Iām not talking about anybody else. Iām talking about UVA and his coverage of Tony Bennett. Youāre free to enjoy him if you want- no one is stopping you, even if I think itās a bit silly.
1 Like
This is the best interview Iāve seen Ron give. Forthcoming and personable.
Also, and this is neither here nor there, seeing him side by side with Goodman reminds me that some peopleās eyes are close together and some peopleās eyes are far apart
11 Likes
Basketball philosophy aside, itās easy to see why Ron and Tony are such close friends. Almost everything Ron said sounded like it could have come just easily out of Tonyās mouth.
I also thought Ron (and Goodman) made a good point about Tonyā departure: The portal and NIL has taken away the part of coaching that Tony loved best, which was building a relationship with his players and helping them grow. Even as competitive as Tony is, winning games was never his driving motivation or the source of his joy.
8 Likes
Name names!
2 Likes
Goodman lost me when he threatened that one dude with jailtime in twitter DMās.
4 Likes
I admit I didnāt know much about Coach Sanchez before watching this interview; but man, I hope he becomes a great Coach.
9 Likes
When it comes to rebounding people talk about effort and boxing out and athleticism, but hereās the thing ā¦
When the other teams know, you will never fast break then it increases their energy to go for every offensive rebound and when you donāt have the thought in the back of your head that if I donāt get this, I might get beat back. Youāre always gonna be a step or two quicker than you would be if that hesitation was in your mind of whether to get back or not
12 Likes
Yeah but that wasnāt really a problem with other IVA teams that never ran either so Iām chalking this more up to the roster than some inherent flaw with our style
4 Likes
Iāve engaged in more of these āwas it the strategy? was it the tactics? was it the talent level? was it the talent mix?ā convos here than anyone, and Iāve probably lapped most of you, quite frankly.
But Iām a little cold on the topic. I guess this is my version the āit just doesnāt feel the same, anymoreā posts.
Iām having trouble summoning the energy for a hot take. Okay, hereās a cold take:
The strategy/tactics discussions feel more salient when we have at least a certain level of talent/skill/experience, which we donāt have.
Then again, to argue with myself, I think you can see the gaps/seams in some of the tactics/strategy when we donāt have NBA-level talent.
4 Likes
Iāll bite - we have at least 2 guys who will play in the NBA/G League - Cofie and Saunders. I believe iMac and Rohde will have long careers (if they want them) overseas. I can see glimpses of Sharma as a 3 and D guy.
Conspicuous by absence is talent in the post - neither Blake nor ARob has progressed (Iād argue Blake has regressed considering the inconsistency in how he has been situated in the games). I feel like TJP is this yearās version of Rohde from last year - heās a 4 and needed to be play\ed there until he developed. Heāll make a really good player at BC next year and will compare favorably with Igor in LRA lore.
In retrospect, should have committed to Rohde as PG during off season. And I stick by my early assessment of DD as a slightly better offensively, much worse defensively version of Dante - Iād rather have kept Dante than reaching for DD when Elijah had the scooter accident (and this team would look different with X as well).
So, I think there is talent, serious talent, on the floor but thereās a donut hole in the middle and no scheme to overcome it (uh, maybe itās time to throw in a zone and some full court pressure - I dunno, thereās a good reason why Iām not paid to be a coach for a living). I think thatās on Sanchez. CTBās retirement put Sanchez in a bad/good spot, but Iām thinking he has wasted his audition to this point.
2 Likes
Cofie has NBA potential if he develops well. Saunders doesnāt. He could play in the G-league, but it will be as a just a guy, not a guy whoās waiting for the NBA.
Saunders is nice college player. Could play a role on a good team.
6 Likes
I think youāre undervaluing him - heās 6ā8ā and has sneaky ups. Heās a very good shooter with room to improve from 3 and at the rim. He seems pretty hard nosed and willing. I think heāll do very well in the NBA workouts. But, we just disagree.
3 Likes
Saunders has the height, 3pt shooting ability but I donāt see him as an NBA prospect because I donāt think he has the slashing ability or ball handling that most NBA teams will look for in a wing.
Saunders isnāt an NBA player and not sure thereās really a path where he develops into one. Lacks the lateral quickness and plays smaller than 6ā8ā - given his physical maturity, unsure of whether that can be improved much.
1 Like
He will play TE for the New Orleans Saints or for UNC (Belichick)
5 Likes
Was actually wondering about the Mo Alie Cox route. Heās not quite as big as Cox, but heās still pretty big.
1 Like
Rohde as PG during the past summer/ off season? Jason Warley said āhold my beerā, Warley was the PG PERIOD. Rohde, Ames and Bliss were all fighting for the 10 minutes of back up time, plus 10 minutes of back up time to Imac at SG.
Still think Tonyās leaving really screwed this team and Sanchez. Warley at PG means 2 more wins for the team (Memphis and SMU). Bennett coaching means stability, experience and ability to better control lineups and game flow.
Rohde is one player who looks to play 100% effort when on the court. Donāt see that same intensity from Ames. Bliss is just not playing at all. Rohde is NOT the problem.
7 Likes
Jalen Warley will be Magic Johnson somehow before this year is over. haha He would have helped. Brings experience, and they really miss someone to take on the tough D assignments. But letās not pretend heās all that. Weād still be complaining about PG play. The guy doesnāt shoot jumpersā¦not below average, doesnāt shoot. He played in both those scrimmages when they got their butt kicked. And without going back and checking the box score, I believe he played less than Rohde too.
Itās definitely a different team with TB though. Different habits, preferences. You never know how things would have turned out.
17 Likes
Point of information: I pre-registered my alternative timeline where Warley became a good jump shooter
6 Likes
True but he was a menace defensively on guards and a good ball handler and facilitatorā¦ two of our biggest weaknesses right now. Itās also telling that he was between two top 10 schools for where he was going to transfer after us
3 Likes