The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(07-28-2015 08:05 PM)blazed247 Wrote:  

(07-28-2015 07:56 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(07-28-2015 07:50 PM)blazed247 Wrote:  

(07-28-2015 07:33 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(07-28-2015 06:09 PM)blazed247 Wrote:  could definately use another big man, we have guards for days

A big isn't a need right now.

Why is that?

Mehinti, Lee, Cokley, and Smalls what big can crack that lineup. Sullivan is also considered a big too.

Smalls isn't really a true big, Its a long season. Lee is injury prone, and if anyone gets in foul trouble then we are going to be sweating it out. I think we could use another big. We should be alright but I would feel more comfortable with one more.

What are the chances we sign a guy (guard or foward) for this year now that Calhoun has left?

Lee is injury prone? To my knowledge, he's had one knee surgery. Ever. I'd say he recovered from it pretty well too.

Yeah, some definitions of injury prone are different than others. I guess mehinti is injury prone too. And Norton is concussion prone. That's some solid logic right here.

One who has had knee surgery is prone to screwing up that same knee again. Now come on guys, it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Look at Derrick rose for example.

Now this does not mean that I am saying he will get injured! But it did worry me when I saw him limping around after a few games last season.

My point is I think we need another big that can hold his own down low with the big boys. It would give us some support down low IN CASE someone gets injured or gets in foul trouble.

Also, I'm not sure if any of you went to or saw the UCLA game in the NCAA tournament last year but we straight up got EXPOSED last year during that game. It was just like watching them take candy from a baby (and we were the baby) We definitely need "some balls" down low. Hopefully our current guys (Mehinti/lee/cokley)can bulk up and become more aggressive down low.

I think Smallwood will be a good player and knock down some shots for us this year. But he definitely does not fill the glaring void that was exposed against UCLA.

I think a Kenneth Cooper type player is really what we need. Just another BIG body that can be an answer defensively for bigger teams (like UCLA), rebound, box out, and finish aggressively around the rim. If we can add someone like him I believe this team would have the potential to make the elite eight/final four.

Some of you guys are so sensitive by the way!!

(07-29-2015 11:05 AM)blazed247 Wrote:  One who has had knee surgery is prone to screwing up that same knee again. Now come on guys, it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Look at Derrick rose for example.

Now this does not mean that I am saying he will get injured! But it did worry me when I saw him limping around after a few games last season.

My point is I think we need another big that can hold his own down low with the big boys. It would give us some support down low IN CASE someone gets injured or gets in foul trouble.

Also, I'm not sure if any of you went to or saw the UCLA game in the NCAA tournament last year but we straight up got EXPOSED last year during that game. It was just like watching them take candy from a baby (and we were the baby) We definitely need "some balls" down low. Hopefully our current guys (Mehinti/lee/cokley)can bulk up and become more aggressive down low.

I think Smallwood will be a good player and knock down some shots for us this year. But he definitely does not fill the glaring void that was exposed against UCLA.

I think a Kenneth Cooper type player is really what we need. Just another BIG body that can be an answer defensively for bigger teams (like UCLA), rebound, box out, and finish aggressively around the rim. If we can add someone like him I believe this team would have the potential to make the elite eight/final four.

Some of you guys are so sensitive by the way!!

Great points, we really didn't get a big body and its may be needed.

Now that's just one talented player, and teams are playing small ball a little more. Also the thing I thought that was exposed was Norton's defense he let his guy get to the paint with nooooo problem which got Tosin in foul trouble. Let's give Haha another year before talking about him being injury prone.

Your last point was excellent though, some fail to realize that we were a player or two from the sweet 16 and beyond. That should be the goal instead of winning this weak conference. I do wonder if we see Smalls and Tosin on the court together so HaHa and play the three spot some.

(07-29-2015 11:05 AM)blazed247 Wrote:  One who has had knee surgery is prone to screwing up that same knee again. Now come on guys, it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Look at Derrick rose for example.

Now this does not mean that I am saying he will get injured! But it did worry me when I saw him limping around after a few games last season.

My point is I think we need another big that can hold his own down low with the big boys. It would give us some support down low IN CASE someone gets injured or gets in foul trouble.

Also, I'm not sure if any of you went to or saw the UCLA game in the NCAA tournament last year but we straight up got EXPOSED last year during that game. It was just like watching them take candy from a baby (and we were the baby) We definitely need "some balls" down low. Hopefully our current guys (Mehinti/lee/cokley)can bulk up and become more aggressive down low.

I think Smallwood will be a good player and knock down some shots for us this year. But he definitely does not fill the glaring void that was exposed against UCLA.

I think a Kenneth Cooper type player is really what we need. Just another BIG body that can be an answer defensively for bigger teams (like UCLA), rebound, box out, and finish aggressively around the rim. If we can add someone like him I believe this team would have the potential to make the elite eight/final four.

Some of you guys are so sensitive by the way!!

I hear you, yes UCLA exposed a weakness for that UAB team, but our strength was negated by not being able to rebound, hit shots and run, if we had been able to hit shots and run, the game may have ended differently.
Todays game isn't played the way UCLA played in that athletic big men are not plentiful. Todays game is a Guard, SF, Wing dominated game... UCLA was a perfect mismatch for those Blazers, and UCLA used the same style of play having beaten UAB in the Atlantic turny.
But yes to have a Big Cooper like body would be great, but there are not many out there, and we did try on Haas.

Yep, Norton has a long way to go defensively. Hopefully he improves by going up against Brown, Dirk, Hak, and Watts in practice this summer.

But has there been any talks about Hasse pulling a Mike Davis move and signing someone (please Lord a big body) before the season?

It's also worth noting that haha and Cokley were pretty freakin thin last year. You an follow their strength and conditioning programs and see what we are doing with them. Mehinti put on a ton of muscle between year 1 and year 2. We have pieces in place, we just have to let them develop. Cooper would be a huge asset on defense, but would we be running down the court 4 on 5 with a player like him?

i still stand by my statement that one knee injury doesn't make you injury prone. Plenty of guys have come back from one and not been Derrick rose too.

(07-29-2015 12:32 PM)rebounder2u Wrote:  I hear you, yes UCLA exposed a weakness for that UAB team, but our strength was negated by not being able to rebound, hit shots and run, if we had been able to hit shots and run, the game may have ended differently.
Todays game isn't played the way UCLA played in that athletic big men are not plentiful. Todays game is a Guard, SF, Wing dominated game... UCLA was a perfect mismatch for those Blazers, and UCLA used the same style of play having beaten UAB in the Atlantic turny.
But yes to have a Big Cooper like body would be great, but there are not many out there, and we did try on Haas.

Yes. That guy from UCLA who abused us wore a man-bra. There are other ways to counter a fat guy who can shoot than just a fat guy who can defend.

To be fair, UCLA had two guys get drafted (and neither were the big), so we were outmatched in other areas as well.

Going into the game, we sold out to stop UCLA's barrage of three-pointers, which we were unable to contain anyway. Focusing on stopping perimeter scoring left us exposed down low, and while we matched up height-wise, Tony Parker's 260lb frame was too much for Mehinti, therefore he got in foul trouble very quickly. After Mehiniti, we didn't really have a defensive stopper to take his place (Lee's athleticism helped, but he can't guard two bigs at once). The game spiraled out of reach from there.

If we can find a one-year Kenneth Cooper type, great. Otherwise, we should use the scholarship for next year.

Currently, we have the height to compete in the post (Tony Parker was only 6'9), we just need to be more disciplined in our post defense.

Yep, plus Tosin's second foul was a ticky-tack reach for a steal that put him on the bench for most of the first half. He probably won't make that mistake again as an upperclassman.

(07-29-2015 01:48 PM)jthrashr Wrote:  To be fair, UCLA had two guys get drafted (and neither were the big), so we were outmatched in other areas as well.

Going into the game, we sold out to stop UCLA's barrage of three-pointers, which we were unable to contain anyway. Focusing on stopping perimeter scoring left us exposed down low, and while we matched up height-wise, Tony Parker's 260lb frame was too much for Mehinti, therefore he got in foul trouble very quickly. After Mehiniti, we didn't really have a defensive stopper to take his place (Lee's athleticism helped, but he can't guard two bigs at once). The game spiraled out of reach from there.

If we can find a one-year Kenneth Cooper type, great. Otherwise, we should use the scholarship for next year.

Currently, we have the height to compete in the post (Tony Parker was only 6'9), we just need to be more disciplined in our post defense.

Bingo! Last sentence.

All in all, our guys got great experience last year. Im sure that the coaching staff and players are pushing each other and putting in a lot of work this off season. Everyone is back! (except for CJ, who many viewed as a disappointment last season) We are going to be bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, more disciplined, and more experienced. We add Dirk Williams who is a freak athlete, offensive assassin, and a probable starter. As for Thomas Smallwood, i'm not too sure how he will turn out. From what I have heard he will be able to provide decent minutes and knock down some shots. When I really think about it, this years team is going to be VERY SCARY! I just got the chills thinking about it.

CJ got married and became a father last year. He wasn't a disappointment to everyone

I just hope we play one game at a time. And give our best effort every night. North Texas has become the automatic WTF Loss for us that was always @ Tulane back in the day.

And make the fat kid run. It always works.

(07-29-2015 09:21 PM)blazed247 Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 01:48 PM)jthrashr Wrote:  To be fair, UCLA had two guys get drafted (and neither were the big), so we were outmatched in other areas as well.

Going into the game, we sold out to stop UCLA's barrage of three-pointers, which we were unable to contain anyway. Focusing on stopping perimeter scoring left us exposed down low, and while we matched up height-wise, Tony Parker's 260lb frame was too much for Mehinti, therefore he got in foul trouble very quickly. After Mehiniti, we didn't really have a defensive stopper to take his place (Lee's athleticism helped, but he can't guard two bigs at once). The game spiraled out of reach from there.

If we can find a one-year Kenneth Cooper type, great. Otherwise, we should use the scholarship for next year.

Currently, we have the height to compete in the post (Tony Parker was only 6'9), we just need to be more disciplined in our post defense.

Bingo! Last sentence.

All in all, our guys got great experience last year. Im sure that the coaching staff and players are pushing each other and putting in a lot of work this off season. Everyone is back! (except for CJ, who many viewed as a disappointment last season) We are going to be bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, more disciplined, and more experienced. We add Dirk Williams who is a freak athlete, offensive assassin, and a probable starter. As for Thomas Smallwood, i'm not too sure how he will turn out. From what I have heard he will be able to provide decent minutes and knock down some shots. When I really think about it, this years team is going to be VERY SCARY! I just got the chills thinking about it.

I only remember Looney getting drafted.

You want a big body which is what I wanted last year, and this year's a little different for me. I would like another ball handler to let Watts score more, tired of seeing us try to make him a pg.

(07-30-2015 12:07 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 09:21 PM)blazed247 Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 01:48 PM)jthrashr Wrote:  To be fair, UCLA had two guys get drafted (and neither were the big), so we were outmatched in other areas as well.

Going into the game, we sold out to stop UCLA's barrage of three-pointers, which we were unable to contain anyway. Focusing on stopping perimeter scoring left us exposed down low, and while we matched up height-wise, Tony Parker's 260lb frame was too much for Mehinti, therefore he got in foul trouble very quickly. After Mehiniti, we didn't really have a defensive stopper to take his place (Lee's athleticism helped, but he can't guard two bigs at once). The game spiraled out of reach from there.

If we can find a one-year Kenneth Cooper type, great. Otherwise, we should use the scholarship for next year.

Currently, we have the height to compete in the post (Tony Parker was only 6'9), we just need to be more disciplined in our post defense.

Bingo! Last sentence.

All in all, our guys got great experience last year. Im sure that the coaching staff and players are pushing each other and putting in a lot of work this off season. Everyone is back! (except for CJ, who many viewed as a disappointment last season) We are going to be bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, more disciplined, and more experienced. We add Dirk Williams who is a freak athlete, offensive assassin, and a probable starter. As for Thomas Smallwood, i'm not too sure how he will turn out. From what I have heard he will be able to provide decent minutes and knock down some shots. When I really think about it, this years team is going to be VERY SCARY! I just got the chills thinking about it.

I only remember Looney getting drafted.

You want a big body which is what I wanted last year, and this year's a little different for me. I would like another ball handler to let Watts score more, tired of seeing us try to make him a pg.

Norman Powell was the other UCLA draft choice.

(07-30-2015 12:57 PM)busch Wrote:  

(07-30-2015 12:07 PM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 09:21 PM)blazed247 Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 01:48 PM)jthrashr Wrote:  To be fair, UCLA had two guys get drafted (and neither were the big), so we were outmatched in other areas as well.

Going into the game, we sold out to stop UCLA's barrage of three-pointers, which we were unable to contain anyway. Focusing on stopping perimeter scoring left us exposed down low, and while we matched up height-wise, Tony Parker's 260lb frame was too much for Mehinti, therefore he got in foul trouble very quickly. After Mehiniti, we didn't really have a defensive stopper to take his place (Lee's athleticism helped, but he can't guard two bigs at once). The game spiraled out of reach from there.

If we can find a one-year Kenneth Cooper type, great. Otherwise, we should use the scholarship for next year.

Currently, we have the height to compete in the post (Tony Parker was only 6'9), we just need to be more disciplined in our post defense.

Bingo! Last sentence.

All in all, our guys got great experience last year. Im sure that the coaching staff and players are pushing each other and putting in a lot of work this off season. Everyone is back! (except for CJ, who many viewed as a disappointment last season) We are going to be bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, more disciplined, and more experienced. We add Dirk Williams who is a freak athlete, offensive assassin, and a probable starter. As for Thomas Smallwood, i'm not too sure how he will turn out. From what I have heard he will be able to provide decent minutes and knock down some shots. When I really think about it, this years team is going to be VERY SCARY! I just got the chills thinking about it.

I only remember Looney getting drafted.

You want a big body which is what I wanted last year, and this year's a little different for me. I would like another ball handler to let Watts score more, tired of seeing us try to make him a pg.

Norman Powell was the other UCLA draft choice.

Thanks, I forgot about him. Four McDonalds all Americans and Hamilton and Parker could be the better pros.

http://www.dailyregister.com/article/201.../150729387