Player grades so far

[seccats04]

Boston- C Way overrated, completely out of control, can't shoot
Clarke- D Way overrated, does little to nothing on the court, can't shoot
Sarr- C Probably our best player, needs to be more physical, always in foul trouble
Askew- F Way overrated, should probably transfer back to HS, TO machine, can't shoot
Jackson- B 2nd best player, can block a lot of shots, low BB IQ on offense, can't shoot
Mintz- D A tweener who is not capable of being a PG and too small for 2G, too many TO's, should be shooting better
Fletcher- D Another long athlete that can't shoot but hustles
Allen- C Should be the team's best shooter but he won't play enough
Toppin- C Another long athlete that can't shoot but looks like he hustles
Ware- F Completely lost, long athlete, can't shoot
Brooks- ? Don't know what's going on with his calf injury but he looked well enough to run & dunk on pro day

A common theme with this team is they can't shoot. Gee, we didn't see that coming Cal.

 

[Counsins Willie at Knight]

I said this at the beginning of last season and I’ll say it again: Whatever offense, if you can call it that, we are running right now is not conducive to a high shooting percentage. We aren’t setting anything up to get an open look. We pass it around the perimeter, have one guy try to go iso to the rim, bail on that idea, and then kick it back out and repeat. Then we force up a bad shot as the clock winds down. There is zero off ball movement except to set the occasional screen at the top of the key for the ball handler or come help the guy who just picked up their dribble.

The good news is that last year, once our half court offense figured out how to set up better looks instead of standing around for the first 20 seconds, we started hitting way more 3s. They’ll figure it out. I just cannot comprehend why Cal doesn’t drill them more on offense over the summer when this has happened the past 4 seasons.

 

[Doc4UK!]

We get lots of early losses and then whine about an impossible tournament seeding. Suspect we will have double digit losses this season with a 4/5 seed at best

 

[STL_Cat]

Let’s talk about Terrence Clarke ...

Remember when he reclassified and ESPN put out their player rankings? I don’t remember where Clarke was ranked exactly, but I remember people here being FURIOUS he wasn’t top 3 or top 5. Just couldn’t believe it. Said he’s one of the best Cal has ever pulled here. Instant star. I wondered about all that, because frankly, there just wasn’t much footage on the guy. And even if ESPN was wrong, who cares? He’ll have a chance to get on the floor and prove it.

But was ESPN right? Or rivals, or whoever else? I’m not saying the guy can’t play. Lots of raw potential and upside. But this guy is NOT an instant, 1st Team All-American superstar. Not this year. Again, not saying he can’t play. But we had people putting him up there with the best of the best, the John Walls, the De’Aaron Foxes, the MKGs ... he just isn’t that guy

 

[Burly]

Boston & Clarke are not first round picks IMO

Boston has poor handles a terrible low release jumper and lacks strength - he is a ball stopper

Clarke much the same - poor finisher at the rim - suspect jump shot and terrible decision making

These are our two projected stars and they simply not very good

This is why we are 1-2

 

[STL_Cat]

Boston & Clarke are not first round picks IMO

Boston has poor handles a terrible low release jumper and lacks strength - he is a ball stopper

Clarke much the same - poor finisher at the rim - suspect jump shot and terrible decision making

These are our two projected stars and they simply not very good

This is why we are 1-2

People has them both as top 5 picks going into the season ... Nope

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan_rivals377587]

Instead of the amateur players, why not get a grade on the well compensated coaching so far?

 

[Snarks]

Boston & Clarke are not first round picks IMO

Boston has poor handles a terrible low release jumper and lacks strength - he is a ball stopper

Clarke much the same - poor finisher at the rim - suspect jump shot and terrible decision making

These are our two projected stars and they simply not very good

This is why we are 1-2

This.....kinda crazy our two best players are our big men. Jackson and Sarr.

 

[Sparkaces]

I’m hard on this team but I can’t give Fletcher a D. Other than missing threes which none of them can do I can think he has played pretty damn good for what was expected of him. B at least. No question Boston, Clarke and Askew are F, Askew is below that if possible!

 

[oldsports_]

In school if the whole class were performing poorly, you blame the teacher.....

 

[seccats04]

I’m hard on this team but I can’t give Fletcher a D. Other than missing threes which none of them can do I can think he has played pretty damn good for what was expected of him. B at least. No question Boston, Clarke and Askew are F, Askew is below that if possible!

Fletcher hustles and is a decent defender but is lost on offense like the rest of the team. Later in the season he may learn what a good shot is but he should never shoot 3’s. He’s a bricklayer.

 

[jameslee32]

So our 2nd best player is rated higher than our best player??

Okay.

 

[TheOtherGreatOne]

I said this at the beginning of last season and I’ll say it again: Whatever offense, if you can call it that, we are running right now is not conducive to a high shooting percentage. We aren’t setting anything up to get an open look. We pass it around the perimeter, have one guy try to go iso to the rim, bail on that idea, and then kick it back out and repeat. Then we force up a bad shot as the clock winds down. There is zero off ball movement except to set the occasional screen at the top of the key for the ball handler or come help the guy who just picked up their dribble.

The good news is that last year, once our half court offense figured out how to set up better looks instead of standing around for the first 20 seconds, we started hitting way more 3s. They’ll figure it out. I just cannot comprehend why Cal doesn’t drill them more on offense over the summer when this has happened the past 4 seasons.

What you are saying is true. This is product of the aau circuit. I will say it again, aau is ruining college basketball. Put your head down and drive or jack up 30 foot 3pointers. Aau teaches no basketball fundamentals and puts no time teaching team work.