Biggest Surprise: Juwan Gary. I wasn't expecting much at all from him, and I know last night was the first time he logged meaningful minutes. However, it's clear that Oats believes he should be heavily involved in the rotation after seeing him in practice. He gives us that muscle inside we desperately need.
Biggest Disappointment: Keon Ellis. He's a serviceable player and an above average defender. However, based on highlights and how highly competitive his recruitment was, I really expected him to bring some dynamite as a scorer. He has a great outside shot and is a phenomenal athlete. Unfortunately, he's very passive and he has some serious issues handling the basketball and making good decisions. Game seems too fast for him on offense.
Most Potential: Josh Primo. Kid is a straight up basketball player. Perfect body for a wing. Has a good looking shot and finishes very well at the basket. Needs to get more minutes as the season goes on.
Other notes:
Quinerly: Unbelievably skilled as a ball handler and has a good outside shot. Unfortunately, he cannot defend and I don't see that changing. Most of the time on defense he seems to be giving 100% but just doesnt have the footwork and technique to keep his man in front of him. Whatever he gives on offense, he gives right back on the other end of the floor.
Shack: Needs to play within himself and stop driving to the basket. He got bailed out on two phantom calls last night where he drove without purpose and threw the ball up and flailed. Most of the time he will not get those calls. Even the basket he made late on the drive, I'm convinced he didn't know where the basket was... just threw it up. I like him, but he needs to be Charvez Davis 2.0. Catch and shoot. Also, he's lost on defense. Gives up way too many back door cuts for easy layups and it's killing us.
Bruner: Disappearing Big Man. He's not a bad player and we've seen he's an elite passer on the interior. Unfortunately, you kinda forget he's in the game most of the time. Had a decent performance last night. Hoping that can continue. A guy with his size and skill should be able to rebound much better than he has so far.
Herb: Stud. He's going to miss layups at the rim... I've come to grips with it. He gives us way more positives than anyone else on the team and we just have to live with the missed bunnies.
Rojas: Like Shack, he needs to play within himself. The guy is a more talented version of Chris Hines if he can just play that game instead of trying to run the break. Get the rebound and pass immediately... crash the boards and play defense, shoot the open 3. That's it. If he does that, he will help the team. If he tries to generate offense on his own, he will continue to hurt us.
Petty: For all the hate he gets, we need him big time. He had a horrible shooting night, but he plays 110% at all times. Great rebounding guard and elite defender. It's also nice to have a guy who has the ability to catch fire from deep and carry a team. I want him playing at least 32-33 minutes every single night.
Biggest Disappointment: Keon Ellis. He's a serviceable player and an above average defender. However, based on highlights and how highly competitive his recruitment was, I really expected him to bring some dynamite as a scorer. He has a great outside shot and is a phenomenal athlete. Unfortunately, he's very passive and he has some serious issues handling the basketball and making good decisions. Game seems too fast for him on offense.
Most Potential: Josh Primo. Kid is a straight up basketball player. Perfect body for a wing. Has a good looking shot and finishes very well at the basket. Needs to get more minutes as the season goes on.
Other notes:
Quinerly: Unbelievably skilled as a ball handler and has a good outside shot. Unfortunately, he cannot defend and I don't see that changing. Most of the time on defense he seems to be giving 100% but just doesnt have the footwork and technique to keep his man in front of him. Whatever he gives on offense, he gives right back on the other end of the floor.
Shack: Needs to play within himself and stop driving to the basket. He got bailed out on two phantom calls last night where he drove without purpose and threw the ball up and flailed. Most of the time he will not get those calls. Even the basket he made late on the drive, I'm convinced he didn't know where the basket was... just threw it up. I like him, but he needs to be Charvez Davis 2.0. Catch and shoot. Also, he's lost on defense. Gives up way too many back door cuts for easy layups and it's killing us.
Bruner: Disappearing Big Man. He's not a bad player and we've seen he's an elite passer on the interior. Unfortunately, you kinda forget he's in the game most of the time. Had a decent performance last night. Hoping that can continue. A guy with his size and skill should be able to rebound much better than he has so far.
Herb: Stud. He's going to miss layups at the rim... I've come to grips with it. He gives us way more positives than anyone else on the team and we just have to live with the missed bunnies.
Rojas: Like Shack, he needs to play within himself. The guy is a more talented version of Chris Hines if he can just play that game instead of trying to run the break. Get the rebound and pass immediately... crash the boards and play defense, shoot the open 3. That's it. If he does that, he will help the team. If he tries to generate offense on his own, he will continue to hurt us.
Petty: For all the hate he gets, we need him big time. He had a horrible shooting night, but he plays 110% at all times. Great rebounding guard and elite defender. It's also nice to have a guy who has the ability to catch fire from deep and carry a team. I want him playing at least 32-33 minutes every single night.
