Everything posters reported about Nelson is true. He can shoot and just knows how to score. Segura is very smooth. He doesn't play PG like a frosh. KJ as tough as ever. Hard to get a read on Threatt. He looks like a combo and is strong. We will be playing three guards quite a bit.
If Nelson stays healthy, no way they finish 9th. Hope another guard emerges besides Stevie. Time will tell. Nice showing considering Marcus and Degnan didn't see action. My son mentioned that they look better than last year, so I'm going with that. He knows better than all of us...
Segura KJ Nelson Coleman and Amadou played together. Not too many spots for Amadou to step out but I missed a few parts.
Agree with Tmaac and his son. They just looked better. Completely different tone or feel compared with last year.
Glad to read the tone was better than last year. With those 5 on one team -- that would put Chappell, Stevie, Threatt, Kirkland, Smith, and Malcolm on the other team ----interesting that SJ put Segura and KJ on the same squad.
Big day tomorrow as the 2014-15 edition of the Fairfield Stags will be on display to the public for the first time. BTW I like the fact that they are listing the time period for the scrimmage to be a half hour longer than has been listed in the past. Don't know if that means extra scrimmage time, or maybe extra warm-up time, or maybe even just a period after the action when maybe the fans can talk to the players. Whatever, I am certainly looking forward to it. As far as what we will see and hope for, it looks like JS and others have posted reasonable points above to be looked for. I would make a general statement here however that as far as these things go, many times the scrimmages in the past have not been a good indicator as to how well that particular edition of the team would do during the season. HOWEVER last year that statement would be totally untrue. I recently reviewed our comments from this very day last Oct., and unfortunately the negative impressions that were made on this board the next few days sadly reflected a preview of what was to occur during the season. So I do think that because (again) there are a lot of new pieces to the puzzle that have to be put together, I would hope to see a little more cohesion in this event this time around. So yes while it is true the team will not win or lose a game tomorrow, the fact is they will create an impression. And for a fan base that is currently a bit on the negative side (based on last year), a good effort certainly might lift the spirits of a lot of people.
Not everything perfect of course, it never is. But I believe it is fair to say that if first impressions do mean anything, this was a good start. Just SO much different from one year ago, particularly in the play of the guards led by Nelson. His reputation has always been that he is a great shooter. But he did other things today, not the least of which was a brilliant anticipation steal of a pass followed by a smart drive to the basket for a layup. Segura impressive also. Threatt, Kirkland okay, but I'm sure they have more to give. And with the (very minor) injuries keeping Marcus and Degnan off the floor, I would have to say overall this was a very successful first viewing of this team. Hopefully it portends goods things this season!
Let's just say that the MASS. Gatorade Player of the Year, Tyler Nelson, stole the show. I'm pretty sure he scored more that the entire other team combined and probably about half of his own team's points. Is it too early to be comparing him to Joey D? time will tell! From what I've seen and read, Segura, Nelson, Degnan, and Marcus should be starting. Who will round out the lineup?
Let's just say that the MASS. Gatorade Player of the Year, Tyler Nelson, stole the show. I'm pretty sure he scored more that the entire other team combined and probably about half of his own team's points. Is it too early to be comparing him to Joey D? time will tell! From what I've seen and read, Segura, Nelson, Degnan, and Marcus should be starting. Who will round out the lineup?
Since you were at the scrimmage, I'll grant you a possible starting backcourt of Segura and Nelson and Marcus has obviously shown by his play the past two years that he deserves a starting position. But I'm frightened that you want to make Degnan a starter without ever having seen him play against college players. That pretty much tells me you were unimpressed by Kirkland and Coleman today.
Hard, for me at least, to get a read on our big men. But they looked fine. Malcolm made a nice shot and Mike was aggressive on offense. Coleman missed some shots but looked Ok.. Fact is, it's a small sample size but most left with a better feel than last year.
I don't see Degnan starting. And I am not even sure about Nelson but he will play a lot. I think we will see three guards and Marcus on the floor quite a bit. Many more worthy combinations for SJ than last year. It's nice to have ballhandlers.
A great opening debut by Tyler Nelson, not just by results (17pts), but also by the Basketball instincts that he showed. He certainly answered the question I had which was ....... Is Nelson better than MVS, and does he have a more expanded game? And the answer is that he is certainly has a more expanded game and is more aggressive Than MVS. The 2 drives to the hoop would not even have been attempted by MVS. I can see Nelson starting at the 2G, or being the #1 reserve at 2G and 3G. And I think he will allow us to finally go to a 3-guard line-up on occassion.... Hooray
- Rome Segura looked really good as a PG. He seemed to always make the right pass, and seemed to simplify the game. He also made a great drive, shifted the ball to his left hand, and kissed it off the glass..... thats a Pro move
- KJ's game seemed the same which was somewhat disappointing, but he did contribute in his unique style.... low posting, Steals, layups and 50-50 loose balls
- Chappell, Malcolm and Coleman's game all seemed the same.
- Both Amadou and Kirkland play a physical type of game, and I would think at least one of them will always be on the court at any given time..... and sometimes both
- Steve Smith grabbed some good rebounds early and seemed to be a little bigger. I think he should focus on getting stronger so he can eventually be a Mike Evanovich PF..... face the basket forward with long 3-pt range
- Demarcus Threatt had a tough game as far as scoring, but he was able to beat his man off the dribble and penetrate. He had trouble finishing, but he was able to make some kick-out passes to Stevie who knocked them down. StevieJ played well and looked like he will be instant offense. It was hard to get a read on Threatt because he did not play well. He is a strong/quick kid who can shoot, so i think he is a TBD
- Jared Harper looked good, but was playing 2G, not PG.
- Sydney has been rotating Segura, Rose, Threatt and Harper at PG during the last few weeks of practice. It was just Threatts turn to be PG today, and Not KJ or Harper. I get the feeling that Rome Segura only plays the point
- Degnan looked great in Warm-ups. He is a Big Kid.... reminds me of Debisschop who can pass and run the floor. Executed some impressive dribbling and footwork drills
Our Guard group is much better this year, and the Nelson and Segura showed that they have some special skills. Only 1 game/scrimmage, but this is pretty exciting . Marcus had a temporary injury .
Last Edit: Oct 25, 2014 18:47:00 GMT -5 by JoeStag
in response to stag76, I was not terribly impressed by the play of the big men yesterday. Kirkland did make a nice move to the basket early in the game. Malcolm went hard to the hoop strong one time early in the game, but after that wasn't much of a factor. Smith looked good with his long range shooting and was going hard to the boards, something I think he lacked last season. Johnston will give us much help with his long range shooting as well. I sat on the floor during the warmup drills watching Degnan, big kid with some nice moves, he didn't seem to be hobbled with his ankle, but it was wrapped in ice pack afterwards. So given the fact that none of our other big men were that impressive, I believe that Degnan will eventually start at the 4 or 5 position once he's healed. the day belonged to one player in my opinion, Tyler Nelson. he has great court sense and should have to green light to shoot whenever, and should start at the 2 position. instant offense! wonder how a Nelson, Smith, and Johnston combination would do being fed by Segura? hmmm.....
I sat on the floor during the warmup drills watching Degnan, big kid with some nice moves, he didn't seem to be hobbled with his ankle, but it was wrapped in ice pack afterwards. So given the fact that none of our other big men were that impressive, I believe that Degnan will eventually start at the 4 or 5 position once he's healed. the day belonged to one player in my opinion, Tyler Nelson. he has great court sense and should have to green light to shoot whenever, and should start at the 2 position. instant offense! wonder how a Nelson, Smith, and Johnston combination would do being fed by Segura? hmmm.....
I would also agree that Degnan should probably be starting at the 4 or 5 position. His skillset and size that he showed in drills is exactly what we need. The one thing we could not tell from just drills was Rebounding, Defense or Physicality..... which just so happens to be what Amadou and Kirkland's strengths are. Those 3 will likely rotate at the PF/C positions.
If Degnan is healthy enough to do all that jumping and cutting drills, the ice pack after practice is likely just standard operating procedures during rehab. Its my understanding they are just being careful with him coming back. Its also the same situation with Amadou, that is why he played only half the game.