@Tulane, Fri. Dec. 2, 8pm, ESPNEWS/970AM

[OLV72]

Once chatted with a former coach who knows the Euro kids. He thought RF would need a year of maturation, but would be a solid four year player.

My premature observation, however, is he seems very slow at this point & a high tempo game may be a challenge for him. I think he passes well, is team oriented & with added strength may be a decent rebounder. Not to get technical, since I am just a fan, but he appears to have a bit of a hitch on his jumper. To me shooting, if he indeed is a deliberate type player, has to be his main value. Hopefully with added time down the road we will see that.

Fran F really knows the foreign kids & he was much higher on him than Mussini. I guess I will hold out hope on that & his inexperience at this level. Still happy we beat out Vandy, BC & I think Zaga for him. We'll be able to better judge next year IMO.

Agree on his shot, not fluid. To me probably the most disappointing aspect of his game. Not easy to fix.

It's early guys. There are enough knowledgeable people that think highly of him. This includes the coach. When Dom looked back on his poor showing in his junior season he cited lost confidence and a lack of maturity.

Are you insinuating that we're not knowledgeable?

N/M

 

[monte]

Once chatted with a former coach who knows the Euro kids. He thought RF would need a year of maturation, but would be a solid four year player.

My premature observation, however, is he seems very slow at this point & a high tempo game may be a challenge for him. I think he passes well, is team oriented & with added strength may be a decent rebounder. Not to get technical, since I am just a fan, but he appears to have a bit of a hitch on his jumper. To me shooting, if he indeed is a deliberate type player, has to be his main value. Hopefully with added time down the road we will see that.

Fran F really knows the foreign kids & he was much higher on him than Mussini. I guess I will hold out hope on that & his inexperience at this level. Still happy we beat out Vandy, BC & I think Zaga for him. We'll be able to better judge next year IMO.

Agree on his shot, not fluid. To me probably the most disappointing aspect of his game. Not easy to fix.

It's early guys. There are enough knowledgeable people that think highly of him. This includes the coach. When Dom looked back on his poor showing in his junior season he cited lost confidence and a lack of maturity.

Are you insinuating that we're not knowledgeable?

I credit you guys with everything I know about the sport. While Ralph has taught me all I need to know about the old Munsters episodes. During the rebuilding years talking Munsters can get us through couple of rough games.

Clearly my avatar helped resurrect Ralph's long buried passion for the Munsters. FWIW met Al Lewis(Grandpa) a number of years ago at his restaurant down on Bleecker street. Grumpy old bastard!

 

[Section3]

Desco, fair points but I would disagree. Dom Pointer as a junior was not a good player. Not like not BE starter good. But like not good not good. Jordan was a phenomenal talent and I loved him as a player. I think by the time he was 5 or so games into his soph year he was a really really good player but as a freshman he was not nearly as effective and his %'s showed.

Ponds and Lovett are playing ridiculously well, and they are both very very good basketball players.

Not to speak for Desco and not weighing in as to whether any of the players on Lavin' junior team were as talented as Lovett or Ponds. But, that team was the most talented across the board since the Jarvis team. Desco's point that it was a travesty that they didn't make the tournament is an understatement.

I agree completely that that team was most talented and probably underwhelming team in a while. I was just comparing players at respective times in their careers. My main point is to highlight just how good Lovett and Ponds are. Cause their 2 of the 5 best players we've got in the last 15 years .

I would agree as far as Lovett and Ponds comparing well with Dlo and Jordan.

 

[logen]

Freudenberg is adjusting to not only a new, faster style of play but probably just as, or more important, to a brand new country at 18 years or so of age. I think it is way premature to judge his play, he is playing tentative and at some point that will change and then we will see whether he can play at this level or not.

 

[austour]

Desco, fair points but I would disagree. Dom Pointer as a junior was not a good player. Not like not BE starter good. But like not good not good. Jordan was a phenomenal talent and I loved him as a player. I think by the time he was 5 or so games into his soph year he was a really really good player but as a freshman he was not nearly as effective and his %'s showed.

Ponds and Lovett are playing ridiculously well, and they are both very very good basketball players.

Not to speak for Desco and not weighing in as to whether any of the players on Lavin' junior team were as talented as Lovett or Ponds. But, that team was the most talented across the board since the Jarvis team. Desco's point that it was a travesty that they didn't make the tournament is an understatement.

I agree completely that that team was most talented and probably underwhelming team in a while. I was just comparing players at respective times in their careers. My main point is to highlight just how good Lovett and Ponds are. Cause their 2 of the 5 best players we've got in the last 15 years .

I would agree as far as Lovett and Ponds comparing well with Dlo and Jordan.

Two key issues affect Lovett this year vs. Jordan's frosh year. First Lovett got to practice with the team all last year. Second, he's not totally screwed up. If they had similar work habits and temperaments Jordan would have the higher ceiling, but they don't.

 

[simplyred]

Desco, fair points but I would disagree. Dom Pointer as a junior was not a good player. Not like not BE starter good. But like not good not good. Jordan was a phenomenal talent and I loved him as a player. I think by the time he was 5 or so games into his soph year he was a really really good player but as a freshman he was not nearly as effective and his %'s showed.

Ponds and Lovett are playing ridiculously well, and they are both very very good basketball players.

Not to speak for Desco and not weighing in as to whether any of the players on Lavin' junior team were as talented as Lovett or Ponds. But, that team was the most talented across the board since the Jarvis team. Desco's point that it was a travesty that they didn't make the tournament is an understatement.

I agree completely that that team was most talented and probably underwhelming team in a while. I was just comparing players at respective times in their careers. My main point is to highlight just how good Lovett and Ponds are. Cause their 2 of the 5 best players we've got in the last 15 years .

I would agree as far as Lovett and Ponds comparing well with Dlo and Jordan.

Two key issues affect Lovett this year vs. Jordan's frosh year. First Lovett got to practice with the team all last year. Second, he's not totally screwed up. If they had similar work habits and temperaments Jordan would have the higher ceiling, but they don't.

I agree. Jordan had NBA talent but wasted it. Lovett will be an excellent college player with a nice career in Europe.

 

[redken]

Once chatted with a former coach who knows the Euro kids. He thought RF would need a year of maturation, but would be a solid four year player.

My premature observation, however, is he seems very slow at this point & a high tempo game may be a challenge for him. I think he passes well, is team oriented & with added strength may be a decent rebounder. Not to get technical, since I am just a fan, but he appears to have a bit of a hitch on his jumper. To me shooting, if he indeed is a deliberate type player, has to be his main value. Hopefully with added time down the road we will see that.

Fran F really knows the foreign kids & he was much higher on him than Mussini. I guess I will hold out hope on that & his inexperience at this level. Still happy we beat out Vandy, BC & I think Zaga for him. We'll be able to better judge next year IMO.

Agree on his shot, not fluid. To me probably the most disappointing aspect of his game. Not easy to fix.

It's early guys. There are enough knowledgeable people that think highly of him. This includes the coach. When Dom looked back on his poor showing in his junior season he cited lost confidence and a lack of maturity.

Are you insinuating that we're not knowledgeable?

I credit you guys with everything I know about the sport. While Ralph has taught me all I need to know about the old Munsters episodes. During the rebuilding years talking Munsters can get us through couple of rough games.

Clearly my avatar helped resurrect Ralph's long buried passion for the Munsters. FWIW met Al Lewis(Grandpa) a number of years ago at his restaurant down on Bleecker street. Grumpy old bastard!

He was also the Green Party's nominee in the 1998 NYS gubernatorial race. Governor Grandpa. Imagine that.

 

[monte]

Once chatted with a former coach who knows the Euro kids. He thought RF would need a year of maturation, but would be a solid four year player.

My premature observation, however, is he seems very slow at this point & a high tempo game may be a challenge for him. I think he passes well, is team oriented & with added strength may be a decent rebounder. Not to get technical, since I am just a fan, but he appears to have a bit of a hitch on his jumper. To me shooting, if he indeed is a deliberate type player, has to be his main value. Hopefully with added time down the road we will see that.

Fran F really knows the foreign kids & he was much higher on him than Mussini. I guess I will hold out hope on that & his inexperience at this level. Still happy we beat out Vandy, BC & I think Zaga for him. We'll be able to better judge next year IMO.

Agree on his shot, not fluid. To me probably the most disappointing aspect of his game. Not easy to fix.

It's early guys. There are enough knowledgeable people that think highly of him. This includes the coach. When Dom looked back on his poor showing in his junior season he cited lost confidence and a lack of maturity.

Are you insinuating that we're not knowledgeable?

I credit you guys with everything I know about the sport. While Ralph has taught me all I need to know about the old Munsters episodes. During the rebuilding years talking Munsters can get us through couple of rough games.

Clearly my avatar helped resurrect Ralph's long buried passion for the Munsters. FWIW met Al Lewis(Grandpa) a number of years ago at his restaurant down on Bleecker street. Grumpy old bastard!

He was also the Green Party's nominee in the 1998 NYS gubernatorial race. Governor Grandpa. Imagine that.

Forgot about that. Hahaha

 

[stjohnschris]

Freudenberg is adjusting to not only a new, faster style of play but probably just as, or more important, to a brand new country at 18 years or so of age. I think it is way premature to judge his play, he is playing tentative and at some point that will change and then we will see whether he can play at this level or not.

I'm thinking RF has a break-out game coming soon...his passing and court awareness skills were evident in the Tulane game. I'd like to see him post up on a defensive mismatch, which could easily present itself with certain combos on the floor.

 

[SJU61982]

Fun Fact:

The preview for the CSUN game said that this was our biggest margin of victory in a true road game since 2009.

 

[lawmanfan]

Freudenberg is adjusting to not only a new, faster style of play but probably just as, or more important, to a brand new country at 18 years or so of age. I think it is way premature to judge his play, he is playing tentative and at some point that will change and then we will see whether he can play at this level or not.

I'm thinking RF has a break-out game coming soon...his passing and court awareness skills were evident in the Tulane game. I'd like to see him post up on a defensive mismatch, which could easily present itself with certain combos on the floor.

If by "soon" you mean in the 2018/2019 season, then I agree with you. He's a 4 year project, may produce in year 3.

 

[Red.Fans]

I was really pulling for RF to join the 3pt party against Tulane. He looks uncomfortable but not really playing dumb and people are calling him slow but he was one of the first back on D when he got PT. I think the earlier post about culture shock is the real issue for him. Young guy trying to fit in, on many levels.

 

[logen]

I was really pulling for RF to join the 3pt party against Tulane. He looks uncomfortable but not really playing dumb and people are calling him slow but he was one of the first back on D when he got PT. I think the earlier post about culture shock is the real issue for him. Young guy trying to fit in, on many levels.

Agree very much with your comment about how wrong people are about him being slow, he is not. He is playing very tentative and there is a big difference.

 

[paultzman]

I was really pulling for RF to join the 3pt party against Tulane. He looks uncomfortable but not really playing dumb and people are calling him slow but he was one of the first back on D when he got PT. I think the earlier post about culture shock is the real issue for him. Young guy trying to fit in, on many levels.

Agree very much with your comment about how wrong people are about him being slow, he is not. He is playing very tentative and there is a big difference.

You may be right.

 

[stjohnschris]

Freudenberg is adjusting to not only a new, faster style of play but probably just as, or more important, to a brand new country at 18 years or so of age. I think it is way premature to judge his play, he is playing tentative and at some point that will change and then we will see whether he can play at this level or not.

I'm thinking RF has a break-out game coming soon...his passing and court awareness skills were evident in the Tulane game. I'd like to see him post up on a defensive mismatch, which could easily present itself with certain combos on the floor.

If by "soon" you mean in the 2018/2019 season, then I agree with you. He's a 4 year project, may produce in year 3.

That would be the situation at most other Big East schools. But with us, he's needed (now), and will get PT way sooner than other Freshmen. He's tall, with good hands, and he will have opportunities to break out...this season.

 

[SJU1512]

I was really pulling for RF to join the 3pt party against Tulane. He looks uncomfortable but not really playing dumb and people are calling him slow but he was one of the first back on D when he got PT. I think the earlier post about culture shock is the real issue for him. Young guy trying to fit in, on many levels.

Agree very much with your comment about how wrong people are about him being slow, he is not. He is playing very tentative and there is a big difference.

You may be right.

I was certainly expecting too much too soon from RF not factoring in significance of adjustment phase, but consensus on him now is probably too far in the other direction based on small sample during adjustment phase.

Countless examples where it hasn't worked out too, but as a recent extreme example where it has last year Landon Collins often looked like he didn't belong on an NFL football field and maybe the Giants reached. One year later he might win DPOY and looks like a bunch of teams missed letting him fall out of the 1st round.

Different sport very different circumstances, just pointing out how quickly and dramatically things can change, and believe Collins himself has said a lot of it was just about getting more comfortable. If Collins needs a year to adjust from playing on an NFL defense in Alabama to an NFL defense in New York, happy to give RF some time to adjust from Europe to high-major D1.

Think we'll see decent progress in a month or 2 on that basis alone, and likely have a serviceable rotation player by next year. If he's still here think we'll have very solid player his Junior/Senior year.

 

[Section9]

I was really pulling for RF to join the 3pt party against Tulane. He looks uncomfortable but not really playing dumb and people are calling him slow but he was one of the first back on D when he got PT. I think the earlier post about culture shock is the real issue for him. Young guy trying to fit in, on many levels.

Agree very much with your comment about how wrong people are about him being slow, he is not. He is playing very tentative and there is a big difference.

Exactly right, there have been situations where he has been open and hesitates and then either dribbles in closer or passes the ball instead of just shooting in rhythm. I think it may also be a confidence issue. He's going to break out soon.

 

[Class of 72]

I was really pulling for RF to join the 3pt party against Tulane. He looks uncomfortable but not really playing dumb and people are calling him slow but he was one of the first back on D when he got PT. I think the earlier post about culture shock is the real issue for him. Young guy trying to fit in, on many levels.

Agree very much with your comment about how wrong people are about him being slow, he is not. He is playing very tentative and there is a big difference.

Exactly right, there have been situations where he has been open and hesitates and then either dribbles in closer or passes the ball instead of just shooting in rhythm. I think it may also be a confidence issue. He's going to break out soon.

I don't know about "soon" but this kid is a pure freshman who, when he gains 20 lbs and a couple of inches will be a terrific player imo.

 

[Andrew]

I also really wanted Freudenberg to hit the 17th 3. Not only for the record but his confidence. He knows how to play the game. He will get better.

 

[Eric]

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