I don’t have a great feeling about Vaaks. Doesn’t seem like an every day guy to me. Not really sure he’s even an every other day guy. I know it’s preseason and I hope I’m wrong about him. But I know a Dawg when I see one …
Baylor 95, Illinois 91 (Exhibition) Postgame
He seems to be an interesting one to pick on tonight honestly…
Pretty sure you're jumping the gun on any sort of judgment by about......6 weeks. Let the guy settle in with his team. The early season is for defining roles. Let's let it unfold.
This is a bit questionable ethically, but if you want to win games and the refs are calling fouls on every possession foul the right guy.
Baylor had 2 players who couldn’t shoot and were rebound only players and we didn’t foul them.
We would have easily won if a concerted effort to double off of Bodo Bodo and the other guy who didn’t score and foul them when the ball went inside.
It’s a strategy that I’ve never seen Brad use, but is effective when you are up against large uncoordinated players who can’t shoot. Don’t need to be dirty just tactical fouling.
Baylor had 2 players who couldn’t shoot and were rebound only players and we didn’t foul them.
We would have easily won if a concerted effort to double off of Bodo Bodo and the other guy who didn’t score and foul them when the ball went inside.
It’s a strategy that I’ve never seen Brad use, but is effective when you are up against large uncoordinated players who can’t shoot. Don’t need to be dirty just tactical fouling.
I really thought we would see Vaaks with the ball in his hands more with decision making, guess I didn’t fully understand his game.
Biggest thing for me is moving the ball around. The ball was way too sticky in the first half, too much 1on1.
Biggest thing for me is moving the ball around. The ball was way too sticky in the first half, too much 1on1.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
It’s the same random unknown dude that secretly goes from team to team that schedules Illinois and wrecks Illinois.
He’s 56 years old with 14 degrees.
to me it's very clear vaaks is on the andre plan from last year
they know this dude is an NBA player but he has losing habits and is now at a winning place. no more all gas no brakes losing basketball.
adjust to make winning plays, harness your skill and hone your decision making, be part of the unit.. then when you get your green light moments... unleash hell!
vaaks being a good shooter and passer puts him ahead of Andre on the offensive side. but andre is a elite 2 pt bucket and we made that work. vaaks has higher ceiling in this system. defense is the big difference. andre became a weapon in the tourney on the defensive side. yet to be seen what vaaks is in that regard.
they know this dude is an NBA player but he has losing habits and is now at a winning place. no more all gas no brakes losing basketball.
adjust to make winning plays, harness your skill and hone your decision making, be part of the unit.. then when you get your green light moments... unleash hell!
vaaks being a good shooter and passer puts him ahead of Andre on the offensive side. but andre is a elite 2 pt bucket and we made that work. vaaks has higher ceiling in this system. defense is the big difference. andre became a weapon in the tourney on the defensive side. yet to be seen what vaaks is in that regard.
I think he's back at worst by UConn. Could be earlier though.
Also seemed like Brad was trying to get the young guys more tick today. Jake didn’t play a ton of minutes (until the injuries)
if it's November then it's November. want it earlier but it is what it is
It seems he’s on the Andrej plan in terms of this board trashing him! The guy just scored 18 points in 22 min, shot 4-8 from three had 5 assists and zero turnovers and didn’t commit a foul- what do you want from him!
He’s a highly efficient scorer, much more so in two games than he was last year- he shares the ball, doesn’t turn it over. Yes, he’s going to be poor defensively against quicker guards but so is our whole team. Vaaks is going to be just fine for us this year
Right now QC or EB is our PG. not best thing now but could be later! SV is not a PG!
Don’t expect dawg from Vaaks… he is a scorer! 19 and 18 points in two games! Hopefully he can be a better rebounder as the season goes forward. He does see the court and will dish the ball. Defense? Just needs to work hard and keep it honest. The dude was brought here to to score! That he will do!
Appreciate your insights Lville!
Was at the game. My
Thoughts are as much as it sucks seeing that first half I think it helps us a lot. You can see how much it changed in the second half. Defense will get better. Just have to continue to communication and learning from the young guys. Also need to have the fire and fight for the rebounds because we will score. Now let’s get everyone healthy and ready for the season
Thoughts are as much as it sucks seeing that first half I think it helps us a lot. You can see how much it changed in the second half. Defense will get better. Just have to continue to communication and learning from the young guys. Also need to have the fire and fight for the rebounds because we will score. Now let’s get everyone healthy and ready for the season
No matter what happened, we were always going home 0-0.
I love that Drew played his rotation tight. Our bench/freshmen got a legitimate taste of top 25 competition. Great reminder for the vets too.
You gotta play hard from the jump.
Great fodder for Brad to get these guys to put away the preseason hype.
I love that Drew played his rotation tight. Our bench/freshmen got a legitimate taste of top 25 competition. Great reminder for the vets too.
You gotta play hard from the jump.
Great fodder for Brad to get these guys to put away the preseason hype.
I feel like many would have had the exact same thoughts towards Andrej last year at the beginning. Vaaks will be fine, he’s going to gel and come into his own. The season is long, hasn’t even started yet, and they’re only going to get better.
With Texas Tech now, if Mirk is out for it (which seems expected?), what a let down to have an early season top 20 match up where both the All-American players are out 
Better news for them. Looking like it’ll come down to whose bench is deeper on talent.
Better news for them. Looking like it’ll come down to whose bench is deeper on talent.
Mirk on the sidelines looks like he went full Fletch. Looks like he changed his body some.
A couple of things stood out to me in the first 2 games. I know these were exhibitions. Cincy's guards and Baylor's guards absolutely torched us. Our guards were out quicked by both teams. The offense is there but the defense is almost no existent [shades of last year] Baylor dominated the glass that gave them 2nd chance points. Tomi didn't score a point until 13 minutes left in game [2 free throws] Big Z has to be better. Coleman is very good, Vaaks is shaky, Dre took a lot of shots that he shouldn't have, he has to be a team player. The freshman have looked better than the upper classmen. Regular season starting in less than 2 weeks. Not sure they are ready. Two games before they play Texas Tech?
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
Vaaks will score points but will he give up more points on D ????.....foot speed is an issue it seems to me.......
the twins seem to be struggling to maintain production of previous years....Z falls down more than any 7 footer in my memory ....
Coleman and Lance Williams competed at a very high level ......Morillo had some good moments .......
Jason J. played well in extended tick.......
it's an exhibition game with a lot of rotation experimenting .....I won't be alarmed now as Mirko-Man is the key cog to our team......hope he comes back fully healthy and ready to rock and roll............I really really do .......
the twins seem to be struggling to maintain production of previous years....Z falls down more than any 7 footer in my memory ....
Coleman and Lance Williams competed at a very high level ......Morillo had some good moments .......
Jason J. played well in extended tick.......
it's an exhibition game with a lot of rotation experimenting .....I won't be alarmed now as Mirko-Man is the key cog to our team......hope he comes back fully healthy and ready to rock and roll............I really really do .......
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Wow it'll eat him up to not be able to play at Duke
As the staff figures out who among the freshman can play meaningful minutes this year, I think the lesson of the exhibition games is that decision needs to be made principally on who can help us defensively. Plenty of scorers, who can help us get stops? My eye test tells me that is Lincoln Williams by some margin. Ethan Brown, as much as I love his promise for the future, is not that guy right now.
8 man rotation when all are healthy should be Coleman, Jake, Drej, Mirk, Tomi, Z, Vaaks, and Lincoln (who starts between Jake and B we’ll see). Brown, Morillo and Jakstys might get spot minutes depending on game flow.
8 man rotation when all are healthy should be Coleman, Jake, Drej, Mirk, Tomi, Z, Vaaks, and Lincoln (who starts between Jake and B we’ll see). Brown, Morillo and Jakstys might get spot minutes depending on game flow.