Skal didn't play on a serious bball team his sr. year. That "Reach your Dreams" team was pathetic. Plus, he was injured before that all happened, right? The kid is incredibly skilled, but will have catching up to do. As long as it's good by March.
Ulis Chewing On Skal
- Thread starter jedwar
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That Ulis-Skal vine says it all. What's a 7 footer doing getting budged an inch when a 5'8" guy pushes him?
LOL ulis shrinks every game. Hell, by the end of the year he'll be a midget running around out there.
This. I'm not sure he really knows how to play the game of basketball. I know that sounds absurd, and I'm sure he knows mentally, but he has so little game experience. You see it reflected in his difficulty getting position, he timing on blocked shots, timing on rebounds, leaving his feet on shot fakes, etc. He has a beautiful shot and nice touch, but no toughness and doesn't know how to position himself on offense or defense. You can almost tell that he's been a player who has spent hours every day practicing shooting, but very little time actually playing.
He will get there. (I hope.)
I noticed ulis getting after him live last night. The play before a loose ball rebound bounced off skal, then off the floor beside him, then hit his hands again, rolled on the floor and he just kind of watched a ucla player pick it up. I blerted out at the tv "get a rebound pus**" and I wasn't surprised to see Tyler have the same reaction.
Excellent post. When Skal does start figuring out the competitive side of playing he will be tough to handle. His ability level is off the scale.
I loved Ulis chewing into him. He didn't even go for a 50/50 ball. That's leadership!
TOUGH LOVE
TOUGH LOVE
The last couple of games, he has played against more physical post players. Doesn't look like he enjoys the contact that is required in the college game. He is very skilled, for his size, and he may change, as he gets stronger, but right now, he is not helping us. I can see why Tai is going to play at the end of the semester, instead of sitting out till next year. He may play a lot, and we can use more physicality, in the middle. Humphries gives effort, but let's face it, he is a 17 year old playing against guys 3-4 years older than he is, and he just isn't ready. Tai is young, too, but with the international play, may be more ready to play than Humphries. Once Lee went out with the injury, this one was in the books. Skal is never going to be a center. His future will be at forward, and Cal is playing him out of position, because we really don't have another option. Hopefully, Tai will give us that option.
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I don't disagree with this, at all. The problem is that it may be two or three years down the road, when he plans on being at UK for one. He is a 3 playing out of position, at the 5, simply because Cal doesn't have one. He is not going to get significantly stronger over the next 3-4 months, and he gets pushed around quite a bit. His build is not his fault, but if he doesn't get more aggressive, he is not going to help us much. The kid is 6'11" and averages less than 4 rebounds a game. He should get that many off missed foul shots.
If you look closely when Ulis shoved Skal his reaction was to lower himself, to hunker down rather than to feel the challenge and rise up. I may be way off about this but I think that is a telling reaction that shows youth and a defensive mindset. Imagine if Ulis had shove Cousins like that. I think you would have seen the opposite end of that emotional spectrum. I'm wondering if that reaction is ordinary for people of Haiti. They are a beat down population from corrupt oppression to hurricanes to earthquakes. They have had a hard way to go in Haiti. I could see someone who has grown up under those conditions having trouble with their personal security and self-confidence.
Again I may be way off but Skal has just never shown me that slice of aggression great competitors have say like Ulis. In any case Good luck to the young man and to BB.
Again I may be way off but Skal has just never shown me that slice of aggression great competitors have say like Ulis. In any case Good luck to the young man and to BB.
My issues are with the guys who've been here before, not the freshmen. Skal will grow from every experience, and while he wasn't aggressive last night, he learned a lot.
Willis and Ulis, both punked under the UCLA basket; that set the tone for our results last night.
Now Poythress should have more in his arsenal than he has. We know who he is, but he shouldn't be getting blocked at the rim and with 4 fouls, don't come back in the game immediately and pick up your 5th. Sometimes you have to play smart, and that 2 points wouldn't have swung that momentum enough. That 12-15 point lead felt like a 20-25 point deficit.
Willis and Ulis, both punked under the UCLA basket; that set the tone for our results last night.
Now Poythress should have more in his arsenal than he has. We know who he is, but he shouldn't be getting blocked at the rim and with 4 fouls, don't come back in the game immediately and pick up your 5th. Sometimes you have to play smart, and that 2 points wouldn't have swung that momentum enough. That 12-15 point lead felt like a 20-25 point deficit.
From my world experience, Haitians are a passive quiet people. They also like to please,hopefully this young man will figure it out soon.
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