Pre-Season Practice

[Dave in Green]

Had a chance to see the Zips practice and scrimmage yesterday in the Central-Hower gym. It was my first chance to see Nyles Evans, and he left a good first impression. He's really quick, has good ball control, really zings no-look passes accurately and can both drive to the bucket and nail long 3s. He's going to give Melo a big challenge. It was really entertaining to see Big Dog and Pat Forsythe going at each other. BD does a great job of using his wide body to box out and grab defensive rebounds, while Pat showed a nice mid-range jumper. At the other end, BD showed some sweet moves around the bucket and drove one time like a wing for a huge slam. I can't imagine a defensive player stepping in to take a charge from Big Dog! Pat put good pressure on BD's shots, and had a couple of huge Zeke-like blocks on other players (not BD) driving to the basket.

Focusing on the new players, BJ Gladden showed some of the moves he was noted for in HS. He is absolutely fearless driving like a wing to the bucket where he's a good finisher, and he fights for rebounds like a power forward. Aaron Jackson reinforced my initial impression of him from an earlier practice where I was struck by his intensity. He really hustles on both offense and defense with a style reminiscent of Nate Linhart. Biggest surprise to me was the performance of Kwan Cheatham. He really handles the ball well in traffic for a 6-9 freshman and he has a nice 3-point stroke. He could be a tough matchup, especially in the MAC.

Coach Dambrot told the players prior to the scrimmage that he really wanted them to play hard, and they did. The four freshmen can all handle the ball pretty well under pressure, and played well against the veterans. But toward the end of the scrimmage, the freshmen started to wear out a little and the veteran players started running up the score. Q looked especially fit and was in non-stop overdrive. Dru Joyce took to the floor after the scrimmage, and it was fun to see his style of ball handling and shooting again. The last player on the floor at the end of practice was Nick Harney, practicing free throws and 3-pointers. He was deadly from outside, hitting about 2/3rds of his treys. If he can shoot anything like than under game conditions, I wouldn't worry about him firing away.

[Dr Z]

Drew Joyce took to the floor after the scrimmage, and it was fun to see his style of ball handling and shooting again

You're referring to Dru, right?

[Hilltopper]

You're referring to Dru, right?

Dru dropped in to say hello. After practice was over he shot some baskets and shot the breeze with KD and a few others.

[Dave in Green]

You're referring to Dru, right?

I knu it was Dru and blu it. Now corrected. He had some fun stories about playing in Germany.

[Z.I.P.]

Coach Dambrot told the players prior to the scrimmage that he really wanted them to play hard, and they did. The four freshmen can all handle the ball pretty well under pressure, and played well against the veterans. But toward the end of the scrimmage, the freshmen started to wear out a little and the veteran players started running up the score. Q looked especially fit and was in non-stop overdrive. Dru Joyce took to the floor after the scrimmage, and it was fun to see his style of ball handling and shooting again. The last player on the floor at the end of practice was Nick Harney, practicing free throws and 3-pointers. He was deadly from outside, hitting about 2/3rds of his treys. If he can shoot anything like than under game conditions, I wouldn't worry about him firing away.

Can someone insight us about the changes in NCAA rules governing pre-season practice sessions. In the past coaches weren't even allowed in the gym when players were playing prior to October practice start. What are they allowed to do nowadays? Mahalo kakou.

[Dave in Green]

@Z.I.P., GoZips can probably splain it better than me. But I think the NCAA changed the rules to allow a limited number of official practices during the summer months for players with coaches. As in the past, coaches are still not allowed to participate in open gym sessions.

[GoZips]

Can someone insight us about the changes in NCAA rules governing pre-season practice sessions. In the past coaches weren't even allowed in the gym when players were playing prior to October practice start. What are they allowed to do nowadays? Mahalo kakou.

Last season the NCAA changed their off season practice rules to allow up to nine weeks of coached training. Each week

the coaches can work with each player for a total of two hours per week. Additionally time can be allotted to weight

training and conditioning. Most coaching staffs, including Akron, break the training into three 40 minute sessions where

the player(s) are pressed hard. These sessions are almost entirely one-on-one skill sets. Example: catch and shoot or

defensive stance, or dribbling , etc,.

The intended results are expected to be better physical conditioning, better player skills, team cohesion, etc,. When watching

practice you quickly realize that almost no incoming freshman was ever taught a lick about playing defense.

There are specific times set where the team can practice by playing what amounts to pick up games in so called open gym

session. Coaches are not allowed to watch players during open gym. In theory no player evaluation can take place. In

practice a coach can learn a lot about a player in the 40 minute sessions. Progress or lack of it is generally obvious even

to a casual observer.

I hope this explanation helps. Fans can attend the Saturday and Sunday ProAm league games held weekly at Walsh

University. Walsh is located on Maple St. in North Canton. Upon entering the parking lot the gym is in the first building

on your right. Ignore the "Gym Closed" sign in the door window. Proceed in a lefterly (did I honestly say that?) direction

until you hear the squeaks of gym shoes.

Summer League Web Site

[Dave in Green]

Coach Dambrot commented on the new NCAA summer practice rules in this 2012 ABJ article. And more details are given in this NCAA article.

[Z.I.P.]

Coach Dambrot commented on the new NCAA summer practice rules in <a href="http://www.ohio.com/sports/motorsports/Can't State-ua-basketball-coaches-take-advantage-of-new-rules-allowing-access-to-players-in-the-summer-1.318710?localLinksEnabled=false" target="_blank">this 2012 ABJ article</a>. And more details are given in this NCAA article.

Eh, mahalos to our MBB posters out in Green and Wadsworth! I wonder to what extent these rules were changed because the previous ones were being conveniently violated. Some may recall my past recitations of visits to universities in Hawaii and Oregon where I witnessed coaches actually "coaching" players in open gym, and even players and assistant coaches playing together in open gym sessions.

Hey, BTW, the most interesting thing I saw on the link from DiG was that the school in Portage County (SiPC) finally showed the door to their long-time women's coach -- several years after he was accused of abusing players in a fashion similar to a recent Rutgers mens coach.

[GoZips]

Big Dog has a partner, Lil Dog.

[ziptrumpet87]

Big Dog has a partner, Lil Dog.

Does Li'l Dog happen to be the transfer JUCO PG?

[GoZips]

Does Li'l Dog happen to be the transfer JUCO PG?

No. At least I do not think so. Lil Dog has some similar characteristics to Big Dog. Like size, toughness and

a darn good player. (Not that small, little, puny point guards don't.)

[Dave in Green]

My guess on Lil Dog is BJ Gladden. From what I saw in last week's practice, he plays bigger than his height might suggest. One of the first things I ever read about Gladden was that one recruiting service evaluated him as an undersized power forward. After watching him, he really does appear to be a PF/wing hybrid. He reminds me a little of Chris Singletary with fluid moves to the basket but also with lots of strength. Big Dog also has fluid moves for a big, heavy center.

[Dr Z]

BJ/Deji/Diggs/Harney