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Thread: Practice thread
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10-01-2018, 10:05 PM #21
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10-01-2018, 10:35 PM #22
* I hope Hankins starts taking fluids. Cramping like Sumner used to get doesn't help us when it matters. He must be really trying to impress right now.
* How many weeks have they been practicing? I'm hoping that Welage is just getting used to the system. Hard to believe his former program didn't have him bulk up a little. You can't believe that a guy did not work hard at all if he's shooting those numbers, but going in the weight room and building up to play defense are all part of it. Maybe we'll see some things taking shape as the season progresses. I don't blame Steele for taking a chance with the kid. He looks like a great shooter.
* I'm curious who Goodin and Scruggs are playing against in practice. I assume they are both on the same squad. But if their defense looks so stellar, do we have them up against someone who can really get into the lane effectively? Just curious. I really want to believe this has improved over last year.
* Hanson looked really good to me in YouTube videos. Those are obviously weighted, but his size and athleticism seemed on point for good things. Glad he's here.
* I'm really pulling for Harden. I want to see him break out this year badly.
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10-02-2018, 12:00 AM #23
Having only two true bigs has me a tad concerned, but yeah, hopefully James and even Naji can help in a pinch. I do recall a few seasons where X had a shorter bench (one I remember even had a walk on playing significant minutes). Though, I can’t remember an X team with so many new faces... like ever. That thought together with the fact we have a new head coach (albeit a familiar face) and new assistants (again at least a one familiar face) scares me a little. It is so strange in so many ways. No returning scholarship players who will be seniors (but at least there are two transfers with senior leadership).
Thank goodness we have returning players who were key contributes on last seasons’s team (that won the BE regular season title) and two who were contributors in the sweet sixteen run the year before. Their experience and success should help to set a fearless tone for all teammates to follow.
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10-02-2018, 05:22 PM #24
You're alluding to the year Landon Amos was playing a bunch right?? I felt like he got a lot of minutes as a walk on. Definitely hope James can play some 4, and I'm sure Naji can since he bulked up if we need to go smaller. But you're right, it feels like a complete re-haul and the year after we're gonna have about 4 or 5 new faces as well. Hopefully we can start building some continuity from this point moving forward. I'm worried as others about Welage's defense, but there's still some time to get it all sorted out. I'd like to think this team is going to have some pretty good chemistry, it'll be nice not having a lofty pre-season ranking, it might allow these guys to play without some pressure and string together some solid performances.
I think we do have good leadership without traditional seniors. Q, Scruggs, Naji, Rique have all played significant minutes on a team that was supposed to make a deep run, and Q and Rique on a team that has made a deep run into the NCAA's, and with Castlin, Hankins, and Welage some more leadership that way. I think that will do wonders in keeping this group focused throughout practice and improving. It's going to take a while, but I think if everybody can reach potential, we could be pretty damn solid by Big East play.
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10-02-2018, 08:08 PM #25
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10-02-2018, 10:31 PM #26
I was actually thinking about Taylor, but yes, I do remembered they needed Amos to play a good bit of minutes one year.
There is no substitute for senior leadership (even if it comes in the form of a transfer). I could see how Castlin might end up being this year’s Bernard, firing up the team should they lose their focus and swagger midway through the season and most importantly at the end to help extend X’s season at least a few more games. And yes, no doubt those four returning players you’ve mentioned will provide additional leadership... and hopefully they will display even more confidence in their play this season due to the improved chemistry you mentioned along with improved individual skills.
One other thing that excites me about this season: We might be witnessing the quickest and best defensive team X has had on the floor in a long time. That alone could make up for some of the other things some of us have been concerned about.
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10-02-2018, 10:33 PM #27
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10-02-2018, 11:45 PM #28
Whoops, yes I remember that now as well. I guess I was thinking a little more recently haha. But to your last point about defense, I whole heartedly agree, I think we have a lot of athleticism, and with Steele saying he's going to make a point to focus on defense, it could be a night and day change from last year, especially since Hankins and Castlin get after it defensively.
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10-03-2018, 03:10 PM #29
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Andrew Taylor was a scholarship player, and was far and away our best player in the ugly first round loss to Marquette in Cleveland.
The walk-on that had to play a great deal was Kevin Feeney from Illinois. Great kid, super bouncy. Was with Joe Hughes and Johnny Mazza as walk-ons, but was thrust into the rotation due to injuries.
Erik Stenger was also technically a walk-on when he transferred from NKU and his brute athleticism and Navy SEAL shoulders also catapult him into the rotation at times.
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10-03-2018, 03:33 PM #30
I felt pretty sure about Taylor not being on scholarship the entire time at X so I looked it up and found this piece which mentions he came to X but was not guaranteed a scholarship an then had to give up the scholarship they were going to give him when Crawford joined the team. I also remembered that he had to play quite a bit one year when X had a very short bench. Oh, and I completely agree with you about him being the best player in that first round game.
http://xavierexaminer.blogspot.com/2...ustle.html?m=1
Oh my... Stenger - yes... another walk on who got some solid minutes due to get another season with a short bench.
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