Annual Season Ticket Event Last Night at Kaplan
Tony and his staff held their annual open practice and dinner for season ticket holders last night at kaplan. Players went through a full two hour plus practice, including both halfcourt and full court scrimmages as well as a number of specialized drills.
Shaver also introduced each player and gave crowd of several hundred
a detailed presentation on the upcoming season.
Great time afterwards with the players at an informal dinner.
Tony has great hopes for this team despite losing Terry and Sean. He will continue to fast break given the speed of the guys and the abilities of David Cohn (who looks in mid-season shape...indefatigable). Lots of concentration on defense, including more trapping. Noted that we have lots of very good shooters and won't be using up the clock before shooting.
Tony also noted this should be a good foul-shooting team.
Some observations:
*Dixon and Prewitt looked very good..Daniel looks poised for a sensational season; he's added a couple of pounds and looks very strong.
*The transfer, Matt Milon, is a player...he can shoot the lights out and hit almost everything with his left-handed one-hander. A physical guard too with some bulk at 6-5, 205. Tony noted he will step right in next season for Dixon
*Malinowski fully recovered from his concussion and poised to step right into Tarpey's spot. He looked aggressive on the boards last night.
*Much talk and buzz at the event about Nathan Knight who looked terrific last night. What is evident are his soft hands (he can dribble and pass beyond his 18 years) to go with his power and quickness. He even showed all a three point shot from the corner and the perimeter and made a couple, too. Tony also had him, at times, up on the perimeter
on defense where his 7'2" wingspan makes him impossible to see over.
Look, he's raw on defense, fouls too often, and the coaches want him to shoot a little less from the outside (he's not Connor Burchfield!). Jack Whitman, who played aggressively and passed well (and didn't appear to put the ball down low everytime he touched it in the paint as he tended
to do in the past when he'd lose the ball), is our starter. And Knight treated the crowd to a huge NBA-type superdunk on a breakaway
that brought oohs and ahs. He also hit two for two from the foul line, showing a smooth delivery.
But, and I can't stop saying this, Knoght is a rare talent here at W&M, and may very well be starting before the year is out. With Seacat out he's going to be playing lots from the very start of the season.
*Our other rookie, Justin Pierce, is, per Tony, going to contribute this season. He's highly athletic (something I didn't expect), can shoot the ball, and with his size and length (like Dixon and Omar he's got those long arms that come down to near the bottom of his pants) can rebound.
Showed good speed.
*David Cohn. There's nothing to say but that it's obvious he's a heart and sparkplug of this group. He's always chattering away and wears his heart on his sleeve.
*Burchfield didn't play last evening--he has a finger injury but will be back in a week or two.
*Ollie Tot looked quicker. He has slimmed down a bit in weight and showed aggressiveness in the practice, driving several times. He will play lots.
*Paul Rowley exhibited his shooting ability and will play much more this season. His 6'8" size and mobility are a plus. Stlll thin as a rail though.
Paul, as Tony mentioned, is just a redshirt sophomore.
*The forgotten man, Mike Schlotman, with two seasons left, played quite a bit and is another point guard weapon for Tony.
Bottom line:
Team has a good chance for another 20-win season and, as Tony told the crowd, a very good chance for the CAA crown.
I can easily see a strong 9-man rotation: with Dixon, Prewitt, Cohn, Whitman and Malinowski starting the season..and Knight, Burchfield, Tot and either Rowley or Pierce the next four or five. And this doesn't count Schlotman, who will play.
Jamison Glover, who can play some if there's a huge foul-out game, and a new addition guard Omar Mustafa round out our gang.
And there's Matt Milon in practice every day, a sure-bet starter next season.
My prediction: 20 or more wins, second or third in the CAA, a team that
by seasons end has a decent chance to win the Tourney.
Wild Card: Nathan Knight...if he really comes on as the season progresses anything is possible.
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