Shocks Land East Carolina Transfer

[t7017s]

I can't believe how many people on this site have written JT off because of bad defense his first year of D-1 ball.

His offense was good. Almost excellent, when you consider this was his first year. Who's the last first-year post player we had who looked like that on our end of the court?

Defense can be taught.

I'm not writing the guy off. He clearly has lots and lots of potential and talent. You can't deny though that when you cant seem to figure out your defensive role as the 5 in a 2-3 zone after 2 years is pretty frustrating and lets face it totally astonishing. Its more than a lack of effort... frankly I'm shocked he has made grades thus far because when you don't know what to do or where to be in a 2-3 zone and your playing the 5 after 2 years of D1 ball you have to be retarded I think. I hope for everyone sake hes got it figured out because we all know what he could do. We are all hoping it will change from "could" before he wastes 5 years of everyone time including his own. I think its fair game to be skeptical at this point as he hasn't given any of us or the staff for that matter any reason not to be. Lets hope thats enough motivation.

[rjl]

Defense can be taught.

No doubt about that; BUT the DESIRE has to come from WITHIN, threatened punsihment (sitting on the bench) is not enough. He has to WANT it and COMMIT to it.

Yeah. And I can't believe so many people have written him off after one year of D-1 ball.

Wouldn't all your supposed desire mumbo-jumbo sports cliche BS--aka, the will to improve--come into play after that first year?

Not attacking you personally. Just wondering why so many people think he doesn't have a future here.

[SubGod22]

I think because that was the knock on him his RS year as well. Turgeon talked about his desire and will and how it was lacking. He showed that again this past season. I don't blame some people for not counting on him in the future. He's not currently at the top of my list on the depth chart and from what I've seen many others feel the same. But most of us also agree that if he decides he wants to compete and be as good as he could be he could be quite the player. But you can't expect everyone to feel he'll reach that after two years of effort issues.

[im4wsu]

Defense can be taught.

No doubt about that; BUT the DESIRE has to come from WITHIN, threatened punsihment (sitting on the bench) is not enough. He has to WANT it and COMMIT to it.

Yeah. And I can't believe so many people have written him off after one year of D-1 ball.

Wouldn't all your supposed desire mumbo-jumbo sports cliche BS--aka, the will to improve--come into play after that first year?

Not attacking you personally. Just wondering why so many people think he doesn't have a future here.

Nowhere have I ever said what JTD will do or will not do; I only stated that defense can be taught, but the DESIRE must come from within. I hope he finds whatever motivation it takes for him to go balls to the wall and be the very best he can be!

[forevershockerfan]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
forevershockerfan wrote:
X-Man was tough mentally and physically. I only know him of backing down from 1 fight. In the NBA, versus the Atlanta Hawks, he had 2 rough and tough 7 footers come after him simulaneuously. Tree Rollins and Kevin Willis. Ooops!!! Gulp!!! Yikes!!! The paper quoted him as saying---"X---it is time to bail out---" and he did. Now THAT is what I call intelligence. One at a time---thank you very much---or not!!!

Against the Bulls, it was said that X and #23 partook in much verbage. As a Shocker, I would rise out of my seat to watch him soar up above the square for a dunk. Each year he improved here, worked diligently to improve his jump shot, and was just a beast on the boards.


Corrected.......no biggie.

I had Willis on my fantasy league team for a couple of years.


TY Shox-8498 and you are correct. I think the last name I maybe mixed up with their hotshot Dominic Wilkens (I think) who was Atlanta's big gun. I was excited when it appeared the Boston Celtics might get A. Carr from Atlanta as a free agent way back when. The Celtics have always been my favorite NBA team followed by the LA Lakers. At times, I felt like A. Carr was wasted at Atlanta and could have had a better fit elsewhere.

The Paper had a pic. of Kevin Willis and Tree Rollins as they were heading after X-Man and they appeared madder than a hornet in hot pursuit.

[RoyalShock]

I also think JT has a future here and his issues can be fixed. But some of you are also forgetting how many bad shots he took. Those are poor in-game decisions and he needs to improve in that area, as well.

[rjl]

I also think JT has a future here and his issues can be fixed. But some of you are also forgetting how many bad shots he took. Those are poor in-game decisions and he needs to improve in that area, as well.

Show me a freshman, redshirt or true, that WSU has EVER had who didn't take ill-advised shots now and then.

I personally didn't ever mind him taking his shots from behind the arc. Heck, he stood just as good a chance of making them as anyone else on the team.

[BOBB]

Re: Next year

I just peeked into the future and see 18 wins! You can take it to the bank... bet the farm, the house, the car and the wife.
:good:

You'll owe me $50 bucks! :yahoo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ_m6...eature=related

So if I win, you'll take my wife and I only have to pay you $50? Deal!

[rjl]

I think because that was the knock on him his RS year as well. Turgeon talked about his desire and will and how it was lacking. He showed that again this past season. I don't blame some people for not counting on him in the future. He's not currently at the top of my list on the depth chart and from what I've seen many others feel the same. But most of us also agree that if he decides he wants to compete and be as good as he could be he could be quite the player. But you can't expect everyone to feel he'll reach that after two years of effort issues.

The motivation to improve after a season of actual, in game D-1 competition will inherently be much greater than the motivation to improve after a season of being mostly injured and occasionally on the practice squad.

[giskard]

It will be interesting to see how Durley does when he has some good big guys to go up against in practice. Hopefully, some better competition in practice will have him get his game face on in practice so he can improve faster.

Plus, having another guy on the team who will be competing with him for playing time in his junior year might inspire Durley to make the most of his sophmore year. This coming season is the time to get to work to make sure he gets a good amount of playing time his last two years here.

[Aargh]

Durley's got his work cut out for himself to find PT.

Clemente is the obvious starter at 4. Potential backups at 4 are Griskenas, Ellis, and Durley. That's a tough spot for many minutes.

Durley is more likely to get minutes at the 5 while Stutz and Orukpe get up to speed. In 2009-10 it's doubtful Durley will have a chance for many minutes at the 5 and will be switched to a 4, where Ellis and Blair will be competing for minutes.

Durley is going to have to learn 2 positions and both of those positions have heavy competition for minutes. Against tall lineups Ellis or Blair might get minutes at 3, which would open the 4 spot a bit.

It's been a while since we've had a player like Durley and can't find many front court minutes for him. I think it's been since Kampman's Sr year that we've had 3 front court players to cover all the minutes at 4 and 5. Next year we have 2 or 3 5's and 3 or 4 4's.

I hope Durley learns some D and applies himself in practice. I can't be confident of the results in Orlando with a Fr starting early in the season.

[notquiteBWing]

i think gris and AE will spend quite a bit of time at the 3 too.
I think AJ and Mantas will probably be the 3 most of the time.
nice to see that many of our player are combos.

i think all of our guards are combo, which could be really exciting seeing them make some possible jaw dropping plays.

every preseason we talk about how deep we're going to be. then it turns out that we expected to much from at least 3 players. i remember 2 years ago we predicting success and great results from arbry butler, chris brown, and JT. then... all of them failed us (in a sense).

so, i wonder which newcomer(s) will *fail* us this year. ...
i don't feel comfortable predicting any of the players though. because, like every other year, i see no blatant reason as to why they won't all be awesome!

[ShockerKhan]

I have heard HCGM say on at least two occasions that Mantas has trouble guarding quick 3's.
There is now way he could guard PJ and AJ would also give him problems. If the match up is right
Mantas could play the 3 but in the Valley you see so many 3 guard O's that Mantas is at a dis-advantage at the 3.

[Maggie]

Durley certainly has talent (which is why people have such strong opinions about him) but as far as his future at WSU is concerned, I think there is a simple answer: If Durley plays defense (which is more about effort than anything else), he will be hard to keep off the floor – he will play. If he doesn't play defense, Durley will become a permanent fixture on the bench – and he may become frustrated and decide to transfer.

In my opinion, this is a make or break season for Durley. He either shows up and proves right away he belongs or he will be left at the station while the train speeds away.

And I have a strange feeling that CGM has told him this.

[Dan]

I think Mantas is a bigger question mark than Durley. Coming back from yet another injury and he never really did get into a groove last year. He may have potential, but he hasn't shown much yet at WSU.