MSU Scrimmage

[MSUCarFreak]

Returned this afternoon from a closed MSU scrimmage...and here are some thoughts for those that may be interested...

---This team is going to be very adaptable - there were three scrimmages, one in which the team would have scored over 100 points, the second slowed the pace a little and resulted in around 80 points, and the last employed the typical MSU "slow-it-down" style and would have been around 60-70 points. The offensive strategies are all very efficient.

---Goodridge was a bit less impressive than the first scrimmage - but still solid. Seemed to be more of a role-player.

---Phil Turner can hit the threes, but is a turnover waiting to happen. Needs to work on passing and dribbling.

---Richard Delk is much more aggressive and assertive - will be much, much improved this year.

---Reginald Delk has, in fact, improved his shot - both inside and outside of the line. Scary.

---Barry Stewart could be a solid roleplayer...had a good many assists.

---Ben Hansbrough is still awesome. His stats aren't all that amazing (pretty good, still), but each of the three scrimmages - the team on which he played won the scrimmage. He just knows how to make things work smoothly...the team looked well-organized and deliberate on offense when he was at the 1. And, in the last scrimmage, Ben hit a "clutch three" with 1.8 seconds remaining with his team down by three to send it to overtime, where he led the team to pick up their intensity and dominate OT.

---Slater actually participated, and seemed pretty impressive, albeit a bit out of control.

---Rhodes has GREATLY improved his mid-range jump-shot. He's going to be a huge threat whenever he's inside the 3-point line.

---Varnado is going to be a huge big-man of a threat inside, in the likes of Rhodes. Mark it down.

---Stelmach is actually pretty useful now...his shot is amazing. He's a lock to make a shot under most conditions. Ball-handling is still the same-old awkward Piotr.

---Johnson is a force down low, but only if he doesn't touch the ball for long. He is a very poor ball-handler.

---And with ball-handling, Gordon has improved his a LOT. In all of the scrimmages, Gordon achieved a 2:1 assist/turnover ratio, or came close to it. He's making a few of the same stupid mistakes, but they're very limited.

All in all, this is adding up to be a potentially exciting year of basketball for the Bulldogs.

[AUChamps]

Did you check out the Football Scrimmage against UGA on TV?

[MSUCarFreak]

Hey!!! I agree...MSU sucks in football, but we made it a close battle!!! Give us SOME credit...lol.

[drummerdawg]

man im ready for the season to start!

[UKat]

man im ready for the season to start!These guys dont understand how we feel.........lol, they dont realize that our football seasons are essentially over and now its time for basketball....when you f'ball team sucks.

[MSUCarFreak]

AMEN to that!!

[Dawgfish]

:thumpsup: MSUCarFreak,


I'm drooling dude!!! Bring me some more reports like that one. That's what we all want to hear! Football season turned sour early on this year and we all want to have something to look forward to and get excited about. You should be doing some behind the scenes reporting or hosting a blog site. Keep up the good work and keep giving us that inside scoop!!!!

[MSUCarFreak]

I know the feelin', I really do. I actually host my own message board, where I will post all of these inside information tidbits. It's http://msucarfreak.proboards85.com/ Feel free to join that board - it's mostly for MSU basketball...and check out the site, as well....www.msubasketball.tk

[goallthewayua]

Hey MSUcarfreak,

How do you see the SEC west shaping up this season? Is it going to be LSU and bama fighting for 1st and 2nd with MSU and Arkansas playing for 3rd and 4th like most people think? Oh and what do most of the dog fan's think about the Gary Ervin deal or do yal not care?

[The Architect]

These guys dont understand how we feel.........lol, they dont realize that our football seasons are essentially over and now its time for basketball....when you f'ball team sucks.

I'm not ready to throw the towel in on the football cats just yet. If they beat MSU, they're still on path for a bowl. If they get beat, then I'll be ready to move on to hoops, most likely.

[MSUCarFreak]

Goall, you may or may not like my thoughts - but hopefully, you'll understand that these are just opinions, and not attacks.

The way I see it, the West will be more wide open than expected. LSU could struggle to find a replacement for Tyrus Thomas, Alabama shouldn't be incredibly better than their 18-13 finish last season, and Mississippi State will be greatly improved. I think the top 3 positions will be a catfight to the end by those three teams. Arkansas will be a clear fourth, hitting quite a few bumps after being unable to replace the points and leadership of Modica and Brewer. Ole Miss and Auburn will be bringing up the rear in a distant fifth and sixth.

As far as Ervin...I saw him, as a MSU fan, play quite a bit - and saw him single-handedly lose a very close MSU/Duke game two NCAA tournaments ago. Ervin is out-of-control, selfish, and is a poor decision-maker. Off of the court, he was detrimental to team dynamics, due to his sour attitude and self-centered focus. He will be a point-gaurd, the only one with any potential, for the 'Backs...but I don't see him contributing very much to any success the team sees/does not see.

[Gator2753]

These guys dont understand how we feel.........lol, they dont realize that our football seasons are essentially over and now its time for basketball....when you f'ball team sucks.
What if your good at both?
:laugh: Sorry guys I had to do it!

[MSUCarFreak]

LOL - I'd gloat if I were in your position, too.

[goallthewayua]

Goall, you may or may not like my thoughts - but hopefully, you'll understand that these are just opinions, and not attacks.

The way I see it, the West will be more wide open than expected. LSU could struggle to find a replacement for Tyrus Thomas, Alabama shouldn't be incredibly better than their 18-13 finish last season, and Mississippi State will be greatly improved. I think the top 3 positions will be a catfight to the end by those three teams. Arkansas will be a clear fourth, hitting quite a few bumps after being unable to replace the points and leadership of Modica and Brewer. Ole Miss and Auburn will be bringing up the rear in a distant fifth and sixth.

As far as Ervin...I saw him, as a MSU fan, play quite a bit - and saw him single-handedly lose a very close MSU/Duke game two NCAA tournaments ago. Ervin is out-of-control, selfish, and is a poor decision-maker. Off of the court, he was detrimental to team dynamics, due to his sour attitude and self-centered focus. He will be a point-gaurd, the only one with any potential, for the 'Backs...but I don't see him contributing very much to any success the team sees/does not see.

No man, thats fine, I'll never get onto to someone who is giving an educated, honest opinion and you sound like you know what your talking about so don't worry about being blunt, but let me ask this, do you think Sonny Weems, Patrick Beverely, Stefan Welsh, Michael Washington, and Gary Ervin are overrated?

I agree that losing Brewer is going to hurt a lot and we will feel some effects from Modica, but do you think with our recruiting class last season that we won't be in contention for the west?

[MSUCarFreak]

The recruiting class was very good, I agree. However - keep this in mind...last season, MSU brought in a #4 recruiting class nationally, and still managed a 15-15 season. No team can rely entirely on freshman and challenge for a top spot in the SEC.

Weems will be a huge help this year and Welsh will develop into a player - but Gary Ervin won't be.

All in all, I think you guys will be "decent" this year, but will drop off from your performance last season. Next season you guys will be back to competing for the SECW.

[goallthewayua]

The recruiting class was very good, I agree. However - keep this in mind...last season, MSU brought in a #4 recruiting class nationally, and still managed a 15-15 season. No team can rely entirely on freshman and challenge for a top spot in the SEC.

Weems will be a huge help this year and Welsh will develop into a player - but Gary Ervin won't be.

All in all, I think you guys will be "decent" this year, but will drop off from your performance last season. Next season you guys will be back to competing for the SECW.

All buy that, good post

[UKat]

What if your good at both?
:laugh: Sorry guys I had to do it!Son now thats a tough one........lets see........basketball game on tuesday night....football on saturday.......son my vocal chords are toast............IF I go to Gator's games

[Gator2753]

Son now thats a tough one........lets see........basketball game on tuesday night....football on saturday.......son my vocal chords are toast............IF I go to Gator's games
Cant wait for UF/ UK games. Its gonna be intense!

[MSUCarFreak]

Here are the thoughts on today's scrimmage...

---The Bulldogs are playing more aggressively, confidently, and fluidic. It's fun to watch.

---Although I do know the injury details of Jarvis Varnado, I can only tell you what you already know. He is mobile, but was seen wearing an ice pack high on his left leg. I'm not able to share any more information beyond that at this point.

---Richard Delk has become very aggressive, which suits his style well. He can shoot lights-out - 67% from both the field and 3PT today.

---Barry Stewart can create turnovers like a machine. He has to learn how and when to make certain judgement calls. Shot very poorly today - 23.1% FG and 12.5% 3PT.

---Ben Hansbrough was much less impressive today as compared to earlier scrimmages. Less dominating, and more timid handling the ball (small slips, etc). It's becoming apparent, also, that he is a liability regarding turnovers. 5:11 turnover ratio won't help him win the starting PG position. Shot very very well, however - 62.5% FG, 50% 3PT, 100% FT, and led the team with 6 steals. Definately very impressive as a freshman, but has some improving to do.

---Phil Turner also shot well, 40% FG and 50% 3PT, but managed a team-second 9 turnovers. Hopefully will improve with experience.

---Dietric Slater was impressive, and will help a good deal once he is back with the team. Made some nice moves, shot decently (38.5% FG, 1-1 3PT), and made some big plays. A tad bit out of control....as always, but still managed a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

---Charles Rhodes is absolutely unbelievable. Any weakness he had in control and jump-shot weakness last year is purely gone. He is going to carry State on his back. His moves are of the likes that MSU has never seen before. He shot, get this, 11 of 14 (78.6%) FGs and 1 of 2 3PTs, along with 4 of 5 FTs. He finished second on the team in points scored, with 27.

---Reginald Delk is also more aggressive, but didn't hit or shoot near as many threes as he usually does. Definately a solid role-player. Shot 53.8% FGs and 33.3% 3PTs, to go with 3 assists and no turnovers.

---Bernard Rimmer shot very, very poorly (28.6% FGs and 0-0 3PTs), caused 4 turnovers, and rebounded decently. Very unimpressed with him.

---Vernon Goodridge was much less impressive than he has been recently. He shot only 37.5% FGs, an ungodly 37.5% FTs, but did pull down 10 rebounds.

---Piotr Stelmach is actually beginning to make a name for himself. He's become more versatile as both an inside and outside guy, and can play with the big boys. Needless to say he shot well, 53.8% FGs and 50% 3PTs, but shocked me by hitting only 42.9% of his FTs. He NEVER misses FTs!! Led the team with 13 rebounds, and scored well with 19 points.

---Jamont Gordon is going to be the go-to guy after Rhodes. He was amazing today - hitting 10-of-20, incuding 2-of-3 3PTs. He has quite obviously working on his taking care of the ball, and it's paying off. He led the team with 11 assists, along with 11 rebounds, which scored him a triple double. Woah.

---Brian Johnson was extremely unimpressive today. I'm sincerely hoping his injury is still bothering him, and that he's not really this bad. He did nothing but take up space, shooting 0-of-3 FGs, 0-of-1 3PTs, no free throws and 1 rebound. Yikes.

Keep in mind...the first exhibition game of the year is Wednesday night at 7PM....come show support for your Bulldogs!!!!!!

[tecmsu06]

I'm definitely going to the scrimmage tonight. Can't wait to see the dawgs!

[MSUCarFreak]

Tonight isn't a scimmage...it's an exhibition game vs. Auburn of Montgomery.

[tecmsu06]

yeah... whatever. that's what I meant. I thought I saw some good play from some guys. Rhodes, Delk, and Hansbrough looked pretty good.