2016-17 Predictions and Expectations

[60Shock]

Thanks for joining Shockernet and this post. I too have only seen video clips of AR but my NW Arkansas cousins watched him play all four years of high school BB and agree with your assessment of AR's potential to play as a freshman. Their over riding conclusion is that AR is the real deal, whose fulfillment of potential will be determined by coaching.

76, if coaching is all that is needed, we've got the Best in the business.

[BOBB]

For point guards, it isn't weight, powerlifting or wrestling that's important, but rather athletic ability, quickness and technique. Ernie Moore was 6-foot and about a hundred and sixty pounds, but he played with ambidextrous athletic ability, smoothness, and extreme quickness from the time he first stepped on the court as a freshman. I haven't seen Austin, accept for a short clip, but I believe he can play as a freshman. FM

The game is much more physical (to its detriment) than in the 60's. Bumping guys off cuts and pushing them away from the basket is standard defense on the perimeter in the college game. Playing through contact is and maintaining position is critical. Doesn't mean that Reaves talent can't overcome that, but he definitely needs to have a second helping at every meal...I wish I had that problem.

[Aargh]

As FVV discovered, when a PG drives to the hoop, it gets brutal near the basket. A PG that isn't put together very, very well better have a mid-range pull-up shot that's deadly.

[Stickboy46]

As FVV discovered, when a PG drives to the hoop, it gets brutal near the basket. A PG that isn't put together very, very well better have a mid-range pull-up shot that's deadly.

From everything I've heard/seen, AR has a pretty good pull up shot.

[Shocker1976]

76, if coaching is all that is needed, we've got the Best in the business.

60 I could not agree with you more; HC3GM's development and success with FVV was remarkable. I am excited to watch him develop AR's 6' 5" body and superior athletic ability over the coming months. IMO if AR can achieve FVV's skill set of running the Shocker team, then we Shocker fans will more than enjoy the coming seasons.

[Shocker1976]

The game is much more physical (to its detriment) than in the 60's. Bumping guys off cuts and pushing them away from the basket is standard defense on the perimeter in the college game. Playing through contact is and maintaining position is critical. Doesn't mean that Reaves talent can't overcome that, but he definitely needs to have a second helping at every meal...I wish I had that problem.

Second helpings appear to be available as Sully has reported a 15 pound weight gain for AR since his arrival. Given KB's involvement with the Shocker MBB team, those 15 pounds are more likely to be muscle than body fat. Given he will have had approximately 3 additional months to gain weight before the season starts; I wonder what his weight will be on November 5 when the Shockers tip off against Augusta University

[shocka khan]

Second helpings appear to be available as Sully has reported a 15 pound weight gain for AR since his arrival. Given KB's involvement with the Shocker MBB team, those 15 pounds are more likely to be muscle than body fat. Given he will have had approximately 3 additional months to gain weight before the season starts; I wonder what his weight will be on November 5 when the Shockers tip off against Augusta University

Muscle mass weighs more than body fat, so you're correct. :). When people go on a diet and start strenuous exercise, sometimes their weight loss will stop for a time (because they are converting fat to muscle).

In his case, I'm betting that he's spending a lot of time in the weight room (strenuous exercise), don't know what he's doing with his diet, but I'm betting that Kerry has talked to a dietician.

[Aargh]

Can people do a lot of strenuous exercise while recovering from labrum surgery?

[ShockdaWorld]

Can people do a lot of strenuous exercise while recovering from labrum surgery?

Absolutely

[Shocker1976]

Can people do a lot of strenuous exercise while recovering from labrum surgery?

Given Austin's healing powers evidenced with his first shoulder arthroscopic procedure he probably wore a sling through April 16/23. Then begin motion and flexibility exercises for a couple of months and began basketball-specific exercises around May1. His shoulder should have been fully healed late June to mid-July, when he could have begun strenuous exercising with Kerry in the Shocker weight room. Just my opinion as I do not know what timeline HC3G imposed on Austin.

[wu_shizzle]

Can people do a lot of strenuous exercise while recovering from labrum surgery?

A whole lot of leg work, which would be greatly beneficial to someone with AR's frame.

[BOBB]

15 lbs of muscle in 6 months is at the upper limit of what can be expected of a beginning lifter. 2 lbs a month is typically the high end. Assuming working with a professional trainer and nutritionist helps.

[Bluzrover]

15 lbs of muscle in 6 months is at the upper limit of what can be expected of a beginning lifter. 2 lbs a month is typically the high end. Assuming working with a professional trainer and nutritionist helps.

Given that, another six pounds in the next three months would give 21 pounds over what he weighed upon his arrival. That's a great start for the young man, but I expect his real gain to come next year after the season is over. He's also gotta learn to play at that extra weight. It'll be interesting to see how he adjusts.

[Kel Varnsen]

Think we will end up seeing Reaves supplant Frankamp as the starting point guard staying around the time we play in Atlantis. Will be much more suited to guard quicker guards, something we struggled with last year. Not that most teams don't struggle with that a bit, but I think it improves our chances in games.

But that's a bold prediction.

[wufan]

I love me some Austin Reaves! I do not correlate Allen leaving the program to Reaves becoming a starter.