Not saying EMU'S Thompson isn't still better but I would have expected the Freshman of the year from 2 years ago to Dominate a guy who redshirted that year I thought they pretty much played even.

Have to give a lot of credit to Luke and the Rocket coaching staff for his improvement.

(03-02-2018 10:11 PM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Not saying EMU'S Thompson isn't still better but I would have expected the Freshman of the year from 2 years ago to Dominate a guy who redshirted that year I thought they pretty much played even.

Have to give a lot of credit to Luke and the Rocket coaching staff for his improvement.

If LK hits the weights and bulls up like Casey Shaw did between sophomore and junior seasons, he could become a dominant player. The big question is IF...

(03-02-2018 10:15 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(03-02-2018 10:11 PM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Not saying EMU'S Thompson isn't still better but I would have expected the Freshman of the year from 2 years ago to Dominate a guy who redshirted that year I thought they pretty much played even.

Have to give a lot of credit to Luke and the Rocket coaching staff for his improvement.

If LK hits the weights and bulls up like Casey Shaw did between sophomore and junior seasons, he could become a dominant player. The big question is IF...

He keeps his composure and can shoot. I like that. JT4 plays a lot and gets boards.

(03-03-2018 12:58 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(03-02-2018 10:15 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(03-02-2018 10:11 PM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Not saying EMU'S Thompson isn't still better but I would have expected the Freshman of the year from 2 years ago to Dominate a guy who redshirted that year I thought they pretty much played even.

Have to give a lot of credit to Luke and the Rocket coaching staff for his improvement.

If LK hits the weights and bulls up like Casey Shaw did between sophomore and junior seasons, he could become a dominant player. The big question is IF...

He keeps his composure and can shoot. I like that. JT4 plays a lot and gets boards.

Big difference is that Knapke has been playing only about 1/2 of a game where a guy like Thompson gets a few blows and is back in.

Anyone else notice that there have been very few post-game Coach K press conference videos lately? Even for home games.

Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close. You have to remember that Thompson is guarding multiple cutters in the middle of the zone. If EMU played man to man and Thompson guarded Knapke 1 on 1, Knapke would not be able to get to the rim.

Same thing could be said about your #35. He's a great shooter against a zone, but if EMU played him man to man with Tim Bond on him, he probably couldn't get his shot off.

Toledo has a nice team but EMU is playing with intensity.

(03-03-2018 05:52 AM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(03-02-2018 10:15 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(03-02-2018 10:11 PM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Not saying EMU'S Thompson isn't still better but I would have expected the Freshman of the year from 2 years ago to Dominate a guy who redshirted that year I thought they pretty much played even.

Have to give a lot of credit to Luke and the Rocket coaching staff for his improvement.

Like I said, and I agree 100 percent with your statement -
If LK hits the weights and bulks up like Casey Shaw did between his sophomore and junior seasons, he could become a dominant player. The big question is IF...
Stiii would like to see another legit big man to complement him.

ppl

Knapke had a chip on his shoulder. Thompson struggled more than I would have 5hought and ultimately fouled out. He gets frustrated easily. It was quite a matchup. Willie Jackson had a nice game as the Rockets did a great job on the offensive boards and Jackson had some scary dunks. Their big forward was just too much.

(03-03-2018 05:15 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close. You have to remember that Thompson is guarding multiple cutters in the middle of the zone. If EMU played man to man and Thompson guarded Knapke 1 on 1, Knapke would not be able to get to the rim.

Same thing could be said about your #35. He's a great shooter against a zone, but if EMU played him man to man with Tim Bond on him, he probably couldn't get his shot off.

Toledo has a nice team but EMU is playing with intensity.

So he’d step out and hit threes. Thompson is good but he’s pretty limited offensively. When he did get in a matchup with Knapke, Luke won as many as he lost. Thompson is the better defender and rebounder.

Knapke didn't shy away from the challenge. He showed a lot of confidence.

(03-03-2018 08:20 AM)Dwight Wrote:  Knapke didn't shy away from the challenge. He showed a lot of confidence.

Yep. Thompson air balling a short jump hook early on had to help him figure he was up to the challenge.

(03-03-2018 07:32 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-03-2018 05:15 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close. You have to remember that Thompson is guarding multiple cutters in the middle of the zone. If EMU played man to man and Thompson guarded Knapke 1 on 1, Knapke would not be able to get to the rim.

Same thing could be said about your #35. He's a great shooter against a zone, but if EMU played him man to man with Tim Bond on him, he probably couldn't get his shot off.

Toledo has a nice team but EMU is playing with intensity.

So he’d step out and hit threes. Thompson is good but he’s pretty limited offensively. When he did get in a matchup with Knapke, Luke won as many as he lost. Thompson is the better defender and rebounder.

Thompson’s go to move last night was an offensive foul one time and what should have been called as one a second time.

(03-03-2018 08:49 AM)adunifon Wrote:  

(03-03-2018 07:32 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-03-2018 05:15 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close. You have to remember that Thompson is guarding multiple cutters in the middle of the zone. If EMU played man to man and Thompson guarded Knapke 1 on 1, Knapke would not be able to get to the rim.

Same thing could be said about your #35. He's a great shooter against a zone, but if EMU played him man to man with Tim Bond on him, he probably couldn't get his shot off.

Toledo has a nice team but EMU is playing with intensity.

So he’d step out and hit threes. Thompson is good but he’s pretty limited offensively. When he did get in a matchup with Knapke, Luke won as many as he lost. Thompson is the better defender and rebounder.

Thompson’s go to move last night was an offensive foul one time and what should have been called as one a second time.

Usually Navigato has an easier time against the man on man because they double team guys. Part of my point was Thompson was supposed to be ready for the NBA by now. I am not sure he is any better than he was as a Freshman. If they played a man on man Fletcher Sanford would have torched them. Too bad one or 2 of those threes that should have dropped didn't. Mareon had a couple I could not belive didn't go in.

Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close.

You are wrong it was fairly close and IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE THIS CLOSE.

(03-03-2018 09:09 AM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close.

You are wrong it was fairly close and IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE THIS CLOSE.

What were Thompson's stats when UT played at EMU?

Thompson had 23 pts vs Knapke's 14 playing 32 and 30 minutes respectively.

EMU athletes > Toledo athletes

Toledo has a nice team but EMU underachieved this season and now we are playing to our potential. Should be a great game 3 next week.

(03-03-2018 09:39 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(03-03-2018 09:09 AM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close.

You are wrong it was fairly close and IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE THIS CLOSE.

What were Thompson's stats when UT played at EMU?

Thompson had 23 pts vs Knapke's 14 playing 32 and 30 minutes respectively.

EMU athletes > Toledo athletes

Toledo has a nice team but EMU underachieved this season and now we are playing to our potential. Should be a great game 3 next week.

You right man. Fletcher did play his first bad game in a while. He should win MAC POY and if he shows up EMU will have to deal with that. Length and athleticism wise... EMU wins that battle hands down.

(03-03-2018 09:39 AM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(03-03-2018 09:09 AM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Knapke's size bothered Thompson but I don't think there's any debate that Thompson is hands down a better player - I mean it's not even close.

You are wrong it was fairly close and IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE THIS CLOSE.

What were Thompson's stats when UT played at EMU?

Thompson had 23 pts vs Knapke's 14 playing 32 and 30 minutes respectively.

EMU athletes > Toledo athletes

Toledo has a nice team but EMU underachieved this season and now we are playing to our potential. Should be a great game 3 next week.

If you noticed in last night's game, when Toledo fed Knapke in the middle, their offense ran much smoother, as with his height, he was much better able to find open guys for shots than the shorter Fletcher. The key if they play again next Friday night is Luke being more aggressive offensively as he was on that last play when he backed Thompson down and got the 3 point play to give Toledo their final lead. By being more aggressive offensively, he might be able to get Thompson in foul trouble and in addition more frustrated as he complained on everyone of his 5 fouls last night. EMU's Zone is very difficult to deal with and its going to take more than Navigato's 3 point prowess to come away with a victory in the Semi Finals if they presumably beat Miami or Ohio in the Quarter Final.