vander isn't as good as Reggie debate - but my point was maybe more to highlight that Reggie Smith could be very, very good at MU - and though not as highly touted as Vander, nor expected to contribute as soon as Vander - could see more PT than most of us would have imagined.  The point of which is that, that is a very good thing for MU basketball.

Having said that, I don't think we need to reach for reasons as to why Reggie is playing better than Vander in the ProAm such as:  Reggie trying to impress Wes; Reggie trying harder than Vander because he's not as highly regarded;  That the style of play in ProAm favors Reggie more so than Vander.  From everything I recall, Vander's strength was playing in an open court game..which the ProAm is...

Obviously I think Vander will be a great player at MU and am very grateful he's at MU..just think Reggie could be special too..and wanted to highlight that..

[romey]

Agree with Ners here - it's kind of funny that we're debating over who is better or who may get more playing time.  News flash - we get both of these guys on our team!  Competition is a good thing.  It sounds like they both bring plenty to the table and it's a win win for MU Hoops.  Recruit rankings have been wrong before.  maybe Reggie will get more PT or be the "better" player, but that sounds like a bonus to me.  Can't wait for the season to start.

[rico49]

[color=blue}Obviously I think Vander will be a great player at MU and am very grateful he's at MU..just think Reggie could be special too..and wanted to highlight that..[/color]

Ners, well stated...We fans are sometimes thinking in our "way back machine" to a program that lacked competitive balance and depth in the positions.  This is a new coach who may have a different plan than a "three amigos" approach.  High level programs contain athletes and basketball players.  It is a good feeling that i have seeing the level of competition on this team that we have not been exposed to in the past.  What a radical change...for the good!

[GGGG]

Wilson's dad sounds like he knows ball and was telling Jamil he's got to be more intense on d.  

His dad was a starter on one of UW-Whitewater's national championship teams in the 80s.  Very nice player in his own right.