Austin Freeman discussion

[tashoya]

Best game I've ever seen from Austin. Great shot selection, silky stroke, solid defense and handle... Just all around a great game. I love where he's at.

[chep3]

Seconded.

[Boz]

Yes, yes he is. He missed that last drive, but there was no one else I wanted to have the ball there.

Wish Chris had been bringing the ball up on last possession and passed off to Austin, instead of the other way around.

[hsaxa2010]

Exactly Boz. I saw Freeman with it and knew he had to pass it off because he would be heavily guarded...but I wish he had taken that shot with how well he played tonight

[GUJook97]

I concur. Freeman just played with an NBA-level poise tonight. It was great to watch.

[tashoya]

I can't title a thread Austin is a bad mutha shut yo mouth?

[Filo]

The attitude and emotion is there this year also. Did you see how PO'd he was after MU hot one of the threes in the second half (when Vaughn apparently missed a switch)? And he came right back to hit a three of his own.

[richfame]

Austin played a great game, what a great effort. He has been great this year.

[tashoya]

Filo... I did. He answered on many possessions when it looked like it might slip for us. I know he's been doing similar things all year but he was the go-to tonight. His whole game was clicking and his whole game is really damn good.

[tashoya]

Boz... agreed on the 2nd to last offensive possession too. I only wanted to see Austin with the ball before the play. That's giving it our best shot. I don't have to think of ill-conceived 3 balls in the wrong hands anymore. Ahhhh......

[FrazierFanatic]

Stud

[Big Dog]

As I said in the game discussion thread, this game and his game Sunday vs. DePaul are the best two he's had as a Hoya. He is suddenly becoming our go-to (sharing those duties with Chris Wright) and showing a leadership on the floor.

People forget how young this team is--NO SENIORS--just because we're all expecting Monroe to leave and there is this sense of urgency. Let's see how far Chris and Free can take us.

[tinker89]

Just got home from the game. Amen to all above! Austin gets my vote for player of the game.

[OldHoyafan]

Did not see or listen to game but from reports on the board , this is the Freeman we have been waiting to see for 3 years. Monroe will get more aggressive as year goes on like Green did. He still understandably defers to upper classmen when they are going good like Freeman was tonght. But he will realize in the end like Green did in Vanderbilt game, that this team will go only as far as he will take them at the end of a tough game. As Raferty would say "Go up strong big fella". Did Vaughn get hurt?

[tashoya]

Vaughn seemed OK. He rolled his ankle a bit but didn't look serious.

[sleepy]

Jan 6, 2010 22:54:28 GMT -5 OldHoyafan said:

Did not see or listen to game but from reports on the board , this is the Freeman we have been waiting to see for 3 years. Monroe will get more aggressive as year goes on like Green did. He still understandably defers to upper classmen when they are going good like Freeman was tonght. But he will realize in the end like Green did in Vanderbilt game, that this team will go only as far as he will take them at the end of a tough game. As Raferty would say "Go up strong big fella". Did Vaughn get hurt?

Greg Monroe is no Jeff Green, especially when it comes to finishing, so it might better if we didn't put him in the same positions Jeff was in.

[MCIGuy]

In another post someone called Austin a borderline NBA prospect. Maybe that's fair but tell me how is UNC's McCants and Wayne Ellington any better? Both of them were first rounders. The main issue concerning Austin is his height but these two dudes are about the same height.

So if you consider Austin's main weakness of not being 6'6 plus lets at least list his strengths:

A great midrange game, maybe the best in all of college basketball right now.
Great three point shooting ability.
Ridiculously efficient for a guard.
Strong as an ox, can take contact and still finish.
The ability to drive to the hoop with either hand (and finish)
Improved ball-handling...very close to being a sure dribbler.
Athletic.
Good free throw shooter.
Decent rebounder for his size.
High basketball IQ.
A pretty good passer.
Fantastic across the baseline.

Just speaking from an individual reward perspective (not a team or a team success perspective) many of us know that if Chris keeps playing like he has and keeps improving he's going to be a pro. But I truly think the same applies to Austin and the good news for them 9and us) is that they'll likely be around another season to keep working on their games.

Yeah, I've been waiting for this thread. But these title threads ::groan::, Austin's Arena or Austin's Airwaves would be so much better, no? What about the Freeway.

[tashoya]

MCI... I had originally titled it "Austin is a bad mutha shut yo mouth" but the mods changed it for a reason that I have yet to hear and probably still won't understand.

[hoyaboy1]

I love Austin and he is having a great season, but it isn't because of his midrange game at all. He takes very few two point jumpers, and is making about 40% of them (per Hoya Prospectus). His productivity is coming from increased aggressiveness going to the basket, a return to form on his 3s, and amazing FT shooting.

Coming out of HS I thought Austin was an assassin from midrange, but for whatever reason, despite people continuously referencing it, it hasn't been a big part of his game in college.

[FLHoya]

He reminds me a lot lately of how he plays during the Kenner League games. Takes the ball to the hole like tonight all the time in July and August, and an insanely confident shooter as well in McD when it's sunny.

That's a high complement, btw.