I dont think mcneeley and Rohde could physically handle 50-55 min a night lol
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Typically, Rohde looks like he already put in 40 but the first commercial break.
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Has he had last year’s bounce at any point this year yet?
Because money is involved. For the most part, the players aren’t that excited. Just look at all the opt outs for the random bowl games. And I think UNC basketball turned down the NIT last year.
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Does not seem to have the ability to beat his man. He has the ability to avoid mistakes when harassed and he has the ability to make the right pass when it is open. That is what he has shown over the 527 mins he has logged at UVa.
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It’s not at MSG anymore. It’s at Butlers arena.
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We had a blast there in 1992
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Why would you like to see Bond at the 3? I am not trying to knock the kid, but I have seen very little in ACC play that demonstrates more than marginal minutes, especially at the 3, which we would presumably expect to be a little more versatile offensively. It just seems as though – at least through ACC play – he settles for fade away midrange jump shot after another.
I don’t think that earns Tony’s trust at this point in the season. I think very differently about Eli, but that is another post.
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His defense is the main reason. He represents a very good defender at the 3 while helping on the glass where, at the four - despite that skillset coming more naturally to him, he’s way undersized which hurts us on both ends.
He does settle for the fadeaway too much, but a lot of that is because of the size he’s giving up and how he’s developed his game as a result. Having him against the opposing team’s SF instead of their PF should actually allow him some mismatches inside - we just haven’t really done much to force these looks into him when he’s played there. Intentionally getting Bond post touches when he’s playing the three would be a good way to bridge that gap.
Still, the past several games CTB has favored using him at the three and, when he has, it’s gone well - bolstering the defense while being fine enough on offense. I have some clips in my piece against Virginia Tech showing of this and his time coincided with us blowing that lead out at first as the defense locked down for a long stretch.
He won’t be a great offensive player at SF this season if we just run our standard sets with him in there - but there’s a lot of good that comes from it from crashing the glass on both ends to improving our overall defensive ceiling.
I don’t think he should be starting there or anything, but it’s a good option to get both Bond and Dunn on the floor together without having to concede so much inside by playing them 4-5. Also, longer term, Bond should be a SF for this team despite it not being his natural position. So, it’s better to get him those reps and improve his comfort level handling the ball than to keep playing him in a spot where he’ll always be undersized.
But, even though he’s not a natural 3 offensively, it hasn’t held our offense back that much when he plays there, especially now that Minor is getting such heavy run and we’re playing Sides the majority of the time anyway.
Hopefully, he’ll continue to expand his range this offseason.
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My frustration with the Eli situation is as follows:
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When he was put in situations to succeed (ballhandler around him, starters) he succeeded! That includes minutes in A&M and Cuse. It’s no surprise he struggled against a Cuse press as lead ballhandler or against an experienced Memphis team on the road in a similar situation.
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He clearly has a skill set that this team lacks. And I believe would improve our offense.
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He is not sound from a defensive positioning / awareness perspective but he can recover better than any one not named Ryan on our team. And provides rebounding!
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The alternatives are performing at a very low level.
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We burned the kids redshirt and then going to effectively redshirt after a 5 game tryout. That’s not good faith as a coach (esp. given my first point).
So it seems like the only path to playing time are:
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Develop PG ball handling skills which I don’t think are going to happen this season.
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multiple injuries
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mop up minutes which are not great for development and most likely would mean we have already lost the game (which is not conducive to winning the game!)
My alternative:
- Give 5-10 of Harris’ minutes to Eli when Reece is in. Situationally (i.e. when we need defense / rebounding or failing to score).
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Tremendous recap. I remembered first time he came into the game (not as the PG) and he surprised me because he looked like he belonged immediately.
I agree with your points about him being promary ball handler kind of on an island against Cuse then Memphis. Tough spot and seemed rattled but probly overall good for him to learn
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. This is the way.
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Very happy he got in today.
He did look a little nervous at first though. Unlike how he looked / played when he entered against aTm.
Glad he hit his first shot. Sweet pull-up. Dribbling was pretty solid and handled their tight man well.
Coaches will work with him on his defense; spreading out and defending the PNR better. Also can’t get lifted on pump fakes. Great athletes like him and Dunn have to reverse their instinct to swat everything, when they can still make the block if they wait for the person to actually shoot.
Hope Tony keeps running him out there. He should take a few of Rohde and Dante minutes.
Go Hoos. Play free and with JOY. Have fun. Beat ND.
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Love your energy bro!
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To me it comes down to if Gertrude is here for 3/4 years he will be an NBA player and be a well rounded player who is thriving as an upper classmen, I truly believe that.
But it is understandable that he and all these 17/18 year olds could bolt for earlier playing time and NIL money. I just hope he can see the investment here will pay off, I truly believe it will.
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I am confident he will be here. Unless of course TB is not
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Tony talking about Eli’s playing time on last night’s coach’s corner
starts at the 48:07 minute mark.
Scroll down the page until the video shows.Tony Discussing Eli at the 48:07 mark
Basically said nothing… as an example of how young Eli is… he hasn’t turned 19 yet and Blake just turned 20 yesterday.
Like how in the world was Blake allowed to play in a high school game at 19??
I was 17 when I graduated let alone playing the winter season of basketball… I should have gotten held back a year apparently… sheesh …
Good on Eli for not gaming the system.
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Well that wasnt great
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Thought it was ok. Said his attitude is great and upside is big. Getting him more reps in practice. What didn’t you like about it?