You may not care but I am interested in CU and SIU

[WuDrWu]

Both schools had great freshman point guards last year. It seems both CU and SIU fans would never trade one for the other. Both were very successful as first year players. Both were highly sought after and expectations were high coming to the season.

Expectations will be even higher this year. My question is what do you expect out of WSU freshman Gal Mekel? Do you think the hype is anywhere near what the actual results will be? Perhaps not as much will be needed as the Shockers have experience and depth at the 1 and 2 already. Most WSU fans have high (perhaps unrealistic) expectations for the young man, but I want to see what other fans, that have recently gone through this, think will happen with our new player.

[barkeep1967]

I think Mekel will be fine but it is going to take a while. He is turnover prone and will be facing better defense than he has seen. By conference play he should be a factor. If he buys into the team concept.

[rjl]

On the news tonight Turgeon has his first opportunity to talk about Gal.

(Since he verbaled late, Turg couldn't legally talk about him until Gal arrived in Wichita and enrolled for class)

He said that Gal was a great passer but needs to work on his shot.

His defense needs a lot of work too, he went on to say, as do almost every player's new to college ball.

There was a mention that Turg improving Gal's defense is one of the main reasons Gal elected to come to WSU, as he thought Turg would be a great teacher.


I think I'm with you, Dr. I've become too much of a Cubs/RedSox3yearsago "I'll believe it when I see it" type fan before I'll say that Turgeon and Gal will rule the universe as father and son.

He's good, but we're already deep enough at that position I doubt he'll make too big an impact.... unless we run the 4-guard type set that Villanova essentially ran last year, or that Marquette is predicted to run this year.

That said, there's always the impact of tougher competition in practices.

[rjl]

nm

[Aargh]

The worst thing a player can do is read his own press clippings. The worst thing fans can do is judge a player by his press clippings. Fans should also be skeptical of believing a team's press clippings.

Some WSU fans have been taking press clippings as facts. Most of the time that leads to a letdown when reality doesn't meet expectations.

It is difficult to compare a Euro player to American players.

Mekel's initial impact could be to improve the players ahead of him. Preadom (last year's #4 G for WSU) is reported to have spent 7 hours a day in a gym this summer working on his shot and his PG moves. I'm inclined to think it's more likely Mekel's arrival will produce better games out of Brauer and Preadom than to think Mekel will be anything other than a role player his Fr year. I'd be delighted if I were wrong.

CU has an outstanding Fr PG. Miles has recently gotten some pub at Bluejay Cafe. Miles may be getting groomed as the replacement for Funk, which would avoid the congestion of talent at the PG spot.

Miles got a lot of HS pub in Kansas. Dotzler got a lot of HS pub in Nebraska. CU fans are more familiar with Dotzler's pub and are less aware of Miles' HS pub. Miles looks like a "borderline elite BCS" type recruit.

Throw in all the adjustments Mekel has to deal with (NCAA rules, distance from home, American officiating, etc.). Mekel has a ton of work ahead of him.

I'm not looking for either Miles or Mekel to appear on the "All-Valley Newcomers" team. There are too many other good recruits in the Valley who don't have the experienced players in front of them.

[Dawgbit]

On the news tonight Turgeon has his first opportunity to talk about Gal.

(Since he verbaled late, Turg couldn't legally talk about him until Gal arrived in Wichita and enrolled for class)

He said that Gal was a great passer but needs to work on his shot.

His defense needs a lot of work too, he went on to say, as do almost every player's new to college ball.

There was a mention that Turg improving Gal's defense is one of the main reasons Gal elected to come to WSU, as he thought Turg would be a great teacher.


I think I'm with you, Dr. I've become too much of a Cubs/RedSox3yearsago "I'll believe it when I see it" type fan before I'll say that Turgeon and Gal will rule the universe as father and son.

He's good, but we're already deep enough at that position I doubt he'll make too big an impact.... unless we run the 4-guard type set that Villanova essentially ran last year, or that Marquette is predicted to run this year.

That said, there's always the impact of tougher competition in practices.


Let's see, turnover prone guard who needs work on his shot and defense. Let us know when he gets there.:chair:

[LincolnJay]

CU has an outstanding Fr PG. Miles has recently gotten some pub at Bluejay Cafe. Miles may be getting groomed as the replacement for Funk, which would avoid the congestion of talent at the PG spot.

Miles got a lot of HS pub in Kansas. Dotzler got a lot of HS pub in Nebraska. CU fans are more familiar with Dotzler's pub and are less aware of Miles' HS pub. Miles looks like a "borderline elite BCS" type recruit.

Throw in all the adjustments Mekel has to deal with (NCAA rules, distance from home, American officiating, etc.). Mekel has a ton of work ahead of him.

I'm not looking for either Miles or Mekel to appear on the "All-Valley Newcomers" team. There are too many other good recruits in the Valley who don't have the experienced players in front of them.

I saw Isacc Miles play summer league ball about 4 different times this year and he is GOOD!! Think Indiana State's Keyln Block but with a good outside shot for a comparison. Beefy with a mean cross over and head juke and loves to dish off for numerous dimes.

That said, he floated a lot on defense {as everyone basically did in summer league} with his D intensity increasing only after a couple good offensive trips down the floor HA!! If you don't play D, you will be picking up splinters on the bench with Altman.

Another player not yet known about is Kansas transfer Nick Bahe. Now, this is one kid who has no trouble with intensity at all times even in summer league. He also handled the ball well and can shoot really well. He is not as athletic as Miles but he will play this year.

D'Angalo Jackson, CU's other new PG didn't play summer ball so I can't comment on his abilities but he is supposed to be cat-quick.

Ty Morrison, top rated juco, didn't play summer ball either but the video I have seen makes one think of Terrell Taylor with about 4 more inches of height.

Kenny Lawson is going to be good someday but he is only 17 and needs to add weight. He had the highest scoring night in summer league this year with 44 on one night and has serious "quick twitch muscles" ie, he can get up fast and grab boards and block shots and drop in post shots. A really athletic kid. He could probably use a redshirt year but CU doesn't have that luxury unless the frenchman Gakou is seriously improved.

There ya go, this turned into a CU new guys post without even trying! :banana:

:jays:

[rjl]

Let's see, turnover prone guard who needs work on his shot and defense. Let us know when he gets there.:chair:

Actually, the way Turg was talking in the interview he said that Gal was one of the best passers he's ever seen.

His numbers in Europe indicated a significant amount of turnovers, but I wonder if alot of those could be attributed to his teamates bobbling the passes he'd give them or some hot-dogging he'd do when the game was already decided.

Either way, I anticipate those being put to end soon.

My primary concern with him will be defense.

[rjl]

Echoing what I said, there's a bit in a newspaper article today about Gal's passing:

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/columnists/bob_lutz/15315814.htm

[iSASO]

Mekel has upped the ante for the other players. For example, right after Mekel's signing, Sean Ogirri mysteriously decided that he needed to get serious about weight training.

Even if Mekel's only contribution is to drive the improvement of the other guards, that's just fine. He'll be driving up the level of guys who won a championship and went to the Sweet 16 last year.

And, of course, he'll have to play at least four games against two of the best programs in the history of this conference.

[outpost]

Another player not yet known about is Kansas transfer Nick Bahe. Now, this is one kid who has no trouble with intensity at all times even in summer league. He also handled the ball well and can shoot really well. He is not as athletic as Miles but he will play this year.

Rumor has it that Bahe was no longer in KU's plans simply due to their fear of the letter B. :innocent:

[iSASO]

:clap: A masterpiece!! :clap:

[outpost]

Coach Bill, I fear that you're next.

[SubGod22]

That was a good one outpost. I enjoyed it.

[doinit salukistyle]

Coach Bill, I fear that you're next.

careful what you wish for............

[outpost]

Doinit.......nowhere in that post did I express a wish.....:innocent:

[MikeKennedyRulz]

Let's see, turnover prone guard who needs work on his shot and defense. Let us know when he gets there.:chair:

I got a feeling we won't have to let you know when he gets here. You will know.

[doinit salukistyle]

Doinit.......nowhere in that post did I express a wish.....:innocent:

let me rephrase that...be careful on what you prophesize

[cuhoops]

Rumor has it that Bahe was no longer in KU's plans simply due to their fear of the letter B. :innocent:

LOL. Priceless.

[The Mad Hatter]

LOL. Priceless.

I guess this just shows that for all of our bickering, we can all be united in making fun of BCS schools when they fall flat on their faces.

[outpost]

I guess this just shows that for all of our bickering, we can all be united in making fun of BCS schools when they fall flat on their faces.

In Ku's case, Hatter, it's BUTTS...........

Yep, they're probably scared of their own BUTTS in post-season play.