Big East 2024-2025

[BBfan]

I am hoping Kalk becomes assertive enough to take more shots. As a fourth year player, against Tenn in crunch time he threw the ball out instead of taking shots. Even when he has taken shots in the post in prior years, it usually takes him more than a few seconds to prepare to take it.

[JacobPadilla]

In theory, you are right. But Kalk’s career isn’t legendary because we are able to feed him and get those types of shots off consistently. Maybe he takes the leap this year. I do not disagree with you, but am still concerned about that facet of this team’s game. Shot creation with the clock winding down typically isn’t usually centered around FEED THE POST!

Hell, when the clock was winding down back in the day, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady were searching for the shots - not Shaq.

I’m hoping Larry Johnson is more of that guy than many might be thinking right now.

I think one of the reasons those guys didn’t look for Shaq was because he couldn’t shoot free throws to save his life. Remember “ hack a Shaq?” And I agree, I think LJ will end up being a go to guy when the clock is winding down.

Pop will likely be the primary guy in that position. The goal is obviously going to be generating a good look well before the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, but if the clock is winding down it's probably just going to be a ball screen whenever possible as opposed to asking somebody to create 1-on-1. FWIW, Ashworth and Kalkbrenner were both quite effective relative to national average in the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, even if the volume wasn't terribly high (roughly once per game each). Isaacs was that guy for Texas Tech and did fairly well.

Expecting Larry to come in and be that guy as a freshman is probably setting yourself up for disappointment.

[SeattleJay]

XU comes in at 24

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/me ... 4-previews

4 BE teams left in the top 23.

[LJay]

It’s just a scrimmage but Providence fans are insufferable so not unhappy to see that result.

[LJay]

Johnnies at #22.

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/23299

[SeattleJay]

Kenpom’s preseason picks are out:

https://kenpom.com/

He has CU 12.

Biggest surprise to me is that he has Nova at 20.

[vivid_dude]

Pop will likely be the primary guy in that position. The goal is obviously going to be generating a good look well before the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, but if the clock is winding down it's probably just going to be a ball screen whenever possible as opposed to asking somebody to create 1-on-1. FWIW, Ashworth and Kalkbrenner were both quite effective relative to national average in the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, even if the volume wasn't terribly high (roughly once per game each). Isaacs was that guy for Texas Tech and did fairly well.

Expecting Larry to come in and be that guy as a freshman is probably setting yourself up for disappointment.

I love reading this about Pop. Wasn't sure if that was his game or not, as I didn't see too much of him at Texas Tech. Maybe there's someone else unexpected on the roster who can jump into that role alongside Pop. And if Kalk/Ash are that efficient, give them more volume!

Your last sentence is disappointing, but probably true. I will occasionally get overly hyped on hype videos. Larry's was amazing. But that doesn't always translate to immediate contributions or success. Hope he proves you wrong!

It's October 14. Regular season basketball is a few weeks away. At the risk of giving Texas Rio Grande Valley too much bulletin board material, I feel good about starting 1-0. I think Bluejay Nation would be absolutely thrilled if the Vaqueros were 1-1 after the Jays beat them. (They play Nebraska two days before playing CU.)

[Chicagojayfan]

In theory, you are right. But Kalk’s career isn’t legendary because we are able to feed him and get those types of shots off consistently. Maybe he takes the leap this year. I do not disagree with you, but am still concerned about that facet of this team’s game. Shot creation with the clock winding down typically isn’t usually centered around FEED THE POST!

Hell, when the clock was winding down back in the day, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady were searching for the shots - not Shaq.

I’m hoping Larry Johnson is more of that guy than many might be thinking right now.

I think one of the reasons those guys didn’t look for Shaq was because he couldn’t shoot free throws to save his life. Remember “ hack a Shaq?” And I agree, I think LJ will end up being a go to guy when the clock is winding down.

Pop will likely be the primary guy in that position. The goal is obviously going to be generating a good look well before the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, but if the clock is winding down it's probably just going to be a ball screen whenever possible as opposed to asking somebody to create 1-on-1. FWIW, Ashworth and Kalkbrenner were both quite effective relative to national average in the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, even if the volume wasn't terribly high (roughly once per game each). Isaacs was that guy for Texas Tech and did fairly well.

Expecting Larry to come in and be that guy as a freshman is probably setting yourself up for disappointment.

Agree that Pop is likely the primary go-to guy when the shot's running down, but we should have good spacing and passing to facilitate other options there. I thought Pop just ended up taking a lot of shots last year at Texas Tech where the clock was running down and he was put into a position of just having to do whatever he could to try to get something out of the possession. Add in the injury and it hurt his efficiency - so I'm hopeful he'll have better looks before the last 4 seconds, and even during those last 4 seconds.

But, exactly as you say, we aren't a team that's going to just go 1-on-1 at the end of the clock. We just aren't built that way, but I'm hopeful that a stronger Kalk will get into his post moves faster this year, and that the minutes for guys like Neal and Green will give us some slashers who can get into the paint and at least force teams to defend us a bit differently with the ball screens

Beyond that, this is going to be a fun team and a good team. Hard to know just how good they can be because we're counting on a lot of improvement for incoming guys and returning guys, and have a lot unknowns right now, but they should be fun to watch, and I suspect they'll be good enough to have a legitimate shot at the kind of goals they have at the end of the season

[JacobPadilla]

Pop will likely be the primary guy in that position. The goal is obviously going to be generating a good look well before the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, but if the clock is winding down it's probably just going to be a ball screen whenever possible as opposed to asking somebody to create 1-on-1. FWIW, Ashworth and Kalkbrenner were both quite effective relative to national average in the last 4 seconds of the shot clock, even if the volume wasn't terribly high (roughly once per game each). Isaacs was that guy for Texas Tech and did fairly well.

Expecting Larry to come in and be that guy as a freshman is probably setting yourself up for disappointment.

I love reading this about Pop. Wasn't sure if that was his game or not, as I didn't see too much of him at Texas Tech. Maybe there's someone else unexpected on the roster who can jump into that role alongside Pop. And if Kalk/Ash are that efficient, give them more volume!

Just finished a deep dive on Pop's tape from Texas Tech. I'll have something up on our website this week.

[SeattleJay]

Looking forward to it, Jacob!