Now that the college season is in full swing, I thought I would give updates on different teams and players that I think might be revelant to the NBA draft. I'm not going to do it on a nightly basis. Even I'm not that dedicated. But I'll try an keep you up to date on the usual suspects, and also on who I think might be a sleeper. So, with no futher ado, lets talk about last night.
North Carolina/Michigan St.
North Carolina had its hands full for the first half of the first half. Mich. St. came out and punished them on the boards big time. This game was played on the deck of an aircraft carrier. It was a beautiful setting, especially with the sun going down in the background. Fortunately, it wasn't very windy. North Carolina ended up with the win, 67 to 55.
Harrison Barnes, a 6'8" SF, had a nice game with 17 pts, 5 boards, and 2 assists. He looks like he's added more weight and muscle in the offseason. He still has that beautiful shooting stroke, and he moves well without the ball.
John Henson, a 6'10" PF/C, added 12 points, 7 boards, and 9 blocked shots. He still has no game away from the basket, but his bread and butter is defense. He's still to skinny to suit me.
Kentucky/Marist:
This was a game for one half of basketball. I don't know what Calapari said at halftime, but Kentucky was a different team. Kentucky let at the half by about 8 points, but ended up winning by 50 pts 108 to 58. In the second half Kentucky turned up the defense, and the game was over.
Anthony Davis, a 6'10" C/PF freshman, considered by many scouts to be the number one pick in the draft right now, had 23 pts (at least 5 of his baskets were alleyoops) 10 boards, 5 blocked shots, and 3 assists. He was 10 of 13 from the field. Not a bad first game.
Michael Gilchrist, a 6'6" SF/SG freshman, and a terrific defender with a non stop motor, had 15 pts, 7 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. He was 5 of 9 from the field.
Marquis Teague, a 6'2" PG freshman, and also a very good defender, had 16 pts, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals. He was 7 of 12 from the field.
Doron Lamb, a 6'5" SG freshman, who on occasion plays the Pt, had 15 pts, 5 boards, 8 assists, and 1 steal. He was 6 or 12 from the field.
Terrence Jones, a 6'8" SF/PF sophmore, didn't play as much as usual after being in a car accident at 3 am the night before. I think he's in Calapari doghouse at the moment. He had 8 pts, 9 boards, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot. He was 3 of 7 from the field.
Kyle Wiltjer, a 6'9" PF freshman, who impressed me with his passing ability, had 14 pts, 4 boards, 1 assist, and 2 blocked shots.
Kentucky had 50 rebounds, 24 assists, 8 steals, and 13 blocked shots. You'll win a lot of games if you can do that every night.
UCONN/Columbia:
UCONN went on to win this game 70 to 57. I'd like to add that most of the early season first games of the year for the top teams are usually against 2nd tier teams. So the scores tend to be somewhat lopsided.
Andre Drummond may be rethinking his decision to go to UCONN. He only played 12 minutes while a player far inferior, talent wise took his minutes. Don't know the reason why, except that UCONN has a history of rewarding the more experienced players, and making the freshman earn their spurs. He won't be handed any gift minutes. I think he had 4 pts and a few boards, and a few fouls.
Jeremy Lamb, a 6'5" SG sophmore, and one of my favorite players, had a terrific game. last year Kemba Walker got all the press, and deservingly so. But the player that made a huge difference for UCONN last season, and was hidden to some extent by the shadow of Walker, was Lamb. He has a terrific inside, outside game. And is hands down the best defender on the team. He may be the best defensive SG in college, but I would get some argument there.
Lamb had 30 pts, 3 boards, 2 assists and 4 steals. He was 11 of 17 from the field, and 5 of 8 from beyond the circle.
Shabazz Napier, a 6'0" PG sophmore, also had a great game, and made the post Walker era a little easier to swallow. He had 21 pt's, 6 boards, 8 assists, and 2 steals. He was 7 of 12 from the field and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Obviously he didn't get to play as much last season with Walker there. But he opened the season with a bang.
To be continued:
North Carolina/Michigan St.
North Carolina had its hands full for the first half of the first half. Mich. St. came out and punished them on the boards big time. This game was played on the deck of an aircraft carrier. It was a beautiful setting, especially with the sun going down in the background. Fortunately, it wasn't very windy. North Carolina ended up with the win, 67 to 55.
Harrison Barnes, a 6'8" SF, had a nice game with 17 pts, 5 boards, and 2 assists. He looks like he's added more weight and muscle in the offseason. He still has that beautiful shooting stroke, and he moves well without the ball.
John Henson, a 6'10" PF/C, added 12 points, 7 boards, and 9 blocked shots. He still has no game away from the basket, but his bread and butter is defense. He's still to skinny to suit me.
Kentucky/Marist:
This was a game for one half of basketball. I don't know what Calapari said at halftime, but Kentucky was a different team. Kentucky let at the half by about 8 points, but ended up winning by 50 pts 108 to 58. In the second half Kentucky turned up the defense, and the game was over.
Anthony Davis, a 6'10" C/PF freshman, considered by many scouts to be the number one pick in the draft right now, had 23 pts (at least 5 of his baskets were alleyoops) 10 boards, 5 blocked shots, and 3 assists. He was 10 of 13 from the field. Not a bad first game.
Michael Gilchrist, a 6'6" SF/SG freshman, and a terrific defender with a non stop motor, had 15 pts, 7 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. He was 5 of 9 from the field.
Marquis Teague, a 6'2" PG freshman, and also a very good defender, had 16 pts, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals. He was 7 of 12 from the field.
Doron Lamb, a 6'5" SG freshman, who on occasion plays the Pt, had 15 pts, 5 boards, 8 assists, and 1 steal. He was 6 or 12 from the field.
Terrence Jones, a 6'8" SF/PF sophmore, didn't play as much as usual after being in a car accident at 3 am the night before. I think he's in Calapari doghouse at the moment. He had 8 pts, 9 boards, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot. He was 3 of 7 from the field.
Kyle Wiltjer, a 6'9" PF freshman, who impressed me with his passing ability, had 14 pts, 4 boards, 1 assist, and 2 blocked shots.
Kentucky had 50 rebounds, 24 assists, 8 steals, and 13 blocked shots. You'll win a lot of games if you can do that every night.
UCONN/Columbia:
UCONN went on to win this game 70 to 57. I'd like to add that most of the early season first games of the year for the top teams are usually against 2nd tier teams. So the scores tend to be somewhat lopsided.
Andre Drummond may be rethinking his decision to go to UCONN. He only played 12 minutes while a player far inferior, talent wise took his minutes. Don't know the reason why, except that UCONN has a history of rewarding the more experienced players, and making the freshman earn their spurs. He won't be handed any gift minutes. I think he had 4 pts and a few boards, and a few fouls.
Jeremy Lamb, a 6'5" SG sophmore, and one of my favorite players, had a terrific game. last year Kemba Walker got all the press, and deservingly so. But the player that made a huge difference for UCONN last season, and was hidden to some extent by the shadow of Walker, was Lamb. He has a terrific inside, outside game. And is hands down the best defender on the team. He may be the best defensive SG in college, but I would get some argument there.
Lamb had 30 pts, 3 boards, 2 assists and 4 steals. He was 11 of 17 from the field, and 5 of 8 from beyond the circle.
Shabazz Napier, a 6'0" PG sophmore, also had a great game, and made the post Walker era a little easier to swallow. He had 21 pt's, 6 boards, 8 assists, and 2 steals. He was 7 of 12 from the field and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Obviously he didn't get to play as much last season with Walker there. But he opened the season with a bang.
To be continued: