The Jamal Coombs-McDaniel transferring impact on AO's game...

[aceboon]

Only in Jim Calhoun's mind. If you notice over the years, we are probably the only team in college basketball that routinely plays two guys 6-10 and above (and three guys 6-8 and above). JC would rather err on the side of being over-sized.

Yea I think the size of our teams seems to distort people's perception of what other college teams look like because teams don't usually trot out there the type of NBA sized frontlines that we've had beginning with the Emeka era when he had Hilton and then Josh starting besides him. But then again guys like Josh, Hilton, CV, Emeka, also had some of the qualities I referred to up above(not all, but some) and were able to adapt to defending smaller guys or step out into the high post on offense, AO meanwhile really doesn't have any of them. I remember Josh having moments like where he had to deal with defending Luol Deng at the 4 spot in the 2004 Final Four game and while Deng had a good game not once did I feel that Josh was in no man's land defending him. When you watch AO try to defend these SFs playing the 4 spot or even perimeter oriented 5s its a nightmare.

 

[husky711]

He commits a foul against Rutgers, Calhoun takes him out (just like he did Napier and Drummond after both of their first fouls) and the camera shows him rolling his eyes, shaking his head, etc. as soon as he sits on the bench. Prime example of the kid's absolutely awful attitude this year and the exact reason why he has been in such a slump (in addition to lack of confidence, which I feel kind of goes hand in hand with the poor attitude and immaturity in this situation). It's like he has tunnel vision and doesn't see that Calhoun is a very tough, strict coach across the board... but rather thinks Calhoun picks on him or something. His body language and overall court demeanor scream immaturity. Plain and simple, that is why he seems to have regressed. He lacks the necessary confidence to play for Calhoun, and honestly most coaches at this level, this year. Last year he seemed more confident likely as a a result of Kemba's contagious attitude and demeanor.

Honestly, watching the Rutgers game thus far the commentators have commented on the body language of both Drummond and Boatright when getting pulled out of the game after poor decisions (bad, unnecessary passes) and how their body language shows immaturity in not understanding that you're going to make mistakes and get taken out of the game. This is expected to an extent from freshmen, but it's a shame that Oriakhi as a junior isn't leading by example in terms of maturity. If anything he might be leading by example in a bad way (younger guys see his body language and it becomes sort of contagious)... not going to say he's a cancer or his attitude is definitely contagious but I really hope it isn't the case and doesn't become the case more often as the season goes on.