Polee a Hero

[paultzman]

Getting decent PT on nice squad.

BOISE, Idaho -- With his fifth-ranked team trailing by two points in the final seconds, San Diego State coach Steve Fisher was all but certain senior point guard Xavier Thames was going to take the final shot for the Aztecs on Wednesday night.

But Thames surprised his coach -- and most of the 9,602 in attendance -- when he whipped a pass to Dwayne Polee II, who drained a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left to give the Aztecs an improbable come-from-behind 67-65 victory that extended their winning streak to 19 games.

"It was like the Red Sea parted," Polee said. "I wasn't surprised. X is a real unselfish player, 8and if there was one person open, he was going to find them."

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=400505591

 

[beast of the east]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

 

[paultzman]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Agree. Maybe he and his father finally realize a complementary role on a ranked team is not so bad. The father certainly did not have that view when DP was here, being totally unrealistic about his son's ability & potential.

 

[beast of the east]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Agree. Maybe he and his father finally realize a complementary role on a ranked team is not so bad. The father certainly did not have that view when DP was here, being totally unrealistic about his son's ability & potential.

The pressure that these kids have put on them by family and friends is enormous. So many family members have unreal expectations and see the kid as a meal ticket to the NBA and millions, something that maybe 20 US college players get a legitimate shot at each season. It's one reason why we all feel pretty good each time one of our kids earns a degree. This is life after basketball

 

[lawmanfan]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Other than Dwight Hardy, Polee was clearly the most talented player on that 2011 team (not to mention Lavin's only recruit on the squad). It's a shame he didn't develop.

In that Denver game, his lone NCAA appearance with St John's, Lavin decided to lean on Malik Boothe (great kid, not a BE player) heavily in that game, and played him at the expense of Polee. Maybe he knew Polee was leaving. But here were their stat lines for the game:

Boothe: 15 minutes, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 points, 5 fouls.
Polee: 21 minutes, 12 points (4/6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, no turnovers, no fouls.

Hardy led that day with 26 points in 39 minutes, followed by Brownlee with 14 points in 33 minutes. Then Polee, followed by Paris Horne with 11 in 37 minutes.

Perhaps it was not a stroke of genius for the coach to leave his second-most-productive player on the bench for half the game. As it turns out, playing the right lineup and making sensible substitutions has been a chronic challenge for him.

 

[ccnobz]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Other than Dwight Hardy, Polee was clearly the most talented player on that 2011 team (not to mention Lavin's only recruit on the squad). It's a shame he didn't develop.

In that Denver game, his lone NCAA appearance with St John's, Lavin decided to lean on Malik Boothe (great kid, not a BE player) heavily in that game, and played him at the expense of Polee. Maybe he knew Polee was leaving. But here were their stat lines for the game:

Boothe: 15 minutes, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 points, 5 fouls.
Polee: 21 minutes, 12 points (4/6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, no turnovers, no fouls.

Hardy led that day with 26 points in 39 minutes, followed by Brownlee with 14 points in 33 minutes. Then Polee, followed by Paris Horne with 11 in 37 minutes.

Perhaps it was not a stroke of genius for the coach to leave his second-most-productive player on the bench for half the game. As it turns out, playing the right lineup and making sensible substitutions has been a chronic challenge for him.

To be fair Polee had little to do with that teams run to the Ncaa tourney that season.

 

[simplyred]

Polee had little to do with Malik Boothe's playing time either. I don't recall them splitting point guard duties.

 

[SJUalum98]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Other than Dwight Hardy, Polee was clearly the most talented player on that 2011 team (not to mention Lavin's only recruit on the squad). It's a shame he didn't develop.

In that Denver game, his lone NCAA appearance with St John's, Lavin decided to lean on Malik Boothe (great kid, not a BE player) heavily in that game, and played him at the expense of Polee. Maybe he knew Polee was leaving. But here were their stat lines for the game:

Boothe: 15 minutes, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 points, 5 fouls.
Polee: 21 minutes, 12 points (4/6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, no turnovers, no fouls.

Hardy led that day with 26 points in 39 minutes, followed by Brownlee with 14 points in 33 minutes. Then Polee, followed by Paris Horne with 11 in 37 minutes.

Perhaps it was not a stroke of genius for the coach to leave his second-most-productive player on the bench for half the game. As it turns out, playing the right lineup and making sensible substitutions has been a chronic challenge for him.

Polee more talented that DJ Kennedy?

Not in a million years.

 

[ccnobz]

Polee had little to do with Malik Boothe's playing time either. I don't recall them splitting point guard duties.

Exactly Poole never played PG.

 

[SI1996]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Other than Dwight Hardy, Polee was clearly the most talented player on that 2011 team (not to mention Lavin's only recruit on the squad). It's a shame he didn't develop.

In that Denver game, his lone NCAA appearance with St John's, Lavin decided to lean on Malik Boothe (great kid, not a BE player) heavily in that game, and played him at the expense of Polee. Maybe he knew Polee was leaving. But here were their stat lines for the game:

Boothe: 15 minutes, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 points, 5 fouls.
Polee: 21 minutes, 12 points (4/6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, no turnovers, no fouls.

Hardy led that day with 26 points in 39 minutes, followed by Brownlee with 14 points in 33 minutes. Then Polee, followed by Paris Horne with 11 in 37 minutes.

Perhaps it was not a stroke of genius for the coach to leave his second-most-productive player on the bench for half the game. As it turns out, playing the right lineup and making sensible substitutions has been a chronic challenge for him.

Polee more talented that DJ Kennedy?

Not in a million years.

Sean Evans was the heart and soul of that team.

 

[Moose]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Other than Dwight Hardy, Polee was clearly the most talented player on that 2011 team (not to mention Lavin's only recruit on the squad). It's a shame he didn't develop.

In that Denver game, his lone NCAA appearance with St John's, Lavin decided to lean on Malik Boothe (great kid, not a BE player) heavily in that game, and played him at the expense of Polee. Maybe he knew Polee was leaving. But here were their stat lines for the game:

Boothe: 15 minutes, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 points, 5 fouls.
Polee: 21 minutes, 12 points (4/6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, no turnovers, no fouls.

Hardy led that day with 26 points in 39 minutes, followed by Brownlee with 14 points in 33 minutes. Then Polee, followed by Paris Horne with 11 in 37 minutes.

Perhaps it was not a stroke of genius for the coach to leave his second-most-productive player on the bench for half the game. As it turns out, playing the right lineup and making sensible substitutions has been a chronic challenge for him.

Weren't most of Polee's points in garbage time?

 

[Marillac]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Other than Dwight Hardy, Polee was clearly the most talented player on that 2011 team (not to mention Lavin's only recruit on the squad). It's a shame he didn't develop.

In that Denver game, his lone NCAA appearance with St John's, Lavin decided to lean on Malik Boothe (great kid, not a BE player) heavily in that game, and played him at the expense of Polee. Maybe he knew Polee was leaving. But here were their stat lines for the game:

Boothe: 15 minutes, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 points, 5 fouls.
Polee: 21 minutes, 12 points (4/6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, no turnovers, no fouls.

Hardy led that day with 26 points in 39 minutes, followed by Brownlee with 14 points in 33 minutes. Then Polee, followed by Paris Horne with 11 in 37 minutes.

Perhaps it was not a stroke of genius for the coach to leave his second-most-productive player on the bench for half the game. As it turns out, playing the right lineup and making sensible substitutions has been a chronic challenge for him.

Weren't most of Polee's points in garbage time?

Yeah, he got most of his at the end of the game when the seniors were acting like deer caught in headlights. He looked like he had the most natural talent on the team at that time, but I don't think he would have offered us that much after his soph year. He thinks he's a guard. I've never seen a player so easily moved off the block in my life. He saw what was coming the year after him and ran. He is no Moe and he's not even a Sampson.

 

[Moose]

Good for Polee.

Your post reminded me of being in Denver for the NCAA's Lavin's first year. As the game slipped away from us, a father stood up and started calling to Lavin from about 15 rows away, "Hey. Put in Polee." Soon, his kid, who was about 10 years old, joined in. They wouldn't let up, and soon their tone turned to anger and frustration that Polee wasn't put in to save the hopeless day. As the crowd got quieter and quieter they got louder, as if Polee was going to change the outcome. Who knows, maybe they were right, but it was comical because their pleading got absurd.

Polee was an exceptional athlete who could really elevate on his jumper. No ball handling skills with his left hand whatsoever. The scouting reports said his jumper was unreliable, and it showed while he was here. It's been a while, so I hope his overall game has improved, because he had the tools that most kids don't have.

Other than Dwight Hardy, Polee was clearly the most talented player on that 2011 team (not to mention Lavin's only recruit on the squad). It's a shame he didn't develop.

In that Denver game, his lone NCAA appearance with St John's, Lavin decided to lean on Malik Boothe (great kid, not a BE player) heavily in that game, and played him at the expense of Polee. Maybe he knew Polee was leaving. But here were their stat lines for the game:

Boothe: 15 minutes, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 points, 5 fouls.
Polee: 21 minutes, 12 points (4/6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, no turnovers, no fouls.

Hardy led that day with 26 points in 39 minutes, followed by Brownlee with 14 points in 33 minutes. Then Polee, followed by Paris Horne with 11 in 37 minutes.

Perhaps it was not a stroke of genius for the coach to leave his second-most-productive player on the bench for half the game. As it turns out, playing the right lineup and making sensible substitutions has been a chronic challenge for him.

Weren't most of Polee's points in garbage time?

Yeah, he got most of his at the end of the game when the seniors were acting like deer caught in headlights. He looked like he had the most natural talent on the team at that time, but I don't think he would have offered us that much after his soph year. He thinks he's a guard. I've never seen a player so easily moved off the block in my life. He saw what was coming the year after him and ran. He is no Moe and he's not even a Sampson.

Well yeah he's definitely not Sampson. Because Sampson was BE Rookie of the Year. Polee has taken this long just to play meaningful minutes for SD State

 

[beast of the east]

nice to see Sampson getting a little love.

I also agree that Polee's points were not meaningful that game.

Boothe was a fireplug and tough SOB who did not surrender the ball on the press. I doubt he would back down or yield even an inch to GG.

If you recall, after a while it seems that Lavin was just fulfilling a promise to start him because Polee would start and then get yanked after a few minutes.

 

[classof2010]

It is called coaching. Polee has developed under Fisher. He is the sixth man out there. Thames made a gutsy pass there!!

 

[Marillac]

It is called coaching. Polee has developed under Fisher. He is the sixth man out there. Thames made a gutsy pass there!!

He's their 8th man...one mpg away from being their 9th man and two mpg away from being their 10th man. He has three DNPs and has played 2,6, and 8 minutes in three other games with no foul trouble. He's averaging 6.6 and 2.8 per game and even less if you subtract his 19 and 12 performance in an 83 point win against non-D1 St. Katherines (who?).

He's a freak athlete that can hit an open shot and not much more. In his third year of college ball last year he was immediately surpassed by the true freshman Winston Shepard, and this year has been passed by another first year player. The guy I wanted on that roster was the Tulane transfer Josh Davis. Beast rebounder.

 

[austour]

And his 14 and 7 game against San Diego Christian, another non D1 school they beat by 52 He's played 16% of his minutes this year against those two teams. Take away those two and that puts him at 5.3 pts and 1.9 rbs for the D1 season. He's a marginal contributor on a top 10 team, nothing more, nothing less. Admirable but hardly what his top 100 ranking out of HS would have indicated and nothing that would indicate he'd make any significant difference on this STJ team.

 

[classof2010]

Davis can really pick up the trash. Shepard does a lot things that does not show up in box score. Thames has played out of his mind. He is an All American.

 

[postell25]

That was a great game and an incredible look by Thames. St. John's is only two RPI spots below Boise State so even from across the country, Polee is helping us out a little.

 

[lawmanfan]

Polee more talented that DJ Kennedy?

Not in a million years.

Kennedy was out that game, or it might have had a different outcome.

As for the rest, Hardy and Horne each got close to 40 minutes. Coach opted to play a third guard (Boothe 15 minutes, Stith 9 minutes, I think) so he could play Horne as swingman, instead of playing Horne at guard and Polee at the swing spot.

It's all water under the bridge at this point, except that the irrational lineups and fascination with the 3-guard look remain.

As for the Sean Evans comment, the only two options are that Bobre has a new screen name or it was meant in jest.