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Jim French Stepstool

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Everything posted by Jim French Stepstool

  1. Jim French Stepstool
    I'm also mostly unfamiliar with Blue. What the measurables & numbers suggest: He fits the profile they've been looking for AFA being a bigger guard. Very solid shooting % overall. His 3pt% jumped to an impressive 41% after being much more pedestrian his first two seasons. Not the type of FT% we saw the team turn in last season, but decent. His size (6'6", 190), thirty-seven blocks in his career & about 1 SPG as a JR suggest someone that could be a disruptive defender. Unlike some of the others they've looked at I don't expect him to be someone they'd slide to the point. Is this a sign they're thinking Boyd is leaning elsewhere? Maybe. I do know that Boyd added to the other three would be terrific beyond expectations.
  2. Jim French Stepstool
    We'd have room for sure. But in the current world of college hoops it also comes down to how much money you have left after signing A, B, & C. @Oxy's theory about Boyd waiting on one of the FF squads makes sense.
  3. Jim French Stepstool
    As far as I can tell, Bubu Benjamin & Keonte Jones, two wings that were rumored to be on their 'short list' are still uncommitted as well. Off the bench, Jack Janicki is going to play. How far Gard goes AFA adding two more wings besides Rohde may depend on how they feel about Kinzigers' readiness to give them minutes as a freshman (and what's left in the checkbook, of course).
  4. Jim French Stepstool
    You pretty much knew Dunn had a spot on the team once no deals were made involving a 3B. Frelick wasn't moving there, and if you're piecemealing it then they were most likely going to platoon. Personally, I was hoping to see Dunn get reg ABs at AAA, Durbin make the team, and damn the straight platoon. But Durbins' spring was subpar & they aren't convinced of his D. I believe they'll live with Dunn & Capra for the foreseeable future, while keeping an eye on Durbin. But obviously the misplay you had tonite can't happen. Patrick & Alexander combined for 10.1 innings scoreless. Gold crown for Hook. If Elvin Rodriguez shines on Saturday, make it platinum.
  5. Jim French Stepstool
    That (and Tyler Alexander) makes my night!! He really fits the profile of A UW big. Trying not to get overly giddy since he hasn't played a game for Bucky yet; but really the only fly in the ointment I see is that he's jumping from the WCC to the B10. And even then, you're talking Gonzaga, St Mary's, Oregon St, Wazzou, Santa Clara--he's been tested...........a wonderful addition. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if this is the only big added, especially if Amos returns & Greppi sticks around to do battle with Garlock for minutes. Certainly wouldn't mind a Chris Vogt-type addition for depth. But those thoughts are for later. Nice additions (if we can believe the Boyd talk) capped off in terrific fashion. Kudos to Kirk Penney, the point man on this.
  6. Jim French Stepstool
    Not tourney related, but I was wondering the other day how many D-1 teams you could see in person this season if you lived in Las Vegas. There's whatever holiday tourneys they host, UNLV games, a # of conference tournaments, and the other day I came across something called the College Basketball Crown, and the host city is......you guessed it. Enough entertainment options to worry even Wayne Newton. Nah.
  7. Jim French Stepstool
    As @areacodesalluded to, nothing drop-the-mic certain yet regarding Boyd. But there's enough smoke out there from various sources to cure a twenty-pound ham, so hopefully it's just a matter of time. One thing I like about the potential starting backcourt next year is we'll have multiple people w/PG-type skills if Boyd comes. That would include Zack Kinziger, who I think easily fits the characteristics of a combo. If both Boyd & Rohde are in the fold that would shift attention to the post & Austin Rapp. There's stiff competition for him to be sure. If he isn't lured, I'd imagine someone's name that we hadn't heard yet would emerge, but Ognacevic of Lipscomb would also be a possibility. I mentioned a few other post players earlier, but the only one left is Noah Williamson of Bucknell, and there are a lot of heavyweights going after him.
  8. Jim French Stepstool
    AJ Storr of Kansas has decided to enter the transfer portal. In other breaking news, botanists have discovered that trees are made out of wood.
  9. Jim French Stepstool
    You're right. No official announcement (at least not yet). Of course, he could enter & still come back to UW. His leaving doesn't make much sense to me unless he's really unhappy living in Madison or has come to the conclusion that he doesn't think he can play at a high major level (or the staff feels that way & has made that known to him). End-of-bench guys can usually be replaced with walkons that are dedicated & fundamentally sound enough to run scout team stuff. The one exception is finding a walkon with true post-player size----that's rare. So yeah, it might be a slight issue if you lose BOTH Hodges & Greppi.
  10. Jim French Stepstool
    I agree. In the right role Johnny Kinziger would be a nice addition. But the latest I heard is that the portal rumors have quieted down & he may very well stay at ISU. Pure speculation, but could he have talked to UW, been told what his role would be with them, and it didn't interest him? I'm not sure how well Daugherty would guard the post in the Big Ten. The kid sure can shoot though. UPDATE: Johnny Kinziger has just decided to stay put at Illinois State.
  11. Jim French Stepstool
    I'm a little surprised Yeager is a AA repeat. Good storylines with this team. Will Bryant continue to do impressive things at a higher level? Can the luster return to the resume for Wilkin, Brown and (to a lesser extent) Murray? As the article stated, will Adams & Wilkin do any flip-flopping? Does KC Hunt continue to impress at a higher level? And as @CheeseheadInQCmentioned, looking forward to seeing what kind of work Coleman Crow can turn in.
  12. Jim French Stepstool
    While I'm not totally sold on Rohde, I agree that him, Rapp & Boyd would be a nice trio to add. Ricardo Greppi has just announced for the portal. I was hoping to actually see him stick around & develop, just like in the old days. But none of us see practice. Maybe his game outside of 15-17 ft is nonexistent, which wouldn't fit here. Maybe he's homesick. Maybe the midwest is too cold. Maybe he's disappointed that a breaded piece of chicken or veal w/tomato sauce is passed off as Italian food around here. At any rate, best of luck to him & Chris Hodges.
  13. Jim French Stepstool
    I haven't seen anything that would clinch it for me, but yes there's a lot of smoke from more than one source that says Boyd is choosing UW. What helps me think this is actually happening is that Jonathan Powell, a guard from West Virginia, recently announced for UNC, UWs' main competition for Boyd. Rohde seems to be in the same category. Lotsa smoke.
  14. Jim French Stepstool
    Great. Now we'll have people trying to be funny if he ever pisses a game away.😛
  15. Jim French Stepstool
    Seeing him locate it for quality strikes, while throwing the FB 98-99, can get people excited.
  16. Jim French Stepstool
    Hooray for small ball. Not only the walkoff bunt, but Mitchell still getting the runner to 3rd w/the first out of the inning after going 0-2 & Ortiz working the walk---and that walk WAS really worked-----allowing Turang to come up w/one out thus making the safety squeeze plausible. Nice to find a way after the failures earlier. And it's not like the gods were always smiling. Turang hits a high hopper in a perfect spot---for KC---, then the hard grounder by Chourio & liner by Frelick, both right at guys w/the INF pulled in. Seriously? Peralta shut me up, and anyone else complaining about his not going deep into games. Magnificent. I think we might have sumpin in this Uribe guy.🙂
  17. Jim French Stepstool
    Losing not only Butler but Valpo, Loyola & UIC is a lot to overcome. If I'm UWM I'm embarrassed that a school like UIC could get into The Valley & they couldn't. But it's just not a place that puts the priority on D-1 basketball that some other places do. If they could've kept a triumvirate the level of Zimpher (chancellor), Bud Haidet (AD) & Bruce Pearl, or at least something resembling those three in level of talent & commitment, they had momentum about 20 yrs ago that they could've built off of. It's just not an athletics-friendly administration (the new chancellor, Thomas Gibson, is from UWSP & I know nothing about his relations/feelings toward athletics).
  18. Jim French Stepstool
    I wouldn't be surprised if Hoskins sits. He's been disappointing, especially since we've seen 3 LH starters in the first four. Agree with @Frisbee Slider. I welcome the righty.
  19. Jim French Stepstool
    I guess it's my 'old school' showing, but we're less than a week into the season & Peralta can't go on four days? I mean, it's not like he's going to go more than five innings/95 pitches anyway.
  20. Jim French Stepstool
    He always seemed catch-and-shoot to me, too. That's why I found his final season at UVA so strange as he actually moved to PG & was OK. I've always wondered about his defense, but Tony Bennett was willing to spend a scholly on him so......... IMO there are others that would be more impactful. We shall see.
  21. Jim French Stepstool
    Earlier in the thread I mentioned Oscar Cluff of South Dakota State. He just committed to Purdue, which is actually a really good choice for him. Good post skills, and will be about as effective outside the paint as Edey was.
  22. Jim French Stepstool
    I don't know about the rest of that league, but Creighton seems to have a fundraising apparatus in place that's second to none. They rake in a lot of donations, both for athletics & purely academic ventures. There were rumors awhile back about Warren Buffett funneling money into the school. He's an Omaha native but never attended Creighton so I have no idea (he IS reputed to be a big Nebraska FB fan). It seems to me UW is pretty active in looking at both in-state kids that might help, and those with no ties. If it's an in-state guy then sure, the connection may help you get a commitment. But I feel they're being smart about it. For example, Andrew Rohde of UVA is from Brookfield Central HS and, after a lousy sophomore year actually had decent numbers last season. But while I may be proven wrong I don't think he's very high on their list of priorities. Gottlieb was given a five-year deal. It's one thing to be a mid-major & lose your coach after a successful year or two, but to go out & hang an albatross around your neck like that...........ouch.
  23. Jim French Stepstool
    Seems like Rapp & UW would be a fit. 35% from 3PT range (on high volume) & 81% from the FT line suggests a nice touch. Under 40% shooting overall is a contradictory # that might suggest a need for more muscle around the hoop as @RedStickBrewsuggested. 6.5 boards, 2.5 assists & 1.5 BPG make for a real well-rounded big. Freshman of the year in the WCC. One thing I particularly like is as a freshman he avg'd over 13 PPG and had only three games under 8 PTS. That's impressive consistency from a 1st-year guy. Sounds like Kirk Penney is the lead guy on this, which makes sense.
  24. Jim French Stepstool
    I can't help but keep in mind that he was a football recruit as well. If he doesn't find something to his liking, you never know. A highly regarded athlete that drew some attention, but looked incredibly lost in the few minutes he was on the floor. This could go so many ways. Even in his own backyard, Minnesota will probably have spots available. But IMO if he wants more of an assurance of PT he should look into St Thomas or maybe even UWGB. I wish him luck.
  25. Jim French Stepstool
    It's impossible to be comprehensive with so many guys entering the portal every day. But here are a couple with state ties who have herd from UW: Keonte Jones (Cal-Northridge) is a 6'6" wing who seems to fit the profile of what they're looking for. He's from Madison East HS. Alex Huibregtse (Wright State) is from Grafton. An effective shooter in the Horizon League. 6'3" guard who could probably slide to the point for stretches if needed. Very nice assist/turnover ratio. Only one year remaining (I think). If you're playing pin-the-tail-on-the-combo-guard, Klesmit isn't a bad comp. Nick Boyd isn't from Wisconsin, but I mention him here because it sounds like UW might be legitimately in the hunt (he visited). A 6'6"-6'7" wing who was a pretty productive guy for San Diego State. UNC & possibly one or two others are also being seriously considered. Sebastian Mack (UCLA) also entered. Might be a pipe dream but boy would he be a nice fit. Gets into the lane & draws fouls in the mold of a Tonje. Strong, tough & if it matters to him he IS from the area (Chicago).
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