Whats up with Emery?

He obviously had a rough game, but he also struggled greatly against SDSU.



I seem to remember this pattern last year, in most big games he would not show up offensively. Unfortunately Jimmer can't win every game single-handedly. That was one of the biggest differences this year, his consistent play of scoring in double figures night in and night out.



I just hope he can get it right, because he needs to contribute more offensively.





I am also wondering where our defense went in the second half of that game???

Jackson has struggled the last two games shooting the ball. But the previous six games he had been 26-51 from three. And you are not remembering last year accurately. He was much more inconsistent last year than this.

Let's be honest about Emery; what in the world is he actually capable of on offense? Answer me 2 questions: have you ever seen him drive all the way to the rim and attempt to score? Have you ever seen him dribble more than once with his left hand?



The kid can shoot 3's when open and many times with a guy right in his face, but he is as one-dimensional as they come. Honestly, it doesn't take much to stop Jackson.

Question 1) Yes, he had a steal and drive and dunk against SDSU just four days ago.

2) Yes.

I think Jackson is fine. He has had to expend a lot of energy on defense the last two games and that may be why his shot was off. Jimmer usually takes defense off so that he has more energy for offense. The announcers talked about it on Saturday...what a huge difference it makes to your offensive game when you have to expend so much energy on defense. Also, Jackson usually guards the other teams best offensive player. Hopefully he'll get some rest, hopefully they all will. They looked exhausted for the 2nd half of UNM game.

kitic77 wrote:
Question 1) Yes, he had a steal and drive and dunk against SDSU just four days ago.

2) Yes.

I can only recall once seeing Jackson take the ball to the rim off in a half court set. Yes, he dribbles down the court, sometimes with the left, on a fast break after a steal, but that's a whole different type of dribbling. He has no cross over, no spin move, and can not dribble with the left in traffic.



As for shooting, he only shoots threes or layups on fast breaks. There are no in-between shots. No 15 footers. No turn around jumpers. Nothing other than a 3 point shot or a fast break layup/dunk.



No, I have never seen him take two steps while dribbling the ball with his left other than a fast break. If the ball touches his left hand it's only once and done to switch the ball to his right hand.



Jackson could have a lot more points if he just decided to shadow Jimmer. When Jimmer drives into the lane and hangs in the air Jimmer would know Emery is 4 feet behind him. Jimmer can then give it easily to Jackson for the jump shot rather than frantically trying to pass it, draw a foul or shoot it in mid air. Jimmer is then in place to crash the boards to help get a rebound should Jackson miss the jump shot.



Instead, Jackson is too often across the court camped out at the 3 point line. Usually in a different spot. You can see Jimmer frantically trying to look for someone that's open. Yes, I know a lot of this is on Jimmer for taking it into the lane without a plan, but it's poor rotation and movement on Jackson's part. In general, our team sucks at moving without the ball.

kitic77 wrote:
Question 1) Yes, he had a steal and drive and dunk against SDSU just four days ago.

2) Yes.

You're smarter than that Kitic, come on. The kid has sever limitations on offense in the college game. In a half court set he is a 3 point shooter and nothing else.

Gunk wrote:

Question 1) Yes, he had a steal and drive and dunk against SDSU just four days ago.

2) Yes.

I can only recall once seeing Jackson take the ball to the rim off in a half court set. Yes, he dribbles down the court, sometimes with the left, on a fast break after a steal, but that's a whole different type of dribbling. He has no cross over, no spin move, and can not dribble with the left in traffic.



As for shooting, he only shoots threes or layups on fast breaks. There are no in-between shots. No 15 footers. No turn around jumpers. Nothing other than a 3 point shot or a fast break layup/dunk.



No, I have never seen him take two steps while dribbling the ball with his left other than a fast break. If the ball touches his left hand it's only once and done to switch the ball to his right hand.



Jackson could have a lot more points if he just decided to shadow Jimmer. When Jimmer drives into the lane and hangs in the air Jimmer would know Emery is 4 feet behind him. Jimmer can then give it easily to Jackson for the jump shot rather than frantically trying to pass it, draw a foul or shoot it in mid air. Jimmer is then in place to crash the boards to help get a rebound should Jackson miss the jump shot.



Instead, Jackson is too often across the court camped out at the 3 point line. Usually in a different spot. You can see Jimmer frantically trying to look for someone that's open. Yes, I know a lot of this is on Jimmer for taking it into the lane without a plan, but it's poor rotation and movement on Jackson's part. In general, our team sucks at moving without the ball.

Against TCU he posted a guy up and made the fadeaway on him. Why not go to that more if he is capable?

Who cares if all he can do is shoot a 3 pointer (@ around 40%) and play good defense? Isn't that enough?



Jax is in the game to shut down the other guys and hit occasional open 3. He is not in the game to drive etc. Any offensive contribution by Jax is a bonus, just like any steal Jimmer gets on the defensive end.



Watch the UNM game again. None of those wide open 3's came from his area. They were all from Noah's/KC's side.



What we should be talking about, is why is KC in the game if isn't dribble-penetrating or taking shots?



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BlueIsBetter wrote:
Who cares if all he can do is shoot a 3 pointer (@ around 40%) and play good defense? Isn't that enough?



Jax is in the game to shut down the other guys and hit occasional open 3. He is not in the game to drive etc. Any offensive contribution by Jax is a bonus, just like any steal Jimmer gets on the defensive end.



Watch the UNM game again. None of those wide open 3's came from his area. They were all from Noah's/KC's side.



What we should be talking about, is why is KC in the game if isn't dribble-penetrating or taking shots?



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Totally agree on the KC thing. So, overrated.



Against SDSU, once Abouo subbed in for KC in the 2nd half that when we broke away. Against UNM, Abouo chipped in 11 points in the first half, keeping us in the game.



Abouo needs to start ahead of KC.

BlueIsBetter wrote:
Who cares if all he can do is shoot a 3 pointer (@ around 40%) and play good defense? Isn't that enough?



Jax is in the game to shut down the other guys and hit occasional open 3. He is not in the game to drive etc. Any offensive contribution by Jax is a bonus, just like any steal Jimmer gets on the defensive end.



Watch the UNM game again. None of those wide open 3's came from his area. They were all from Noah's/KC's side.



What we should be talking about, is why is KC in the game if isn't dribble-penetrating or taking shots?



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Hey I'm not dogging on the guy; I'm simply answering the OP's questions with a fact. If Emery does not get open looks from 3 then there is no other way for him to contribute on offense. His defense, however, is superb and should not be overshadowed by his lack of offensive production. And agreed about KC--he's a good rebounder, but Charles is too and better on defense. Perhaps a change is in order there.

Gunk wrote:

Who cares if all he can do is shoot a 3 pointer (@ around 40%) and play good defense? Isn't that enough?



Jax is in the game to shut down the other guys and hit occasional open 3. He is not in the game to drive etc. Any offensive contribution by Jax is a bonus, just like any steal Jimmer gets on the defensive end.



Watch the UNM game again. None of those wide open 3's came from his area. They were all from Noah's/KC's side.



What we should be talking about, is why is KC in the game if isn't dribble-penetrating or taking shots?



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Totally agree on the KC thing. So, overrated.



Against SDSU, once Abouo subbed in for KC in the 2nd half that when we broke away. Against UNM, Abouo chipped in 11 points in the first half, keeping us in the game.



Abouo needs to start ahead of KC.

I think I would prefer Abouo as well to start. KC does look very much like the future of the program but he is not finishing right now. And his D is well below where it should be. It appears to me that he still thinks he is in high school. I will say that I think he can become a great player and I sure hope he does but something in his play screams at me that he is either tentative (afraid in other words) or lazy. I am greatly tending toward the first and think that once his confidence gets to where it needs to be he is going to be a playmaker on the level of Lee Cummard.

As for Abouo, I think he struggles offensively when he shouldn't but his D and his rebounding are top notch and should probably see more time on the court.

Rogers seems to be streaky to me. One game he does great and the next he doesn't seem to get into the rythm of the game and looks mediocre at best.

I dont think it is too much to ask for him to use his quickness to pump fake, penetrate a zone, draw some defenders and dump it off or take the pull up.

My suspicion is that he camps at the three point line bc he is the first line of defense in getting back to stop fast breaks from developing and give our slows...i mean our big (hartsock) a chance to catch up to defend.

But as mentioned, part of this comes without alot of clear offensive playsets..well other than Jimmer-motion.

imuakahuku wrote:

BlueIsBetter wrote:
Who cares if all he can do is shoot a 3 pointer (@ around 40%) and play good defense? Isn't that enough?



Jax is in the game to shut down the other guys and hit occasional open 3. He is not in the game to drive etc. Any offensive contribution by Jax is a bonus, just like any steal Jimmer gets on the defensive end.



Watch the UNM game again. None of those wide open 3's came from his area. They were all from Noah's/KC's side.



What we should be talking about, is why is KC in the game if isn't dribble-penetrating or taking shots?



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Totally agree on the KC thing. So, overrated.



Against SDSU, once Abouo subbed in for KC in the 2nd half that when we broke away. Against UNM, Abouo chipped in 11 points in the first half, keeping us in the game.



Abouo needs to start ahead of KC.

I think I would prefer Abouo as well to start. KC does look very much like the future of the program but he is not finishing right now. And his D is well below where it should be. It appears to me that he still thinks he is in high school. I will say that I think he can become a great player and I sure hope he does but something in his play screams at me that he is either tentative (afraid in other words) or lazy. I am greatly tending toward the first and think that once his confidence gets to where it needs to be he is going to be a playmaker on the level of Lee Cummard.

As for Abouo, I think he struggles offensively when he shouldn't but his D and his rebounding are top notch and should probably see more time on the court.

Rogers seems to be streaky to me. One game he does great and the next he doesn't seem to get into the rythm of the game and looks mediocre at best.

In the long run I think it would have served the team and KC better if he hadn't started. Instead, by starting him I think Rose played into KC's sense of entitlement. You're leaning towards KC being tentative, but I lean the other way. Defense is primarily about hustle and KC is not hustling or working hard on D. He doesn't battle. He plays as if he's earned the role of starter. If you're putting up 12 - 15 points a game then a little laziness on D can be tolerated, but if you're not chipping points in you have no excuse IMO.



Besides, most of Abouo's points come off of hustle plays on defense.

yeah, that's it. KC is struggling, because he's feeling entitled.

it's definitely not entitlement as kitic pointed out. it's that he's a freshman and more tape is available of him now, and he hasn't made the proper adjustments because he's never had to do so before.

Basketball, like any other sport, is a mental game as much as it is a physical game. KC isn't lacking on the physical side of things. Something is going on in his head. For whatever reason, he isn't getting after it. He may be tired and he may have hit the freshman wall, which I understand, but at the end of the day it's still a mental game. His body isn't any less capable.



Rather than opt to hustle and not let his man push him around, KC too often seems to roll over. And, as pointed out, he certainly isn't attacking the basket.



We've heard of several run ins with KC where it's reported he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. We hear of no such reports about Jimmer, Davies, Abouo, Emery, Noah, etc.



Sports is rife with examples of players with big attitudes under performing because their attitudes get in the way of being willing to buckle down, work hard and recognize a need to improve/change things.



Sure, teams may be playing him differently now that they've seen tape on him. Why then isn't KC changing his approach? Players recognizing they need to improve adapt and have a hunger to get better because they don't want to be stopped. Not seeing it in KC.

Sure, KC had a rough couple games against two of the better teams BYU will face this year.



Weren't we all (maybe just me) singing his praises a couple weeks ago when he came up huge against CSU??? The whole team had an epic meltdown against UNM, they'll either bounce back, or fold again a few more times. Wyoming should be an interesting game to get the cougs back on track.

Gunk wrote:
We've heard of several run ins with KC where it's reported he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. We hear of no such reports about Jimmer, Davies, Abouo, Emery, Noah, etc.



Sports is rife with examples of players with big attitudes under performing because their attitudes get in the way of being willing to buckle down, work hard and recognize a need to improve/change things.

I've heard of no such reports of this type of attitude with KC. Could you please link to these myriad stories?

kitic77 wrote:

We've heard of several run ins with KC where it's reported he thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. We hear of no such reports about Jimmer, Davies, Abouo, Emery, Noah, etc.



Sports is rife with examples of players with big attitudes under performing because their attitudes get in the way of being willing to buckle down, work hard and recognize a need to improve/change things.

I've heard of no such reports of this type of attitude with KC. Could you please link to these myriad stories?

Someone on here who had met him said he had this type of attitude. Just someone's opinion. Might be true, might be completely false. I don't care as long as he is making a positive impact on the hardwood.