A couple of notes from the LNWR scrimmage...
- Thread starter gary-7
- Start date
He did have a few expected true freshman-thrown-into-the-fire moments here and there, but your description is otherwise quite exaggerated.
One doesn't pick up 7 assists without turning the ball over once under the scenario you laid out. If so, i know I never saw it in my years of playing and coaching.
Was he perfect? No, but his floor game was pretty danged good in those games played at the highest level of intensity. In fact had he knocked down some of the open looks he was getting that may have well turned the tide in the last one.
Y'know (and I'm not directing this just at you, jericho), perhaps some folks on here could ask themselves another question:
Suppose Stilman didn't go off to mission? Do you honestly think he would NOT have been part of the rotation the following season? Roy brought in Marcus to learn behind Butter, but he got thrust into the starters role with Butter leaving early. You had Strickland as a Combo and Luke Davis had joined the program. Do you honestly think for a second that White wouldn't have been in the mix for decent minutes at the 1 with Marcus and Dex? He was getting 6 or so minutes a game as a freshman behind Butter and those minutes only stood to increase his sophomore year had White not left. There is little doubt of that. Why is it then that folks seem to find it so absurd now that a older, stronger and now healthy White could help this team some off the bench this season, as opposed to being just a "good little player" who shows up at mop-up time?
I posted a favorable reference ITT to Hicks and White (and it wasn't just because of Late Night, btw --- those 2 have had really good summers) as a positive tidbit boding well for the Heel faithful about the strength of our bench. Yet somehow it devolved into a negative referendum on Stilman's abilities. Go figure.
I don't claim to know what Roy's rotation is gonna be. Hell, I don't even know for sure who he's gonna start. Now, I think I know... but I do know that Stilman White is more than just a Blue Steel guy. He's a good enough player to help this team at meaningful times, and if/when Roy calls his number he is more than capable of delivering. If any of y'all still don't get that then, well... I can't help ya.
There is a big difference between don't get and don't agree. Time will tell who is right and I hope it's you.
Understand this, my position on Nate is not based off of a game or 2, it is based off of 2 seasons of play. Yes, I am hard on the kid but it is because I know he is able to give better than what he has. I can not so far say the same of Stillman simply because I need to see more of him than I have and have seen basically nothing with any recency.
I don't hate on any UNC players, I will critique them based on what I see and that may not always be the popular opinion, I am always going to say what I see. Others may see it differently, I am fine with that.
Louisville fan here looking for some insight on your team. Here's my takeaway from the thread...
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Stillman White is legendary.
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Louisville has our own legend in David Levitch, so I can appreciate all the heated debate about a guy who will get 10% of the minutes at his position. How do you all see the frontcourt rotation shaking out with Isaiah Hicks coming into his own?
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Stillman White is legendary.
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Louisville has our own legend in David Levitch, so I can appreciate all the heated debate about a guy who will get 10% of the minutes at his position. How do you all see the frontcourt rotation shaking out with Isaiah Hicks coming into his own?
If you are here for serious discussion fine but you will need to put a stopper on the smart alec comments like your only take away from this thread.
This entire thread has revolved around Stillman White. Figured I'd add a little levity to the discussion, but had no idea that was frowned upon. Note taken - all business if I am welcome here.
I heard Isaiah Hicks has looked like the best player on the team. I'm wondering if the fans think Theo Pinson is going to get starter minutes. Which Kennedy Meeks is going to show up this year? A 20 minutes scrimmage won't tell you that, but that's why I'm here.
It did give me a little chuckle but then I am a little thicker skinned than most. I didn't attend LNWR but for us to have a successful season we will need a big contribution from Hicks , a healthy focused Meeks and a break out season for Pinson.
Since I started the thread, I'll clarify it for you. It was supposed to be about the fact that two of our reserves had excellent summers, have upped their games and showed out a bit and offered a little preview in the LN scrimmage. Unfortunately some have a hard time getting past preconceived notions and such.
Hicks projects to be the first Big off the bench and should see increased and more productive PT this season. He has worked hard on his face-up game and been more aggressive in the summer pick-ups and pro-am scrimmages. White got quality spot minutes as a backup PG as a freshman and was thrust into the starters role in the middle of the NCAAs when Kendall Marshall went down from a Creighton cheap shot in 2012. Back from his Mormon mission, he spent last season injured, but now figures to help with our back court depth.
As for your other questions, Meeks is in even better shape and if he stays injury-free he should boost his stats from last season. He battled a series of nagging injuries last season and he seems to be 100% these days. Pinson is working his way back from foot surgery and is running in full-court work now and participated in the scrimmage. He will be a vital cog backing up Jackson at the 3 and has the versatility to play in the paint or on the perimeter, allowing Roy to use different situational lineups.
If all goes well with health, Hicks and Pinson should get the most minutes after the starters.
Boss, levity is anything but frowned upon here but folks here do not know where you are coming from and you attempt at levity was at best easy to confuse with smartyness, for your second post. As for the serious business question, that is an ongoing discussion on other threads, time has been taken by several to discuss that so our takes are not really a mystery.
Sorry if I do not throw out the welcome mat so freely, if someone comes to my door I do not know, rather than throw open my door & welcome them with open arms, I try first to see what they want, what they are about, why they are at my door.
I really hope Hicks has made a significant leap. So when Brice gets in one of his mental funks or if Kennedy is a defensive liability against smaller quicker teams we can bring him in and not lose anything.
I'm not sure. Why?
Thanks Gary. Just to give a little context of why I'm asking, I had both Johnson and Meeks on my fantasy team last year. I've found that the diehard fans are far more knowledgeable about their players than any of these preseason publications. Having said that, Meeks was one of the most frustrating players to watch. Not because he wasn't productive, but because Roy refused to leave him on the floor. I get it, Joel James can get in there and push some people around, but Meeks seemed far too talented to leave on the bench for nearly 20 minutes a night. I know the sickness and some minor injuries played a part, but Roy's dedication to his bench was frustrating. It was the same case for Brice Johnson, but at that position Isaiah Hicks adds some real value. It sounds like if Hicks is going to earn more minutes, it needs to be at the expense of Joel James. A frontcourt with Johnson and Hicks could pay dividends against some of the smaller, faster lineups.
Theo Pinson is one of those guys I wanted to draft in the later rounds, but I just don't trust that he'll get 20 minutes a night. Seems like Roy could go a number of different ways with his backcourt, moving Paige on or off the ball. Pinson has that consistent motor that I love to see from a player. Berry is another guy who could go on to average 8 points and 4 dimes or get relegated to the bench based on matchups.
I don't think any of us really know what to expect from Meeks, so far he has been vertically challenged and tends to get himself caught deep in the paint and not able to explode up and thru contact to finish. He rebounds a ton of his own misses, has not been uncommon to see him rebound 2 or 3 of his own misses on the same series. Not intending to be harsh but to me his rebounding numbers have been a bit overly inflated meaning I would rather he made more shots and rebounded less of his own misses. He is in much better shape this season than he has been since being here, we have to see if that has effected his ability to play thru contact and/or more consistently above the rim. It did improve a lot last season, coming to UNC he was barely able to dunk and last season he actually was able to tomahawk with a clear path.
Brice has added a few lbs and that should help him but I suspect what we have seen from Brice is what we can expect to see and that ain't bad but foul trouble has been a haunt for him. Hicks, very athletic but IMO career so far has been a lack of confidence more than anything else, I don't think he really has shown that he believe in his own ability unless he is very near the rim. Rumors are he is much more confident now and I am looking forward to seeing if that is the case or does he still hesitate and defer to others. Hicks has as well really struggled to stay on the court with foul issues, for me it is way to early to have a good expectation of what we will have with Issiah for this season.
Theo Pinson, here is the deal, IMO will be a GREAT yeah GREAT defensive stopper, IMO potentially better than Jackie Manual, I liken him to a different version of George Lynch. Very emotional player and has a way of effecting the game the second he steps on the court and raising the emotional level of his team mates. He is fun to watch, not sold on him as a offensive scorer just yet, his jump shot is UGLY IMO, I don't trust it much more than a sliver over Tokoto's. But the kid finds a way to score, it ain't always pretty but he finds a way, ala George Lynch. Just as he was beginning to get PT last season his injury stopped him and that same injury had him sut down for basically the whole off season, don't know how much he was able to develope but it surely slowed his developement. IT is a bit like Reggie Bullock, injury basically shut down his frosh season, we saw the talent as a soph, and then had a very good Jr season before leaving for the NBA. If he remains healthy Theo will get solid PT even with Jackson in front of him at the wing. You can not keep that kid off the court for long, he brings to many intangibles to the game for him to live on the bench.
I know a lot of our fans see Theo as able to handle the 2 or the 3 but I see him more as a 3 and at times in a small ball look at the 4. I know, lot of folks are going to read what I just said and shout, what the heck is David talking about. But the kid is 6'6-7" with really long reach (same height as Lynch by the way but longer reach) and that attitude of you will not beat me, don't be shocked to see a small ball rotation with him & Justin on the floor together and Theo checking a 4. PLus I am maybe a bit more sold on Kenny Williams than most seem to be, I think Kenny and Britt will split the back up time behind Marcus at the 2 when Marcus is either out of the game or slides over to the point. I am not sold on THeo at the 2 unless his jump shooting is dramatically improved and I don't see that without his being able to really work on it this past summer.
Joel Berry, IMO starts game one this season and remains our starting PG for his remaining time at UNC (as long as he remains healthy of course), we are much smoother and more balanced when he is at the point & Marcus is able to actively look for his offense and not worry about positioning everyone else.
Roy loves to play a deep bench. Ergo, wouldn't advise drafting UNC players for FF.
We have several guys who will play >1 position, depending on matchups or foul issues.
If healthy, Theo is poised to go off! I sure hope he gets close to 20 mpg.
We have several guys who will play >1 position, depending on matchups or foul issues.
If healthy, Theo is poised to go off! I sure hope he gets close to 20 mpg.
The major advantage of UNC players is the additional possessions per game. 25 minutes at UNC is equivalent to 30 at Virginia.
That is a good point. Last season's offensive dysfunction was an aberration.
Roy is probably gonna start his most effective lineup this season, which would feature Berry at PG. If that happens then yeah, the number of possessions as well as efficiency in those possessions will rise substantially. Jump on some Carolina guys.
If he doesn't then, well..... never mind, I don't even want to go there.
I chuckled too, Archer... all the while simultaneously rolling my eyes and knocking on wood
Love me some Tar Heels, but SW is insurance against injury. Berry, Britt, and Paige are our PGs and I am thrilled with this group! SW has worked his tail off and I love how much he seems to love being a Tar Heel. I appreciated him coming in and doing his best to run the team. I think he did well considering his limitations and not having time for the team to adjust to his style. I am excited by this year's team and I'm excited to have such a quality insurance policy in SW! It's so good to be discussing what to do with bench players instead of wondering who will be healthy enough to play!
Considering what I have seen so far, I agree. Could that change, absolutely but for now I don't think it will. I may see something different once I have been able to see Stillman in a real game. I do expect him to be much improved from the last time I watched him for any reasonable time on the court, as a wide eyes frosh. Just how much he has improved is a really hard call for me, we have not really been able to see him for what, 3yrs now? So I can't assume, I have to see.
Having to distribute minutes at a very deep PG position is a very good problem to have. I have every confidence Stilman will be ready when called upon, whether at PG or SG.
TRUE DAT ! ^^^
I am a big man guy, love it when we have solid bigs but come tourney time it seems every year the wheel turns to guards to lead the way to championships. To be able to go 3 or 4 deep at the PG spot is huge in post season. As we have seen, injury happens and un-opportune times big teams without great guard play falter.
We began last season with 5 PGs on our roster and yet came to a point in the season for about a month where we only had 1 healthy enough to practice full on. IMO it was this very reason we went in to that late season swoon, other teams had been able to hold full practices and we just were not. WE have 4 of those 5 now and it is hard to believe we will have back to back injury attack a single position on the floor like it happened at the PG spot to us last season. The law of average should be on our side this time around. But it sure is nice to have great depth going in to what is stacking up to be a special season for Tar Heel fans.
My dream for this season, of course, we win the NCAAT, the NCAA finally rules and men's basketball receives no scholly restrictions, no post season bans, and all banners stay in place, finally the NCAA dark clouds lift. That to me would be a wonder result for this coming season, it brings back UNC fans from this 4years of funk and back and maybe even better for the experience, maybe more willing to truely appreciate what we have. NC State yet again missing the NCAAT and duke bowing out early would be the cherry on top of that cake!
He's UL.
He's as bias about UL as I'm with UK. I check in on the UL board to laugh at their hatred towards us.
I've seen many of his posts. Seems like he's a decent poster. I don't agree with all his posts but I'm sure he want agree with all of mine.
But he's 100% UL. And the only reason I'm using UL and not Loserville is out of respect to him. I think he'll be a great addition to this board. And look forward to actually having decent debates with a UL fan.
But I'm not a mod
