Humboldt St

Takeways

1) Obekpa - much improved irrespective of level of competition; BS move (banging ball off backboard) to get double digit rebounds reflective of team focus on stats
2) Jordan - turnover after tunrover trying to force things at every opportunity; played better late
3) Jones - has skills, needs chip on his shoulder; Lavin should have someone punch him in the face and fire him up
4) Pointer - did some nice things but still takes too many risks on defense and dribbles into traffic
5) Branch - have been big supporter but he gets blown by an awful lot

In general, I thought the defense was terrible...our guys play with no sense of anticipation or awareness...too much reaching for steals...blow bys etc...

Was hoping to see Henderson today...he looked like he had a nice shot during the open practice
 
What happened with Obekpa ' s rebound at the end? Was it a legitimately selfish play or is it much to do about nothing?

Glad to hear Chris looks like he put in a lot of time improving in the offseason. That's very encouraging.

The stat line shows jamal was very efficient...2-2 5 assists and 5 steals.
How did he look though?

I think we have to just assume Dangelo and Rysheed will be better. They simply need to be for this to be an enjoyable season
 
What happened with Obekpa ' s rebound at the end? Was it a legitimately selfish play or is it much to do about nothing?

Glad to hear Chris looks like he put in a lot of time improving in the offseason. That's very encouraging.

The stat line shows jamal was very efficient...2-2 5 assists and 5 steals.
How did he look though?

I think we have to just assume Dangelo and Rysheed will be better. They simply need to be for this to be an enjoyable season
Click to expand...

The Obekpa move was clearly to pad his stats--he was one rebound and 30 seconds short of a triple double. Even Tarik Turner was critical. It was a bush league move and not something you would expect from a "leader." Coach K would have benched him.

That said, Obekpa otherwise was outstanding and clearly has put in the work offseason. We would be royally screwed without him.
 
What happened with Obekpa ' s rebound at the end? Was it a legitimately selfish play or is it much to do about nothing?

Glad to hear Chris looks like he put in a lot of time improving in the offseason. That's very encouraging.

The stat line shows jamal was very efficient...2-2 5 assists and 5 steals.
How did he look though?

I think we have to just assume Dangelo and Rysheed will be better. They simply need to be for this to be an enjoyable season
Click to expand...

Obekpa grabbed a rebound late in game...frankly my eyes started to look downcourt but noticed that the ball somehow we back up off the backboard...initially didnt know what happened but someone said he tossed it up...maybe he was wrong...not certain..but odd nonetheless
 
What happened with Obekpa ' s rebound at the end? Was it a legitimately selfish play or is it much to do about nothing?

Glad to hear Chris looks like he put in a lot of time improving in the offseason. That's very encouraging.

The stat line shows jamal was very efficient...2-2 5 assists and 5 steals.
How did he look though?

I think we have to just assume Dangelo and Rysheed will be better. They simply need to be for this to be an enjoyable season
Click to expand...

Obekpa grabbed a rebound late in game...frankly my eyes started to look downcourt but noticed that the ball somehow we back up off the backboard...initially didnt know what happened but someone said he tossed it up...maybe he was wrong...not certain..but odd nonetheless
Click to expand...

The Humboldt State guy missed the free throw and Obekpa got the rebound. Everyone else turned to head down court. Obekpa then stopped, turned around and shot at the rim of Humbolt State. He then got his own rebound, ensuring the triple double. Not good. The announcers commented on it.
 
He threw it off the backboard not the rim I don't know why the even credited him with a rebound but who cares it's an exhibition game so he's not getting credited with anything. What bothers me is that with the game well in hand they rush shots and let the opponent back in the game something we've seen repeatedly in the past. If only there were a stat for being patient.
 
He threw it off the backboard not the rim I don't know why the even credited him with a rebound but who cares it's an exhibition game so he's not getting credited with anything. What bothers me is that with the game well in hand they rush shots and let the opponent back in the game something we've seen repeatedly in the past. If only there were a stat for being patient.
Click to expand...

Rim, backboard--it doesn't matter, he did it purely to pad his stats and it was pure bush league. When Tarik Turner comments on it, you know it's bad.

But yeah, it was exhibition and as I said, Obekpa otherwise was stellar.
 
A little harsh on CO there, huh guys? He tapped the backboard with the ball when nobody was around him and the game was over. We don't know if it was to pad his stats, as him throwing the ball up to his own backboard to himself shouldn't even count as a rebound. Nonetheless, he played his best game at this university and he should be complimented for that, not ripped on for something that meant nothing. Hopefully he continues this throughout the season. If he plays like this, we will be another big man down at the end of the season as he will be drafted in a decent spot.
 
A little harsh on CO there, huh guys? He tapped the backboard with the ball when nobody was around him and the game was over. We don't know if it was to pad his stats, as him throwing the ball up to his own backboard to himself shouldn't even count as a rebound. Nonetheless, he played his best game at this university and he should be complimented for that, not ripped on for something that meant nothing. Hopefully he continues this throughout the season. If he plays like this, we will be another big man down at the end of the season as he will be drafted in a decent spot.
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I left because I had my fair share of a lethargic performance but based on what you described above isn't this what the team did in the open practice? They had like a whole drill on it.
 
I wasn't at the open practice, but it is an actual drill that is often practiced, based on my previous basketball experience (which isn't much). Basically throwing the ball up on the backboard while you jump and continue doing so. It's just a drill to get you accustomed to the backboard and a good drill to work on hands and reactions.
 
I wasn't at the open practice, but it is an actual drill that is often practiced, based on my previous basketball experience (which isn't much). Basically throwing the ball up on the backboard while you jump and continue doing so. It's just a drill to get you accustomed to the backboard and a good drill to work on hands and reactions.
Click to expand...

He clearly did it to boost our TEAM rebounding numbers. I mean everyone here complains about being bad on the boards. They think he's selfish but meanwhile he's doing it for the team.
 
What happened with Obekpa ' s rebound at the end? Was it a legitimately selfish play or is it much to do about nothing?

Glad to hear Chris looks like he put in a lot of time improving in the offseason. That's very encouraging.

The stat line shows jamal was very efficient...2-2 5 assists and 5 steals.
How did he look though?

I think we have to just assume Dangelo and Rysheed will be better. They simply need to be for this to be an enjoyable season
Click to expand...

Obekpa grabbed a rebound late in game...frankly my eyes started to look downcourt but noticed that the ball somehow we back up off the backboard...initially didnt know what happened but someone said he tossed it up...maybe he was wrong...not certain..but odd nonetheless
Click to expand...

Comments: 1) I don't particularly like when players are so aware of their stat lines that they do something stupid or selfish. This was both
2) Did anyone tell CO this was an EXHIBITION game. The stupid stat he was aiming for won't even show in his official statline.

That being said, HOFer Jerry Lucas, who averaged double digit rebounds for his career I believe, made it a habit to grab rebounds for long shots taken at the end of a quarter in order to pad his rebounding stats. He was an academic genius and a pro so I'm assuming he knew his stats gave him negotiating power.
 
First off I want to thank the fan that gave me and my son tickets in the second row. The President showed up with his wife in the first row late in the second half. I don't think he was too impressed with the size of the crowd.

I was impressed with Obekpa in the warmups. He is stronger and in better shape than last year and has a nice touch on his free throws. Despite the competition, he looked like a man playing with boys. He played the entire first half without a break and was well conditioned. He played incredible defense and offense.

Harrison played well but he seems to lack decision making at times. He also needs to knock down more open shots. He should score 35-40 points against this competition.

Happy to see Greene on the bench most of the game. His shot looked off.

Jones is a horrible defender. Guys were taking him to the hole with ease. He also can't rebound in a man to man defense. He has a little bit of offensive ability.

Amar's defense was bad also. However he is a much more experienced basketball player than Jones as well as taller. I would have liked to have seen him take more than one shot as I think he can score.

Balamou is not a bad athlete but needs to play more so that we can really see what he can do. He is also very small. Smaller than Pointer and Jordan.

Jordan was just horrific in the first half. He scored one point and fouled and turned it over. The coaching staff did a great job with him in the second half.

Branch was very good controlling the offense.

The coaching staff needs to strictly outline Pointer's role. At least he did score fifteen points.

The coaching staff did a good job getting out of the man to man for parts of the second half. They went to a two-three zone with Branch and Harrison up front and Jordan, Obekpa and either Pointer, Amar or Jones in the back. This worked because Branch an Harrison know how to play guard while Jordan is more of a small forward. He is a good rebounder and basketball player but everyone that said he is a good point guard have not been correct to this point. He also was extremely effective playing the third guard(small forward on offense) in the second half. He scored eighteen points. Branch had five assists. Jordan is Pointer with skill.

At this point. I a m comfortable with Branch, Jordan(as an off guard), Harrison and Obekpa. Between Pointer, Amar, Balamou, Jones and Greene we need to pray. I am still hopeful as this may be the last season that I can watch this team if recruiting goes as I expect.
 
Side bar issue. Our coaching staff looked pretty bad in sweatsuits, Lavin in particular. I wish someone would tell him that he looks great in suit and tie, less than great in suit without a tie, half dressed in suit and sneakers, and perhaps auditioning for a Goodfellas or Sorpanos remake in a sweatsuit.
 
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