I was able to check out the hoOps team today as they practiced after media day. Here are some observations...
The team is more physical than they were last season. Coach Pikiell had them doing some drills closer to the basket where they were in one on one situations and you could see an upgrade in phsyicality the way they were battling. There was also more team speed. This team can get up and down the floor better than recent RU teams.
If you never saw the team play and just watched today's practice then you would come away thinking Eugene Omoruyi was the best player. He was all over the floor doing everything. He was rebounding, passing, playing d and even scoring. Very impressed with him,.
I asked Pikiell about his starting five and he did not mention one. However, today's practice featured Corey Sanders, Mike Williams, Geo Baker, Mamadou Doucoure and Deshawn Freeman as the starters. Pikiell loves to rotate players so there will be a lot of guys playinbg. He said he feels like he has 8 guys capable of starting.
Doucoure looked smooth. Got up and down the copurt well and while he may be limited offensively, he is further along than I expected. I was also impressed with freshman big man Myles Johnson. He has a knack on the offensive boards and is a long body. I think he could wind up seeing a good amount of minutes.
The guards looked fast and the team still needs more consistency in shooting from the perimeter. However, I think you are going to see a tough team this year whose defense will keep them in a lot of games.
The team is more physical than they were last season. Coach Pikiell had them doing some drills closer to the basket where they were in one on one situations and you could see an upgrade in phsyicality the way they were battling. There was also more team speed. This team can get up and down the floor better than recent RU teams.
If you never saw the team play and just watched today's practice then you would come away thinking Eugene Omoruyi was the best player. He was all over the floor doing everything. He was rebounding, passing, playing d and even scoring. Very impressed with him,.
I asked Pikiell about his starting five and he did not mention one. However, today's practice featured Corey Sanders, Mike Williams, Geo Baker, Mamadou Doucoure and Deshawn Freeman as the starters. Pikiell loves to rotate players so there will be a lot of guys playinbg. He said he feels like he has 8 guys capable of starting.
Doucoure looked smooth. Got up and down the copurt well and while he may be limited offensively, he is further along than I expected. I was also impressed with freshman big man Myles Johnson. He has a knack on the offensive boards and is a long body. I think he could wind up seeing a good amount of minutes.
The guards looked fast and the team still needs more consistency in shooting from the perimeter. However, I think you are going to see a tough team this year whose defense will keep them in a lot of games.
