The one thing that I find distasteful about being a Memphis Tiger fan is how we have become so critical of recruits and young players. We're not so different from the other top programs in that regard, but I had hoped that we would be better than them.
In my opinion, 90% of all recruits and first year players should be immune to any criticism if they are working hard and playing hard. If I was critical of Evans it was more a reflection on Cal having him out there when he should have maybe had him on the bench.
We are playing at such a high level and have such high expectations for our team that we forget that almost no freshmen make an impact their first year. If you look outside the top 25 in every class, it is very difficult to find freshman that make a serious impact before the 2nd half of their sophmore season, or into their junior seasons.
2007
15 Austin Freeman
18 Nayal Koshwal
19 Chandler Parsons
20 Craig Brackens
21 Jamelle Horne
24 Solomon Alabi
26 Beas Hamga
30 Cole Aldrich
31 Herb Pope
32 James Anderson
34 Corperryale Harris
36 Jeff Robinson
37 Taylor King
40 Senario Hillman
43 Jai Lucas
44 Alex Legion
45 Darquavis Tucker
47 Tracy Smith
50 Justin Burrell
2006
14 Stanley Robinson
19 Obi Muonelo
20 Ramar Smith
24 Brian Zoubek
25 Derrick Caracter
26 Duke Crews
27 Curtis Kelly
30 Jason Bennett
35 Michael Washington
37 Vernon Macklin
38 Derrick Jasper
41 Alex Stepheson
46 Greivis Vasquez
47 Donneal Mack
50 James Keefe
2005
1 Gerald Green
14 Keith Brumbaugh
17 Byron Eaton
18 Magnum Rolle
19 Calvin Miles
20 Tasmin Mitchell
21 PJ Prince
22 Mike Mercer
24 Coutrney Fells
27 Fendi Onobun
28 Micah Downs
30 Brandon Costner
31 Danny Green
35 Shawn Taggart
37 Bryan Harvey
39 Theo Davis
40 Martynas Pocius
42 Korvotney Barber
44 Wilson Chandler
48 Rashad Woods
49 Ben Allen
50 Artem Wallace
The point to this as it relates to us specifically has to do with Robinson and the freshmen. I'm not convinced that Jeff Robinson isn't going to turn out to be a really good player. Many are dogging his shooting and handles, but Robinson has progressed a great deal since he arrived on campus. For starters; he worked really hard to improve his body. Second, his shooting; which was dismal the first half of last year was very good in the second half. Third; he turned out to be a really good defender by the end of last season.
Robinson wasn't dogging in, and wasn't a disappointment. He was progressing at a fair rate when you compare him to other sophmores in his class. There are over 300 program in the country where Robinson would have had 25 minutes per game in his freshman season and would have had the time to adapt to D1 ball. It is different when you are chasing the Final Four every year. Unfortunately, at Memphis and a handful of other elite programs, he didn't have that luxury.
We're used to being at such a high level that we are overly critical of the kids. Evans will be great very soon. Witherspoon, Sallie, and Simpkins all have the potential to be very good, but we shouldn't expect them to be world beaters right away.
(01-06-2009 08:19 PM)Stammers Wrote: [ -> ]The one thing that I find distasteful about being a Memphis Tiger fan is how we have become so critical of recruits and young players. We're not so different from the other top programs in that regard, but I had hoped that we would be better than them.
In my opinion, 90% of all recruits and first year players should be immune to any criticism if they are working hard and playing hard. If I was critical of Evans it was more a reflection on Cal having him out there when he should have maybe had him on the bench.
We are playing at such a high level and have such high expectations for our team that we forget that almost no freshmen make an impact their first year. If you look outside the top 25 in every class, it is very difficult to find freshman that make a serious impact before the 2nd half of their sophmore season, or into their junior seasons.
2007
15 Austin Freeman
18 Nayal Koshwal
19 Chandler Parsons
20 Craig Brackens
21 Jamelle Horne
24 Solomon Alabi
26 Beas Hamga
30 Cole Aldrich
31 Herb Pope
32 James Anderson
34 Corperryale Harris
36 Jeff Robinson
37 Taylor King
40 Senario Hillman
43 Jai Lucas
44 Alex Legion
45 Darquavis Tucker
47 Tracy Smith
50 Justin Burrell
2006
14 Stanley Jefferson
19 Obi Muonelo
20 Ramar Smith
24 Brian Zoubek
25 Derrick Caracter
26 Duke Crews
27 Curtis Kelly
30 Jason Bennett
35 Michael Washington
37 Vernon Macklin
38 Derrick Jasper
41 Alex Stepheson
46 Greivis Vasquez
47 Donneal Mack
50 James Keefe
2005
1 Gerald Green
14 Keith Brumbaugh
17 Byron Eaton
18 Magnum Rolle
19 Calvin Miles
20 Tasmin Mitchell
21 PJ Prince
22 Mike Mercer
24 Coutrney Fells
27 Fendi Onobun
28 Micah Downs
30 Brandon Costner
31 Danny Green
35 Shawn Taggart
37 Bryan Harvey
39 Theo Davis
40 Martynas Pocius
42 Korvotney Barber
44 Wilson Chandler
48 Rashad Woods
49 Ben Allen
50 Artem Wallace
The point to this as it relates to us specifically has to do with Robinson and the freshmen. I'm not convinced that Jeff Robinson isn't going to turn out to be a really good player. Many are dogging his shooting and handles, but Robinson has progressed a great deal since he arrived on campus. For starters; he worked really hard to improve his body. Second, his shooting; which was dismal the first half of last year was very good in the second half. Third; he turned out to be a really good defender by the end of last season.
Robinson wasn't dogging in, and wasn't a disappointment. He was progressing at a fair rate when you compare him to other sophmores in his class. There are over 300 program in the country where Robinson would have had 25 minutes per game in his freshman season and would have had the time to adapt to D1 ball. It is different when you are chasing the Final Four every year. Unfortunately, at Memphis and a handful of other elite programs, he didn't have that luxury.
We're used to being at such a high level that we are overly critical of the kids. Evans will be great very soon. Witherspoon, Sallie, and Simpkins all have the potential to be very good, but we shouldn't expect them to be world beaters right away.
Terrific post!
Good post and right on the $$$.
to add to that, Memphis fans were spoiled by the Laurinburg guys along with CDR then Rose because they all contributed in their first and second seasons...Cooper probably contributed the least and he got decent run...now when a freshman starts out slow, fans wonder what the problem is when in reality they all usually start out slow...
(01-06-2009 08:32 PM)HoopDreams Wrote: [ -> ]to add to that, Memphis fans were spoiled by the Laurinburg guys along with CDR then Rose because they all contributed in their first and second seasons...Cooper probably contributed the least and he got decent run...now when a freshman starts out slow, fans wonder what the problem is when in reality they all usually start out slow...
You are bang on about that as well. That class might have been the best in all of college basketball in the last 5 years. We got a lot out of Williams right away and CDR, Dozier, Anderson and AA all contributed right away. Cooper wasn't great but we would have been totally screwed without him. Our only other option was Niles. That was a crazy class that made all of our fans completely lose their perspective on what reasonable expectations are for a freshman.
I don't have a problem with criticism as long as it is done properly. If someone tells me I am doing something wrong and I am an idiot I am less likely to listen to them that to someone who offers positive advice. Throwing a player down and trampling all over him shows a severe lack of class.
What ever happened to the #21 rated player from 2005? That name sounds familiar.
(01-06-2009 08:50 PM)Skinny but Dangerous Wrote: [ -> ]What ever happened to the #21 rated player from 2005? That name sounds familiar.
PJ has a lot of skill but I think that his lousy freshman season at Arizona followed by the setback because of his health problems after that might be too much for him to overcome.
The knock on PJ has always been that he's soft and he doesn't work hard. Look at a guy like CDR. He couldn't shoot beyond 18' but he turned himself into a really good 3 point shooter by his junior season. PJ just seems a bit lazy and a bit sloppy to me. His talent will be good enough to get him by at UT, but not good enough to accomplish what we expect at Memphis. He also doesn't have the coach to bring that out in him.
+1 Nice Post; Right ON...BUT I want to get the most out of these guys. I know at my own job I coast sometimes because I am as good as those around me. To get to the top of my game I need pushing and realistic feedback vs. my expectations and desire not those around me who don't have my talent. That said these guys need pushing and refining NOT blind tear downs.
Great post. Here lately I've been googling Evans' name quite a bit to see what people around the country are saying about him, and it's amazing how much criticism he garners. IMO he's having a terrific, TERRIFIC freshman season, and is already our best player. And yet at the same juncture last season, Rose was getting nothing but accolades. Rose had a far superior supporting cast and was able to slowly assert his authority on the program. Evans has been forced to be The Man from the get-go. Most of his criticism is completely unwarranted.
Good post Stammers... I think that sums up what most knowledgeable Tiger fans realize. Nice problem to have when a top 50 recruit can't get minutes. My only disagreement with your post is in regard to Evans. You say your being critical of Evans was a result of Cal needing to maybe have him on the bench. IMHO a player with that talent, knowing that he will be the primary scoring option of this team, needs as many minutes as possible early in the season. Throw him in the fire early, learn from mistakes and get better. Let him figure it out on the court.. he obviously has the talent. Sure, it may have cost us a game or two in December but come March watch out.. the experience will pay off. JMHO. You're absolutely right about the new guys not being world beaters yet. We just need them to give us a lift off the bench... I can't wait to see these guys come together in the next few years- WOW!
(01-07-2009 09:33 AM)atrizzle Wrote: [ -> ]stupid post
Do we have an irony smilie?
(01-06-2009 08:19 PM)Stammers Wrote: [ -> ]The one thing that I find distasteful about being a Memphis Tiger fan is how we have become so critical of recruits and young players. We're not so different from the other top programs in that regard, but I had hoped that we would be better than them.
In my opinion, 90% of all recruits and first year players should be immune to any criticism if they are working hard and playing hard. If I was critical of Evans it was more a reflection on Cal having him out there when he should have maybe had him on the bench.
We are playing at such a high level and have such high expectations for our team that we forget that almost no freshmen make an impact their first year. If you look outside the top 25 in every class, it is very difficult to find freshman that make a serious impact before the 2nd half of their sophmore season, or into their junior seasons.
2007
15 Austin Freeman
18 Nayal Koshwal
19 Chandler Parsons
20 Craig Brackens
21 Jamelle Horne
24 Solomon Alabi
26 Beas Hamga
30 Cole Aldrich
31 Herb Pope
32 James Anderson
34 Corperryale Harris
36 Jeff Robinson
37 Taylor King
40 Senario Hillman
43 Jai Lucas
44 Alex Legion
45 Darquavis Tucker
47 Tracy Smith
50 Justin Burrell
2006
14 Stanley Robinson
19 Obi Muonelo
20 Ramar Smith
24 Brian Zoubek
25 Derrick Caracter
26 Duke Crews
27 Curtis Kelly
30 Jason Bennett
35 Michael Washington
37 Vernon Macklin
38 Derrick Jasper
41 Alex Stepheson
46 Greivis Vasquez
47 Donneal Mack
50 James Keefe
2005
1 Gerald Green
14 Keith Brumbaugh
17 Byron Eaton
18 Magnum Rolle
19 Calvin Miles
20 Tasmin Mitchell
21 PJ Prince
22 Mike Mercer
24 Coutrney Fells
27 Fendi Onobun
28 Micah Downs
30 Brandon Costner
31 Danny Green
35 Shawn Taggart
37 Bryan Harvey
39 Theo Davis
40 Martynas Pocius
42 Korvotney Barber
44 Wilson Chandler
48 Rashad Woods
49 Ben Allen
50 Artem Wallace
The point to this as it relates to us specifically has to do with Robinson and the freshmen. I'm not convinced that Jeff Robinson isn't going to turn out to be a really good player. Many are dogging his shooting and handles, but Robinson has progressed a great deal since he arrived on campus. For starters; he worked really hard to improve his body. Second, his shooting; which was dismal the first half of last year was very good in the second half. Third; he turned out to be a really good defender by the end of last season.
Robinson wasn't dogging in, and wasn't a disappointment. He was progressing at a fair rate when you compare him to other sophmores in his class. There are over 300 program in the country where Robinson would have had 25 minutes per game in his freshman season and would have had the time to adapt to D1 ball. It is different when you are chasing the Final Four every year. Unfortunately, at Memphis and a handful of other elite programs, he didn't have that luxury.
We're used to being at such a high level that we are overly critical of the kids. Evans will be great very soon. Witherspoon, Sallie, and Simpkins all have the potential to be very good, but we shouldn't expect them to be world beaters right away.
Thank you for such a quality post!
I agree with another thought about us being spoiled by a group of players that had previously had a season together to learn each others games (Laurinburg) that doesn't come around often, and I think some people forget that at times.
2 players from that class made it to the League. 5 players from the 2006 team made it to the League. If Dozier makes it next year the numbers go up to 3 and 6. That is amazing.