Major Majerus

I don't equate hops with quickness. The guy with the big vertical leap is great on offense for dunks and jumpshots, but when he gets way up there on defense in response to a fake, he's helpless...because it takes time to come down. AD has shown me he's quick, and can get his shot off in traffic - because of his quicks. Most basketball is played beneath the rims, so the ability to dunk is lost on me as a requisite for greatness. I think AD has the quicks to play D1 in any league.

I agree a lot about what you say, but Fish will be the guy to bring the ball up this year. I watched him in the 5 on 6 drills, and nobody is going to defend him 1 on 1 - he's the best ball handler on the team, and has tremendous strength. He'll blow by or run over any opposition.

You're right - if opponents are determined to stop him, he can't put up great numbers. What does that say about our team if opponents have a game plan to stop AD?

6ppg? Wha? This guy will lead the league going to the hole, but he is ready to pass off - I hope the 4-5 is ready to receive. You'll rethink your post after tonite...

That's the word on my street...course, I'm the only SLU fan I know on my street...

When I think of Heinrich, I think of "tentative." Frericks has a lot of heart, and attacks. Not as big a body, but plenty big.

Forget the KB comparison; they're different players. When you see, you will understand.

I'm looking forward to a detailed report on your steak...

Varner is clearly a D1 player - how else could he look so good in practice against others - assuming they are D1 players? You certainly can't build a team around him, but the best teams also have role players. It's not fair to make the lesser player the whipping boy - that should be reserved for the talented guy who doesn't show up with the right attitude or whatever. Who really let us down last year? It sure wasn't DD - it was the two guys who dropped the ball in their school work and had to leave. OK, maybe it was CB a little...

Ross is an easy target, but he has a complete game, within his athletic capabilities, and understands UB's philosophy, and offensive and defensive schemes. JJ clearly has the greater athletic ability, but Ross is way ahead of him in the depth chart now, imo.

Didn't know him at THE high - probably one of those busybodies who was into everything and didn't hang out in the pool hall with the lower classes...

Actually, Varner doesn't take any prisoners either. He'll definitely get a lot of pt until Ian is ready.

Well, Frericks can certainly move him out of the lane, sore shoulder and all. Still, Ian has the body, and he will toughen up - in fact, it seems as if Frericks has volunteered...:7

Plus, Ian has a "real" hook shot - he backs his guy as far as he can go in the middle of the key and hooks it over him. It looks like a shot he's practiced for years as opposed to the avant garde hook shot of CB.

My understanding is that practice was closed for the first week, so today was after that week, and I just showed up - no problem. To complete my synopsis, Reggie looked very good - has the outside shot, and is very clever on his drives - he has the hops to go underneath on his drives, and then pop back for the "impossible angle" layup. Darren Clarke looked a little lost - doesn't know where he fits in yet, but either he or Hunt will get the minutes. By far, the most aggressive in attacking the basket are Izik and Drejaj. Izik sprained his ankle the last few minutes of practice - I hope it's just something minor, but he took himself out of the scrimmage, and was limping. Both teams looked a little lost on offense in the scrimmage - maybe tomorrow will tell a better tale, but if UB tries to equalize the teams, it won't be pretty.

Attended practice this aft. Recognized everyone except a walkon by the name of Wendell...didn't get the last name. Major league body, but I couldn't tell how tall he was because I was upstairs; maybe 6'4" or so, give or take. Sat next to Washington High's varsity coach, who was invited by Lance. Scrimmage, according to him, is scheduled Sat. 10 am. I can't make it, but now one of you should and report back. Here are my assessments, based on the one practice... One of the student managers came up and gave us a practice program, divided into 15 minute segments. UB didn't adhere to it exactly, but close enough. One of the early drills was beating the press, with 6 defenders. They couldn't stop Fish. He has the sculpted body, weight, and handling skills to beat most presses. They also had a dribbling segment around 5 defenders - Fish was the best. We're OK there, I think. Bryce - has to redshirt, unless there's an injury. He has a great frame, good hands, and hand-eye quickness, but Frericks just mauls him on the block. This is a great recruit, and with some body building and development, he could be a great asset in our future, but it was clear that he couldn't bang with the wide bodies...but with his frame, he could be a wide body next year. Frericks - he wants the ball, and gets angry when he can't finish. He failed to on several occasions, and slammed the ball, cursed, etc. I wonder if his anger affects his game. He is very intense going to the boards at both ends, and UB actually told him to cool it a little or he would find himself on the bench with fouls. He is a bull in the middle; Zorba cannot bang with him, for the moment. It's official - Izik is a 3. He looks very aggressive offensively; still laid back defensively, as the Wash. HS coach observed. The 4s are Sloan, JJ, and Varner. I am happy to report that Varner looked very good, including his ability to step up and make the open shot without any hesitation. Good hustle. JJ impressed me with his offensive skills, but, and UB called him out on this, he watches the ball too much on defense, and Sloan was able to backdoor him at will. This is mental, but the physical talent is there...which brings me to the... Prepractice peptalk by UB wherein he espoused the Bobby Knight and ##### Bennett philosphy that the mental is 4 to the physical's 1. Playing smart allows you to beat better talent...that doesn't play smart. Of course, we all knew that, right? Drejah is such a load - it's a pleasure to watch him, always. He wins every windsprint. It's a toss-up to who gets the Charley Hustle award - D or Sloan. Sloan - stronger AND more confident. Hunt - now a scholly player, but the same player - confident, but has that small body. Zorba...seemed a little passive, but the potential is there; hard to bang agains Frericks. I have a dinner engagement, so I have to go, but I'll check tomorrow for the scrimmage reports, and add my 2 cents if any bells are rung...

The amount of wine isn't the problem; it's the space in front of the TV...:+

Except that I heard that the Illini would have offered Clags except that they were on probation with limited scholarships. They knew all about him and congratulated SLU when they signed him - this was told to me by the ass't. coach under Grawer - his name escapes me, but it was the one whose good buddy was Oprah's boyfriend.

If you only live an hour away and normally come to the games, then come to one of the posters' houses that has Charter - we will set up a network for different parts of the metro area and get the word out.

Why does this thread sound like email from a porno site?

Well, I was never a good note taker, but it's nice to know that there's another soul on the board who understands the game...

Depending on which way the courts go, the Billiken might be carrying this season...

You say so much stuff, you probably did...:+ but did you say it in this thread? If not, it doesn't count, because nobody can remember from day to day, except BR who catalogues everything...

Well then, my tickets are better than yours.:+

Nobody else has talked about the most important intangible that we're replacing - the tendency for guys to stand around and watch to see if Marque could pull out one more for us. I think the scoring threat is a lot more spread out on this year's team - an intangible that works in our favor.