AO - I've supported you all year but....

[SaeHusky]

You get into the first half and commit 3 turnover (two of which were offensive fouls) in like 2 minutes. It doesnt get much worse than that. He needs to watch tape of himself last year.

 

[UofCT]

Has anyone regressed as badly as him in college basketball history?

 

[Gurleyman]

Terrence Morris of Maryland. Would have been a surefire lottery pick coming out as a sophomore. Played two more years and ended up a late second rounder.

 

[UofCT]

Maybe Chris Taft too from Pitt now that we are on the subject. I would also include Josh Boone

 

[Tenspro2002]

I still don't understand why people say he's regressed. His per-minute scoring average (9.6 in 29 minutes = 0.33 ppm in 2011; 6.5 in 20 minutes = 0.33 ppm in 2012) is exactly what it was last year. His per-minute rebounding isn't far off either (8.7 in 29 minutes = 0.3 rpm in 2011; 4.9 in 20 minutes = 0.25 rpm), and has a lot to do with competing with Drummond for rebounds.

The fact is, Oriakhi is the same player he's always been: unreliable with the ball, fairly weak in going for rebounds, and somewhat of a headcase. He's a good kid who you want to root for, but find it frustrating to do so.

 

[mets1090]

I still don't understand why people say he's regressed. His per-minute scoring average (9.6 in 29 minutes = 0.33 ppm in 2011; 6.5 in 20 minutes = 0.33 ppm in 2012) is exactly what it was last year. His per-minute rebounding isn't far off either (8.7 in 29 minutes = 0.3 rpm in 2011; 4.9 in 20 minutes = 0.25 rpm), and has a lot to do with competing with Drummond for rebounds.

The fact is, Oriakhi is the same player he's always been: unreliable with the ball, fairly weak in going for rebounds, and somewhat of a headcase. He's a good kid who you want to root for, but find it frustrating to do so.

Normally your per minute numbers drop off with more playing time because it is harder to maintain a high level of play for 30 minutes compared to 20 minutes. The fact that he doesn't average making 4 buckets in 20 minutes when he should be able to go all out compared to guys playing 30+ minutes is not a good sign.

 

[mauconnfan]

Maybe Chris Taft too from Pitt now that we are on the subject. I would also include Josh Boone

Josh Boone not even close....................he would be a great addition to this team!!

 

[dogpause]

I actually though of Boone too. His best year was as a freshman, but Josh got drafted at least.

 

[UofCT]

By the end of Boones junior year he was being benched for some freshman named Jeff Adrien.

 

[jibsey]

SI article about AO with bad body language while in game and pouting on bench. Really disappointed in his attitude and I wonder what Calhoun can do about it other than bench him.

 

[Henry]

Last year we found out that Alex had the weakest lower body strength on the team. He vowed to work on it and to come back stronger. It does not look like he did. He still gets pushed around under the basket and I see no improvement to his game. I guess he thought he was good enough last year. As all young players find out, you need to keep working to improve your body and your game.

 

[jibsey]

Lower body strength OK, but what I think we have here is a head case because how do you explain games where he flat out dominated last year, especially on the glass? A virus has bored into his cerebrum and Calhoun needs to get it out.

 

[DogMania]

If you look at the shooting percentages of our front court from last season before the BET it was flat out awful. I remember comparing it to Pitt's at one point in the season and it was over 10 percentage points lower.

With that said Alex and the others improved during that 11 game run, so it's only natural to have thought that Alex would build on what he did in the post season this year, but he's digressed.

He's shown he can hit that midrange J. He's also good around the basket when he squares to the basket. His problem is he takes off balanced shots, doesn't box out and often loses focus. One of his offensive fouls was something that a junior shouldn't be doing. There was one where he led with his shoulder and threw out his elbow. That's going to get a call 99 out of a 100 times.

If he could simply focus on playing hard, fighting for position, rebound, block shots, attack the offensive glass, set timely solid screens, and hit an occasional midrange J, he'd help this team. He simply looks lost out there. I thought he was turning things around a few games ago, but he's back to playing poorly.

JC can't afford to give up on him. To be a very good team we need a solid AO. I hope he and the others get back on track soon before it's too late.

 

[huskyharry]

Great points DM..."focus on playing hard, fighting for position, rebound, block shots, attack the offensive glass, set timely solid screens, and hit an occasional midrange J"... I agree 100% & I would add that he needs to play more out of balanced stance...knees slightly bent, shoulder width apart and slightly up on the balls of his feet. Too often he ends up on his tippy toes chasing the ball with are fully extended rather than being in a good stance and moving his feet to get closer to the ball and be better able to snatch the ball properly. He also needs to take the extra tenth of a second and watch the ball into his hands when he catches it and take the extra tenth to gather himself when he catches the ball near the hoop to make a better attempt at a shot. Hard to teach an old dog new tricks but that's what I see he needs to do

 

[Donyell]

We have been saying this all year harry. Too this , too that , work on this , work on that, . Hard not to talk about his regression but really hate to. Wish there just could be something positive to say. We all like the kid and remember his contributions from last year that helped us win a couple of championships.

 

[DogMania]

Great points DM..."focus on playing hard, fighting for position, rebound, block shots, attack the offensive glass, set timely solid screens, and hit an occasional midrange J"... I agree 100% & I would add that he needs to play more out of balanced stance...knees slightly bent, shoulder width apart and slightly up on the balls of his feet. Too often he ends up on his tippy toes chasing the ball with are fully extended rather than being in a good stance and moving his feet to get closer to the ball and be better able to snatch the ball properly. He also needs to take the extra tenth of a second and watch the ball into his hands when he catches it and take the extra tenth to gather himself when he catches the ball near the hoop to make a better attempt at a shot. Hard to teach an old dog new tricks but that's what I see he needs to do

Those are excellent additions. Alex has very strange foot work. He sort of runs on the balls of his foot only. He'd benefit from working hard on his footwork and hands over the summer.

I hope you finds a way to at least get back to being a lunch-pail in-the-trenches big. I'd be happy with something like this 8 pts, 8 rbs, 2 blks, 1 stl, 1 TO, and a whole lot of bone crushing legal screens.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

You get into the first half and commit 3 turnover (two of which were offensive fouls) in like 2 minutes. It doesnt get much worse than that. He needs to watch tape of himself last year.

In Alex's defense, the two first half fouls he picked up were an illegal screen (like holding in the NFL - could be called on every play) and a stupid foul due to the other guy flopping during a post up.

This is not just in reference to Oriakhi, it's pervasive across all of college basketball, but I'm sick of the referees falling for the "a big strong guy is posting me up so I'm going to act like he mauled me and fall down" trick. Coaches coach it and players do it, and more power to them, because it's turned into an automatic offensive foul. Only the officials can put a stop to it and they don't look like they have any intention to do so.