Many thoughts after attending the practice today. Take EVERYTHING with a grain of salt because it was ONE practice, VERY early in the year, that I was fortunate enough to attend. My thoughts and observations are/were:
1. First half of the practice was offensively oriented in nature. Shooting, various fast break drills, out of bounds plays, etc.
2. 2nd part was focused more on defense, shell drill, etc.
3. Scrimmaged at the end.
4. Green Team (Possible Starters?). Johnson, Maddox, Anderson, Ball, Emejuru.
5. Gold Team - Billups, Newton, Cokley, O'Connor, Haynes, Quigley.
6. Interesting that Freshmen Sivka and Begg did not participate in anything. No drills, no scrimmage. Injured? I don't know. In the doghouse? I don't know. I was really hoping to see both in action and was disappointed not to see them in ANY capacity.
7. Giovanni Emejuru is a freaking BEAST. He should start. He is HUGE, strong, athletic, runs the floor well, has great hands, and once he established position could not be handled. He has the potential to dominate the low post. He was better than I expected. My WAY TOO early take is Emejuru starts and plays 25 - 30 minutes with Haynes as a back up. IF Haynes, who had his moments today, is our backup post player the rest of the A10 is in trouble down low.
8. Zach Anderson was LIGHTS out from downtown. He was left open 3 times and nailed an open three 3 straight times. HUGE get for us.
9. Brayden O'Connor is a player! He does everything well, defends, passes, shoots, and hustles. Don't sleep on this young man. 6th man of the year?
10. Maddox, Billups, and Newton all had their moments. We have depth we've never had before.
11. Austin Ball looks so much more confident on the floor on both ends. Great things ahead?
12. We get after it on the defensive end.
I left the practice encouraged by what I saw. Nice seeing
@tblack33 and
@gmubrian at EBA today. Took several videos and many pictures but can't figure out how to post them because I'm an older fart who didn't grow up with a computer in the womb. "Files are too large to post?" If I can figure it out I'll post. Go Mason!!!!