It was Tommy Nolan Time again last night as Prep (21-1) avenged its only loss of the season (62-58) to a scrappy Hamden squad last night at East Haven High School. Tommy did not play in that last game with his sprained ankle. Playing point guard once again, he scored a game high 20 points along with a bunch of rebounds, assists, steals, and a nice behind the back pass on a fast break. He's quoted a couple of times in today's Post, and there's a pic of him stealing the ball on page B3. Prep broke open a close game in the fourth quarter with a 17-2 run negating Hamden's full court press with some easy layups leading to a 68-51 win. Tomorrow they will play Career at Quinnipiac for the SCC championship, a team they've beaten twice already. Career beat cross town rival Hillhouse in the other semifinal game.
Nash told me to say that Tommy had a 'good game' on the board today. Credit also goes to nash for coining the terms TNT (Tyler Nelson Time) and TNT2. I'm still hoping that Nolan doesn't redshirt next year if there is an open scholarship, the Stags can sure use the help....... Putting Tyler and Tommy together would be an awesome backcourt going forward.
bridgeport says that watching the Stags 'put me to sleep' style of play compared to Prep's is like watching 'night and day'..... that's an understatement!!
Hey 74, I gave my 'sis' your regards after the game, lol.
Stagal- I heard there were 2000 people at the game last night. I couldn't make it, but heard the atmosphere was fun. My cousin texted me and said if Prep coach had 40 minutes a game instead of the 32 played in HS games they would average 90+ points a game. AND they played great defense. WOW.
Not sure what the capacity of the gym is, but they had to open out the middle bleachers full (where I sat) because of overflow crowd, I'd say at least 2k. I even thought to myself that I wish the Stags would draw as well. By the way, there were all 4 sides of the court that had large bleachers.
I've seen Prep score in the 80's in just over 3 eight minute quarters. Anyone who has an open shot is encouraged to take it, even Freshmen. No selfishness either. Tommy had a chance at a layup on a fast break with a player guarding him, but passed off to Foley in the corner who hit the 3. Those 2 know each others moves, they've been playing together at the Sheehan center since the 4th grade.
I was asked last night at the game who I would rather have playing guard, Nolan or Segura? Without any hesitation I responded, Nolan. Why? He's 6'3'', or a good 5 inches taller than Rome. Both are quick, but when Tommy drives he has more chance to get the basket given his size or get fouled. Both see the court well, but once again Nolan has been brought up in an uptempo system, he can throw over or dribble through a full court press better than Rome can. Scoring wise, Tommy wins hands down. I do think that Rome has great potential however.
With the success that Tyler has had and is expected to have in the future, I don't see Nolan taking over the 2 guard spot, so he'd either be best in a 3 guard situation or perhaps just team up with Tyler in what could be an explosive TNT tandem. By the way, that would be decent size guards, both 6'3''. While Tyler is the better shooter, Tommy is the better all around player of the two, IMHO.
It was Tommy Nolan Time again last night as Prep (21-1) avenged its only loss of the season (62-58) to a scrappy Hamden squad last night at East Haven High School. Tommy did not play in that last game with his sprained ankle. Playing point guard once again, he scored a game high 20 points along with a bunch of rebounds, assists, steals, and a nice behind the back pass on a fast break. He's quoted a couple of times in today's Post, and there's a pic of him stealing the ball on page B3. Prep broke open a close game in the fourth quarter with a 17-2 run negating Hamden's full court press with some easy layups leading to a 68-51 win. Tomorrow they will play Career at Quinnipiac for the SCC championship, a team they've beaten twice already. Career beat cross town rival Hillhouse in the other semifinal game.
Nash told me to say that Tommy had a 'good game' on the board today. Credit also goes to nash for coining the terms TNT (Tyler Nelson Time) and TNT2. I'm still hoping that Nolan doesn't redshirt next year if there is an open scholarship, the Stags can sure use the help....... Putting Tyler and Tommy together would be an awesome backcourt going forward.
bridgeport says that watching the Stags 'put me to sleep' style of play compared to Prep's is like watching 'night and day'..... that's an understatement!!
Hey 74, I gave my 'sis' your regards after the game, lol.
Stagal, my computer is back up (for now) so I can comment again. And yeah I did initially insert that term (TNT) into the head of JS, but really it was just a fun thing to bat around for maybe a future reference as a complement to Tyler. Just for the record (which doesn't go away on this site), Tommy is a very good HS player who does a lot of things well. But I am not as convinced in his future as a Stag that I was last year with Tyler. So I will wait and see. But I certainly hope your unbridled enthusiam turns out to be the correct call (and you can give it back to me). God knows we could surely use another one or two GOOD GUARDS to go along with Tyler, and we need them quickly!
If you want quickly, then Tommy should get the scholarship for next year! Otherwise we wait another year to see. I'll bet you'll agree with me that you see a lot more fire and scrappiness with the Prep squad than with the Stags, right? Even you say that the current system restricts the players and potential recruits like Vann. Who determines the system anyhow? hmmmm... Wonder if we can teach an old coach new tricks??
nash, quick question: if you had to choose a future backcourt, which of the following would you choose right now from what you've seen extensively already? nelson/Nolan or nelson/segura
If you want quickly, then Tommy should get the scholarship for next year! Otherwise we wait another year to see. I'll bet you'll agree with me that you see a lot more fire and scrappiness with the Prep squad than with the Stags, right? Even you say that the current system restricts the players and potential recruits like Vann. Who determines the system anyhow? hmmmm... Wonder if we can teach an old coach new tricks??
Take this for what it's worth-this is NOT a defense of Sydney, but his last Princeton team, the one that won the Ivy and scared Kentucky out of their pants, averaged better than 70 PPG. So I'm sure there could be some changes with the proper manpower. But yes of course there is more fire and scrappiness with Prep. But they do have the horses, therefore it only makes sense that they play like they do.
If you want quickly, then Tommy should get the scholarship for next year! Otherwise we wait another year to see. I'll bet you'll agree with me that you see a lot more fire and scrappiness with the Prep squad than with the Stags, right? Even you say that the current system restricts the players and potential recruits like Vann. Who determines the system anyhow? hmmmm... Wonder if we can teach an old coach new tricks??
Take this for what it's worth-this is NOT a defense of Sydney, but his last Princeton team, the one that won the Ivy and scared Kentucky out of their pants, averaged better than 70 PPG. So I'm sure there could be some changes with the proper manpower. But yes of course there is more fire and scrappiness with Prep. But they do have the horses, therefore it only makes sense that they play like they do.
Yeah Nash but these are the guys he recruited. So its not too strong a defense.....
nash, quick question: if you had to choose a future backcourt, which of the following would you choose right now from what you've seen extensively already? nelson/Nolan or nelson/segura
Wow you're tough Al. If we get a completely healthy Segura (no bad knees like the last couple of weeks) I think it would be him. Not sure if either is the final answer at PG however. What I'm saying is that the PG situation still is unsettled at the moment basically because neither has proved he is the permanent answer yet. Of course in Tommy's case that is unfair because he hasn't even played a minute of college ball yet.
you can't teach height and you can't teach passion, either you've got it or you don't... I may have to eat my words but you know who I'd take. I want a kid who plain out hates to lose and plays that way! It just comes down to the coach and system after that.
Its exciting to hear that Nolan can play the PG as that is where we need to upgrade. And the thoughts that he could be better that Segura are very encouraging. But I think a better question might be how does he stack up against Jon Han, as he was also a player that was fiery and hated to lose. Stagal, is Nolan actually playing PG at Prep now, or is he just showing PG skills and someone else playing PG
Nolan has in effect been playing point guard with the loss of Ray Featherston, a smaller but very nifty PG much earlier in the season with a torn ACL. I've been told he played that position also as a Freshman but I didn't see him then. That being said, the Junior transfer, Rich Kelly, is also a very strong guard in both dribbling and shooting. So the full weight of being a pure PG is somewhat shared by both. Tommy is the team leader but has a full complement of pretty competent teammates. I really like his buddy, Ryan Foley, wish we would get him too! Kinda like having a Needham/Nickerson tandem of thieves. I'm not sure how I'd compare him to Han, perhaps nash could do a better job on that than me. Joe, you've coined the term 'lead guard' with respect to Needham, I actually see that would be more of how I see Nolan down the road. Or maybe a 3 guard set with Rome, Tyler, and Tommy. With Tyler having sewn up the #2 for years to come which might have been Tommy's normal position, some kind of adjustment would have to be made to play them together. How it all plays out we'll all have to wait and see.......
PS anyone who hasn't seen Nolan play ought to go to QU tomorrow for the 7pm game against Career.
So its not too strong a defense.....