MU men's hoops practice news - Rickie Crews suspended again, Mike Shipman may be academically ineligible
1. Rickie Crews - It appeared to me before today Rickie, who has been bouncing between suspensions all season and has played in just one game, might be able to begin working his way into the rotation. But coach Dave Calloway said today Crews has been suspended for one week from all basketball activity for being late to this morning's workout. Calloway said he will ""lift the suspension" Jan. 2 which is next Tuesday.
Calloway said Crews made it successfully through the first semester academically.
""He did OK,'' Calloway said. Crews, who turned an ankle last week in practice, had
practiced Tuesday.
So he will not be available for Friday's game with Lehigh (5-9) or the Sunday 1:30
p.m. matinee with Loyola Marymount (8-6).
My thoughts: !@$#@#@!
2. Shipman - appears to be done for the season due to academic reasons. ""He (Shipman) thinks there's a
mistake with one of the grades ,'' Calloway said. ""If for some reason that's true than
obviously he'll be back, but otherwise he will not play.''
Shipman practiced today and will be able to practice with the team the remainder of
the year, Calloway said.
My thoughts: Assuming Shipman's season is over it means more playing time for
Jhamar ""The Jet'' Youngblood who now will start, though his minutes would have been
increasing anyway.
Shipman, howeever, is the only true point guard on the team with 49 assists and 33 turnovers, 38
assists and 19 turnovers over the last seven games.
Youngblood (10 assists, 29 turnovers) technically would be the point guard though
Coleman (16 assists, 24 turnovers) served some time in that role last season.
Youngblood was not recruited as a point but, I believe, can handle the role more
effectively than his current numbers would indicate.
In the guard rotation Alex Nunner, who has been looking better lately, moves up to No. 3 with Yaniv Simspon swinging between shooting guard and small forward.
All this would be moot if Shipman is right and there was an error in his grades..we'll know more on that Thursday.
In my opinion - Calloway doesn't hold out that much hope for the player being
correct.
In other practice news today..John Bunch ran well up and down the floor with no signs of his knees acting up. Marques Alston had one of his better practices, I felt.
Simpson, who has missed most of the year with shin and knee ailments, practiced for the second day in a row. A potentially lethal shooter, he appears rusty at this time.
e-mail tonygsposts@aol.com
Calloway said Crews made it successfully through the first semester academically.
""He did OK,'' Calloway said. Crews, who turned an ankle last week in practice, had
practiced Tuesday.
So he will not be available for Friday's game with Lehigh (5-9) or the Sunday 1:30
p.m. matinee with Loyola Marymount (8-6).
My thoughts: !@$#@#@!
2. Shipman - appears to be done for the season due to academic reasons. ""He (Shipman) thinks there's a
mistake with one of the grades ,'' Calloway said. ""If for some reason that's true than
obviously he'll be back, but otherwise he will not play.''
Shipman practiced today and will be able to practice with the team the remainder of
the year, Calloway said.
My thoughts: Assuming Shipman's season is over it means more playing time for
Jhamar ""The Jet'' Youngblood who now will start, though his minutes would have been
increasing anyway.
Shipman, howeever, is the only true point guard on the team with 49 assists and 33 turnovers, 38
assists and 19 turnovers over the last seven games.
Youngblood (10 assists, 29 turnovers) technically would be the point guard though
Coleman (16 assists, 24 turnovers) served some time in that role last season.
Youngblood was not recruited as a point but, I believe, can handle the role more
effectively than his current numbers would indicate.
In the guard rotation Alex Nunner, who has been looking better lately, moves up to No. 3 with Yaniv Simspon swinging between shooting guard and small forward.
All this would be moot if Shipman is right and there was an error in his grades..we'll know more on that Thursday.
In my opinion - Calloway doesn't hold out that much hope for the player being
correct.
In other practice news today..John Bunch ran well up and down the floor with no signs of his knees acting up. Marques Alston had one of his better practices, I felt.
Simpson, who has missed most of the year with shin and knee ailments, practiced for the second day in a row. A potentially lethal shooter, he appears rusty at this time.
e-mail tonygsposts@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 6:56 PM
27 Comments:
Well
I guess when it rains it pours. I have been watching the blog and seems like Crews could have used a year at JC or needs to realize the importance of team. Shipmans injury could be a blessing in disguise as Youngblood will get more time. But as you said, Shipman is the starting point guard and could be an issue. Maybe the kid simpson will step up to the plate since he is playing now. At 21 right TG, he could step right in due to his majority. One quick note also on Crews, It seems like he will be like Charles Richards and Mike Wall. Two kids with great talent that never made it
Take Care TG
Tim Walker
Tony: Please tell me your playing an early April Fools Joke on us.How in a D-1 program today can this type of poor judgement and lack of focus happen....MU Basketball has had its share of troubles the past few years,sounds like a real problem now.Happy New Year.
Shame on Mike Shipman for not only letting down his teammates, but himself. Who cares about us fans, but cleaqrly he does not take basketball that seriously to not be able to get a 2.0. Tony, this a genuine well thought out opinion it should not be censored. He has let down the MU program and honestly how many mistakes has he made since he has been here a year and a half off the court alone?
I will try not to be insensitive here or rude, but let me try to explain how easy it is to get a 2.0 at MU, let alone any school. As an ex-student athlete, not basketball, but an athlete nonetheless, I have a similar perspective. If you go to class and do the work, the teacher will reward you. You should get no less than a 2.0. This is clearly a case of someone not giving a100%, and honestly I think we all have a right to be dissappointed, what does everyone else think about this?
Charles Richards.... Mike Wall....coulda, shoulda, woulda...
It's such a joke, and it starts at the top. The kids look unorganized and undisciplined, and here it shows off of the basketball court. This team is clearly not going to win 15-20 games. Ask the coaches, I'm sure they'd be the first to tell you. What a disappointing season this is going to continue to be.
Ok...I'm letting this last post on because Mike and other players (not just at MU) may need to realize how seriously fans feel for, follow, and take their respective teams to heart........but let's not dump on him..OK?
If indeed he is ineligible I'm sure he feels worse about this than any MU fan.
And he seems to think there was an error made.
Ok...I allowed the one from the alleged former student athlete because I think it made a valid point.
I felt it necessary to eliminate a few comments that I don't think would do either of these kids any good.
Yes..MU fans are disappointed and upset over some of these latest developments. I think everyone gets that.
But I believe there is a message here to all college athletes ..that.. with the advent of the internet and blogs (and this is certainly not the only sports writer blog in the country)..they have to hold themselves even more responsible than usual for some of their actions on, and off the field, but mostly off.
Physical errors on the field (court, etc.) are part of the games.
I have always felt what aggravates fans the most, and they DO have a right to be disappointed, are the off the field miscues which, are usually, so avoidable.
Yes Tony, But what about the coaching staff,who's at fault here,just the student ?Player issues have been going on to long at MU year after year.There is a problem in the recruiting process.Just look back at the facts the past four years and anyone who knows anything about college basketball programs would ask a few direct questions.
I apologize to those who will get upset with my posting and for its apocalyptic tinch, but the end is near for MU's great run. There is always a clam before the storm, and MU may be able to somehow manufacture a half-way decent season and put up a smoke screen that this program will continue with its great success of late, but alas this is all smoke and mirrors. The beginning of the end is here for Calloway and MU's great run, and this season could even turn out to be a disaster. Look at some of the personnel returning next year, and how about the recruiting the past three seasons. MU has alot to worry about, and I feel saddened to say all of this, but will the dye is cast of the Hawks run. I predict we may see three or four straight sub 15 win seasons, and probably losing seasons, and I dont see any light at the end of the tunnel right now. The personnel is all wrong for the system, the recruting is laughable, the players dont buy into the system, and things just look awry. I am just a fan, a dedicated and loving MU fan, who takes great pride in this program and I'm left with one lingering thought...How did it come to this?
Well....let's see what happens this season before we bring out the axes.
No question though...Dave has to take the blame when thing go wrong - he is the head coach - but also deserves the credit when things go right.
They have been to the NCAAS three times since 2001..but...I know
..critics don't want to hear that.
Let's see how this year plays out.
When it comes to recruiting its such a crap shoot.
Basically you don't have to be right all the time...but you can't be wrong more than you are right when it comes to judging ability as well as character.
I don't know Rickie Crews,personally, very well at all (heck, I may have been to more practices than he has!) But the little I talked with him, he's been fine with me.
Shipman I feel I have more of a rapport with at this stage of their careers.
Yes, he was in trouble last year, and he spoke openly about it in the Press when he returned to full time action.
We talked briefly this year about his going into the journalism/communications field.
He seems pretty sincere and honest, and I also met his Dad.
So, frankly, I'm surprised this happened.
If, indeed, he is ineligible, then at some point this season I'll ask him to talk about it. I feel he would owe that to MU fans, just as Dave would owe an explanation if this season goes south.
And knowing Dave, I'm sure he would talk about it.
To the (one remaining?) good guy from WLB -
I'm not going to attempt sugar coat your comments. I do think your assessment of the recruiting could be a little harsh.
Say what you want about Crews but he has teriffic talent (whether that ever comes into play for MU of course remains to be seen).
And Jhamar Youngblood may - repeat may - turn out to be the best true freshman guard since John Giraldo.
I do see your concerns - trust me - I do.
This year aside for the moment, as we speak, I could see a losing season in 2007-2008.
But - as I said - let's see what transpires this season - who they add for next year - and how much the two red shirts (Dobriansky and Gaitley) develop.
Holy macarel was that WLB guy Robert Browning or Keats? Very profound, and I agree wholeheartedly with his comments. How did it come to this?
Tony---Im just the average hoops fan, never played much, dont claim to know a whole lot. I read alot of posts here talking about the MU system and system players. What exactly does that mean, and can you name three or four in the past 5-7 years, who would fall into that category of a system player. Thank you Mr. Graham.
Re: Jhamar Youngblood. He's very talented, repeat very talented, but he is noooo Johnny G. Giraldo averaged 14 pts and probably 4-5 assts per game as a frosh for MU, and was a winner. He willed MU single handedly to some wins. This is absolutely no knock on Youngblood, but he is no Joh Giraldo.
Tony ,How many names can you hear before you turn away as a FAN,Tyson,Tyrone,Chris,Charles,etc and now Rickie, Mike,you call it a "crap shoot",some people would say " poor judgement" over and over.Before we jump of the cliff....,how does MU compare to Rider or Lehigh with player turn over? Help us out with some information. Anything .....to hold onto or is the end of the six year run upon us FANS ?
Just to clarify..I said "Jhamar Youngblood may - repeat may - turn out to be the best true freshman guard since John Giraldo.''
And Jhamar has a chance - that's has a chance - to be one of MU's best all-around guards.
Remember..right now though..he's just a freshman who has not been a regular. But give him some time to develop, bear with some rookie mistakes, and watch.
Tony---I appreciate and value your opinions and judgements, but I have to respectfully disagree on YOungblood. YEs, the talent is there, but what isnt is maturity. I have watched him pout on the sidelines when coming out of the game, look up at the stands, and appear aloof at times. Giraldo showed great composure and was heady even as a freshman. Also do you see incongruencies with his game and MU's style of play? Again, I love this blog, and thank you for all of your hardwork and insight.
Re: The old error w/ the grades trick....Tried by many an MU hooper, pulled off by seldom!
System player - The MU system is based on a motion offense, back door layups, freeing up shooters, as opposed to just one-on-one athletic ability.
Defensively the MOU staple match up zone, when played correctly, is basically an "area man to man."
You guard the man in your area as opposed to chasing him all over the court. Again is based more on a "system" than pure athletic ability.
MU "system" players - this year I would say Alex Nunner is a system player.
Others of recent years - Tyler Azzarelli, Chris Kenny, Jason Krayl, Russ Anderson. Not great athletes, but fit like gloves in the Monmouth "system."
Hope I have at least semi answered your question.
Re: Jhamar - Well, I was talking about his talent, and have also underlined that he is a freshman.
If he does pout, I haven't noticed that as he is facing away from me when he comes out of a game.
Either way - I wouldn't read a lot into it. He's a young player who wants and loves to play.
As for his being at odds with MU's style of offense...could be a problem if he runs out of control but he has shown an affinity to play within "the system" while also displaying some impressive one-on-one ability, always necessary when the plays break down (as often happens).
.
MU has definitely had a rough go of it, especially lately, in losing or nearly losing players for various reasons..
Dave has had some trouble at least the last two years of securing that player who is a combination of blue-chip ability and blue-chip student athlete though Jhamar could yet fill that bill for this year.
BUT before that he had Dwayne Byfield and Blake Hamilton, brought in Marques Alston, Delic, etc. a whole slew of players who have been a nice blend of athlete and student.
Look at it this way though- you're upset, we'll say with the Rickie Crews situation, because :
1. He has talent but his future with MU is cloudy?
2. He has no ability?
Obviously the answer is number one because you know - well we all think - he has lots of ability. So MU recruited him and it hasn't worked out so far.
But lets' say he was a model recruit, and couldn't throw the ball in the ocean.
You'd be just as upset and asking me - why'd they recruit this kid - he can't play?".
Bottom line - in my opinion - if if you're going to miss, than miss with a player who has considerable ability. You just need one or two to work out.
But also, you can't miss too often or you can be in trouble and - has been forecast here often tonight - MU could be on the verge of just that.
With Tyson Johnson - the way I understand it - there was no reason to believe before hand he would tumble into the difficulties of last year.
And Mike Shipman was a leader, a point guard of a teriffic high school team.
And MU is somehow supposed to know in advance that, as a college sophomore no less, this would happen?
Bottom line though, coaches/managers etc. are judged on wins and losses.
Dave has had a lot successful seasons. And I for one am going to cut him a little slack.
I wouldn't pack in this season just yet.
But if it turns into a big disappointment, then we'll see what he says.
When you think about it..John Bunch was definitely a talent gamble coming out of D3 and though he may not be Shaq, and got off to a shaky start last year, he was a primary, if not the KEY factor in MU winning the NEC,and will be a key to its chances again this season
Bottom line to all this is "IF" you are a fan, you're a fan. A true fan rides with the ups and downs of the team. It is appauling to me that once again - when MU wins (although it's been few) TG gets maybe 10 comments. A loss and bad news you guys come out of the wood works. I hope all that comment will rally behind the team/students/school to oppose the board decission as much as you all are kicking dirt on these kids. Build the MAAC better recruits. Better recruits- better team. Better team - better possibility for a winning season. GO MU!!!!!!
This from a blogger.. I felt the need to clean it up a bit but am running some of it.
Basically the comment began with -
""Stop complaining!!! TG who's posting in your blog a bunch of old "wanted-to-be" athletes, that are trying to live vicariously through MU mens bball. Get a life!
RE: Youngblood - a "FRESHMAN" trying to play the game for fun, skill, the love of the sport and the WIN - so what he pouts, he's an eighteen year old kid. That
will all change with Maturity.
RE: Ship - Who knows what the kid was going through this semester, he messed up. How many of you are making mistakes daily in your work and family lives. Although we may not like it and it let's us down as fans, this is the time for him to make those mistakes and learn from them. At least he's in the news "blog" for possibly failing and class, and not on the news for worse.
RE: Crews - wellllllll, uh, hmmmmmm, uhm, ok. Again as with Youngblood (not a comparison) this just may be a mere case of maturity issues. That's all that I can(will) say about that.
If any of you were or are true athletes, you know that the transition from HS to College is major. Some get it faster than others. In my opinion it appears this just may be the first time (like most freshman) that freedom and true choice has come into play.
""Therefore with all these opinions floating, why not pull these young men aside after the games and have a one on one to encourage and guide them instead of raking them through the coals on TG's blog.
To the person who listed the MU players who have left in recent years:
Your comment: How does MU compare to Rider or Lehigh with player turn over?
Ok..Lehigh..last four years..
Lost two signed players..They arrived on campus but left before they ever played..were "home sick"
Rider ..last three years..lost three players who transferred.. two to D3 and one to D1..
By the way..Lehigh last made the NCAAS in 2004..and befoire that it was 1988.
Rider last made the NCAAs when it was in the NEC in the mid 90's...
Above player info per the school SIDS...
By the way..WHO was Charles???
The MU total is five players left since and including 2004-2005, though only two figured as significant players - in my opinion .
|
Jon Ager (academics, never really figured to play)
Brent Fragel (6-9 recruited walk on, never played, couldn't play, gave up hoops)
Tyrone Hanson (signed but never qualified academically, now a freshman at Nevada playing very little)
Tyson Johnson (not going to review his case again!)
Chris Shovlin (not sure what year at MU..was here about three weeks) left school and never was officially on the roster, tansferred to D3 Wilkes, Pa., no longer playing college basketball)
Mike Shipman and Rickie Crews are still here - as we speak.
If you want to go back to Brent Stephens (2003-2004) - He was was part of the class that brought in Marques and Delic, and Brian Boxler for his one year.
Brent left, I think, because he saw too many players ahead of him....was having trouble with the MU defensive scheme, and didn't think he would play much. Yes, he would have helped had he stayed..in my opinion.
Is that (6 including Stephens) too many players who did not pan out?. In my opinion - yes.
But in that span, 2004-2006, MU still went to the NCAAs twice because it overcame those player losses with some at least adequate replacements and overall recruited enough quality performers who made MU successful.
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