Nowell Sighting

[boog204]

Nowell isn’t being overrated by anyone. We just really need another pg and time is running out.

He’s also a 4 star recruit and an ESPN top 30 player. Not chopped liver.

I get what you are saying... but how can you dismiss the possibility that his ranking might be off? Partly due to injuries but certainly due to other factors, he has been unable to secure any minutes when we desperately need a guard to backup Hass.

Scott Hazleton was a top 30 player. Marcus Cox around 40, iirc. Sometimes the rankings are just flat wrong. Not saying that's the case with AM but it's crazy to me, given how broken our guard play is, that he was not able to work his way into the rotation. From the grapevine, two of our freshmen came in below expectations and one far above. Don't think it's difficult to figure out that breakdown.

 

[dennismenace]

Pitino once again revealed that teams don't practice for pressure and don't like it but most teams don't prepare for it. We will be getting a steady diet by teams that can bring it. Moral: Be prepared. The whole offense must prepare. As stated above it is not just on Nowell.

 

[RuffRuff]

I get what you are saying... but how can you dismiss the possibility that his ranking might be off? Partly due to injuries but certainly due to other factors, he has been unable to secure any minutes when we desperately need a guard to backup Hass.

Scott Hazleton was a top 30 player. Marcus Cox around 40, iirc. Sometimes the rankings are just flat wrong. Not saying that's the case with AM but it's crazy to me, given how broken our guard play is, that he was not able to work his way into the rotation. From the grapevine, two of our freshmen came in below expectations and one far above. Don't think it's difficult to figure out that breakdown.

Oh there's plenty of misses every year in these rankings. Look at a kid like DJ Wagner, who was considered top 6 (that was an epically bad class). The only reason he's starting for Cal is because Cal can't help himself. Elmarko Jackson another - he looked awful last year and was widely considered top 20.

These ranking are an imperfect science, but the higher you go up the ladder the better you are at avoiding busts, but also the more prone you are to only having a kid for one year. I like what Hurley did this year in grabbing a couple top 30 types, then one top 15 kid and another high potential development kid. Now he's got to fill that in with plug and plays in the portal. I will say losing on Acadien Lewis stings a little bit more now in our situation.

A Garwey Dual couldn't hack it at Providence and was top 40. Poor Kim. BTW, he was tech'ed again last night and looks like he's a couple more games from being institutionalized. He's been doing a decent job on the recruiting trail, but if he can't get his top 40 kids to work, the less chance he'll be getting them in the future.

And btw, perhaps the creme' de la creme', Bronny James, booohhahahaha.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I get what you are saying... but how can you dismiss the possibility that his ranking might be off? Partly due to injuries but certainly due to other factors, he has been unable to secure any minutes when we desperately need a guard to backup Hass.

Scott Hazleton was a top 30 player. Marcus Cox around 40, iirc. Sometimes the rankings are just flat wrong. Not saying that's the case with AM but it's crazy to me, given how broken our guard play is, that he was not able to work his way into the rotation. From the grapevine, two of our freshmen came in below expectations and one far above. Don't think it's difficult to figure out that breakdown.

I didn’t go to the open practices, but for those who did how did Nowell and Abraham look? Did they look not as advertised?

I remember hearing good things about Abraham.

 

[boog204]

I didn’t go to the open practices, but for those who did how did Nowell and Abraham look? Did they look not as advertised?

I remember hearing good things about Abraham.

I do, too. But Purvis was a Ferrari, Ajou Deng the next great player here, and for four years, Justin Brown would be our starting center. Samson, Ross, and Jaylin were potential lottery picks, too.

I just know someone posted the other day what their source said about the staff's view of the freshmen. I mean truth be told, I've liked what I've seen of Abraham in his few minutes. But who knows how it all boils down in practice?

 

[RuffRuff]

I didn’t go to the open practices, but for those who did how did Nowell and Abraham look? Did they look not as advertised?

I remember hearing good things about Abraham.

Abraham looked great - he's built like stud. Strong base, muscular and smooth. A really, really good looking athlete with a beautiful efficient stroke. He stood out, and I walked away thinking this is what an NBA profile looks like. He's a much more natural looking basketball player than Ross. It forced me to go back into his scouting report to understand where his holes are, most of the knocks were about keeping balance going to the rim.

Nowell looked good too - another kid who's physicality stood out, barrel chested PG. The up and down style of that practice may have made him look better than he really is, but nothing but positives coming out of that open practice on my end. He was aggressive. While a touch shorter than Mahaney, he looked far more confident and physical.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I do, too. But Purvis was a Ferrari, Ajou Deng the next great player here, and for four years, Justin Brown would be our starting center. Samson, Ross, and Jaylin were potential lottery picks, too.

I just know someone posted the other day what their source said about the staff's view of the freshmen. I mean truth be told, I've liked what I've seen of Abraham in his few minutes. But who knows how it all boils down in practice?

Those were all staff reports which may have one motivation or another for putting out there. But those open practices allowed boneyarders to see for themselves what’s what.

Abraham looked great - he's built like stud. Strong base, muscular and smooth. A really, really good looking athlete with a beautiful efficient stroke. He stood out, and I walked away thinking this is what an NBA profile looks like. He's a much more natural looking basketball player than Ross. It forced me to go back into his scouting report to understand where his holes are, most of the knocks were about keeping balance going to the rim.

Nowell looked good too - another kid who's physicality stood out, barrel chested PG. The up and down style of that practice may have made him look better than he really is, but nothing but positives coming out of that open practice on my end. He was aggressive. While a touch shorter than Mahaney, he looked far more confident and physical.

This is what I was thinking of too. Thanks for sharing. I’m not sure how they look like this over the summer but then behind closed doors another thing is being said.

Nowell may just be really good in transition but with how complex our offense is it’s hard to pick up. Don’t think that’s a knock on how good he is, just an adjustment.

That’s where a coach can either decide to adjust to his players some to help play to their strengths or the latter. I wouldn’t mind seeing this team play more up and down with some of the athletes we have and it’d probably be helpful to some of the guys struggling.

 

[Hoophound]

I get what you are saying... but how can you dismiss the possibility that his ranking might be off? Partly due to injuries but certainly due to other factors, he has been unable to secure any minutes when we desperately need a guard to backup Hass.

Scott Hazleton was a top 30 player. Marcus Cox around 40, iirc. Sometimes the rankings are just flat wrong. Not saying that's the case with AM but it's crazy to me, given how broken our guard play is, that he was not able to work his way into the rotation. From the grapevine, two of our freshmen came in below expectations and one far above. Don't think it's difficult to figure out that breakdown.

I’m not saying Nowell is definitely a good player. I’m saying he deserves a chance at some point and we desperately need a point guard to spell Diarra. He was a very good high school and AAU player. A few minutes here and there would be a Godsend.

Yes, he’s shortish but he’s also strong as hell. It was pointed out that he came in and got burned by Poplar the other night, nobody on our team could guard Poplar. We saw some speed and hops from Nowell in contesting his jumper. Poplar was just on fire for a while.

We can’t rule out short pg’s entirely. Bazz and Boat were great defenders. Nowell has the strength to defend bigger players. Just needs to stay in front of them. Again, this is more about needing another body that can handle the ball. We don’t have enough guys to stay fresh down the stretch and Diarra is already banged up. There isn’t really any alternative but to give him some minutes or watch Hassan run out of gas.

 

[boog204]

I’m not saying Nowell is definitely a good player. I’m saying he deserves a chance at some point and we desperately need a point guard to spell Diarra. He was a very good high school and AAU player. A few minutes here and there would be a Godsend.

Yes, he’s shortish but he’s also strong as hell. It was pointed out that he came in and got burned by Poplar the other night, nobody on our team could guard Poplar and you saw some speed and hops from Nowell in contesting his jumper. Poplar was just on fire for a while.

We can’t rule out short pg’s entirely. Bazz and Boat were great defenders. Nowell has the strength to defend bigger players. Just needs to stay in front of them. Again, this is more about needing another body that can handle the ball. We don’t have enough guys to stay fresh down the stretch and Diarra is already banged up. There isn’t really any alternative but to give him some minutes or watch Hassan run out of gas.

Oh, trust me. I want Nowell to play. Seems pointless to hold him in purgatory of sorts unless he's still really hurting or just is not any good. We literally have no creative guards at this point and despite Hass having some nice moments the last few games, he's still clearly limited.

 

[NewBlood]

Not hating on Nowell but he isn’t skilled enough to help us. He does nothing well and he’s undersized. He isn’t the answer.

Wow, you can confirm all of that from limited minutes. That's not what I see at all

 

[UCfor3]

Unfortunately, AM has been a disaster all year. How some folks here were propping him up I will never understand. He is clearly overmatched here. If he goes elsewhere and lights it up, good for him. He received NIL to do a job and he didn’t come close to meeting the requirements.

You will never understand why he was propped up by people on here? Hurley was propping him up. If our coaches can get it wrong then I think it's pretty understandable that some of the fans on here would also. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[husky429]

You will never understand why he was propped up by people on here? Hurley was propping him up. If our coaches can get it wrong then I think it's pretty understandable that some of the fans on here would also. Hindsight is 20/20.

Agree 100%. Our staff has a SOLID hit rate on transfers. Newton, RJ, Rese, Reed, Cam, even Joey C for the role we asked him to play.

Now if we go another two season with completely and utterly botched x'fer recruiting, we can start to talk about bad recruiting.

 

[UofCT]

I get what you are saying... but how can you dismiss the possibility that his ranking might be off? Partly due to injuries but certainly due to other factors, he has been unable to secure any minutes when we desperately need a guard to backup Hass.

Scott Hazleton was a top 30 player. Marcus Cox around 40, iirc. Sometimes the rankings are just flat wrong. Not saying that's the case with AM but it's crazy to me, given how broken our guard play is, that he was not able to work his way into the rotation. From the grapevine, two of our freshmen came in below expectations and one far above. Don't think it's difficult to figure out that breakdown.

He’s been hurt

 

[jibsey]

You wonder what strategy Hurley plans for this Pitino press on Sunday so we don’t have 20 turnovers.

 

[homunculus]

You will never understand why he was propped up by people on here? Hurley was propping him up. If our coaches can get it wrong then I think it's pretty understandable that some of the fans on here would also. Hindsight is 20/20.

I mean, it’s kind of a wild question. I’d ask - why wouldn’t people prop him up, at least for a while? That’s more to the point. He was a highly sought after transfer, and Dan Hurley thought he would be big for us. He was his team’s leading scorer against us (the best team in the nation). He played a big part in turning around our game vs Baylor that was looking like another sleepwalk for us. As others have said here, he is clearly a skilled player but apparently just not right for this current situation.

For my part, I thought he would adapt and come to life, based on those flashes I saw. I thought people were throwing him under the bus way too soon, as though this is some Fantasy Football team where you produce or get dropped.

 

[cp176]

It's not like he was surprised we asked him to play point. That's what he was recruited as and why donors put up a bunch of money to get him in Storrs. He's making six-figures to stink right now... I don't think there's any reason to feel bad for him.

I agree with your take but I still feel bad for him. He seems like a good kid. After 44 years of coaching, the toughest thing that I ever had to do was cut a kid. I think that he is in the wrong place, and yup I feel bad for him.

 

[cp176]

Not sticking up for Mahaney in any way but Diarra does the same thing pounding the ball. they hardly ever get into their offense before there are 15 seconds on the clock. And they hardly ever get any easy fast break points.

I think Diarra tends to over dribble but Mahaney I think takes it to a different level. Old school I guess says if you are putting the ball on the floor it should have a purpose. New school I guess says you got to go between your legs at least twice, behind your back once, and crossover two or three times before you initiate the offense.

 

[Hogoff]

You wonder what strategy Hurley plans for this Pitino press on Sunday so we don’t have 20 turnovers.

Don’t let them score.

 

[3rdbass]

I think Diarra tends to over dribble but Mahaney I think takes it to a different level. Old school I guess says if you are putting the ball on the floor it should have a purpose. New school I guess says you got to go between your legs at least twice, behind your back once, and crossover two or three times before you initiate the offense.

Mahaney is just overwhelmed at this level due to his lcak of quickness and strength. He is playing out of position and just isn't a good fit even for spot minutes there. I think it is now impacting his outside shot. I think having Nowell injured most of the season has forced Hurley to spell Mahaney there but now that Nowell seems alright maybe that will change. I would still like to see Mahaney play off the ball and see what he can do. Play the Joey California role for us off the bench.

 

[djct1999]

The game has changed. This idea that freshmen develop on the court is unrealistic if you want to compete. Either you come in ready(I see you Liam) or you develop in practice and wait your turn.

 

[husky429]

I think Diarra tends to over dribble but Mahaney I think takes it to a different level. Old school I guess says if you are putting the ball on the floor it should have a purpose. New school I guess says you got to go between your legs at least twice, behind your back once, and crossover two or three times before you initiate the offense.

The former PG in me vomits a little every time I see a kid dribble and not move.

 

[Hunt for 7]

The game has changed. This idea that freshmen develop on the court is unrealistic if you want to compete. Either you come in ready(I see you Liam) or you develop in practice and wait your turn.

And then you have Rutgers with two freshman who will be lottery picks and both are averaging 18+ points a game but they won’t see the tournament. I know they both got big bags. But if you are one and done you would think these guys would want to at least experience the feeling of playing in one of sports greatest events.

Just imagine having two guards 6’6” and 6’9” that can get to the basket and pretty much create offense anyway they want and still be 6-10 in your conference. It just can’t be fun for them. For what another $250K when they are about to make tens of millions in four months.

No matter how good you are and if you have played sports at any competitive level winning is what is the most fun.

 

[UCfor3]

I mean, it’s kind of a wild question. I’d ask - why wouldn’t people prop him up, at least for a while? That’s more to the point. He was a highly sought after transfer, and Dan Hurley thought he would be big for us. He was his team’s leading scorer against us (the best team in the nation). He played a big part in turning around our game vs Baylor that was looking like another sleepwalk for us. As others have said here, he is clearly a skilled player but apparently just not right for this current situation.

For my part, I thought he would adapt and come to life, based on those flashes I saw. I thought people were throwing him under the bus way too soon, as though this is some Fantasy Football team where you produce or get dropped.

Oh I agree with you. I was just responding to the original that asked the question. Total hindsight now thinking it was absurd to ever think he could be a good pickup. I was pretty happy when we landed him.

 

[cp176]

The former PG in me vomits a little every time I see a kid dribble and not move.

Me too. I know I shouldn’t do this here but here you go - Pitino used to call it body to body for your point guards. Attack the defender, get as close to him as you can hopefully knock him back on his heels then go by him. No wasted dribbles. It‘s a straight line approach north to south. It works. You have to have the personnel to do it. Diarra is close, Mahaney can’t do it.

 

[Umami Zen]

Me too. I know I shouldn’t do this here but here you go - Pitino used to call it body to body for your point guards. Attack the defender, get as close to him as you can hopefully knock him back on his heels then go by him. No wasted dribbles. It‘s a straight line approach north to south. It works. You have to have the personnel to do it. Diarra is close, Mahaney can’t do it.

Sounds like Pitino's advice with Kadary-Always seeking out the contact to either create space for a shot or get to the hoop-or distribute a pass.

 

[RuffRuff]

And then you have Rutgers with two freshman who will be lottery picks and both are averaging 18+ points a game but they won’t see the tournament. I know they both got big bags. But if you are one and done you would think these guys would want to at least experience the feeling of playing in one of sports greatest events.

Just imagine having two guards 6’6” and 6’9” that can get to the basket and pretty much create offense anyway they want and still be 6-10 in your conference. It just can’t be fun for them. For what another $250K when they are about to make tens of millions in four months.

No matter how good you are and if you have played sports at any competitive level winning is what is the most fun.

I’m not sure it was just money. Harper is a NJ kid and linked to Rutgers and Bailey is his buddy. This was their chance to play together and be the “men”. Pikiell didn’t know how to use them right, just rolls the ball out there and that roster isn’t very good. Their one year will have been a waste at the college level for fans.

 

[cp176]

Sounds like Pitino's advice with Kadary-Always seeking out the contact to either create space for a shot or get to the hoop-or distribute a pass.

That’s what he has always taught.

 

[Umami Zen]

That’s what he has always taught.

Interesting . I have always observed Pitino's PGs- irrespective of the college he was coaching at- as having that NYC PG vibe -tough two- way players. Guess we shouldn't be surprised that it was an intentional strategy on his part on the offensive end of the floor. As a coach who has been around for awhile-you would know. Appreciate your insight.

 

[AllHusky]

I’m not sure it was just money. Harper is a NJ kid and linked to Rutgers and Bailey is his buddy. This was their chance to play together and be the “men”. Pikiell didn’t know how to use them right, just rolls the ball out there and that roster isn’t very good. Their one year will have been a waste at the college level for fans.

Harpers brother starred at Rutgers(or was it Dad?) Initially thought Bailey might be Jammin James Baileys offspring, but I do not believe that was the case.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Harpers brother starred at Rutgers(or was it Dad?) Initially thought Bailey might be Jammin James Baileys offspring, but I do not believe that was the case.

Ron Harper went to Miami, OH: He has 2 kids with his ex-wife: Ron Harper, Jr (who played at Rutgers 2018-22, succeeded by Cam Spencer 2022-2023) and Dylan Harper (there now). Both kids grew up locally in NJ.