Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2005 11:03:37 GMT -5
Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, Monday, December 5, 2005
W/L 12-16
RPI 253
There’s one thing I have learned while doing these reports, talented post players are what separates major conferences from lower conferences. We can look back at RMU, NU, CC, and SFU-PA and see that there is no reliable low post presence in their line-ups. The Blue Devils are no different.
Oh, CCSU has height, they just can’t play. The ironic thing is Howie thingyenman’s ball club will be lead by their power forward…all 6-4 of him, Obie Nwad**e. Nwad**e, who tips the scales at 225 pounds, is a tremendous rebounder and a tireless worker. Nwad**e averaged 11.2ppg and 7.5rpg; including leading the NEC in offensive rebounds each of the last two years. The rest of the frontcourt is an enigma. The Blue Devils return two letterman (Jemino Sobers and Ingo Beaudet) and one red-shirt freshmen (Jermaine Middleton) that played a total of 107 minutes last year. Jemino Sobers, 6-7 245 pounds, came to CCSU from the Toronto area with the expectations of playing a major role for the Blue Devils but a severe case of shin splits has limited his ability to play significantly. Tagged as a big body post that has good foot work Sobers (0.7-1.0) has been unable to overcome the injury bug. If healthy, the one time Bona target, should see considerably more minutes then the previous two years.
That bring us to the “Twin Towers”, Ingo Beaudet (6-11 250) and Jermaine Middleton (7-3 235), who have played a total of 48 minutes of D1 basketball. Beaudet (0.3-0.6), who has only played two season of ball in his life, one at Santa Rosa College and one last year at CCSU is…well, tall. Middleton, who his coach actually said in the CCSU preseason prospectus for 2004-2005 needs to learn how to run, and that no one has taken the time to teach him is…well, taller. Don’t look for either of these two gentlemen to make an impact on the Blue Devils season.
thingyenman did add two freshmen, Rob Robinson and Chris Winters, to the mix that will get every opportunity to prove they can play. Robinson, 6-8 210 pounds, prepped last season at Winchendon Academy last year is considered more of a small forward. He has a good face up game and put the ball on the floor. He must be able to rebound and defend the low post if he his to contribute extensively this season.
Winters, 6-7 210, is consider more of a low post player. Winters, who prepped at St. Thomas More, is said to be quick around the hoop with good jumping ability, but not as talented as Robinson.
thingyenman, unlike the frontcourt, has plenty of options in the backcourt. Lead by the likes of Tristan Blackwell, Lenny Jefferson, Justin Chiera, and Javier Mojica you may see a line-up with no one taller then 6-4 on the court at times.
It all starts with Blackwell (6-0), the only player to start ever Blue Devil game last year. The fleet footed Toronto native averaged 5.2ppg and 1.6rpg as a freshman while also leading the team in assists. Blackwell also started for the U21 team Canada this summer that beat the USA team.
Lenny Jefferson (10.2-2.9) will start along side Blackwell in the backcourt. An undersized (6-0) shooting guard, he can really dial it up from long distance, shooting over 40% for two consecutive seasons. This makes Jefferson very dangerous since he prefers to attack the basket and get in the paint for short pull-ups or to get hacked in the act.
Javier Mojica (9.9-4.5) should also start in what will have to be a three guard offense. The 6-3 junior is a former walk-on that is said to be very crafty. A jack-of-all-trades, Mojica will not go around you, or over you, he will just take what you give him. He is also the second leading returning rebounder for the Blue Devils.
Justin Chiera (7.0-1.6) is your sniper. The 6-1 senior took 78% of his shots last year from behind the arc. Adapt at curling off screen, he has a very quick release and will seldom adventure into where the tall trees are.
The final member of the Blue Devil squad that deserves mention is Jason Hickenbottom (4.4-3.8). The 6-4 Simon Gratz graduate started 14 games as a freshman last year will be again counted on to defend and rebound in the post.
I guess the only question is, “who’s going to rebound and defend the post?” If this team can get any production from someone over 6-4 it could be an upper-tier NEC team. Nwad**e, Jefferson, and Blackwell are solid players. Mojica, Chiera, and Hickenbottom play their roles very well but I can’t see any of them defending a 6 inch height disadvantage.
PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP
PG TRISTAN BLACKWELL 6-0 SO 25.2 – 5.2 – 1.6
SG LENNY JEFFERSON 6-0 SR 27.4 – 10.2 – 2.9
PF OBIE NWAd**e 6-4 JR 30.0 – 11.2 – 7.5
PF JASON HICKENBOTTOM 6-4 SO 18.4 – 4.4 – 3.8
SF JAVIER MOJICA 6-3 JR 24.4 – 9.9 – 4.5
BENCH
SG JUSTIN CHIERA 6-1 SR 21.4 – 7.0 – 1.6
PF JEMINO SOBERS 6-7 JR 5.8 – 0.7 – 1.0
C INGO BEAUDET 6-11 JR 4.8 – 0.3 – 0.6
C JERMAINE MIDDLETON 7-3 FR
PF CHRIS WINTERS 6-7 FR
PF ROB ROBINSON** 6-8 FR
**NOTE – a late article I read had no mentioned of Rob Robinson actually going to CCSU, in his place the article mentioned John Williams, a 6-3 guard from San Jose.
***I guess the filters don't like the last names of Howie and Obie. Anyway, Obie's last name is the same as the things that hold back the Allegheny River when it floods. And Howie's last name is the nickname you may give someone who has the first name Richard.
I just thought "thingyenman" was too funny ;D ;D ;D
W/L 12-16
RPI 253
There’s one thing I have learned while doing these reports, talented post players are what separates major conferences from lower conferences. We can look back at RMU, NU, CC, and SFU-PA and see that there is no reliable low post presence in their line-ups. The Blue Devils are no different.
Oh, CCSU has height, they just can’t play. The ironic thing is Howie thingyenman’s ball club will be lead by their power forward…all 6-4 of him, Obie Nwad**e. Nwad**e, who tips the scales at 225 pounds, is a tremendous rebounder and a tireless worker. Nwad**e averaged 11.2ppg and 7.5rpg; including leading the NEC in offensive rebounds each of the last two years. The rest of the frontcourt is an enigma. The Blue Devils return two letterman (Jemino Sobers and Ingo Beaudet) and one red-shirt freshmen (Jermaine Middleton) that played a total of 107 minutes last year. Jemino Sobers, 6-7 245 pounds, came to CCSU from the Toronto area with the expectations of playing a major role for the Blue Devils but a severe case of shin splits has limited his ability to play significantly. Tagged as a big body post that has good foot work Sobers (0.7-1.0) has been unable to overcome the injury bug. If healthy, the one time Bona target, should see considerably more minutes then the previous two years.
That bring us to the “Twin Towers”, Ingo Beaudet (6-11 250) and Jermaine Middleton (7-3 235), who have played a total of 48 minutes of D1 basketball. Beaudet (0.3-0.6), who has only played two season of ball in his life, one at Santa Rosa College and one last year at CCSU is…well, tall. Middleton, who his coach actually said in the CCSU preseason prospectus for 2004-2005 needs to learn how to run, and that no one has taken the time to teach him is…well, taller. Don’t look for either of these two gentlemen to make an impact on the Blue Devils season.
thingyenman did add two freshmen, Rob Robinson and Chris Winters, to the mix that will get every opportunity to prove they can play. Robinson, 6-8 210 pounds, prepped last season at Winchendon Academy last year is considered more of a small forward. He has a good face up game and put the ball on the floor. He must be able to rebound and defend the low post if he his to contribute extensively this season.
Winters, 6-7 210, is consider more of a low post player. Winters, who prepped at St. Thomas More, is said to be quick around the hoop with good jumping ability, but not as talented as Robinson.
thingyenman, unlike the frontcourt, has plenty of options in the backcourt. Lead by the likes of Tristan Blackwell, Lenny Jefferson, Justin Chiera, and Javier Mojica you may see a line-up with no one taller then 6-4 on the court at times.
It all starts with Blackwell (6-0), the only player to start ever Blue Devil game last year. The fleet footed Toronto native averaged 5.2ppg and 1.6rpg as a freshman while also leading the team in assists. Blackwell also started for the U21 team Canada this summer that beat the USA team.
Lenny Jefferson (10.2-2.9) will start along side Blackwell in the backcourt. An undersized (6-0) shooting guard, he can really dial it up from long distance, shooting over 40% for two consecutive seasons. This makes Jefferson very dangerous since he prefers to attack the basket and get in the paint for short pull-ups or to get hacked in the act.
Javier Mojica (9.9-4.5) should also start in what will have to be a three guard offense. The 6-3 junior is a former walk-on that is said to be very crafty. A jack-of-all-trades, Mojica will not go around you, or over you, he will just take what you give him. He is also the second leading returning rebounder for the Blue Devils.
Justin Chiera (7.0-1.6) is your sniper. The 6-1 senior took 78% of his shots last year from behind the arc. Adapt at curling off screen, he has a very quick release and will seldom adventure into where the tall trees are.
The final member of the Blue Devil squad that deserves mention is Jason Hickenbottom (4.4-3.8). The 6-4 Simon Gratz graduate started 14 games as a freshman last year will be again counted on to defend and rebound in the post.
I guess the only question is, “who’s going to rebound and defend the post?” If this team can get any production from someone over 6-4 it could be an upper-tier NEC team. Nwad**e, Jefferson, and Blackwell are solid players. Mojica, Chiera, and Hickenbottom play their roles very well but I can’t see any of them defending a 6 inch height disadvantage.
PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP
PG TRISTAN BLACKWELL 6-0 SO 25.2 – 5.2 – 1.6
SG LENNY JEFFERSON 6-0 SR 27.4 – 10.2 – 2.9
PF OBIE NWAd**e 6-4 JR 30.0 – 11.2 – 7.5
PF JASON HICKENBOTTOM 6-4 SO 18.4 – 4.4 – 3.8
SF JAVIER MOJICA 6-3 JR 24.4 – 9.9 – 4.5
BENCH
SG JUSTIN CHIERA 6-1 SR 21.4 – 7.0 – 1.6
PF JEMINO SOBERS 6-7 JR 5.8 – 0.7 – 1.0
C INGO BEAUDET 6-11 JR 4.8 – 0.3 – 0.6
C JERMAINE MIDDLETON 7-3 FR
PF CHRIS WINTERS 6-7 FR
PF ROB ROBINSON** 6-8 FR
**NOTE – a late article I read had no mentioned of Rob Robinson actually going to CCSU, in his place the article mentioned John Williams, a 6-3 guard from San Jose.
***I guess the filters don't like the last names of Howie and Obie. Anyway, Obie's last name is the same as the things that hold back the Allegheny River when it floods. And Howie's last name is the nickname you may give someone who has the first name Richard.
I just thought "thingyenman" was too funny ;D ;D ;D
