offseason improvements

deuce_deuce

3rd Team
Dec 14, 2011
205
0
0
Hoover, AL
If we were the coach, what would be one thing you would say to each player that you want them to work on in the offseason? Obviously we want all of them to improve in all areas but if you just had to see just one area they could become proficient in.

Andrew Steele -- dribbling, b/c i believe he will log many mins. as our backup point

Levi Randolph -- midrange pullup jumper.

Trevor Lacey -- 3 pt shot.

Ben Eblen -- find one spot on the floor where he feels comfortable shooting from

Trevor Releford -- 3 pt shot

Nick Jacobs -- explosiveness off the floor

Rodney Cooper & Charles Hankerson -- consistency on the jumpshot

Carl Engstrom -- overall weight gain and strength.
 

Ldlane

Hall of Fame
Nov 26, 2002
14,249
398
202
I think that they all could benefit offensively:

1. Conditioning (for more speed) and Strength training - We really need to get better on the boards since JG is gone.

2. Shooting (obvious).

3. Basketball sense and reading the Zone.
 

day-day

Hall of Fame
Jan 2, 2005
11,125
2,756
287
Bartlett, TN (Memphis area)
I particularly like the comment on Randolph. He has a smooth, yet explosive, pullup jumper but does not finish the shot well. If he can get the consistent release on his shots this will be a deadly weapon that will be nearly impossible to defend.
 
Last edited:

TideorDie87

3rd Team
Dec 24, 2011
270
0
0
Trevor Lacey - Get in shape. His foot speed is very slow. If he was faster he would be unstoppable.

Engstrom - Just Dunk the ball. Screw the layup.

Jacobs - Work on your athleticism. The only guy ive ever seen not jump to get rebounds.

Eblen - Shoot the ball

Hankerson - also needs to work on his athleticism.

Everybody else I think they just need to work on there over all game
 

deuce_deuce

3rd Team
Dec 14, 2011
205
0
0
Hoover, AL
Trevor Lacey - Get in shape. His foot speed is very slow. If he was faster he would be unstoppable.

Engstrom - Just Dunk the ball. Screw the layup.

Jacobs - Work on your athleticism. The only guy ive ever seen not jump to get rebounds.

Eblen - Shoot the ball

Hankerson - also needs to work on his athleticism.

Everybody else I think they just need to work on there over all game
Can't help but agree with Engtrom. Don't know if its true but I felt that many times this year coach restricted what we did on offense. I don't think he fully trusted the players b/c they were so young. But he kind of gradually loosened the reins but not totally. I think that was in his head when he called that late timeout. he doesn't yet trust them to adjust in the game so he makes the play restricted. i believe he opens things up next year and we see more fluidity and motion in the offense.
 

imauafan

All-American
Mar 3, 2004
3,749
1,201
282
Huntsville, AL
Can't help but agree with Engtrom. Don't know if its true but I felt that many times this year coach restricted what we did on offense. I don't think he fully trusted the players b/c they were so young. But he kind of gradually loosened the reins but not totally. I think that was in his head when he called that late timeout. he doesn't yet trust them to adjust in the game so he makes the play restricted. i believe he opens things up next year and we see more fluidity and motion in the offense.
I had this same thought. The problem with that is that by tournament time if you do not trust your players then something has gone wrong with the process.
 

TIDE-HSV

Senior Administrator
Staff member
Oct 13, 1999
86,364
44,286
437
Huntsville, AL,USA
I had this same thought. The problem with that is that by tournament time if you do not trust your players then something has gone wrong with the process.
Can't agree, given the events with this team. In fact, I'm not sure I'd trust any of them to go to the restroom alone... :)
 

CajunCrimson

Moderator (FB,BB) and Vinyl Enthusiast
Staff member
Mar 13, 2001
29,094
26,380
337
Breaux Bridge, La
Cooper and Levi -- go to the rim with power. Perhaps TM spoiled us -- but how many times did we see Cooper and Levi go so tentatively to the basket that they got the shot blocked or got fouled with no bucket. I'd love to see Cooper especially get some power with his move to the basket.

Trevor needs to pull a Gary Waites and get that top of the key 3 to fall regularly.....
 

CajunCrimson

Moderator (FB,BB) and Vinyl Enthusiast
Staff member
Mar 13, 2001
29,094
26,380
337
Breaux Bridge, La
Can't agree, given the events with this team. In fact, I'm not sure I'd trust any of them to go to the restroom alone... :)
Levi tweeted Wednesday night -- that they were taking all of their phones as part of curfew.....

That was like, "wow" -- talk about kids that didn't have their priorities straight -- then again, when I played we didn't have cell phone ;) -- but I do remember Coach threatening us to have them cut power to our room if we didn't shut up....

Never mind....I've gotten way off track
 

RollTide1224

All-American
Feb 18, 2008
2,387
91
67
Spartanburg, SC
Trevor Lacey - Get in shape. His foot speed is very slow. If he was faster he would be unstoppable.

Engstrom - Just Dunk the ball. Screw the layup.

Jacobs - Work on your athleticism. The only guy ive ever seen not jump to get rebounds.

Eblen - Shoot the ball

Hankerson - also needs to work on his athleticism.

Everybody else I think they just need to work on there over all game
I agree with these. I can't tell if Lacey is just that thick of a build or if he is carrying a little more weight than he should be. I would probably go with the latter. We seem to have a few players who look more like football players than basketball players. Among guards I don't think this is very desirable.
 

bamaslaw

All-SEC
Jan 16, 2005
1,899
0
0
Atlanta, GA
I hope there is a shooting PLAN that the players are encouraged to follow. Having one of those instead of going and shooting jumpers makes a world of difference. Shooting 3pts without warming up only encourages bad form, but go in to a gym and see what is the first shot taken...
 

TideorDie87

3rd Team
Dec 24, 2011
270
0
0
I agree with these. I can't tell if Lacey is just that thick of a build or if he is carrying a little more weight than he should be. I would probably go with the latter. We seem to have a few players who look more like football players than basketball players. Among guards I don't think this is very desirable.
Well he is just built that way naturally. I guess I shouldnt had put get in shape instead i shouldve put work on his explosiveness. I compare him to a Chauncey Billups. Now Hankerson is another story. I almost broke my tv when i saw him try to dunk and then he saw he couldnt make it and missed the lay up.
 

Starving Bear

New Member
Feb 21, 2012
13
0
0
Good of time for my first post as any. I'll play along.

Trevor Releford: Passing in traffic on penetration and in transition. 2.8 apg is not where I want our point guard to be.

Ben Eblen: Learn from the staff. Bust tail in practice and continue to earn his teammates respect. Young man will be a fine coach if he chooses that path. Don't really want him getting too comfortable shooting because I'll never be comfortable with him shooting. But improving his leadership and basketball knowledge primary for next season and the rest of his life.

Ben O: Limited knowledge of the young man, but looked good in scrimmage. Nothing to say, just reminding anyone who'd forgotten that he'll be in competition for pt next year.

Trevor Lacey: DEFENSE. Only guy on our roster who can create his own shot, and he plays within the concept of the team. He needs to play more aggressively IMHO, particularly on defense. Conditioning last season, from what I understand, was not entirely his fault (knee, back, ankle).

Levi Randolph: Quickness of first move on three point line my only thought here. Levi's game is well-rounded. Too often last season, Levi had room on the arc but could not capitalize. A quicker release on the jumper combined with a quicker, more confident first step to the lane, would produce more and higher percentage chances.

Andrew Steele: I think Andrew is a point foward in my eyes. One of the best two penetraters on the team. Tempted to type same thing I did for Releford earlier. Distribute the ball.

Rodney Cooper: Easy answer is confidence. I say muscle and pride. SEC basketball is a Man's league. Rodney is just a kid. I love him as a player, but I've seen signs that he just was not mature (in terms of physicality and emotional reaction to adversity, not character - met him and very impressed in that area) enough to play SEC ball last season. VERY confident he'll come around, but he needs to man up, realize he's a hell of a player and a person, and go play his best.

Charles Hankerson: Just not sure about Hankerson. Good parents, Dad was a coach, bright kid, pretty good athelete, but plays with a basketball iq that is so so low. The light needs to come on. Needs to work on focus IMO.

Nick Jacobs: REBOUND. REBOUND. REBOUND. Don't look up at the scoreboard. REBOUND. Become tougher. REBOUND.

Carl Engstrom: Keep learning. Keep hustling. Never going to have a play run to get you the ball, so go to the offensive glass and take it.

Moussa Guaye: Sorry if I misspelled the big guy's name. Moussa needs to heal. Period. If there was an aspect of his game to work on, I'd say playing under control. Once or twice he made bad turnovers trying some fancy pass, and a few of his blocked shots could have been called the other way.

I expect a lot of improvement from the 7 footers, a more motion oriented offense, and a more enjoyable product on the court in 2012-13. Roll Tide!
 
Last edited:

TideEngineer08

TideFans Legend
Jun 9, 2009
37,639
34,289
187
Beautiful Cullman, AL
I think that they all could benefit offensively:

1. Conditioning (for more speed) and Strength training - We really need to get better on the boards since JG is gone.

2. Shooting (obvious).

3. Basketball sense and reading the Zone.
I would love to see the basketball sense improve. Watching the better teams (Kentucky, UNC, etc) you see crisp passes and sound dribbling. Far too often our guys made unforced errors with lazy passes and uncoordinated dribbling. This is basic fundamental stuff, but I feel it would greatly improve the team's performance.

Learn how to score. We seem so uncomfortable shooting, whether its a layup or a 3-pointer. It's uncanny, and maybe it's just me. But it's almost like it's an awkward prospect for many of the guys to shoot the ball.

I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement next year.
 

teamplayer

Hall of Fame
Jul 31, 2001
7,926
2,982
282
cullman, al, usa
I particularly like the comment on Randolph. He has a smooth, yet explosive, pullup jumper but does not finish the shot well. If he can get the consistent release on his shots this will be a deadly weapon that will be nearly impossible to defend.
That was my thought. Randolph can make the drive, separate from the defender, elevate for the shot, and look like a pro while doing all of these things; however, he doesn't MAKE the shot enough. I really hope he develops his offensive game because I think he can be a fantastic basketball player with that shot and more consistency.
 

southface

BamaNation Citizen
Jul 8, 2005
52
0
0
Denver, CO
One thing I noticed about Lacey is that he needs to be on the move to pull up and make his jumper. He had trouble when he is in a semi set shot position. In general our guys seemed afraid to take the shot for whatever reason. Relax and let it go. They won't all go in anyway so take the shot when it's there. I still think Cooper has the best shooting mechanics on the team and I hope he can break out of the freshman blues and be the player he can be.
 

day-day

Hall of Fame
Jan 2, 2005
11,125
2,756
287
Bartlett, TN (Memphis area)
I would love to see the basketball sense improve. Watching the better teams (Kentucky, UNC, etc) you see crisp passes and sound dribbling. Far too often our guys made unforced errors with lazy passes and uncoordinated dribbling. This is basic fundamental stuff, but I feel it would greatly improve the team's performance.

...
This plus feeding the post for the wing players; handling the double-team and throwing the ball back out for Jacobs. Jacobs is a black hole; there are times when the ball needs to come back out.

When I remind myself that most of these guys we are talking about were freshmen this past season, I realize that they are ahead of most players on other teams.
 

bamaslaw

All-SEC
Jan 16, 2005
1,899
0
0
Atlanta, GA
I think some of this stuff will take care of itself naturally. Things like offensive flow, etc really tend to improve just by playing with each other more. When I looked at the team, I'm not sure that we didn't see a bunch of players with low basketball IQ, but we saw a lot of players who weren't sure how they fit in. The vast difference in how our offense needed to be run with Green in the game vs. out of the game could not have helped there...
 

rhunter

Scout Team
Aug 9, 2010
134
0
0
Smyrna, GA
I sincerely hope we have a season without suspensions and the off court nonsense. 40 yds from Coleman folks have shown if you buy into the team concept there WILL be big time successes. Although the roster is tiny compared to a football team I almost think the Team concept is tougher to instill in Hoops- as it can quickly turn into an individual game.

CAG has to figure out a way or a rotation that gets us 65+ pts. a game in the "real" games in conference play. My personal goal is to be off the bubble come late Feb. and hopefully a 4-5 seed in the Tourney.
 

Latest threads