Jamal Branch

As it stands Greene is shooting just over 36 percent from the field. That is unacceptable. A lineup of branch, Harrison, pointer, Sampson and Obekpa is our best, by far.
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If we're playing a zone I agree. But if we're man I think we're better with Phil or Amir because CO is not as effective in man. Of course a lot depends on who we're playing.
 
Guys get ranked in the top 100 all the time with so so fundamentals and basketball skills because in HS their tremendous athleticism allows them to run past and jump over all in their way. Then they get to college and hopefully they get to gradually grow in Division 1 players. Some do this quickly and some, yes even some to 100 (read lots) players don't really start having any significant impact until they are upperclassmen.

If the guys on this team were each given the correct learning curve they'd be gelling and playing together as an above average BE squad in 13/14. From what I've seen only DLo, Mo H, and Chris O came to the program as the types of players that can make an impact right away but that doesn't mean the rest of them don't have the potential to do so down the road. I hope that they still are an above average BE squad next year but I also feel that having so many guys thrown straight into the fire hasn't been good for some of them and hopefully hasn't stunted any of their development.
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I think that's a fair assessment. I'd add to it something that other posters have pointed out in the past: that it certainly hasn't helped them to have no upperclassmen to usher them along. Even guys who aren't stars on the court, but who've been in the program for 3 or 4 years, can show you how a drill is supposed to be run, tell you what to expect at certain road games, or show by example the time they put in in the weight room or watching film.

I hate the youngest team label as much as anyone, but these things are true. It helps to have upperclassmen to show you what's expected of you. How can there be any mentoring on a team where even the most experienced guys have only done it once before?
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Hey, Moe H. is a soph and is playing against grown men. Our other sophs got humungous minutes last year and the "youngest team" thing is a little too Normish for my taste. We have some pretty heady players and we're only a piece or two short from beating big time programs. Branch has given us a much needed quickness and smarts injection One or two more bigs and we'd be really something.- not a collection of pre-pubescents as advertised.
 
The outlook for point guard Jamal Branch, who suffered a sprained left knee in Saturday’s loss at Georgetown, is good. Branch did not need to undergo any advanced testing, such as an MRI or X-ray, and continued to keep ice on the knee to reduce swelling. Although he was using crutches to keep weight off the joint and minimize pain, he is considered day-to--day.

lenn.robbins@nypo
 
The outlook for point guard Jamal Branch, who suffered a sprained left knee in Saturday’s loss at Georgetown, is good. Branch did not need to undergo any advanced testing, such as an MRI or X-ray, and continued to keep ice on the knee to reduce swelling. Although he was using crutches to keep weight off the joint and minimize pain, he is considered day-to--day.

lenn.robbins@nypo
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wow that's great news but I'll be shocked if he plays Wednesday
 
That is great news. We need Jamal back as soon as he is able to. We can't have Phil Greene at the point squandering most of the 35 second shot clock dribbling the ball without passing to the open man when he did not pass to Marco in the last 2 games. Jamal can also penetrate and score or pass much better than Phil.
 
The contact seemed benign but the look of him in pain and on the bench was not good. Hard to believe he is considered day to day. i was thinking at least a few weeks at first. We need him back. Hopefully he'll be back to full strength soon.
 
Well, it is good news as you said. But damn @ crutches, sounds like a no-go for UCONN.
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Think coach should take the chains off Marco and start giving him at least 15mins pg He has 20 pt pg capabilty if coach just lets him loose and restore his confidence Now is the time if .not now then when?
 
Well, it is good news as you said. But damn @ crutches, sounds like a no-go for UCONN.
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Think coach should take the chains off Marco and start giving him at least 15mins pg He has 20 pt pg capabilty if coach just lets him loose and restore his confidence Now is the time if .not now then when?
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Cue crgreen with the stats. How many players score 20 ppg? In 15 min per game?
 
Well, it is good news as you said. But damn @ crutches, sounds like a no-go for UCONN.
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Think coach should take the chains off Marco and start giving him at least 15mins pg He has 20 pt pg capabilty if coach just lets him loose and restore his confidence Now is the time if .not now then when?
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Cant see coach not playing Marco more. He is another scorer,which we need. IMO, Branch is improbable for wed,which should give Marco more minutes. Sure hope DLO gets his groove back
 
Well, it is good news as you said. But damn @ crutches, sounds like a no-go for UCONN.
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Think coach should take the chains off Marco and start giving him at least 15mins pg He has 20 pt pg capabilty if coach just lets him loose and restore his confidence Now is the time if .not now then when?
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I don't know about the number of points but the 15 minutes (or more) seems sensible. I would also play Jones 15 minutes.
thanks

Having lived a decade in (lovely) Avon CT amidst obnoxious local fans, boy do I hope we beat UConn this week!!!
 
Would rather give Marco more time and let Branch take his time to really heal 100%. I don't want him back unless he's totally healthy. Hopefully by the Big East tourney he will be 100% and in the groove again. Didn't like our chances against UConn with him, and definitely don't like them without him. UConn is one of those teams like Nova or G'Town that always seems to handle us better than other teams. Don't they have like 3 guards who can each score 18-20 PPG? Boatright, Napier, and Calhoun I believe. They are dangerous for anyone in the country.
 
All true except for the fact that while they lost to UConn last year, Lav did beat them in his only game coaching STJ against them in 10/11 and even Norm split with them in 9/10 including a 22 point beat down in the BET. But besides that they're one of those teams that handles the first five years of Norm better than other teams except for the fact that everyone handled those teams easily so I would imagine that Uconn didn't really handle them better. Kevin Clark never beat them either though. The fact that they and STJ have new coaches and players since most of this ancient history was written makes your generalization moot.

Anyway what you're right about is that they have 3 pretty good guards (Calhoun has even scored 18-20 in one BE game making your other generalization not nearly as incorrect) and STJ has to defend them well, not sure if they can. Their bigs all seem to lack the skills, heart or both to make an impact though Daniels has improved from bust to "kind of a bust" over the BE season. However he hasn't 'shown up against good BE teams (and USF). Let's hope he thinks STJ is a good BE team. ;)
 
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