1980VT

Our offense stalls 30 feet from the basket. If refs allow, it our guards need to force the issue to create more contact everytime they reach, grab, and push. Make refs call something.

A different example. Might be used.

Plus I loved having my father’s input because I knew it was honest. That’s the key, having parents blow smoke up your tail doesn’t help. I treated my daughter the same way, being honest but not overbearing. She’s got 6 kids and 3 are of playing age. They all love playing with honest input from two knowlrdgable parents.

For that matter, Ive never booed an opposing player either. Respect the game and respect the players. I’ve seen some pretty lean years at VT but booing does not help them play better. Luckily, my father was the type that didn’t analyze everything I did on the court or fields. He would tell me I played well when i played well or I could have played better when I didn’t play well. He was very knowledgable when it came to sports. Honest feedback is the key for friends and parents. But extreme Negative feedback with booing gives you even worse results in their play.

He had it covered with arm sleeve for every game except today. At first thought injury, but could it be something else? He spent every dead ball he was tugging at it like it was irritating him. Just wondering. In video highlights from Greece, no sleeve.

It’s affecting his shot in lane area. Leads to ugly shoots.

My teams tried to inbound ball to at least foul line extended against diamond press. No corner traps that way. This opened up ball reversals or flash cuts to middle. We stressed flash cuts to middle, catch, turn and then look opposite. Posting in middle allows defense to deny a stationary player. We did this for full and half court traps. Dribbling strongly discouraged.

Couldn’t jump over a phone book, but tough inside. His game was on the floor, positioning, playing smart.

Each crew will call it differently, unfortunately. Touch fouls can be called at midcourt while it is tag team wrestling in the lane. Next game opposite may be called. The only thing consistent about refs are their inconsistencies.

The most games he’s played before this was 18 games in Greece. It looks like he’s also still trying to adjust to the physical play. He’ll keep getting this type of defense until he shows he can handle it. Looking for refs to bail him out won’t work because basketball is turning into tag team wrestling.

I believe he could be a faceup high post player. Ball fake, one dribble and finish at rim or pullup jumpers.

There are times to go for an assist type of pass, and there are times to move the ball so everybody isn’t standing and watching. We need more ball / player movement attacking basket to work inside / out and not just perimeter ball reversals.

Terrible fundamental passing

Neo has many upsides, but his weaknesses are being exposed also. From my non-professional experience I see the following options for him: 1. Go into NBA draft (not a 1st round pick, at this time, in my opinion) - up tempo team that drafts him sees him as a project 2. Go to G-League for more work 3. Go back to Europe for more work 4. Transfer to another school for more work 5. Stay at VT for more work. I'm sure his advisors will bring in NBA evaluators to let him know what he needs to work on to become NBA ready. My choice is #5

More than likely, precautionary.

In the 2nd half, they were giving Neo the 3. He played "Hot potato" on open 3's swinging the ball several times. This is good (moving the ball) and bad, because we need all phases of his game. But he did show how effective he is when attacks the middle of the lane. I think he is a great player who is struggling right now. Former high school head coach here, I'd tell him to get prepared before he gets the ball. No step backs, slide steps, no fade aways. Go back to basics. 4 things, keeping it simple: Feet (probably the most important part) Balance Elevate Follow thru

Especially when Hansberry needs a break or gets in foul trouble. With his passing skills, teams would be reluctant to double him, thus allowing him to use his basketball skills to his advantage. He’s shown he can finish at the rim going one on one from 15 feet in. I’m not saying change the whole offense, but the offense seems to struggle without Hansberry on the floor.

Hands and fingers take a beating. Plus it can mess with shooting.

I hate the extra physical games.

The physicality would be less because refs would call it more. The defenses wouldn’t be able to manhandle him with elbow, forearms, bodying up and handchecks as much. Plus squaring up gives him the option of going either way easier also.

He let the game flow but let out a “Whoa Nellie” when needed. Announcers now try to show how smart they are with stats and figures. They spend rest of time calling replays and what happened even though we just saw the play.

On a fastbreak he is a dynamic passer and can finish himself. He sees the whole court and makes great decisions. On halfcourt offense. He seems that he is indecisive with ball if he has tight man pressure. He starts backing his man down before he gets to midcourt line. He continues backing down into the offensive set or gets a high screen to rub his man into. With this we lose 5 or more seconds to run the offense. Plus the man guarding Neo can beat him up while dribbles. It’s getting to be Neo with the ball dribbling and other 4 watching / waiting or maybe the 5 setting high screen. I’m a firm believer that the most effective offense combines ball and player movement. Unfortunately, we get neither with Neo on halfcourt offense dribbling with his back to the basket. Hammonds, Pasha, and Bedford seem to initiate the halfcourt offense much smoother than Neo.

Front row, left side of midcourt line. Roommate and I just needed 2 tickets, so we got lucky. Great game.

Waited in line for those tickets. Roommate game me his ID so all I wanted was two tickets. Those with 4 or more IDs ended up several rows higher. Loved it. It was my senior year so I was determined to see every game with best seats.

You'd want him playing while still loose not after cooling down. That's also the battle subbing him in and out after game has started. That's why many teams have a stationary bike next to bench.

These are fundamentals. Those were the unforced turnovers today, and several times each game.

Most games he played in a season was 18. He was averaging less than 20 minutes per game. He wasn’t primary ball handler except on fastbreaks. Being primary ball handler while getting physically manhandled on any drive takes it toll. He’s going to see this the entire season until he shows he can beat it.

Coach Young said in UVA post game he’s never seen a young guy cramp up so much. It takes several days to recover.

If they over play, back doors.

Just his initial reaction against UVA causes doubt, even though he finished game. He had a pretty good hitch in his giddyup. Basketball is hard on feet and ankles.

Very similar injury. Walked, limped to infirmary. Partial tear of ankle ligament. Put in cast for 8 weeks. This was at start of winter quarter, imagine crutching it from Lee Hall to dining hall / classes during snowy / ice. Grades reflected my effort to make classes. Had 8am classes everyday. Looked out window many days to see everything covered. Nope, back to bed. Oh the VT memories.

Vic was the best High School QB I ever saw live. From Gretna he went to UVA and I was glad they moved him to DB. He did get some QB action against VT in his senior year. I got to coach against him on the football field and basketball court while he was in high school. Great person and I would have loved for him to come to VT.

Also it helps boost team morale for practice efforts. You practice harder if you know you have a chance to play. You don't want to embarrass yourself when that chance arises.

That was the first and last time for me. Trying to fire up my team in the locker room at halftime, I fired that sucker as hard as I could at the wall. Nobody was near my target, so it seemed like an inspirational idea at the time. Only one problem, it bounced off the wall directly back at me hitting me on my forehead. End up with about 1/2 inch cut that didn't start bleeding for a few seconds. Next thing I know, blood started gushing. I grabbed a towel and had assistant coach apply Band-Aid. . Luckily I'm not a bleeder, so off to court for second half. We ended up getting blown out, so no more inspirational displays for me. To show how serious my team was, next day in practice everyone had some sort of bandage covering their heads. One actually looked like a mummy with only having eye and mouth holes. Pictures were taken and then we actually had one of the best practices and they didn't mention it again. AD came in and just said, "We expect this won't happen again." By end of the season everyone seemed to forget about it until ... yearbooks came out in the spring. Pictures ...

Having to start offense at half court.

He was career military. Too many fall from power because of it. Even when dealing with equal co-workers causes problems. #2 Money. When dealing with money - document, document, document. Dealing with cash leads to temptation.

I say use what God gives you. He needs to one pump and explode to the basket and either get 2 shots or score with a +1. He's doing more things to avoid a blocked shot than to score.

I say QB. #2 WR's. Watson's limited time gives me concerns whether he can take the hits to be able to last the season. He didn't get enough reps to be able to judge his arm or decision making. From watching Penn State's QBs, they seem to have wanted pass first pocket passers not running types.

My pick is Hansberry, hands down. My only concern going into ACC play is keeping him out of foul trouble playing against the 6'10+ bigs. This is where Dorn / Gurdak have to keep improving to allow Hansberry to play more 4 than 5.