Cambridge
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Canes Pugnaces
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Post by Cambridge on Jan 11, 2005 12:11:29 GMT -5
Most overrated player? Perhaps...
Saturday at Gtown: Green 22pts, 8-11, 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal Boone 8pts, 3-9, 4 boards, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 steals
Monday at OU: Gray 23 pts, 9-17, 10 boards, 1 assist, 4 blocks, 1 steal Boone 2 pts, 1-4, 3 boards, 0 assists, 0 blocks, 0 steals
Now the funniest part was in Sat's game he was named Defensive player of the Game for his steals and boards...despite letting Jeff notch up 22 points...
Then to compound the overrating, ESPN ran a piece on "how to rebound" featuring Boone during the half at OU. Hmmmm let's look at his combined stats for the two games:
10 pts, 4-13, 7 boards, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 steals
-- all that in 57 minutes...wow what a player!!! Okawho?
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Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by Cambridge on Jan 11, 2005 12:22:43 GMT -5
Point of reference
Hibbs only needs to put up the following against Rutgers: 10pts, 2 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals
To match Boone's performance over the last two games for the two big men...(Gtown/OU & Uconn/Rut)..and he is doing it in less minutes, he would have a to log a complete game to match Boone's minutes - which is highly unlikely.
Not saying Hibbs is better, just pointing out that for all the hype around Boone...well...so far league play has been disappointing for him.
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HoyaSox04
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Post by HoyaSox04 on Jan 11, 2005 13:42:56 GMT -5
As much as I agree that Boone's play this season is far short of the expectations that people had for him, you have to admit he was an integral part of last year's Championship team. While I dont think he can carry a team in any way, shape or form, he did prove last year that he has some talent.
However, he's still overrated (although not as much as Rudy Gay) and UConn still sucks. Case closed.
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GIGAFAN99
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 11, 2005 14:15:57 GMT -5
Let's not make the mistake of saying Boone only has "some talent" though. This kid is really good. He's not ready for the NBA like everyone says but he's only a sophomore. Yes, the media exaggerates the abilities of UConn freshmen and sophs because they're an "NBA Minor League" program where nobody expects players to be there four years.
That's not the kid's fault though. Boone's young and inconsistent but struggling with the top JUCO recruit on the road and a team that starts a 7'3 kid isn't awful for a sophomore who is adjusting to his role as the major inside presence for that team. He may need another year, but he has good instincts on the boards, an ability to get easy looks, and runs the floor well. He just needs to get one consistent post move in the half-court set and play better on-the-ball D as opposed to making awesome (but fundamentally unsound) blocks chasing the play.
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Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by Cambridge on Jan 11, 2005 14:17:41 GMT -5
I agree with Giga, my point was really about the hype machine rather than Boone. I think he will become an incredible player, but ESPN doesn't wait for him to become one...instead they just pile on the accolades before he's earned them.
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HOYAPLAYA
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IT'S TIME FOR A RUNNNNNNN!!!!!!
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Post by HOYAPLAYA on Jan 11, 2005 15:58:51 GMT -5
In fairness to the kid and ESPN, prior to the last two bad games he has played well versus the top competition. He averaged 14 pts, 11 boards and 4 blocks against BC, UMASS and Indiana. He's not a superstar and ESPN may have jumped the gun, but let's not pick out his two worst games and try to act like that's indicative of his level of play against good competition.
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