SBNation.com User Blog: KnoxRoad

Alex Len's handling of being double-teamed

KnoxRoad — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:31:45 -0000

I think that, being lost in the win over Duke and Alex Len's performance, is that Len has had his best games (Duke & Kentucky) while not being double-teamed. From watching Len over the course of the season, he has a lot of issues with his decision making process when this happens. First off, he is not a good passer out of the post. Most of the time he tries to dribble away from the basket in those situations, looking for someone to pass to. This causes a trickle-down effect, in my opinion, where he ends up passing the ball farther in distance than he has to or to a guard in a bad position, which limits the opportunity to swing the ball for an open shot. He also is then unable to get the ball right back in post-position. If he learns to move the ball while still in the post, it creates an opening for a wing three-pointer for someone on the other side of the court if the ball moves as it should, as well as an opportunity for a drive and/or kick play. If he learns to do that, and we make our three pointers, Len would not have to deal with the double-team as frequently.

So before we get too caught up in how well he played against Duke, I think it is important to remember that we have to see how he does when someone doubles him and how he reacts. Does he cause the offense to slow down or does he facilitate movement for an open shot? I just don't think all of the blame goes on the point guards for why he doesn't get shots.

To finish, I am a huge Terps fan and am excited about what this team can do, but I still want to see how Len does outside of his comfort zone.

Here is a link to a piece that echoes my thoughts to some degree and motivated me to write this post.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1532990-maryland-basketball-alex-len-is-key-for-terrapins-run-to-the-ncaa-tournament

To finish, I am a huge Terps fan and am excited about what this team can do, but I still want to see how Len does outside of his comfort zone.

Here is a link to a piece that echoes my thoughts to some degree and motivated me to write this post.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1532990-maryland-basketball-alex-len-is-key-for-terrapins-run-to-the-ncaa-tournament

Everyone needs to relax on the Freshman Expectations

KnoxRoad — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:07:43 -0000

I decided that I wanted to prove a point to myself that most freshman do not significantly contribute, even the high level recruits. I used the ESPN rankings for 2011 for players ranked 11-30 to see what they contributed to the stat sheet this year. Out of the 20 players, only 3 made significant contributions. See the chart below.

	*Team*	*Games Played*	*MPG*	*PPG*	*RPG*	*APG*
11. Myck Kabongo	Texas	34	30.6	9.6	3	5.2
12. Khem Birch	Pitt	10	15	4.4	5	0
13. PJ Hairston	UNC	37	13	5.7	2.2	0.8
14. Cody Zeller	Indiana	36	28.5	15.6	6.6	1.3
15. Josiah Turner	Arizona	30	24.7	6.8	3.1	2.4
16. BJ Young	Arkansas	32	25.2	15.3	3.1	2.3
17. Tony Wroten Jr.	Washington	35	30.3	16	5	3.7
18. Dorian Finney-Smith	Virginia Tech	33	29	6.3	7	1.9
19. Kyle Wiltjer	Kentucky	38	11.9	5.1	1.8	0.4
20. Rakeem Christmas	Syracuse	37	11.5	2.8	2.9	0.2
21. Michael Carter-Williams	Syracuse	26	10.3	2.7	1.5	2.1
22. Nick Johnson	Arizona	36	27.9	9	3.2	2.4
23. Branden Dawson	Michigan St	31	20.6	8.4	4.5	0.9
24. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	Georgia	32	32.1	13.2	5.2	1.2
25. Dom Pointer	St Johns	34	29.8	6.5	4.7	1.5
26. Jabari Brown	Oregon	2	25.5	6	2	0.5
27. Wayne Blackshear	Louisville	15	7	2.5	1.4	0.1
28. Chane Behanan	Louisville	40	26	9.5	7.5	0.8
29. Michael Gbinje	Duke	19	5.8	1.7	0.8	0.2
30. Levi Randolph	Alabama	32	27	6.5	3.9	1.7

Rankings do not mean everything, but I used 20 players to get a decent sample size(note: all of our recruits are listed outside of the top 30 except for Cleare). If you'll notice, hardly any of the players on this list made a significant contribution, save for Zeller, Young and Wroten. My point is, for all of those wishing that some of our players should transfer, and others who think that any of our recruits will become worldbeaters next year, are probably wrong. Which is why keeping players such as Parker is important for the fact that they have already played in the ACC, within Turgeon's system, and will probably progress this year.

Let's all take a step back and remember that it isn't easy coming from high school ball to college, and that many freshman struggle at times. This is not to belittle the future that our incoming freshman have, but let's give them a year to get acclimated to college ball, Turgeon's system and college in general.

Friendship Football Article

KnoxRoad — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:02:17 -0000

There is a good article on Friendship Football in DC on Grantland.com. It is definitely worth a read. Below is the link.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7710473/aazaar-abdul-rahim-rise-new-washington-dc-football-power-friendship-collegiate-academy

This is where Jalen Tabor goes, and where Eddie Goldman went. Let's lock this school down!

GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS!
GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS!
GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS!
GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS! GO TERPS!

There is a good article on Friendship Football in DC on Grantland.com. It is definitely worth a read. Below is the link.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7710473/aazaar-abdul-rahim-rise-new-washington-dc-football-power-friendship-collegiate-academy

This is where Jalen Tabor goes, and where Eddie Goldman went. Let's lock this school down!

ACC Offseason News from ESPN

KnoxRoad — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:48:24 -0000

ACC Offseason

Interesting article, but I was interested to see Nick Faust's name for the first time in a while. With Shaq, Layman, and Allen, our class looks great for next year so far, but I'm still psyched about this year, contrary to what many others might feel.

Faust is almost forgotten these days in our minds, as we concentrate so heavily on future recruiting (I'm as guilty as anyone else), but I'm excited to see the progression in Michael Parker's game, how Len adjusts to US college basketball, how Faust adjusts to the ACC and if he got stronger in the offseason, if our teams play with the same heart they did under Gary. Maybe I'm crazy, but I can't wait for another BBall season!

Otto Porter

KnoxRoad — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:42:03 -0000

ESPN is saying that Porter has chosen Georgetown.

@DaveTelep Kenyon Wright, Otto Porter's high school coach says Porter picked Georgetown Hoyas on Monday. 19 minutes ago

Guess that G Town did have more scholarships. I'm all for getting Hubert. For those saying we should save the scholly, who knows if we are going to have a transfer of any of our current players(Pankey?), which would open up the scholly anyway. I also think that you need 2 solid big men who can play defense/rebound at the same time. I could care less if Hubert cannot score yet, neither could Dino his first 3 years here....but if he can block shots and rebound, I'd be happy.

ESPN is saying that Porter has chosen Georgetown.

@DaveTelep Kenyon Wright, Otto Porter's high school coach says Porter picked Georgetown Hoyas on Monday. 19 minutes ago

Football Recruiting

KnoxRoad — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:15:22 -0000

I was really excited to see us get 3 football recruits already. When do we start seeing an uptick in serious recruiting happening in general?

Go TERPS! Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!Go TERPS!

Football & Basketball Recruiting Database?

KnoxRoad — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:36:21 -0000

Does anyone have a list of potential recruits for this year's football recruting class? I check Scout, but it seems that they are always behind. What about a list of potential basketball recruits for this class? Signing day isn't far away! Come on Hubert, you know you'll love College Park.

Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.Go Terps.