Comments on: Nova Answers Call, Beats #4 WVU

By: Dannie

Dannie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:53:49 +0000

There is not a chance that there are 24 better pg’s, or 24 better pg prospects in college basketball right now.

You have to consider all the undersized shooting guards as competition with Fisher as well. A lot of teams would take a more talented/productive player who isn't a prototypical point guard. For example would a team take Fisher or Reynolds?

I tend to think Scottie is more of an undersized shooting guard who will need to develop into a scoring point guard in the NBA to be successful.

But I think for most teams it would be almost a no-brainer that they would take Scottie over Fisher.

Other guys are like Willie Warren, Avery Bradley, Elliot Williams, Jerome Dyson etc etc.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:39:59 +0000

Cory Fisher is not getting drafted in the first round.

Just because its a thin PG draft doesn't mean weaker PGs will be drafted because of it. Teams will more likely take the better player in another position OR trade away their pick/trade down and select the weaker player in second round where the money isn't guaranteed. You have to also consider how the draft business works and the current climate of the NBA. Teams would likely pass on late first round draft choices right now to save money. So if I wanted Cory Fisher I'd trade out of the first round or use my 2nd round pick to grab him. There would be little threat of him going in the first.

Also, the way Reynolds is playing he would get drafted ahead of Fisher and that's likely to be in the second round even with the season he is having. If he dominates in the tournament that might get upgraded to late first round. I like Cory Fisher, but he isn't a first round talent right now.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:44:58 +0000

Pete, to retort:

1.) Chad Ford’s ranking are meaningless at this point in the year. That’s like saying NBAdraft.net is an accurate forecast of upcoming drafts. There is not a chance that there are 24 better pg’s, or 24 better pg prospects in college basketball right now. I personally think he stays to try and win a Championship next year, but wouldn’t be shocked if a team promises to select him in the first round.
2.) That’s a good point. As of right now they do not have a 2010 lottery pick. But I don’t think that’s needed this year. Kentucky may have two lottery pick’s but their youth will kill them come tourney time. Kansas may have one lottery pick (maybe two in Henry), but they’re slow, plodding, and can be exposed by quick guards. Syracuse has Wesley Johnson but they have zero depth and their zone can be beat by jump shooting. Scoop Jardine should have lost that game for them last night.
I do believe that the teams with the most future pros on their roster advance the farthest in March. Which is why when I look at Nova and see 5-6 guys who will most likely play in the NBA (albeit a few may just get a cup of coffee – ARay style) I like their chances. They’re great offensively, go 10 deep, and their defense is getting better as the year goes on i.e. When their shooting went cold in the second half of WV the other night they played lock-down D.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:05:18 +0000

dan-

two counter points....

Fisher is ranked as the 25th best PG prospect in the draft according to Chad Ford, who goes by what the actual NBA GM's say. He could rise a bit, but I really do doubt he declares and stays in.
Sure-fire NBA guy didn't mean he'll make the NBA. He should have said sure-fire lottery guy. Someone like Durant, Anthony, Wall, Horford, Okafor. Some of our guys might develop into that kind of player, but right now, no one player is even close.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:48:26 +0000

This year’s draft is very PG thin. Fisher will ABSOLUTELY declare. However, he’ll use this year’s 10 day scouting period to decide whether or not to stay. If he continues to put up the numbers he’s been averaging in the Big East, the Cats go deep in the tournament again and he gets more national exposure, and other point guards continue to shit the bed then I would not be surprised to see him be a mid to late first round pick. He has NBA court vision, speed, the ability to finish at the basket (like Kyle Lowry), and plays defense.
As for talent, no other team in America has as much talent 1 through 10. A team like Kentucky may have more talent in their starting 5, but they have no depth. Nova has what, 5 Micky D’s All American’s? And 3 on the bench? To say they have no sure fire NBA guys is a bit ridiculous considering pro scouts have been at almost every Nova game this year, and their numbers keep growing.

By: Richie

Richie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:29:40 +0000

I definitely agree Pete, but to be honest I was shocked when lowry left a few years ago. They sort of remind me of one another. Quick guards, fisher is more of a scorer and Lowry a better distributor, but Lowry left way too early. He is a decent pro though now. He might play the best defense in the league.

By: joof

joof — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:01:49 +0000

How do you guys think Nova’s forwards/size compares to yrs past?

2010 from 2009 seems a push. I don’t recall the last time Nova had depth like this yr.

2009-Cunningham and clark improved (and pena backed it up)
2008- same players but not as good as 2009
2007-I forget “)
2006 -fraser was awesome but a shell of himself
2005 and before- ?

2010-Nova has one returning upperclassmen. (Pena-junior). They also have 2 new players that are doing ok but raw (Mouph,armwood). They also have a random 6 11 C thats getting some rebounds and playing around the net (Sutton).

The previous teams always used guards for their size so thats more or less a push.

Sure beats the 4 guard rotation when nardi was the 4th starter.

By: bski

bski — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:49:59 +0000

I hope so too, Pete. To that end, I wonder if Wright will either shorten his rotation a bit or take a few minutes from some guys and give more to a few others in an effort to cut down on the turnovers/mistakes.

I didn’t mean to sound nit-picky before. Wright’s brand of aggressive basketball has been very successful. Like I said before, more good than bad comes from it. It’s just that all out aggression isn’t always the smart play. I hate to see them go after every steal and leave themselves exposed (like King did on the block, giving his man a clear lane to the basket) or go at every shooter and commit dumb fouls (like King and Fisher did) or create a turnover through aggressive defense only to then turn the ball back over by over-aggressively trying to push the ball up the floor. Stuff like that, you know?

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:27:38 +0000

bski-

turnovers are definitely a concern – especially those of the “unforced” variety.

BUT – Jay Wright’s teams have historically played cleaner as the year goes on (hence the tournament success) so hopefully this one does the same.

By: Dave T

Dave T — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:47:01 +0000

Isaiah Armwood, in two years, is going to be an absolute beast. I am really impressed with him and where he could be headed if he keeps improving his game in the offseason.

Jay Wright has done such an impressive job getting these guys to play TOGETHER, especially on the defensive end. I think it’s very telling when certain teams take their time to really turn the defensive clamps on if they have that capability; I love the fact that from tip off, Nova’s guards push their perimeter defense right out on the opposition and are pesty, stingy and make the opposing guard’s lives hell. It really says a lot about a coach that he can get this many highly recruited players to buy into a system this well. Can’t say enough about the guy.