Macklin discussion

[hifigator]

For anyone interested:


Article from ESPN regarding Bilas' thoughts:

insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/columns/story?columnist=bilas_jay&id=5375874

Vernon Macklin, Florida: I first worked with Macklin at the first Nike Skills Academy in Beaverton, Ore., when he was in high school. Back then, Macklin was a great athlete that could really pursue the ball, but his skill level was really lacking. Macklin is vastly improved, though, and is a high-energy big that can run the floor, attack the glass and finish plays in the low post. Macklin has really improved his footwork and can now hit a jump hook with either hand around the paint. He is coachable and a terrific kid.

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Another article, this time from Franschilla:

insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=5373539&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fblog%3fname%3dnba_draft%26id%3d5373539

Vernon Macklin, 6-9, Sr., Florida Gators
Macklin is not a fluid athlete but is tough around the basket and gives a very good effort. He's a big key for a Gator resurgence this season.

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[RDF]

Vernon Macklin, Florida: I first worked with Macklin at the first Nike Skills Academy in Beaverton, Ore., when he was in high school. Back then, Macklin was a great athlete that could really pursue the ball, but his skill level was really lacking. Macklin is vastly improved, though, and is a high-energy big that can run the floor, attack the glass and finish plays in the low post. Macklin has really improved his footwork and can now hit a jump hook with either hand around the paint. He is coachable and a terrific kid.

You can thank Georgetown for his footwork/jump hook.

[hifigator]

No argument, RDF. I think he is an athletic player and from the few times I have heard him talk, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and seems to be having fun. I think both of those things are conducive to continued development.

With his infamous free throw struggles, the obvious question relevant to his future opportunites, is whether or not he add the short to mid-range jump shot to his resume. Vern is quite a bit more along in his college career, since he will be going into his senior year, but I can't help but compare him to Al Horford. Horford certainly wasn't a "stiff" his freshman season, but he developed a ton between his first and second seasons, adding a decent "outside" shot to his athletic ability and effort. But he didn't stop there. He made himself a ton of money by stretching his comfort zone going into his junior year. As far as big men are concerned, he was "money" from 15 feet in. If Vern could get close to that, he will really reap the benefits next summer. I would love to see him do it. If not, then I think he's very likely to be a bench player in the NBA or, and even more likely, to play across the pond in Europe somewhere.

There is some talk of him putting in a lot of work on his short jumper. I'll believe it when I see it, but we can always hope ...

[kchoya]

Guess you have to focus on Macklin when you have a bunch of CHEATERS in the football program:

sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5392159&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

[hifigator]

I haven't read your link yet, but I'm guessing it is about the Markice Pauncey situation. If so, then Pat Forde claims that Pauncey took $100,000 sometime between the loss to Bama in the SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl win over Cincinnati. I have no inside info whatsoever on this. But it wouldn't shock me. I'm guessing that Markice had made up his mind and was leaving for the NFL. After the loss to Bama, the season -- and thus his Florida career was essentially over. If the story is true, and I have no reason to think it isn't, then it's highly unlikely this was the first time he had been offered money. But I'm guessing, and certainly hoping, that this was the first time that he took it.

I'm not saying that that would make it right, but that at least the conspicuous timing of the incident could indicate the team first attitude when it really mattered. Again, I can only hope that's the case.

[hifigator]

In news some of you might enjoy, former Hoya Vernon Macklin had a great game last night. In spite of being limited to just 20 minutes because of foul trouble, Vern scored 20 points on 10 of 11 shooting and grabbed 8 boards. Unfortunately, the rest of the team decided to skip the game and go do some early Christmas shopping. I don't have the box score, but the rest of the team was pretty much pathetic. Chandler Parsons was 0-6 from the free throw line. That is just terrible. But Macklin played with a lot of heart and fire and in fact, his lone miss was on a dunk and the ball caromed out to the charity stripe where a Gator guard gathered it up. A couple of passes later, Vern slammed it home for good. There's no doubt that he had a good game. I sure wish we had 3 or 4 more of him.

[HometownHoya]

How about 10 Hoyas named Wright, Freeman, Clark, Thompson, Vaughn, Sims, Lubick, Sanford, Starks, and Benimon!

[CTHoya08]

I still don't understand what internet you're using where you "don't have the box score" the day after the game, but manage to get over to this site to post constantly. Does your browser only go to this page?

[kchoya]

Dec 2, 2010 14:34:23 GMT -5 CTHoya08 said:

I still don't understand what internet you're using where you "don't have the box score" the day after the game, but manage to get over to this site to post constantly. Does your browser only go to this page?

Apparently not having access to the box score also prevents hifi from pointing out that despite Macklin's wonderful game, the Gators actually lost to UCF for the first time ever.

Hifi also failed to mention, as noted in the Palm Beach Post, that "The Gators wasted their last chance to tie the game when Macklin threw a pass out of bounds."

[EasyEd]

Also failed to mention Vern was 0 for 2 in free throws.

[TC]

Or that Billy Donovan was happy to lose this game. What sort of attitude is that?

[hoyarooter]

You know what? I'm loathe to do this, but I think we should cut hifi some slack here. He probably assumed that we all knew (and I'll bet we all did) that Florida lost to UCF, and his post certainly at least implied that, since he mentioned how poorly everybody else played. And this is a Macklin thread, so if he wants to point out that Macklin had a strong game, what's the problem (although he could have mentioned the 0-2)?

[Deleted]

Dec 2, 2010 15:59:18 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

You know what? I'm loathe to do this, but I think we should cut hifi some slack here. He probably assumed that we all knew (and I'll bet we all did) that Florida lost to UCF, and his post certainly at least implied that, since he mentioned how poorly everybody else played. And this is a Macklin thread, so if he wants to point out that Macklin had a strong game, what's the problem (although he could have mentioned the 0-2)?

You take that back. All of it.

[Filo]

Dec 2, 2010 17:10:44 GMT -5 @cam said:

Dec 2, 2010 15:59:18 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

You know what? I'm loathe to do this, but I think we should cut hifi some slack here. He probably assumed that we all knew (and I'll bet we all did) that Florida lost to UCF, and his post certainly at least implied that, since he mentioned how poorly everybody else played. And this is a Macklin thread, so if he wants to point out that Macklin had a strong game, what's the problem (although he could have mentioned the 0-2)?

You take that back. All of it.

Or at least the "loathe" part, and substitute "loath."

Of course, the use of the term "'loathe" in connection with Hifi comes naturally to some here, so the mistake is understandable.

[hoyarooter]

Dec 2, 2010 17:10:44 GMT -5 @cam said:

Dec 2, 2010 15:59:18 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

You know what? I'm loathe to do this, but I think we should cut hifi some slack here. He probably assumed that we all knew (and I'll bet we all did) that Florida lost to UCF, and his post certainly at least implied that, since he mentioned how poorly everybody else played. And this is a Macklin thread, so if he wants to point out that Macklin had a strong game, what's the problem (although he could have mentioned the 0-2)?

You take that back. All of it.

I call it as I see it, even if I have to support Hoyatalk's pariah. ;D

[hifigator]

I still don't understand what internet you're using where you "don't have the box score" the day after the game

All I meant was that I didn't have it in front of me right then and didn't want to give inaccurate statistics. The "rest of the team," was chosen to indicate that basically everyone other than Vern played poorly. But I don't think you care too much about the particulars there anyway.

kc wrote:

Apparently not having access to the box score also prevents hifi from pointing out that despite Macklin's wonderful game, the Gators actually lost to UCF for the first time ever.

Hifi also failed to mention, as noted in the Palm Beach Post, that "The Gators wasted their last chance to tie the game when Macklin threw a pass out of bounds

Actually, I figured that catching the score scrolling along the ticker was about all the interest that most of you had in the game itself. As for your second point, that doesn't quite tell the whole story. Florida was down 2 with about 9 or so seconds. They fouled and the UCF Knight made both free throws. Erving Walker drove quickly down the court for an essentially uncontested layup, again cutting the lead to 2. Florida again fouled quickly. That sent a UCF player to the line. He made the first free throw to give them a 3 point lead. He then missed the second with just over 2 seconds left. Macklin grabbed the rebound and with no timeouts left, quickly tried an outlet pass, but the Gator player (Kenny Boynton I think), broke down the court. The ball went harmlessly out of bounds. I don't know if the "set play" was to have him break and hopefully have Macklin lead him downcourt. But with that little time and with no timeouts, I think that was more of a team error, much like they have team rebounds. In any case, blaming Macklin for the loss, after the game that he had, is absurd.

[Elvado]

Dec 3, 2010 14:55:42 GMT -5 hifigator said:

I still don't understand what internet you're using where you "don't have the box score" the day after the game

All I meant was that I didn't have it in front of me right then and didn't want to give inaccurate statistics. The "rest of the team," was chosen to indicate that basically everyone other than Vern played poorly. But I don't think you care too much about the particulars there anyway.

kc wrote:

Apparently not having access to the box score also prevents hifi from pointing out that despite Macklin's wonderful game, the Gators actually lost to UCF for the first time ever.

Hifi also failed to mention, as noted in the Palm Beach Post, that "The Gators wasted their last chance to tie the game when Macklin threw a pass out of bounds

Actually, I figured that catching the score scrolling along the ticker was about all the interest that most of you had in the game itself. As for your second point, that doesn't quite tell the whole story. Florida was down 2 with about 9 or so seconds. They fouled and the UCF Knight made both free throws. Erving Walker drove quickly down the court for an essentially uncontested layup, again cutting the lead to 2. Florida again fouled quickly. That sent a UCF player to the line. He made the first free throw to give them a 3 point lead. He then missed the second with just over 2 seconds left. Macklin grabbed the rebound and with no timeouts left, quickly tried an outlet pass, but the Gator player (Kenny Boynton I think), broke down the court. The ball went harmlessly out of bounds. I don't know if the "set play" was to have him break and hopefully have Macklin lead him downcourt. But with that little time and with no timeouts, I think that was more of a team error, much like they have team rebounds. In any case, blaming Macklin for the loss, after the game that he had, is absurd.

Well, if anyone would know absurd...

[hifigator]

Thanks Elvado! I feel better knowing you think that way.

[CTHoya08]

You do realize that it takes just as much time to type "I don't have the box score" as it does to go to espn.com and look it up, right?

[PhillyHoya]

That would involve doing 2 things at once and clearly they don't teach multitasking at UF.