Jim French Stepstool
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Everything posted by Jim French Stepstool
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To me the reffing problems are a self-fulfilling prophecy. You add so much to the rule book in recent years, when there's going to be more to interpret, more to look for, of course there will be more screwups. So we go to the monitor. Maybe that "gets it right". Or maybe it's still inconclusive. Or maybe like last week in Milwaukee, it shows something you didn't see the first time, and you incorrectly use the technology to execute a makeup call. It does seem UW gets the short end of the stick, but my glasses are cardinal-colored, too. The foul call on Wahl late in regulation might've been the worst of all. We're up eight, and he gets called for a foul on the made jumper for the and-1. No one can convince me that's called a foul midway in the 1st half, or with 14:00 to go in the game, or if we're up or down by 15 points. It's like the umpire in baseball calling an 0-2 pitch a ball, when on 2-0 or 3-0 the same pitch is a strike. I don't know if any team or fan base emulates its' coach more than Fran. There never seems to be a call against them that's justified. But it IS kinda entertaining watching the volcano heat up, build pressure, and then erupt.
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Like Robo said, it was pretty obvious we'd be dealing one of the "Nashville four" OFs at some point. I like this deal, provided there isn't an extra piece or two included that I'm particularly enamored with. He's also still controlled when Quero should be ready, adding to your flexibility & options.
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Perhaps Fickell and/or Longo can light a fire under Allen. His performance appeared to fall way short of his abilities. You have to be skeptical of guys like that. Here's hoping for a renewed commitment from him.
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He CAN decide to stay, even though he's in the portal. I'm not predicting he will, just sayin'. One of the backup UNC QBs is going to be visiting UW. Jacolby Criswell. I think he only played in 2-3 games this past year.
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This goes back a little more than 30 years, but there's some similarity to Tim Locum. About the same size, similar ability to catch-and-shoot off screens. But Locums' off the ball movement wasn't as good as CE, and Essegian is much more athletic & has a higher ceiling. Rick Olson, who was smaller, had similar scoring ability. But that's going back to the stone age.?
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I saw Herro play quite a bit when he was at Whitnall. One of the things he did real well was moving w/o the ball, being in constant motion working to get open. To me that's maybe the biggest comp btwn him & Essegian. Connor always seems to be moving. It's gotten him some nice looks on backdoor cuts. There's some fearlessness a la Reddick, for sure.
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I'll add Davis to your Klesmit remarks. Decision-making is huge. Klesmit has a knack for it; I think Davis is getting there. And they play, in essence, three guards. Davis has the chops to rebound well enough to allow them to do that, I hope he continues to grow in that area. Still hoping at some point Ilver or Hodges emerges as a 4-5 mpg guy in the front court to help with the depth when there are foul issues. The way Essegian comes off screens & shoots without hesitation, yeah, that's quite a weapon.
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I don't like it either. It supposedly has to do with the extra conference games brought about by conference expansion. You could just start the conference season a couple weeks earlier & keep it self-contained, but I think they want to avoid going in-conference during exams/Christmas. That's a big part of the reason you don't see as many tough non-league games at that time of the year. Exams going on, students leaving. These more unattractive games have a purpose. A MEAC, SWAC or other such school pays the lions' share of it's athletic budget expenses by being the visitor for 4-5 of these games. And if I'm UW, after the eight-game stretch they went through once they get done playing Iowa I'd welcome a lesser challenge. I'd love to go back to conference starting in January, with a balanced home-and-away sked. The obsession with conference expansion probably makes that impossible.
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Yeah. I've been to UW-MU games in Milwaukee. That's a road game in every way, shape & form. Only one true road game thus far. But another way of looking at it is they've played nine games, four of them on their home floor.
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"Invoke the spirit of Bobby Bonilla......" This wouldn't involve Jobu & a dead chicken, would it?
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Over-achieving to the national media types, the guys who get easily swayed by spectacular highlights & eye candy. Folks who can't recognize solid basketball skills & IQ due to the obsession with athleticism & recruiting "stars". Very nice win tonite. Other than a few too many turnovers Maryland impressed me. Willard has that group organized & making mostly good decisions on the floor. But when you guard like UW did tonight you always have a chance. Wahl is struggling a bit right now, so it's great to see the recent games Crowl has turned in. Growing confidence around the hoop on both ends. And the usual strong floor game & defense by Gilmore augmented by seeing the ball go in a few times. Maybe his best career game.
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I've known a lot of people who have gone there over the years. Obviously a quality school. But I remember years ago talking to an alum I've known since about 8th grade. We got to talking about his experiences there (he's a big HS/college hoops fan) & I mentioned how I thought their fan base has a real sense of paranoia regarding UW & Notre Dame. He chuckled & said "yeah, they really do" or words to that effect. I noticed a sprinkling of red in the stands yesterday, so maybe they've gotten past their "policy" of trying to limit people wearing Badger gear & where they sit. A fan base is one thing, but in that case you're talking about people who are actual representatives of the university, which is sort of sad. Anyway, a terrific road win. Agree with the above comments, and would like to throw in a few words about McGee. It sounds like he's starting to "get it", very nice contribution yesterday when they really needed it.
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Interesting story there, as it seems he still hasn't decided which sport to play.
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Perhaps, IF they can add a PG to that group (post-Hepburn).
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I saw him last night. Gard, Dean Oliver & Sharif Chambliss were in attendance (no players that I saw). Within the first 6-7 minutes, he drove the lane & finished with his left hand, did the same with his right, went baseline from the weak side & timed it perfectly to receive a pass for a layup, broke up a pass as the lone man back on a 2-1 fast break to force a turnover, and made 2 threes, one with a man in his face. His footwork is usually textbook. Seeing him last night, I'd say he's the type of kid where, if you're the opponent & you're playing a zone or trapping in the half court and he gets the ball at the FT line, you're in big trouble. My only skepticism is that the opponent was an athletic group that was constant up-tempo & overplay, which played right into his hands. Would love to see him vs Pewaukee if I get the chance.
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Compared to, oh let's say Khalil Iverson, he isn't. Athleticism isn't what attracts him to coaches. He's more than athletic enough when combined with his skill level & feel for the game. Believe me, I've seen a lot of HS kids over the years who were quite a bit more athletic than him. Then, you get them to the next level & find out they just aren't all that good at basketball when exposed to more size & quickness then they're used to.
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He obviously can score points, but he's the type of player that can score 5 or 6 in a given game & still be instrumental to a win. That's about as big a compliment as you can give.
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Yep. I hesitate calling him a finished product but he's more than good enough in all areas to contribute immediately just about anywhere, and he fits what they do real well. And they DO seem to be in a good spot with him. Just sell the program, and let him & his family go through the process. Hoping to get a chance to see him play tonite at WLC. And, whether he goes to UW, Kentucky, or Southern Hew Hampshire, this young man & his situation is nothing like Herro.
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UW Football - It's official. Badgers hire Luke Fickell.
Jim French Stepstool replied to nate82's topic in Other Sports
I think the best shot---"best" being relative---of Leonhard coming to some kind of agreement with Fickell to stay would've been if Tressel was considered for and gotten the Cincy HC job. But their OC was the leader in that clubhouse from the get-go, unless they do an outside hire. -
2022 Minor League Transaction Thread
Jim French Stepstool replied to Jim Goulart's topic in Brewers Minor League Talk
I'm fine with signing the kid as long as he's a stout defender. -
Right now that would pretty much be Wahl from the mid-post area. Period. Hepburn isn't a confident finisher as witnessed by the constant pullups & fallaways in the lane. Would like to see him develop a feel for getting a defender on his butt & hips & ripping through. Also, Hepburn is taking too much on himself. I assume Johnny Davis & Davison being gone has a lot to do with that. He needs to get back to a PG mindset--he scored 23 points last night but IMO needs to be much better on his decision-making. And he joins a long list of people who really dropped the ball defensively last night. Appleby was terrific, but I saw little or no help defense, no making him go to his off-hand, nothin'. I'm actually cautiously optimistic re Crowl physically. He seems lately to be more of a willing soul in the post offensively, and last night stepped out for a couple threes. Scoring 15 & doing it with versatility, I'd take that every night.
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The Giant Jenga is great fun for anyone who has a backyard & entertains in the summer---cookouts & such.
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Assignment - Rule 5 Draft Eligibility
Jim French Stepstool replied to Jim Goulart's topic in Brewers Minor League Talk
Exposing him was a mistake. If he doesn't get picked, it's still a mistake, just one we were fortunate enough to not have to pay for. -
Do the Brewers Need to Trade Christian Yelich?
Jim French Stepstool replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Well, he IS playing for the same organization that brought you Danny Thomas?. -
Appleby had, I suspect, a career game for WF tonight. Still, the on-ball defense on him needed to be much better. Just not the consistent halfcourt defense that you normally see from UW. That should be there more often than not, but once again they were beaten on the boards. Wahl & Crowl are so vitally important because there isn't much effective size behind them. Carter Gilmore is turning into a whipping boy with some fans. He does what he can with what he has; the guy is about 6' 6". You could argue that, if you want to spew vitriol it might be better directed at Ilver & Hodges for not passing him up (yet).
