mtgrizrule
Well-known member
1st of all, rather it be the GRIZ, or any team, any sport, the beginning of the season is always the toughest to judge, or know what to expect from a team. I will give it a try here. We all know the scores and opponents, so I will keep this to personnel, and strategy.
1st of all, I love the depth of this team. Depth like this eventually pays off down the stretch. Tinkle is using out of conference games to experiment with rotations, matchups, finding opportune times to get experience younger players, and learn about this team. I believe that is the biggest reason why the GRIZ are inconsistent this year. Beyond Will Cherry, and Kareem the GRIZ really are not sure what they have. I do believe Selvig will get healthier, and come mid December will be finding a consistent game. The GRIZ have the talent to do much better. Unfortunately, the players with the potential and talent are inexperienced. Inexperience leads to inconsistency. The GRIZ coaches know this, and our fans need to keep this in mind.
It is encouraging to know, despite inconsistent FT shooting, and not so good post play this team has been in every game to date. Our post play can only get better. For the GRIZ to be successful, they have to find a combination of 4 players for PF/C that can be consistent. The problem is not the talent, but what each brings, and what more can each bring.
Selvig, without doubt his best from the high post, and out to 3. Down low, he is a good distributor, and has solid moves, but just does not have the consistent game to use him down there often. Defensively, I am comfortable with Selvig inside, or on the perimeter. The GRIZ need him to find his offense.
Ward can be a solid scorer, and is best from mid range. He is also a lot more composed with the ball in his hands, than he has been in the past. We need to limit his posting up down low to matchups on smaller posts. When a bigger player is guarding him, we need to bring him away from the paint. Defensively he needs to be more consistent. He struggles defensively from time to time still. He is solid in getting position. I still believe he is more of SF, than power player.
Hutchison is a hard player for me to get a grasp on. He works as hard as any player on the court. He mixes it up well inside, creates good space/position when posting up, and runs the court good, when needed. Offensively, we need him to learn what Andrew Strait did with post moves. When he gets the ball, he needs to relax, he rushes his mechanics way too often. Defensively, he must be a little out of position when teams penetrate. I don't see his presence too often, when teams penetrate, and he is out there. He is plenty capable of being a banger, if he can sustain his position longer.
Reader impressed me a lot last year, with very limited play. This year, he impresses me more every game. I have a feeling we will all love watching this kid blossom, and mature as a true post player. Athletically, there is nothing to not like. He moves great on both ends of the floor, and covers a lot of space with ease. Unlike Hutchison, I see Reader's presence most every time an opponent goes to the paint with him out there. Billy, all you need to do to keep your minutes up, is quit leaning, and following through on the block shot attempts. His initial position is great when defending the paint, the leans and letting his arms follow through cause him foul trouble. With the officials the BSC gets, he needs to have the discipline to realize this. I also like the way he runs the floor for a big. This kid is a very fluid, and athletic big for the big sky conference. Offensively, he too creates great space, and position. He has a smooth touch when he does not rush his moves. He also sees the floor better than Hutchison. I honestly see a 2 time all Big Sky performer in Reader. I have a feeling, patience will pay off big time with this kid. The question is when will he put it all together? This is the post player, I would dedicate team game plans towards, offensively and defensively. He does need to work on rebounding consistency though.
Michael Weisner is a player I am not sure which group to classify him as part of this year. I am sold his future is SF though, but SF minutes are a year or 2 away for him though. Steward, and Jamar make SF that our best position. I hope as the year progresses we see Weisner worked into the rotation more somewhere, somehow. He has the footwork to play SF, and he can be a very good scorer at SF, with experience. I like this kid's versatility. Defensively and rebounding, he held his own well against CSU, and was not as mismatched as I thought he would be with this build. He is a smart player too.
Art Steward, for the most part is a consistent defender, rebounder, and scorer. He does a little of everything well, just does not stand out in one aspect. It is nice to know he can be counted on for 8 to 15 points, 4 to 5 boards, a steal, a block, and defense every game. With so much youth, his experience, and versatility is a nice luxury for this team.
Now onto something I am very excited about with this team, backcourt play. I have always been "SOLD" on Will Cherry, and Kareem Jamar from day 1 of their arrival as GRIZ. These 2 can be, and likely will be the best duo in the BSC the next few years, starting this year. Both are capable of dominating the opponents, and taking over games. There is not anything on the court these 2 cannot do. They both score, rebound, pass, and play damn good defense. I would like to see Cherry look to penetrate more, to develop as more of a play maker, if for anything, to make his team mates better and open things up more. It is nice to see his FT and perimeter game is improving, which helps the GRIZ a lot, but with so much youth around him, his penetrating is key. As for Jamar, just use him every way we can, he does not have a weakness offensively. Use him as matchups dictate. He too is capable of being a distributor too, but it is hard to ask a scorer to be that when you need his scoring. Unfortunately, these guys only have so many minutes in them. We need to build the depth here.
Sorry to say this, but it is time to use minutes for developing of Henderson, Gregory, and Deshields. Stockton is always a calming influence, and brings great intangibles, but with the talent waiting for minutes has much more upside this year, and the future. We just are not going to get more from Stockton. Jordan Wood, just does not have any confidence with any shot from outside, including FT's. It is time to come to reality, despite him having nice upside, I think that upside is lost, and buried for good. Again, the talent waiting the wings has to develop, and Wood becomes a limited minutes player.
Henderson Gregory, and Deshields are all very talented, and belong at this level as Freshman. Henderson is an athletic freak at SG/SF very capable of becoming a shutdown defender, rebounder, and versatile scorer. Gregory, handles the ball well, has a nice shot, and looks solid defensively. Deshields outright brings a tough attitude, and confidence this team needs. Deshields, with Cherry, and Jamar is an outright defensive nightmare for opponents, and creates so much easier and more frequent opportunities for the team. Offensively, he tore up UND, and sparked a GRIZ comeback. Too bad he ran out of gas, as did Cherry, and Jamar. In Cherry, Jamar, Deshields, Henderson, and Gregory, the GRIZ have a nice 5 man rotation cover PG, SG, and some SF minutes. The only thing they lack is experience behind Cherry and Jamar. This talent combined with bigs that can run the court well, gives me a lot of hope. I cannot wait for these guys to develop, and get experience. Collectively when these 3, Reader, and Hutchison gain experience, this will be a "fun" team to watch on both ends of the court.
As the year progresses, I hope to see the GRIZ slowly mix our young backcourt players playing time, and commit to developing mainly Reader in the paint. I would love to see this team progressively become a more uptempo defense. Rebounding and FT shooting has to become a lot more consistent, collectively. I love the potential, and upside of this roster.
The keys to this season is definitely the development of Reader, and our young wings. The question is "How long will it take for the youth to become consistent?" When a team is dealing with FR and Sophomores, that can be anywhere from tomorrow to next year. Here is to hoping, and praying, it is closer to tomorrow than next year. :thumb:
1st of all, I love the depth of this team. Depth like this eventually pays off down the stretch. Tinkle is using out of conference games to experiment with rotations, matchups, finding opportune times to get experience younger players, and learn about this team. I believe that is the biggest reason why the GRIZ are inconsistent this year. Beyond Will Cherry, and Kareem the GRIZ really are not sure what they have. I do believe Selvig will get healthier, and come mid December will be finding a consistent game. The GRIZ have the talent to do much better. Unfortunately, the players with the potential and talent are inexperienced. Inexperience leads to inconsistency. The GRIZ coaches know this, and our fans need to keep this in mind.
It is encouraging to know, despite inconsistent FT shooting, and not so good post play this team has been in every game to date. Our post play can only get better. For the GRIZ to be successful, they have to find a combination of 4 players for PF/C that can be consistent. The problem is not the talent, but what each brings, and what more can each bring.
Selvig, without doubt his best from the high post, and out to 3. Down low, he is a good distributor, and has solid moves, but just does not have the consistent game to use him down there often. Defensively, I am comfortable with Selvig inside, or on the perimeter. The GRIZ need him to find his offense.
Ward can be a solid scorer, and is best from mid range. He is also a lot more composed with the ball in his hands, than he has been in the past. We need to limit his posting up down low to matchups on smaller posts. When a bigger player is guarding him, we need to bring him away from the paint. Defensively he needs to be more consistent. He struggles defensively from time to time still. He is solid in getting position. I still believe he is more of SF, than power player.
Hutchison is a hard player for me to get a grasp on. He works as hard as any player on the court. He mixes it up well inside, creates good space/position when posting up, and runs the court good, when needed. Offensively, we need him to learn what Andrew Strait did with post moves. When he gets the ball, he needs to relax, he rushes his mechanics way too often. Defensively, he must be a little out of position when teams penetrate. I don't see his presence too often, when teams penetrate, and he is out there. He is plenty capable of being a banger, if he can sustain his position longer.
Reader impressed me a lot last year, with very limited play. This year, he impresses me more every game. I have a feeling we will all love watching this kid blossom, and mature as a true post player. Athletically, there is nothing to not like. He moves great on both ends of the floor, and covers a lot of space with ease. Unlike Hutchison, I see Reader's presence most every time an opponent goes to the paint with him out there. Billy, all you need to do to keep your minutes up, is quit leaning, and following through on the block shot attempts. His initial position is great when defending the paint, the leans and letting his arms follow through cause him foul trouble. With the officials the BSC gets, he needs to have the discipline to realize this. I also like the way he runs the floor for a big. This kid is a very fluid, and athletic big for the big sky conference. Offensively, he too creates great space, and position. He has a smooth touch when he does not rush his moves. He also sees the floor better than Hutchison. I honestly see a 2 time all Big Sky performer in Reader. I have a feeling, patience will pay off big time with this kid. The question is when will he put it all together? This is the post player, I would dedicate team game plans towards, offensively and defensively. He does need to work on rebounding consistency though.
Michael Weisner is a player I am not sure which group to classify him as part of this year. I am sold his future is SF though, but SF minutes are a year or 2 away for him though. Steward, and Jamar make SF that our best position. I hope as the year progresses we see Weisner worked into the rotation more somewhere, somehow. He has the footwork to play SF, and he can be a very good scorer at SF, with experience. I like this kid's versatility. Defensively and rebounding, he held his own well against CSU, and was not as mismatched as I thought he would be with this build. He is a smart player too.
Art Steward, for the most part is a consistent defender, rebounder, and scorer. He does a little of everything well, just does not stand out in one aspect. It is nice to know he can be counted on for 8 to 15 points, 4 to 5 boards, a steal, a block, and defense every game. With so much youth, his experience, and versatility is a nice luxury for this team.
Now onto something I am very excited about with this team, backcourt play. I have always been "SOLD" on Will Cherry, and Kareem Jamar from day 1 of their arrival as GRIZ. These 2 can be, and likely will be the best duo in the BSC the next few years, starting this year. Both are capable of dominating the opponents, and taking over games. There is not anything on the court these 2 cannot do. They both score, rebound, pass, and play damn good defense. I would like to see Cherry look to penetrate more, to develop as more of a play maker, if for anything, to make his team mates better and open things up more. It is nice to see his FT and perimeter game is improving, which helps the GRIZ a lot, but with so much youth around him, his penetrating is key. As for Jamar, just use him every way we can, he does not have a weakness offensively. Use him as matchups dictate. He too is capable of being a distributor too, but it is hard to ask a scorer to be that when you need his scoring. Unfortunately, these guys only have so many minutes in them. We need to build the depth here.
Sorry to say this, but it is time to use minutes for developing of Henderson, Gregory, and Deshields. Stockton is always a calming influence, and brings great intangibles, but with the talent waiting for minutes has much more upside this year, and the future. We just are not going to get more from Stockton. Jordan Wood, just does not have any confidence with any shot from outside, including FT's. It is time to come to reality, despite him having nice upside, I think that upside is lost, and buried for good. Again, the talent waiting the wings has to develop, and Wood becomes a limited minutes player.
Henderson Gregory, and Deshields are all very talented, and belong at this level as Freshman. Henderson is an athletic freak at SG/SF very capable of becoming a shutdown defender, rebounder, and versatile scorer. Gregory, handles the ball well, has a nice shot, and looks solid defensively. Deshields outright brings a tough attitude, and confidence this team needs. Deshields, with Cherry, and Jamar is an outright defensive nightmare for opponents, and creates so much easier and more frequent opportunities for the team. Offensively, he tore up UND, and sparked a GRIZ comeback. Too bad he ran out of gas, as did Cherry, and Jamar. In Cherry, Jamar, Deshields, Henderson, and Gregory, the GRIZ have a nice 5 man rotation cover PG, SG, and some SF minutes. The only thing they lack is experience behind Cherry and Jamar. This talent combined with bigs that can run the court well, gives me a lot of hope. I cannot wait for these guys to develop, and get experience. Collectively when these 3, Reader, and Hutchison gain experience, this will be a "fun" team to watch on both ends of the court.
As the year progresses, I hope to see the GRIZ slowly mix our young backcourt players playing time, and commit to developing mainly Reader in the paint. I would love to see this team progressively become a more uptempo defense. Rebounding and FT shooting has to become a lot more consistent, collectively. I love the potential, and upside of this roster.
The keys to this season is definitely the development of Reader, and our young wings. The question is "How long will it take for the youth to become consistent?" When a team is dealing with FR and Sophomores, that can be anywhere from tomorrow to next year. Here is to hoping, and praying, it is closer to tomorrow than next year. :thumb:
