Md Terps Basketball...
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:01 pm
....since their football team stinks!
(I tried to post this to the Blog forum but realized only the big shots can do that...)
I watched the Terps Midnight Madness last night on Comcast. This is the time to be excited over both the woman's team and men's team. The woman will be good, barring injuries...no questions there.
The men...I saw energy and enthusiam from their 2 new guards (Hayes and Vasquez) last night and that gives me hope. For them to be a really good team, and one that returns to the NCAA tournament, their seniors must come through, finally.
Senior Mike Jones -- He has the build of a NBA shooting guard - 6'5" 205 lbs It's almost as if Gary hasn't wanted him in the game -- maybe that's because he doesn't trust him or he doesn't like that he plays only average defense. He's not a great ball on defender or doesn't seem to put the effort into it. He has a super shooting touch and can jump through the roof. He just disappears for stretchs and I can't figure out why. He needs to beecome a good scorer, not just a good shooter. ala, Juan Dixon.
Senior Will Bowers -- He'll never be a starting caliber center, but maybe he's a guy who comes off the bench and gives them 10-15 mins of solid play. He won't play much against quicker smaller teams. He's a big guy at 7'1" so if nothing else, he can control the paint in short bursts. From what I can tell, he's too nice on the floor...Gary needs to feed him gunpowder. If only I could have been 7'1"!!
Senior Parrish Brown -- I liked him last year, Gary didn't play him as much as I thought he might. When he played, we had a true point guard in the game. He's instant speed and energy but maybe Gary didn't feel he could guard other pg's in the ACC. Again, another player who needs to play well during his limited actiom (8-10 mins a game) and if nothing else, bring the energy level up a notch.
Senior Ekene Ibekwe -- E-kenny needs to be the guy Md thought he was when they brought him from CA. He's a very long guy at 6'9" -- apparently has put on 10 lbs of muscle. Hopefully, his stint this summer playing with NBA bound guys will help him out. He is NOT a good player in a setup offense and he has a terrible shot (in fact, it's one of the weirdest shots I've ever seen), but plays as well as anyone on the break. He should never touch the ball more than 15 feet from the basket. I scream, "pass it" ever time he receives a pass at the top of the key! He doesn't appear to have any idea that (1) moving your feet without dribbling is not allowed in college ball; and (2) stepping on the little white line under the basket is bad. Seriously, if he can become an inside presence, we go a long way this year. He doesn't need to score a lot though, just rebound, block shots, play tough defense, and get out on the break.
Senior D.J. Strawberry -- Played pg last year and shouldn't have. He's a shooting guard or small forward ONLY. Thank goodness they have guys who can play pg this year. He will be a much more effective player at #2 or #3. He doesn't have a good shot, but it has improved over his years at Md. He is an excellent player on the break and plays great man on defense. I like his game when the tempo is fast paced. He and Mike Jones would be good complimentary players. DJ brings a serious amount of energy and loves the game. Playing with the NBA bound guys this summer hopefully helped him out. He's a good sized kid at 6-5 200 lbs. I see him elevating his game this year.
Senior Gini Chukura -- When I went to Md, we had Brian Magget who all the fans wanted to see. This guy will not play, except early in the year when they play their softer schedule. Went to school with fellow Terp - Gist at Good Counsel, in Wheaton Md only a few miles from College Park.
Soph Dave Neal -- A forward from McLean, Va. He's a big fella and might get bigger as he gets older. He's 6'7" 255 now. Will play a limited role. Will bang, has a nice shot and appears quicker than his 250 lbs. Won't be a factor against quicker teams.
Junior James Gist -- He's a big forward 6'8" 225 lbs who can run the floor and flat out jump. He did not play well as a Soph (on the other hand -- who did play well last year?) I see James being a super player for Md. An explosive guy who needs to continue to get bigger and continue to improve his shooting. He plays good agressive defense and will be a major factor on the team this year. I'm not one to overstate things but I'll go out on the limb here -- With more work, this guy becomes a Lennie Bias (without the drugs). You heard it here!
New guys:
FR Landon Milbourne -- 6'7" 210 lb Forward from Oak Hill Academy
JR Bambale Osby -- 6'8" 250 lb Forward from Paris JC in Texas (Jr College Transfer).
FR Greivis Vasquez -- 6'5" 195 from Montrose Christian in Rockville, Md.
FR Jerome Burney 6'9" 210 lb Forward from Atlanta, GA
FR Eric Hayes Guard 6'3" 175 lb guard from Dumfries, VA
Like every year for the past 35 years, I really look forward to the Terps season. I'm betting that they'll be back in the NCAA tournament this year. In fact, I see enough talent here for this team to not only make the Final 32 but the Sweet 16. Going much further is iffy unless they get a few breaks or a few of their seniors really step it up!
Enjoy the year, I will!
(I tried to post this to the Blog forum but realized only the big shots can do that...)
I watched the Terps Midnight Madness last night on Comcast. This is the time to be excited over both the woman's team and men's team. The woman will be good, barring injuries...no questions there.
The men...I saw energy and enthusiam from their 2 new guards (Hayes and Vasquez) last night and that gives me hope. For them to be a really good team, and one that returns to the NCAA tournament, their seniors must come through, finally.
Senior Mike Jones -- He has the build of a NBA shooting guard - 6'5" 205 lbs It's almost as if Gary hasn't wanted him in the game -- maybe that's because he doesn't trust him or he doesn't like that he plays only average defense. He's not a great ball on defender or doesn't seem to put the effort into it. He has a super shooting touch and can jump through the roof. He just disappears for stretchs and I can't figure out why. He needs to beecome a good scorer, not just a good shooter. ala, Juan Dixon.
Senior Will Bowers -- He'll never be a starting caliber center, but maybe he's a guy who comes off the bench and gives them 10-15 mins of solid play. He won't play much against quicker smaller teams. He's a big guy at 7'1" so if nothing else, he can control the paint in short bursts. From what I can tell, he's too nice on the floor...Gary needs to feed him gunpowder. If only I could have been 7'1"!!
Senior Parrish Brown -- I liked him last year, Gary didn't play him as much as I thought he might. When he played, we had a true point guard in the game. He's instant speed and energy but maybe Gary didn't feel he could guard other pg's in the ACC. Again, another player who needs to play well during his limited actiom (8-10 mins a game) and if nothing else, bring the energy level up a notch.
Senior Ekene Ibekwe -- E-kenny needs to be the guy Md thought he was when they brought him from CA. He's a very long guy at 6'9" -- apparently has put on 10 lbs of muscle. Hopefully, his stint this summer playing with NBA bound guys will help him out. He is NOT a good player in a setup offense and he has a terrible shot (in fact, it's one of the weirdest shots I've ever seen), but plays as well as anyone on the break. He should never touch the ball more than 15 feet from the basket. I scream, "pass it" ever time he receives a pass at the top of the key! He doesn't appear to have any idea that (1) moving your feet without dribbling is not allowed in college ball; and (2) stepping on the little white line under the basket is bad. Seriously, if he can become an inside presence, we go a long way this year. He doesn't need to score a lot though, just rebound, block shots, play tough defense, and get out on the break.
Senior D.J. Strawberry -- Played pg last year and shouldn't have. He's a shooting guard or small forward ONLY. Thank goodness they have guys who can play pg this year. He will be a much more effective player at #2 or #3. He doesn't have a good shot, but it has improved over his years at Md. He is an excellent player on the break and plays great man on defense. I like his game when the tempo is fast paced. He and Mike Jones would be good complimentary players. DJ brings a serious amount of energy and loves the game. Playing with the NBA bound guys this summer hopefully helped him out. He's a good sized kid at 6-5 200 lbs. I see him elevating his game this year.
Senior Gini Chukura -- When I went to Md, we had Brian Magget who all the fans wanted to see. This guy will not play, except early in the year when they play their softer schedule. Went to school with fellow Terp - Gist at Good Counsel, in Wheaton Md only a few miles from College Park.
Soph Dave Neal -- A forward from McLean, Va. He's a big fella and might get bigger as he gets older. He's 6'7" 255 now. Will play a limited role. Will bang, has a nice shot and appears quicker than his 250 lbs. Won't be a factor against quicker teams.
Junior James Gist -- He's a big forward 6'8" 225 lbs who can run the floor and flat out jump. He did not play well as a Soph (on the other hand -- who did play well last year?) I see James being a super player for Md. An explosive guy who needs to continue to get bigger and continue to improve his shooting. He plays good agressive defense and will be a major factor on the team this year. I'm not one to overstate things but I'll go out on the limb here -- With more work, this guy becomes a Lennie Bias (without the drugs). You heard it here!
New guys:
FR Landon Milbourne -- 6'7" 210 lb Forward from Oak Hill Academy
JR Bambale Osby -- 6'8" 250 lb Forward from Paris JC in Texas (Jr College Transfer).
FR Greivis Vasquez -- 6'5" 195 from Montrose Christian in Rockville, Md.
FR Jerome Burney 6'9" 210 lb Forward from Atlanta, GA
FR Eric Hayes Guard 6'3" 175 lb guard from Dumfries, VA
Like every year for the past 35 years, I really look forward to the Terps season. I'm betting that they'll be back in the NCAA tournament this year. In fact, I see enough talent here for this team to not only make the Final 32 but the Sweet 16. Going much further is iffy unless they get a few breaks or a few of their seniors really step it up!
Enjoy the year, I will!
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