Hoops, football, soccer, etc.
Went to the MU hoops scrimmage this morning and then the football game in the afternoon and heading back to MU Sunday (I think I live there) for the men's soccer game and will write the women's game over the phone with help from EO.
Let's start with the hoops. It was Blue-White scrimmage with mainly the older players on the Blue and the younger players on the White joined by Blake Hamilton and a friend of Calloway's, a guard who wasn't bad.
The nuts and bolts of it..Jhamar "The Jet" Youngblood has jetted to the top of the guard rotatation off the bench and will see considerable playing time..especially in a three guard set. At times you may see Bunch and Hallett on the floor at the same time giving Delic and Alston a rest.
Rickie Crews played all day with the Whites....still very raw but very talented. Shawn Barlow has slipped back to a deep reserve role though I, personally, think he could help.
John Bunch looked very good, more polished than I have seen him on offense. Marques Alston is a rare combination of high hoop IQ and physical prowess. Could have an immense year.
Big question facing the coaches is whether to red shirt big Adam Dobriansky. Basically off the bench they have Bunch (though technically he is a regular), Jhamar, and Rickie with Nunner as a possibility. Is this enough? Adam would give them another big body but he could use the redshirt. We'll see how it works out in a very few days. Do you think he should be redshirted?
Steve Bazaz ":the Pizaz" hit two 3's today.
Chatted briefly with Michele Baxter today. She said women were OK in a closed scrimmage at Manhattan. Apparently Jen Bender and a few others did pretty well.
On football. You know the scenario right?. RMU did not help MU and lost to Albany. So MU at Albany winner gets a share of the NEC title and will host the Gridiron Classic ONLY if Stony Brook loses at CCSU. That's a possibility.
Can't believe Brian Boland and all these seniors may have played their final regular season home game. Where does the time go?
You couldn't have written the script any better for the MU seniors on their home field..San Miguel, Sharpley, Lutz, Carter, all with TD in what could be their final home game though San Miguel said he is coming back in 07 for a fifth year. Very funny line by him today..said he will return ""unless I'm picked in he NFL draft." Cracked everyone up. He is 5-10, 170 (very quick and strong).
MU still with a few too many penalties in key spots but that's the way it's been all year and they're still 9-1.
Thought Pizzulli did OK (6 of 8 PAT) and Mandeville adequate with his one punt. Albany is a very good defensive team with a superior kicker 25-25 PATs, 13-18 FG with range into the 40's and kicked three today, 32, 40 and 43. Albany won Saturday without scoring an offensive TD.
More thoughts on the Albany game later this week.
Lots of MU soccer action Sunday. Men's game is on WMCX, women on game tracker (go to NEC web site). Have been told MU may get Game Tracker next year.
By the way..WMCX.. which was a recent topic of discussion here...did a nice job with play-by-play soccer the other day. I heard much of the first half.
I have done play-by-play soccer (and other sports). Soccer is sort of like broadcasting ice hockey with a bigger , rounder puck! and those neat soccer terms., "chip, flick, touch, volley, etc."
How fast is that Damon Wilson?
MU men win Sunday, 2-0.
Is there a soccer selection show?
Haven't seen the women so don't want to offer a pick.
Any nominees for the field hockey coach? Sorry, am not applying.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Let's start with the hoops. It was Blue-White scrimmage with mainly the older players on the Blue and the younger players on the White joined by Blake Hamilton and a friend of Calloway's, a guard who wasn't bad.
The nuts and bolts of it..Jhamar "The Jet" Youngblood has jetted to the top of the guard rotatation off the bench and will see considerable playing time..especially in a three guard set. At times you may see Bunch and Hallett on the floor at the same time giving Delic and Alston a rest.
Rickie Crews played all day with the Whites....still very raw but very talented. Shawn Barlow has slipped back to a deep reserve role though I, personally, think he could help.
John Bunch looked very good, more polished than I have seen him on offense. Marques Alston is a rare combination of high hoop IQ and physical prowess. Could have an immense year.
Big question facing the coaches is whether to red shirt big Adam Dobriansky. Basically off the bench they have Bunch (though technically he is a regular), Jhamar, and Rickie with Nunner as a possibility. Is this enough? Adam would give them another big body but he could use the redshirt. We'll see how it works out in a very few days. Do you think he should be redshirted?
Steve Bazaz ":the Pizaz" hit two 3's today.
Chatted briefly with Michele Baxter today. She said women were OK in a closed scrimmage at Manhattan. Apparently Jen Bender and a few others did pretty well.
On football. You know the scenario right?. RMU did not help MU and lost to Albany. So MU at Albany winner gets a share of the NEC title and will host the Gridiron Classic ONLY if Stony Brook loses at CCSU. That's a possibility.
Can't believe Brian Boland and all these seniors may have played their final regular season home game. Where does the time go?
You couldn't have written the script any better for the MU seniors on their home field..San Miguel, Sharpley, Lutz, Carter, all with TD in what could be their final home game though San Miguel said he is coming back in 07 for a fifth year. Very funny line by him today..said he will return ""unless I'm picked in he NFL draft." Cracked everyone up. He is 5-10, 170 (very quick and strong).
MU still with a few too many penalties in key spots but that's the way it's been all year and they're still 9-1.
Thought Pizzulli did OK (6 of 8 PAT) and Mandeville adequate with his one punt. Albany is a very good defensive team with a superior kicker 25-25 PATs, 13-18 FG with range into the 40's and kicked three today, 32, 40 and 43. Albany won Saturday without scoring an offensive TD.
More thoughts on the Albany game later this week.
Lots of MU soccer action Sunday. Men's game is on WMCX, women on game tracker (go to NEC web site). Have been told MU may get Game Tracker next year.
By the way..WMCX.. which was a recent topic of discussion here...did a nice job with play-by-play soccer the other day. I heard much of the first half.
I have done play-by-play soccer (and other sports). Soccer is sort of like broadcasting ice hockey with a bigger , rounder puck! and those neat soccer terms., "chip, flick, touch, volley, etc."
How fast is that Damon Wilson?
MU men win Sunday, 2-0.
Is there a soccer selection show?
Haven't seen the women so don't want to offer a pick.
Any nominees for the field hockey coach? Sorry, am not applying.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 10:12 PM
12 Comments:
Let's have a contest...who can correctly guess where TG will be next Saturday? Albany for a football championship game, Virginia for the hoops opener, or his couch listening to both of the games on radio.
Tony,
What's going on with the big guys Calloway's recruiting? Does he just see a guy over 6' 5" and offer him a scholarship?
You've already mentioned that you thought Gately might be redshirted. Now Dobriansky will redshirt. Every big man we get is a 'project'
For the past 2 tears we suffered through Brent Wilson (who wasn't even close to being a Div I player).
As for Barlow, I've never had much faith in him since they recruited him. Saw a few of his boxscores in HS & he was invisible -- how did he ever get to be a D1 prospect?
I know how close you are to the people at MU and don't want to criticize, but it's obvious that in a year or two at this rate we'll have no inside players and the program (while perhaps competitive in the NEC) will be otherwise going downhill.
Lately, if it's not a 'project' like these guys, it's just an out and out bomb like last year's daily double -- Tyson Johnson & his St. Mary's teammate (can't remember the name).
When he gets a talented player like Brent Stephens in (3 years ago) something else goes wrong.
Let's go with the "contest" first.
Sour cream and onion potato chips work for me!
Hmmmmm...you forgot Brookdale women's soccer!!
By the way..what about MU soccer?
You have to factor the high scool football playoffs in here..as you may or may not know the Press deems high school football the most important sport (local) it covers sooo..I am not sure at this point where I will be though most of the local games will be Friday night.
I have to talk with the boss Monday. It won't be Va. They're not sending me there considering it is just the start of the season.
I think there's a decent shot at Albany but will find out more Monday.
I guess you have to go all the way back to Alex Blackwell (6-7) to find a "big man" at MU ready to play instantly.
Remember..even Corey Albano was only a mini factor his first year, etc.
Kevin Owens redshirted and he certainly proved to be decent.
Blake Hamilton ..not really a "big man," was only a minimal contributor as a freshman..that's the way it is at a lot of mid-level and even other programs..not just MU.
John Bunch for sure has been a semi project but appears to be coming on strong
The point is ""Ready to play" big men are a rarity recruit at MU's level.
Gaitley looks like he's going to be a nice player, not dominant but solid. They could probably suit him up this year..but where would he play? It would be a waste of a year.
To some degree the same with Dobriansky who would be best served by redshirting, in my opinion, though depth up front could be an issue.
Depends on how ready Rickie Crews is. I think he has to play and they live with his rookie mistakes while capitalizing on his athletic ability.
If this was a draft Tyson Johnson would turn out to be a "blown pick" but not in athletic ability. The kid can play. Tyrone Hanson (the other player you refer to) never qualified academically.
Shawn Barlow was signed prior to his senior year in high school mainly based on size. Yes, he was generally invisible in high school which had to be disappointing.
I thought he looked decent at times in practice at MU last year and early in Sept-Oct. this year, then hurt his ankle. He can't be redshirted so we'll see what happens.
Stephens had (has) a ton of athletic ability. Never grasped the MU the defense but decided to leave on his own. Saw Tyson coming in figured he wouldn't get much playing time. Never gave himself a chance at MU. If he had stayed I think he'd be in the rotation and could help.
Is a reserve at UMKC..had five points, four rebounds, in an exhibition game the other night.
Brent Wilson never played as well as MU had hoped, you're right about that.
On the other hand..Jhamar Youngblood is as blue-chip a recruit at guard as MU has brought in probably since John Giraldo and this is not taking anything away from Whitney Coleman and Mike Shipman, who were less heralded (in NJ anyway) but appear ready to pick up where Tyler and Chris left off.
As with Whitney and Mike, Jhamar seems to be a very pleasant individual and very willing to work. Sure, he'll make some mistakes this year as a rookie but is also ready to make a significant contribution, in my opinion. And he doesn't have to be "the man" as Giraldo did right away with a young team.
Tony,
Thanks for your detailed answer. All good points.
I guess I'm just concenred about the front line MU suits up next year.
If these guys are redshirting because their playing time will be limited this year (as it will be), that's one thing. It'll save each of them a year of eligibility.
If, however, they're redshirted because they're not ready, then our prospects for next year look weak -- especially when you consider that, after our 4 scholarships this year, we have none to give out the next since there will be no seniors!
Your point about 'ready to play' big men at our level is, of course, correct. I just get a sense that Barlow is not the answer and I simply don't know about Gaitley or Dobriansky.
Calloway better make extra good use of those 4 free rides!
MU already has used two scholarships with commitments from 6-8 Nick Del Tufo from North Jersey and the point guard from Staten Island. This year, for the most part, this will be a team where there's significant scoring from the front line..next year much of the scoring load, I would think, will rest with the back court.
Tony,
Just saw this discussion regarding MU's front line next season. I agree it looks, at the very least, 'unsettled' with people having little or no experience playing center & forward (with the exception of Crews).
Maybe the solution would be for Calloway to bring in 2 transfers with his 2 remaining scholarships to fill those spots (either JC or regular college). This would give some much needed stability to the front line while the freshmen develop.
I believe MU may be considering looking into bringing in at least one JUCO front court player for next season. MU does not prefer the JUCO route but has gone that way occasionally and this could be one of those occasions. I hear of no on targeted specifically at this time.
tony,
What ever happened with MU recruiting Chris Smith (JR's litte brother)?
Haven't heard anything about him. I believe he is a guard? Not sure. MU has enough guards in the program and one more coming next year to secure the US Embassy in Beruit. I will check.
i hear chris smith is 6'3 195 and a stud athlete with shooting range like his brother. however, the onyl schools i have heard interested are the nj schools (this coming from scout.com), with none offerring a scholarship. i think mu should jump in and try to secure him, as he could end up being a major sleeper from this year's recruiting class. a guard rotation of shipman/coleman/youngblood and smith sounds good to me for the next few yrs, hopefully one or more of them could turn into a star so the front court wouldnt be such a liability. please check with coach calloway on this recruit.
Ok...first of all...MU will have no additional formal decisions re: redshirting until the end of the week..though.. if it's anyone else it would be Dobriansky as Gaitely is redshirting.
Chris Smith: has no interest in MU I am told. Is looking to go to a "higher" level.
Also..the forward Campbell who visited MU the other week has decided to go to Liberty.
MU has no other plans for early signings at this time other than their prior commitments from Del Tufo and the Staten Island guard.
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