Sanford - Complete, versatile player who can play both Off and Point Guard Positions equally well. Has developed an attitude, i.e. in your face dunk on last play of game vs. Oakland!
Fletcher - Another versatile player who can take it to the rack or hit the Mid range Jumper. Sometimes plays too fast but I like his aggressiveness!
Navigato - I like that he doesn't force things and takes shots in the flow of the offense. Doesn't let missing shots affect the way he plays on either end.
Knapke - If we can get close to a performance as we got against Oakland every night, he will be a force to be reckoned with. Seems to start games slow with a foul or shot blocked but gets going once into the flow of the game.
Jackson - He is very poised for a freshman and doesn't try to force things on the offensive end. His strong play allows Sanford to concentrate on scoring instead of having to get other players involved.
Adway - He has performed well in limited minutes due mostly to foul trouble. He and Knapke could develop into a "two headed" monster in the low post with their scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.
These observations are subject to change as this is only a 3 game sample!
Navigato has pulled down some key defensive rebounds. Impressed with how that part of his game has continued to improve from season to season.
Alderson will likely be a key contributor in future years. He was an excellent late pickup.
+1 on all the observations above
(11-20-2017 04:25 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote: [ -> ]Sanford - Complete, versatile player who can play both Off and Point Guard Positions equally well. Has developed an attitude, i.e. in your face dunk on last play of game vs. Oakland!
Fletcher - Another versatile player who can take it to the rack or hit the Mid range Jumper. Sometimes plays too fast but I like his aggressiveness!
Navigato - I like that he doesn't force things and takes shots in the flow of the offense. Doesn't let missing shots affect the way he plays on either end.
Knapke - If we can get close to a performance as we got against Oakland every night, he will be a force to be reckoned with. Seems to start games slow with a foul or shot blocked but gets going once into the flow of the game.
Jackson - He is very poised for a freshman and doesn't try to force things on the offensive end. His strong play allows Sanford to concentrate on scoring instead of having to get other players involved.
Adway - He has performed well in limited minutes due mostly to foul trouble. He and Knapke could develop into a "two headed" monster in the low post with their scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.
These observations are subject to change as this is only a 3 game sample!
Agreed, I'd add
Fletcher hasn't been very efficient as a scorer, but his overall play-defense, communication, ball handling, ability to make a play on offense makes us a more dynamic team. If he can be more reliable on lay-ups and a little more selective on his jumpers he will be all-mac.
Alderson has been vital. To have a bench guy-as a frosh-play such consistent d, and just make good quick decisions, is crucial. versatile player.
M Jackson: Clutch, tough, a little ugly but I don't care.
Fletcher isn’t a Rian Pearson but there are nights when he’ll play one on TV. A little more consistency will help his game but as pono mentions he CAN do everything. Some nights he’ll bring rebounding , some play-making, some scoring and hopefully every night defense and occasionally all of it.
Sanford was a great get. Definitely a scorer mentality (witness his numbers-chasing, end-of-game unnecessary shots against St. Joe and Oakland) but spent a fair amount of time chasing both Nunn and Newkirk on D. Much more confident now that he’s the Man with Jon-Jon moved on.
Navigato is beginning to be much less one dimensional and his rebounding is much improved.
The two bigs remain cyphers-they seem lost sometimes but then Adway puts a spin move on a high post defender and scores off the dribble and Knapke steps out and hits a three followed by a put-back slam. Hopefully, both show continued growth.
Jackson is not Juice but he may be as good without the downsides of trying to make every play by himself. Very contained game, gets in the flow and doesn’t force things but takes the shot or drive if it’s there. Pretty good defense for a Frosh.
Alderson just does not look like freshman. Looks like he could replace Tafe at middle linebacker as easily as replacing Sanford at the 2. He’s shown he can shoot and is definitely a hard nose guy. I’ve been impressed with both freshmen who have played big minutes, especially with their confidence. Not tentative at all. Rose and Gordon are still unknowns at this point and Roberts seems to be 5-7 minutes of smart play and trying to do no harm until he comes out. Can’t wait to see what Jackson brings.
Love the fit of our new players and freshmen into our upper classmen. We needed the help at point guard and I'm pleasantly suprised with Jackson so far.
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If Knapke and Adway were more aggressive, this would be a very tough team to beat. But they have been in the program 3 years, so this may be it.