February General CBB Discussion Thread

[bendm]

There are like 6 posts defending a video that would get most high school coaches fired if they said the same thing.

It is also not true. Youth and high school basketball has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years. Generally it is catholic vs catholic in the D1 state tournament after the second round on the boys at least, but the #1 team in Division 1 right now is Staples. Not exactly a city team. Ridgefield and Southington are also in Top 10 of D1. New Britain is #2 and Danbury #8 in Girls D1, but Greenwich and Southington are also in the Top 10 on the girls side. The Top 3 D2 girls teams are Rocky Hill, Trumbull and Staples.

Last year's boys D1 playoffs was dominated by Catholic Schools, but only two city teams, Hillhouse and Crosby, even made the second round of the D2 bracket. If you want to make Manchester a city team for this argument, then you have last year's D2 champion, but making that case is playing to the stereotype that I was talking about.

The kids work hard to get to a high level, they aren't just born that way as Titus' stereotypes imply, and AAU tournaments are by talent level, not city vs. suburb.

IDK anything about that, as I said I played NEPSAC. But Titus was talking about suburban middle school AAU where it’s very much not about talent as much as whose dad was the coach and who your friends were. At least that was the case 25 years ago when we were playing. His anecdote made me laugh because I had experienced exactly what he was talking about and it’s not something we need to apologize for.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

IDK anything about that, as I said I played NEPSAC. But Titus and I were talking about suburban middle school AAU where it’s very much not about talent as much as whose dad was the coach and who your friends were. At least that was the case 25 years ago when we were playing. His anecdote made me laugh because I had also experienced what he was talking about.

I have an idea. Go into your HR department tomorrow and ask them if you can use transparent code words for different racial and ethnic groups, and then ask if you can make generalizing stereotypes using those code words. Let us know what they say.

 

[KingAG]

Darius Acuff scored 49 lmao

We may indeed get Braylon back

 

[RuffRuff]

Darius Acuff scored 49 lmao

We may indeed get Braylon back

Double OT. Thomas had 20 something.

So many freshmen studs this year. I'm with you on Mullins. I don't see it. Nice player, not sure what he's doing out there that feels different than someone like Hawkins.

Illinois laying the wood on the road at USC. That is what a team rounding into March form is supposed to look like.

UM/Illinois is going to be a brawl. Two huge teams, Illinois has the guards to puzzle UM.

 

[HW611]

Darius Acuff scored 49 lmao

We may indeed get Braylon back

 

[HW611]

Double OT. Thomas had 20 something.

So many freshmen studs this year. I'm with you on Mullins. I don't see it. Nice player, not sure what he's doing out there that feels different than someone like Hawkins.

Illinois laying the wood on the road at USC. That is what a team rounding into March form is supposed to look like.

UM/Illinois is going to be a brawl. Two huge teams, Illinois has the guards to puzzle UM.

Acuff had 41 at the end of regulation. Thomas had 24 at that point too. They went off.

 

[superjohn]

Double OT. Thomas had 20 something.

So many freshmen studs this year. I'm with you on Mullins. I don't see it. Nice player, not sure what he's doing out there that feels different than someone like Hawkins.

Illinois laying the wood on the road at USC. That is what a team rounding into March form is supposed to look like.

UM/Illinois is going to be a brawl. Two huge teams, Illinois has the guards to puzzle UM.

Really? I think Mullins talent is way better than Hawkins.

 

[RuffRuff]

Really? I think Mullins talent is way better than Hawkins.

Why? What does he do that differently? I'm not being a wise a, curious as to what it is. Both shoot 37% from three. I'd argue that Hawkins was much more proficient running picks and getting really clean looks elevating. I don't see one as being that much better an athlete than the other. There hasn't been anything about Mullins that has really stood out to me other than his quick trigger 3's and mid range turnarounds. Both 20 at the draft.

 

[KingAG]

Why? What does he do that differently? I'm not being a wise a, curious as to what it is. Both shoot 37% from three. I'd argue that Hawkins was much more proficient running picks and getting really clean looks elevating. I don't see one as being that much better an athlete than the other. There hasn't been anything about Mullins that has really stood out to me other than his quick trigger 3's and mid range turnarounds. Both 20 at the draft.

Mullins is WAY better creating off the dribble. He just can’t finish at the basket yet. But he’s got everything else

 

[RuffRuff]

Mullins is WAY better creating off the dribble. He just can’t finish at the basket yet. But he’s got everything else

You'd call his dribble creation a strength? Yeah, maybe better than Hawkins.

 

[KingAG]

You'd call his dribble creation a strength? Yeah, maybe better than Hawkins.

Hawkins had no bag. Still doesn’t. Braylon has one. It’s just not refined.

 

[superjohn]

Why? What does he do that differently? I'm not being a wise a, curious as to what it is. Both shoot 37% from three. I'd argue that Hawkins was much more proficient running picks and getting really clean looks elevating. I don't see one as being that much better an athlete than the other. There hasn't been anything about Mullins that has really stood out to me other than his quick trigger 3's and mid range turnarounds. Both 20 at the draft.

Hawkins shot 35% from the field, 33% from three and averaged 6 ppg ss a freshman. As a sophomore he played with a much better passing team than Braylon is playing with, still shot just under 45% on twos. They got out on the run and Hawkins had so many rhythm threes on the break. Just watch the tournament highlights Hawkins sophomore season, Jackson was setting up Hawkins beautifully over and over again.

This team doesn't run, Mullins is having to get his in the halfcourt and he's been a much better shooter than Hawkins.

 

[RuffRuff]

Hawkins shot 35% from the field, 33% from three and averaged 6 ppg ss a freshman. As a sophomore he played with a much better passing team than Braylon is playing with, still shot just under 45% on twos. They got out on the run and Hawkins had so many rhythm threes on the break. Just watch the tournament highlights Hawkins sophomore season, Jackson was setting up Hawkins beautifully over and over again.

This team doesn't run, Mullins is having to get his in the halfcourt and he's been a much better shooter than Hawkins.

I kind of toss his freshmen year - injuries and messy and he didn't come in as heralded as Mullins. I agree with you on the other part. He is a more proficient shooter, but I'm still not seeing someone where if put on an NBA floor, feels like an impact player anytime soon. We are comparing to Hawkins, who will be out of the league soon. Mullins comp?

Miss the running.

Really hoping Hurley figures out how to circle back to what works as his recruiting has been weird. This glacial half court stuff full of hoisters gets a bit stale. We feel miles from the Ferrari that was 2024. This team feels like a Honda Accord.