Fairleigh Dickinson Game Thread

[pinstripers]

A point guard who cannot shoot is an inconvenience. A small forward who cannot shoot plays D-II.

[wufan]

Jamar Howard couldn't shoot a lick until his junior year. PJ couldn't until his sophomore. Gregory did well at KU and couldn't shoot. Its better if they can, but I'll disagree.

[The Mad Hatter]

Do you want a guard that can score or shoot? There's a difference and Kenny will be able to score when he gets more comfortable. He's not an outside shooter and nobody ever said he was. Dribble penetration is where it's at with him and he'll get there and be just fine.

Too many people become obsessed with thinking a PG has to be able to light it up in my opinion. A PGs biggest worry is running the team and getting others good looks. There's different ways to do that and you'll see it from Kenny.

I absolutely agree. I have already said that I think Creighton will sorely miss Dotzler many times on this forum, and he couldn't score a lick. Doug Gottlieb was perhaps the worst Division I shooter I have ever seen, but led OSU to 3 straight NCAA tournaments, including an Elite Eight.

[ShockCity]

I saw some very important things from a pg standpoint with Kenny last night that impressed me alot. I made a point to watch his demeanor and how he led the offense when he was on the court. He directed the offense and got the guys in position on the offensive end on several occasions. He seemed to know the sets and where to get guys to get them opportunities. He was also a cheerleader and on more than a couple of occasions seemed to be giving guys pep talks and positive reinforcement. That is huge from a true freshman pg, IMO. I know it was just one game, and his first as a freshman, but I am excited about his skill set for the pg position. He won't need to score loads of points in this offense to be successful.

[shockerfan]

I saw some very important things from a pg standpoint with Kenny last night that impressed me alot. I made a point to watch his demeanor and how he led the offense when he was on the court. He directed the offense and got the guys in position on the offensive end on several occasions. He seemed to know the sets and where to get guys to get them opportunities. He was also a cheerleader and on more than a couple of occasions seemed to be giving guys pep talks and positive reinforcement. That is huge from a true freshman pg, IMO. I know it was just one game, and his first as a freshman, but I am excited about his skill set for the pg position. He won't need to score loads of points in this offense to be successful.

I agree after watching the game again. The ball movement when he was in was actually pretty good. He made some freshmen mistakes, but he's gonna be just fine! He does need to learn to defend without using so much body. He really throws his hips alot.

[Snapshot9]

Sub - I usually always agree with you, and I did say a PG that can not
SCORE is only half a guard, IMO.

As far as the passing, it was faster and crisper when Williams was in the game than when Manigault was in the game, and Manigault had a couple of slow passes intercepted. I think he will be okay, but I don't think he will pick things up as fast as Williams does.

And sometimes it does come down to the PG having to score because of other guys being covered, not moving, or whatever, and it comes back to the PG out of a lack of choices, and he must be able to score in those situations, and that means not throwing up bricks all the time.

Clevin, last year, scored a lot simply because of a lack of choices on the court at the time. When opponents realize the PG can score good, it shifts their defense somewhat and makes other people get open looks. Having players that can not score allow the opponents to shift their defense somewhat to concentrate on the scorers, even double teaming them, because they know they don't have to guard the non-scorers. (I was a PG when I was younger also).

[1979Shocker]

Most of Kenny's scoring is going to come on penetration drives. So if opponents think they don't have to guard him because he can't shoot, they will be in for a big surprise. If they allow him to drive, it will be an easy basket for him or for one of his teammates.

[Ricardo del Rio]

A point guard who cannot shoot is an inconvenience. A small forward who cannot shoot plays D-II.

Adam Liberty and the Arkansas kid, who we thought was going to be all world....well, at least all conference.

[shockerfanmas]

subgod, i agree with you 100%. A point guards job is not to score, a point guards job is to run the team, be a coach on the floor, and to get the ball to players that can score. This nonsense that a PG has to score comes from the NBA, where everybody shows off. I would much rather have a PG that can find the open man, make good decisions, and give his team good offensive possesions but doesn't score much, as opposed to one that scores half the teams points, can't play a lick of defense, and turns the ball over 10 times a game. I have seen both. Now, if you get one that can score AND be a leader and take care of the ball, then you've got something

[ShockCity]

I see Williams as more of a 2 guard with Kenny at the point.

[ShockerFever]

Most of Kenny's scoring is going to come on penetration drives. So if opponents think they don't have to guard him because he can't shoot, they will be in for a big surprise. If they allow him to drive, it will be an easy basket for him or for one of his teammates.

I agree.

The penetration into the lane, drawing in defenders, and the kick-out to an open man for a wide open 3 is something I've missed from this program for a couple of years. We have some really excellent passers on this team. If they realize that their passing is as important, if not more important, than their shooting sometimes, we have the ability to do some great things. That was a HUGE element in our great teams of the mid-2000's. We need it back.

[shockmonster]

While a PG should have a pass first mentality, it is nice when he can hit the open shot at the top of the key. KM was open often there and that is a relativey easy 3 pt shot that it would be nice if he could make them pay for not guarding him. Maybe he develops that jump shot.

[pinstripers]

KM is going to make a lot of showtime passes on the break after he has gotten a steal, and I really enjoy that type of basketball. The flipside is that once the Valley teams have tape on him, they will not guard him, and it is very difficult to drive on somebody who is playing off you. I'm glad he is here, he brings a lot to the program.

[Maggie]

Do you want a guard that can score or shoot? There's a difference and Kenny will be able to score when he gets more comfortable. He's not an outside shooter and nobody ever said he was. Dribble penetration is where it's at with him and he'll get there and be just fine.

Too many people become obsessed with thinking a PG has to be able to light it up in my opinion. A PGs biggest worry is running the team and getting others good looks. There's different ways to do that and you'll see it from Kenny.

I don’t expect KM to be a primary offensive option (a scoring PG); however, to be effective as a facilitator of the offensive at some point KM is going to have to demonstrate to opponents that he can knock down an outside shot consistently.

Otherwise the defense will simply take a step back and make it extremely difficult for him to get into the lane.

[ShockCity]

The difference between a guy like AdLib and Kenny is the style of offense and the supporting cast for Kenny is much different. We had no slashers and the offense wasn't set up for the pg to drive the lane and get to the basket under Turgeon. Coach Marshall's type of player and style of offense is much different. The pg doesn't have to be a great shooting threat now. Having said that, I think Kenny needs to and will develop a nice jumpshot to keep defenses honest. I also don't see him having any problem getting to the basket with his speed and athletic ability.