Kids Growing Up

[citygriz]

We all know how good our upperclassmen are, but check out the "kids," Pridgett, Falls, Nicholas.

I've always felt Pridgett could be a major star for us, but through last year and the first half of this year, it seemed to his game was just a bit off. At Portland State, he drove the lane late for an emphatic jam that would have been the dagger punch, only to have the ball clang high of the rim. Another time I saw him drive for an open lane to the basket--but travel first. And his free-throwing has always been an adventure.

But lately it seems his game and his consistency are finally catching up to his evident physical talent.

And Falls and Nicholas? Both true freshmen, and it's looked it often this year. But as the season winds down, both are starting to look more like sophomores, and that could be a godsend for us.

These three--our bench. If they continue to play as well as they have lately, we're going to be tough to beat in Reno.

 

[fanofzoo]

Good post citay. the "kids" aren't just playing but are contributing in a meaningful way.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I must admit: I have a huge man crush on Nicholas. Huge.

 

[grizzlyjournal]

Jamar Akoh's foul trouble loomed early as a potential problem for the Griz against the Bobcats. It opened the door for Karl Nicholas... no longer a freshman learning the ropes, to step up. He's shown the potential in several earlier games, of course, but foul problems limited his time. With Akoh on the bench, Nicholas stepped up. For me, timing was perfect. Karl's 20 minutes on the floor Saturday, along with the 13 points (6-for-7 shooting), 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal (we won't discuss free throws at this point) of production will prove valuable for this team over the remainder of the season. The future is now.

 

[EverettGriz]

Ha! Regarding Karl's FTs, I simply gotta ask: was he TRYING to bank that one in off the glass? I honestly couldn't tell if that was the design of not. It may not be an all bad idea for him....

 

[go96griz]

Ha! Regarding Karl's FTs, I simply gotta ask: was he TRYING to bank that one in off the glass? I honestly couldn't tell if that was the design of not. It may not be an all bad idea for him....

Karl is shooting something like 38% on free throws this season so he likely missed that bad. He is an athletic freak but he needs to develop his shooting touch. The same could be said for Sayeed. He is a great slasher and he attacks the rim well and he also has the ability to post up, but he’s got to come up with a consistent jump shot. The future is very bright for these guys if they do.

 

[PlayerRep]

And what has kept his minutes down has been his lack of defense, compared to the others.

 

[fanofzoo]

The shot Karl blocks in the highlight video says it all to me. He blocks that shot like a volleyball player playing way above the net.

He is only a freshman, a true freshman!

DAMN

OK when he goes to the line I keep telling myself.....

Sayeed is making a breakout soph year, please keep making drives because I can't believe it is possible to do that. I need the replays to ask "how did he do that "

 

[HookedonGriz]

More than anything else, this new defense and our depth have blown me away. Think about this....6 different guys in double figures Saturday night.

Moorhead 10
Oguine 11
Rorie 13
Nicholas 13
Pridgett 14
Falls 14

Akoh would have been in double digits too if he could have played more than 16 mins. He ended up with 9. The best part, every single one of them will be back next year. I'm hopeful Dorsey will join them. Watch out the Griz will be even more dominant next year...if that's possible!

 

[EverettGriz]

More than anything else, this new defense and our depth have blown me away. Think about this....6 different guys in double figures Saturday night.

Moorhead 10
Oguine 11
Rorie 13
Nicholas 13
Pridgett 14
Falls 14

Akoh would have been in double digits too if he could have played more than 16 mins. He ended up with 9. The best part, every single one of them will be back next year. I'm hopeful Dorsey will join them. Watch out the Griz will be even more dominant next year...if that's possible!

The bsc will be a two team league next year, MONTANA and Weber who also return a ton. As it always is...

 

[grizbro]

Falls has great future but has to check the attitude a little. Complaining to the refs after his first foul and each after set him up for the T that sent him to the bench. If he keeps that up they'll be laying for him each game. He had a great birthday night but it could've been so much more had he not been on the bench.

 

[cmtgrizzly]

Ha! Regarding Karl's FTs, I simply gotta ask: was he TRYING to bank that one in off the glass? I honestly couldn't tell if that was the design of not. It may not be an all bad idea for him....

Karl is shooting something like 38% on free throws this season so he likely missed that bad. He is an athletic freak but he needs to develop his shooting touch. The same could be said for Sayeed. He is a great slasher and he attacks the rim well and he also has the ability to post up, but he’s got to come up with a consistent jump shot. The future is very bright for these guys if they do.

Unfortunately for Karl his freethrow shooting will make it hard to expand his playing time. Especially in the second half of close games. I hope he works really hard on it so it is no longer a liablility. I think he will.

 

[MissoulaMarinerFan]

Ha! Regarding Karl's FTs, I simply gotta ask: was he TRYING to bank that one in off the glass? I honestly couldn't tell if that was the design of not. It may not be an all bad idea for him....

Karl is shooting something like 38% on free throws this season so he likely missed that bad. He is an athletic freak but he needs to develop his shooting touch. The same could be said for Sayeed. He is a great slasher and he attacks the rim well and he also has the ability to post up, but he’s got to come up with a consistent jump shot. The future is very bright for these guys if they do.

Unfortunately for Karl his freethrow shooting will make it hard to expand his playing time. Especially in the second half of close games. I hope he works really hard on it so it is no longer a liablility. I think he will.

I think he will also. In an interview after the home game against und where he had 18 points, he said he would have had over 20 if he hit free throws, but that he would work on that.

 

[84GRIZ]

Falls has great future but has to check the attitude a little. Complaining to the refs after his first foul and each after set him up for the T that sent him to the bench. If he keeps that up they'll be laying for him each game. He had a great birthday night but it could've been so much more had he not been on the bench.

I can't remember the exact words but one of the TV announcers said that when he did a mid-week interview with the team that it was pretty clear that Falls "hated" referee's. He might need to get that under control or he is going to get a lot more technical's down the road.

 

[citygriz]

Another thing I like about our young kids.

In any big game, whether in Reno or the NCAA tournament, you generally win when one player steps up and plays over his head. Yes, it's a team game, but often it takes one player to do the heavy lifting against one particular opponent. In this, I see any number of players on our team who could have that big game, not just Rorie or Oguine or Moorehead, but Falls or Pridgett or even Nicholas. The maturity of our underclassmen gives us a lot of weapons now.

 

[fanofzoo]

Another thing I like about our young kids.

In any big game, whether in Reno or the NCAA tournament, you generally win when one player steps up and plays over his head. Yes, it's a team game, but often it takes one player to do the heavy lifting against one particular opponent. In this, I see any number of players on our team who could have that big game, not just Rorie or Oguine or Moorehead, but Falls or Pridgett or even Nicholas. The maturity of our underclassmen gives us a lot of weapons now.

I am not going to tell Akoh that you forgot him. :mrgreen:

 

[citygriz]

Another thing I like about our young kids.

In any big game, whether in Reno or the NCAA tournament, you generally win when one player steps up and plays over his head. Yes, it's a team game, but often it takes one player to do the heavy lifting against one particular opponent. In this, I see any number of players on our team who could have that big game, not just Rorie or Oguine or Moorehead, but Falls or Pridgett or even Nicholas. The maturity of our underclassmen gives us a lot of weapons now.

I am not going to tell Akoh that you forgot him. :mrgreen:

Yes, please. Don't.