Akok has such a great basketball IQ. He truly understands what he needs to do. I love watching him without the ball. He does those little things that allow the team to win the battle. I wish more players understood this at all levels.
For me, it's Bouknight.
I knew he was a good recruit, but had no idea he would be an absolute stud from the beginning. You'll be seeing this kid on SportsCenter for the next 15 years.
He's not listed in the poll because outside of rebounding and ft's his numbers are the same as last year except he's shooting a significantly worse fg% this year. He seems more in control this year and I think he's better but it isn't anything like the night and day difference we see in Adams.I'm surprised/not surprised that a guy could lead the team in minutes, points, rebounds, FT%, steals, and be 2nd in 3-pointers & assists...and not be listed as an option in the Poll (because such stats aren't really surprising)...and still have running mention that he's not really all that good ("4th best guard"), and that there are contexts in which his stats (except FT%) aren't really as good as they look. I'm grateful for what CV is, and accepting for what he's not
Maybe he comes off poorly in interviews. Give a look. There's an easy link close by in another thread. Plot spoiler: he knows whose team it is, and what his role is.
PS - He's human too. And he knows it.
yes, this! after some knucklehead here tried to 'explain away' cv's rebounds ('anyone could get them') I went back and watched his boards in the buffalo game. tenacity, grit, and toughness defined. dude just plays hard all the time, and it's contagious.I'm surprised/not surprised that a guy could lead the team in minutes, points, rebounds, FT%, steals, and be 2nd in 3-pointers & assists...and not be listed as an option in the Poll (because such stats aren't really surprising)...and still have running mention that he's not really all that good ("4th best guard"), and that there are contexts in which his stats (except FT%) aren't really as good as they look. I'm grateful for what CV is, and accepting for what he's not
Maybe he comes off poorly in interviews. Give a look. There's an easy link close by in another thread. Plot spoiler: he knows whose team it is, and what his role is.
PS - He's human too. And he knows it.
Oh for sure, he has no place whatsoever in the poll.He's not listed in the poll because outside of rebounding and ft's his numbers are the same as last year except he's shooting a significantly worse fg% this year. He seems more in control this year and I think he's better but it isn't anything like the night and day difference we see in Adams.
Things are coming along nicely. We should be undefeated right now but I think both losses in different ways provided valuable lessons and we've improved/responded really well to both situations. This team has a chance to be very good as the season progresses, IMO.Oh for sure, he has no place whatsoever in the poll.
If the surrounding cast of characters (and he is NOT the center) continues to grow, then his shooting attempts, scoring and minutes will go down, and that may mean a rise in FG%. That would be my fondest hope.
Actually, even fonder, I'd love it if he were to be identified (AG as well) in March as the type of Senior/leadership guards that are indispensable to NCAA Tournament performance.
For now, one game at a time, and continued patience & growing delight with development shown by the coaching staff, the players, the team as a whole, and even this community where you and I share common passion.
Things are coming along nicely. We should be undefeated right now but I think both losses in different ways provided valuable lessons and we've improved/responded really well to both situations. This team has a chance to be very good as the season progresses, IMO.
The worst part is Adams actually contested it too. Just horrible luck for us.If you saw DH's post game interview, he directly said (maybe even twice) that they would have lost to Iona if not for the more experienced players. And that's a game with a proper 18-point margin, (on a 12.5 spread fwiw).
Disclosure: I still haven't seen the St. Joe's game. I know I won't see Bouknight or Gaffney, and I'm expecting a horrifying first half showing that gave DH a checklist he called, "I have so much to work on" from that post-game interview.
AG is playing far more in accordance with what everybody called for after Xavier. And, it took a too-deep-to-realistically-defend 3 to give X the tie that brought overtime, and thus the chance that they capitalized on. Yes, lots of poor execution after that.
A great hustler and a tremendous asset on defense. I am confident he also has an offensive game. He just doesn't seem comfortable on the offensive end. In time it will come.Akok has such a great basketball IQ. He truly understands what he needs to do. I love watching him without the ball. He does those little things that allow the team to win the battle. I wish more players understood this at all levels.