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Thoughts on Arkansas basketball after watching last 3 games
Posted on 1/19/14 at 11:01 pm
Posted on 1/19/14 at 11:01 pm
PG: Gulley/Haydar - This might be our most underrated position. We might not have a 5-star or even a 4 star PG, but they both consistently do what they need to do and then some. Both PG's have a nice shot, distribute the ball well, and play hard.
SG: Madden/Qualls/Bell/Wade
Madden has played brilliantly from behind the arc. Haven't seen a 3 point shooter in a hog uni like this in quite a while.
Qualls shows flashes of dominance, but I feel like he is still sharpening his game and discovering how to get the most of his insane athleticism.
Nice to have 2 more good shooters in Bell and Wade waiting on the bench.
SF: Clarke/Harris/Williams
Clarke is our best all around player, IMO, but he needs to stay out of foul trouble. We need him until the end b/c without him on the court, we have to lean on Harris.
Harris is a guy you'd love coming off the bench to provide quality minutes. He's not someone you want the ball in their hands late in a close game. Harris is an inside presence and brings a physicality you need to compete. Glad he's on the team.
I don't have a good feel on Williams yet.
PF/C: Portis/Kingsley
Portis is fun to watch - a 6'10" frame that can shoot the baseline jumper and run the floor. Still raw - has some work to do on his post up game and could add some good weight, but he's the best PF we have and plays with a contagious passion. He will be a big offensive weapon here in about 2 years.
Can't say much about Kingsley. Would like to see more of him.
Overall, I like this team, but I don't have tournament expectations for them. I think they are capable of making it, but it's not likely. We are a little too young, could use a little more talent, a little more depth in the front court, and we need to develop a little higher basketball IQ. I think we are headed to achieving all these things and getting back in the tournament on a regular basis, but I'm afraid we aren't there yet.
SG: Madden/Qualls/Bell/Wade
Madden has played brilliantly from behind the arc. Haven't seen a 3 point shooter in a hog uni like this in quite a while.
Qualls shows flashes of dominance, but I feel like he is still sharpening his game and discovering how to get the most of his insane athleticism.
Nice to have 2 more good shooters in Bell and Wade waiting on the bench.
SF: Clarke/Harris/Williams
Clarke is our best all around player, IMO, but he needs to stay out of foul trouble. We need him until the end b/c without him on the court, we have to lean on Harris.
Harris is a guy you'd love coming off the bench to provide quality minutes. He's not someone you want the ball in their hands late in a close game. Harris is an inside presence and brings a physicality you need to compete. Glad he's on the team.
I don't have a good feel on Williams yet.
PF/C: Portis/Kingsley
Portis is fun to watch - a 6'10" frame that can shoot the baseline jumper and run the floor. Still raw - has some work to do on his post up game and could add some good weight, but he's the best PF we have and plays with a contagious passion. He will be a big offensive weapon here in about 2 years.
Can't say much about Kingsley. Would like to see more of him.
Overall, I like this team, but I don't have tournament expectations for them. I think they are capable of making it, but it's not likely. We are a little too young, could use a little more talent, a little more depth in the front court, and we need to develop a little higher basketball IQ. I think we are headed to achieving all these things and getting back in the tournament on a regular basis, but I'm afraid we aren't there yet.
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Posted on 1/19/14 at 11:34 pm to Jon Ham
quote:
PG: Gulley/Haydar
im liking gulley more and more. after the last two games, i would rather see gulley on the ball during a crucial possession than madden.
quote:
SG: Madden/Qualls/Bell/Wade
wade is nearly worthless. he cant drive inside and is afraid to shoot. plays pretty good D though. Qualls still needs work. Madden is better than last year, but still has too many WTF moments. i like him though.
quote:
SF: Clarke/Harris/Williams
Clarke has his moments, Harris is a wildcard, and Williams, i hope, will be one of those guys that gets it together as a senior and really contributes.
quote:
PF/C: Portis/Kingsley
really would have liked to see them on the court together at Georgia more often.
i like this team too, and i think that qualls, bell, williams, and gulley have been nice players to rebuild the team around. good attitudes, for the most part, and as a whole, the team isnt as selfish as we've seen in the past forever.
but we really need some more talent. guys like bell and williams really need to be pushed for playing time, and hopefully babb, beard, miles, or thompson will provide that.
Posted on 1/19/14 at 11:50 pm to Jon Ham
We are no longer improving as a team. We've stagnated and can't find the ability to win on the road. Say what you will about the rest of the SEC also losing on the road consistently but no one is as bad as we have been and it doesn't look to get better this year.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 12:27 am to Jon Ham
I guess where I see us now is marginally better than last year but it is a long season and we'll just have to wait and see how it unfolds since that is all we can do anyway. I'm hoping for better results but not necessarily expecting them.
The main element I see missing from the team is the lack of a true impact player, a go to guy you can really count on when you need a big play. We need someone like this whether it is a defensive standout, a solid free throw shooter, a playmaker/passer, or someone we can count on to consistently hit the 3 pointer. More than one would be a bonus. No one has emerged to take on that role that I can see. Most really good teams have one or more players taking on such a role. And consistent play within that role is the key. With the two overtime games we lost I can only wonder what difference it would have made if we'd had such a player.
I think there is certainly talent on the team and that they play good as a team at times but overall there is nothing outstanding that I can see at this point that would put them in the company of Kentucky or Florida or cause me to believe they'll be in that company anytime soon. And I think competing for the conference title (and of course beyond) is at least what most of us want to see and it has been a long time coming. I think everyone understands the concept of baby steps but we need for them to actually start taking them if they're going to get where they want to be.
The main element I see missing from the team is the lack of a true impact player, a go to guy you can really count on when you need a big play. We need someone like this whether it is a defensive standout, a solid free throw shooter, a playmaker/passer, or someone we can count on to consistently hit the 3 pointer. More than one would be a bonus. No one has emerged to take on that role that I can see. Most really good teams have one or more players taking on such a role. And consistent play within that role is the key. With the two overtime games we lost I can only wonder what difference it would have made if we'd had such a player.
I think there is certainly talent on the team and that they play good as a team at times but overall there is nothing outstanding that I can see at this point that would put them in the company of Kentucky or Florida or cause me to believe they'll be in that company anytime soon. And I think competing for the conference title (and of course beyond) is at least what most of us want to see and it has been a long time coming. I think everyone understands the concept of baby steps but we need for them to actually start taking them if they're going to get where they want to be.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 6:09 am to Jon Ham
Our inside presence is atrocious. Our shot selection that are close to the bucket come out of transition or a drive. No post-up power move players on the block which we significantly feel during the 4 minute dry spells and on the boards.
Nolan's best teams could punch it into the block and score, Mike's never shown he can build a team like that.
Nolan's best teams could punch it into the block and score, Mike's never shown he can build a team like that.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 8:00 am to SLC
Team needs a PG.
Penetration and distribution is severely lacking. That would help us with an inside presence.
Right now, we are a normal SEC team.
Normal SEC teams don't make the tourney.
We need two big wins on the road now IMO.
Penetration and distribution is severely lacking. That would help us with an inside presence.
Right now, we are a normal SEC team.
Normal SEC teams don't make the tourney.
We need two big wins on the road now IMO.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 8:42 am to Hawgeye
I am with Hawg, Jon.
Gulley and Haydar are not the answer at PG.
I appreciate their effort, especially Haydar's hustle, but we need a basketball savvy floor general that can RUN things from the point.
We haven't had one since before Pelphry, that I can recall.
We have better shooting this year, although it can disappear at times, and a bit of an inside presence that SHOULDN'T be getting out-rebounded, and need to get tougher.
We don't have a high basketball IQ overall it appears.
Gulley and Haydar are not the answer at PG.
I appreciate their effort, especially Haydar's hustle, but we need a basketball savvy floor general that can RUN things from the point.
We haven't had one since before Pelphry, that I can recall.
We have better shooting this year, although it can disappear at times, and a bit of an inside presence that SHOULDN'T be getting out-rebounded, and need to get tougher.
We don't have a high basketball IQ overall it appears.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 8:52 am to WonderWartHawg
That's a big problem with no true PG. If your shooting goes cold, there is no player to drive to the hole and make things happen.
If this team goes cold and isn't hitting the three, they're screwed.
If this team goes cold and isn't hitting the three, they're screwed.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 8:59 am to WonderWartHawg
quote:
We don't have a high basketball IQ overall it appears.
Either that or they get rattled way too easy.
Wade can never see the floor again as far as I'm concerned.
Harris can catch, dribble and pass off- not really a fan of him shooting unless it's directly under the goal and there are no other options.
Portis is going to be good but needs time- he needs to shoot instead of slapping at the ball under the goal.
Qualls is awesome he just can't play on the road, don't know what the fix is there.
Gulley/Kikko are fine they just need to be roll players- at least they are not major screw ups when they are out there.
Kingsley needs more playing time I think. I don't ever recall wanting to slap myself in the face for something he did.
Anderson- I think maybe at times he oversubstitutes and sometimes he needs to sub more often so basically I have a bit of an issue with his lineups at times but other than that I still think (as hawgeye said) we need a legit pg and some voodoo or something to get past the road woes and we'll be okay.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 9:09 am to SLC
Absolutely. When you've gotta get a bucket, we've got no one to turn to. The best way to end scoring droughts is to pound it inside and draw fouls at least getting free throws and some time to regroup, get your legs back under you.
Qualls has to learn to drive, take a defender to the paint and draw contact, dish for a lay up, or kick it to the perimeter when help collapses.
Qualls has to learn to drive, take a defender to the paint and draw contact, dish for a lay up, or kick it to the perimeter when help collapses.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 9:28 am to CtotheVrzrbck
Year 3 was supposed to be the year....that is what Anderson told me when he came to speak at our local razorback club event. So far I've not seen it.
Posted on 1/20/14 at 9:43 am to Jon Ham
I want to see more kingsley and less williams and harris
I want to see zero scott or wade
I want to see zero scott or wade
Posted on 1/21/14 at 6:25 am to Hawgeye
Agreed, team needs a PG but that certainly doesn't cure all of our ills. We are not good at, nor is Mike good at coaching, post play with our back to the goal. Everything they want to begins with facing the bucket. Nolan's Final Four teams had both good PG play but also good bigs who could pound.
Posted on 1/21/14 at 6:35 am to SLC
Who have our big guys been since Mike came in? Mickelson and Portis, mainly. Those guys aren't pounders by nature. Kingsley seems to attack the basket more, but he's still developing offensively.
Posted on 1/21/14 at 7:08 am to SLC
I'm rooting for Mike to get this thing turned around. More so because, if he doesn't, there is no telling how long it may be on the programs turn around.
Posted on 1/21/14 at 10:11 am to Hawgeye
quote:
I'm rooting for Mike to get this thing turned around. More so because, if he doesn't, there is no telling how long it may be on the programs turn around.
This is why everyone should be pulling hard for mike to succeed
But even if he doesn't, whoever comes in behind him will inherit a lot better program than what mike inherited when he first got here. Thereby giving us a better chance of hiring a better coach than mike if we ever fire him. Mike may not be the best coach around, but he has put our program in a better place than it was when he got here.
Posted on 1/21/14 at 12:08 pm to hawgfaninc
Agreed. We all should be pulling for him and the program. If he walked out today the program would be in better condition than when he got here.
Criticism of the team and coaches shouldn't be read as rooting against the coach and I don't think I'm alone in sharing concerns.
Criticism of the team and coaches shouldn't be read as rooting against the coach and I don't think I'm alone in sharing concerns.
Posted on 1/21/14 at 12:10 pm to The Sultan of Swine
quote:
Who have our big guys been since Mike came in? Mickelson and Portis, mainly. Those guys aren't pounders by nature. Kingsley seems to attack the basket more, but he's still developing offensively.
IMO, a team has to have balance in today's game. Mike has to recruit those types of guys.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 12:46 pm to SLC
The thing that stands out to me with this team is shot selection. It seems like no one has talked to these guys about what a "GOOD" shot is for them. It is amazing to me that we can play so well at home and so poor on the road. But like I've said before that comes down to PG play and shot selection. Not much we can do about the PG deal this year but we HAVE to have better shot selection to have a chance to get some w's on the road.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 12:49 pm to ElDawgHawg
will not watch tonight....
I care too much....
I care too much....
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