Three part question and answers
A blogger sent to a prior blog a comment and asked questions about..the history of Dave playing MU freshmen, and questions about Jahmar, and Rickie.
I thought all three were excellent questions and deserved their own blog and comments which I also posted in the comments section.
But here again, for those who may have missed at, are the questions and my thoughts -
Question 1: Has a freshman ever been given 30+ minutes a game by dave calloway? R. Johnson maybe?
My answer: If you remember back in the record losing streak in the late 90's, Dave started five freshman for a while ..since then..
Rahsaan ..who came to MU as a sophomore.. started almost every game (barring disciplinary issues!)...
I remember MU started Cameron
Milton in that season opener at Princeton..then Rahsaan came in and nearly won the game..and started almost every game there after...
After that there have been only three I recall..Kevin Owens and Tyler Azzerlli started much of their freshman years and you may add Whitney Coleman who started 17 games last year due to injuries (Azzarelli) and those suspensions..players like Chris Kenny and Marques Alston.. they played in almost every game as freshmen but were not starters...
Question 2 If not, do you think that would be a bad idea with youngblood if this team doesn't turn things around after the next game?
A lot of people are saying this kid's a star in the making, but if you're 2-4 and have looked as bad as the hawks, cant you just roll the dice and let the kid gain experience with on-court time?
My answer: The next game (Penn) may be too short a time table.
But the main question is? Do you start Jahmar over Whitney or Shipman?
No you do not.
They are the "experienced" guys in the back court and future leaders of the team along with Jhamar climbing the "leadership" ladder next season.
Jhamar, thru yesterday, was tied with John Bunch for fifth most minutes on the team. He is the first guard off the bench and, I beleive, will continue to see increased playing time as the season progresses especially as MU may, in my opinion, go to more three guard looks, especially against smaller teams.
Don't worry. He has been playing and is going to play..a lot.
Question 3: Do you have any idea if crews is buying into the system? Lets be honest, is he actually going to leave in your opinion?
My answer: I'd say, and this is my opinion only, not based on any "inside" information, that's it's about 50-50, really depending to a large degree on how he fares in class.
Dave's plan is to have Rickie with the team, practicing, dressing for home games, and for road games that do not interfere with class at least through the first semester.
After these three road games up coming, MU is home until the next semester starts.
I know Dave is doing everything he can to keep him eligible.
It's really up to Rickie at this point. Does he want to put in the time and effort? Hoepfully, for MU fans and himself, he does.
I often think about Alpha Bangura and Andre Williams..those two prize freshmen who left MU.
Bangura went to St. John's, left there, and floated around, don't know where he is now.
Williams transferred to mighty Cleveland State, played, I guess had an OK career, and the team went nowhere.
The facts are..in what would have been their junior years at MU ..Monmouth won the NEC behind Rahsaan.
Now..if Rickie can see the future as it could develop:
It would be that next year he starts with three very good guards in the rotation, and the red shirt big men rotating in.
Rickie has a chance to be a household name at MU as is Blake Hamilton (yes, he could be that good), or leave and who knows what happens?
The fact he was on the bench yesterday I guess is a good sign.
There is no practice Sunday. I will be at practice Monday for a while and see what's happening.
I beleive Rickie is friends with Jhamar who, I feel, would be a good influence on anyone.
--
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
I thought all three were excellent questions and deserved their own blog and comments which I also posted in the comments section.
But here again, for those who may have missed at, are the questions and my thoughts -
Question 1: Has a freshman ever been given 30+ minutes a game by dave calloway? R. Johnson maybe?
My answer: If you remember back in the record losing streak in the late 90's, Dave started five freshman for a while ..since then..
Rahsaan ..who came to MU as a sophomore.. started almost every game (barring disciplinary issues!)...
I remember MU started Cameron
Milton in that season opener at Princeton..then Rahsaan came in and nearly won the game..and started almost every game there after...
After that there have been only three I recall..Kevin Owens and Tyler Azzerlli started much of their freshman years and you may add Whitney Coleman who started 17 games last year due to injuries (Azzarelli) and those suspensions..players like Chris Kenny and Marques Alston.. they played in almost every game as freshmen but were not starters...
Question 2 If not, do you think that would be a bad idea with youngblood if this team doesn't turn things around after the next game?
A lot of people are saying this kid's a star in the making, but if you're 2-4 and have looked as bad as the hawks, cant you just roll the dice and let the kid gain experience with on-court time?
My answer: The next game (Penn) may be too short a time table.
But the main question is? Do you start Jahmar over Whitney or Shipman?
No you do not.
They are the "experienced" guys in the back court and future leaders of the team along with Jhamar climbing the "leadership" ladder next season.
Jhamar, thru yesterday, was tied with John Bunch for fifth most minutes on the team. He is the first guard off the bench and, I beleive, will continue to see increased playing time as the season progresses especially as MU may, in my opinion, go to more three guard looks, especially against smaller teams.
Don't worry. He has been playing and is going to play..a lot.
Question 3: Do you have any idea if crews is buying into the system? Lets be honest, is he actually going to leave in your opinion?
My answer: I'd say, and this is my opinion only, not based on any "inside" information, that's it's about 50-50, really depending to a large degree on how he fares in class.
Dave's plan is to have Rickie with the team, practicing, dressing for home games, and for road games that do not interfere with class at least through the first semester.
After these three road games up coming, MU is home until the next semester starts.
I know Dave is doing everything he can to keep him eligible.
It's really up to Rickie at this point. Does he want to put in the time and effort? Hoepfully, for MU fans and himself, he does.
I often think about Alpha Bangura and Andre Williams..those two prize freshmen who left MU.
Bangura went to St. John's, left there, and floated around, don't know where he is now.
Williams transferred to mighty Cleveland State, played, I guess had an OK career, and the team went nowhere.
The facts are..in what would have been their junior years at MU ..Monmouth won the NEC behind Rahsaan.
Now..if Rickie can see the future as it could develop:
It would be that next year he starts with three very good guards in the rotation, and the red shirt big men rotating in.
Rickie has a chance to be a household name at MU as is Blake Hamilton (yes, he could be that good), or leave and who knows what happens?
The fact he was on the bench yesterday I guess is a good sign.
There is no practice Sunday. I will be at practice Monday for a while and see what's happening.
I beleive Rickie is friends with Jhamar who, I feel, would be a good influence on anyone.
--
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 1:13 PM
6 Comments:
Who cares about who starts the game or finishes the game? All that matters is the contribution each players makes or does not make while out on the court.
That would be correct!
I like the idea of three guards out there with Deki and Marques, but in NEC play, b/c we could get away with it. Out of conference against bigger squads, our bigs will have to give us some more production. I think Bunch will come around, and I have been waiting for four years now for Corey's talent to manifest. He's got all the necessities, but it never quite clicks.
My prediction is that we will see Rickie Crews within the next two games. It may just be for a brief stint, but Hawk fans will get a glimpse. If Bunch is not 100% MU could shift him to the center spot, where he could be effective up on top of the spread, where he just has to screen and may have a speed advantage versus his defender. Either way, Hawks will see Crews soon.
For the record, how is Youngblood's first name spelled? Ive seen like 5 different ways.
It's .....Jhamar.
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