jwp91
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,035
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Post by jwp91 on Jan 15, 2013 16:37:36 GMT -5
One of the pluses of GW's suspension (if there can be one), is that it looks like Aaron Bowen will get more time.
I don't know much about him, but when he is on the court he is perhaps the most aggressive offensive player I can remember at GU in recent memory.... since Iverson. This kid appears to love to slash to the hole. It is surprising to me that he is so aggressive given that he is coming off the bench. Bench players seem to me to be more tentative to me.
What is the back story on this kid?
I am looking forward to seeing more of him as I love his aggressive mentality.
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nychoya3
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,674
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Post by nychoya3 on Jan 15, 2013 16:42:54 GMT -5
The back story? He has barely played in his career and the SJU game was probably the most significant time he's ever played as a Hoya. As for crowning him the most aggressive player in the JT3 era...I need to see a LOT more. Chris Wright comes to mind for starters. Anyway, he played pretty well against SJU. He theoretically has two more years to play after this one since he redshirted as a frosh, so maybe he can be a late bloomer.
I've seen him a few times in Kenner. He's athletic, but he really only shines as a leaper more than being quick with the ball or on defense. Skill wise, he has work to do, but he can hit a three off of the catch.
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Post by HoyasAreHungry on Jan 15, 2013 16:43:21 GMT -5
AB being compared to Iverson?? After one game of meaningful minutes. yikes....
that being said, I too look forward to him earning more time
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BigmanU
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by BigmanU on Jan 15, 2013 16:45:50 GMT -5
I don't care if his only tool is trying to posterize cats and getting to the line. It is a tool surely missed in recent years. The threat of a driver also opens things up. JT3 teams feel to reluctant in firing the three ball at all times. Let him play even if it is in limited minutes.
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Post by HometownHoya on Jan 15, 2013 16:46:42 GMT -5
The back story? He has barely played in his career and the SJU game was probably the most significant time he's ever played as a Hoya. As for crowning him the most aggressive player in the JT3 era...I need to see a LOT more. Chris Wright comes to mind for starters. Anyway, he played pretty well against SJU. He theoretically has two more years to play after this one since he redshirted as a frosh, so maybe he can be a late bloomer. I've seen him a few times in Kenner. He's athletic, but he really only shines as a leaper more than being quick with the ball or on defense. Skill wise, he has work to do, but he can hit a three off of the catch. I'd agree with this assessment. Which is why I don't understand JTIII's reasoning for leaving him on the bench til now. He is a pretty got spot up shooter. He enjoy's slashing to the basket and dunking. Sounds kind of like he has to tools to do what we were all hoping Summers would do. Additionally, while we do have other excellent shooters, we don't have many that are willing to drive for making defenders pay for closing out too quickly. Maybe he dribbles off his foot 8/10 times he tries to drive? Not sure but any team can use shooters and athletes.
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calhoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by calhoya on Jan 15, 2013 16:54:18 GMT -5
I believe he was originally headed to Marquette so it is not as if he was not recruited at this level. He still has so much to prove, but hopefully he will now have a chance to do that during games. We need some bench players to step up.
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jwp91
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,035
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Post by jwp91 on Jan 15, 2013 17:00:32 GMT -5
My comparison to AI was in attacking aggressive mentality only...
When he comes on the court you can expect some aggressive offensive play within 30 seconds....at least he has done so in multiple games I have seen him in with St. Johns garnering the most minutes.
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nychoya3
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,674
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Post by nychoya3 on Jan 15, 2013 17:01:18 GMT -5
I really don't see the evidence that he's effective driving to the basket. He got the ball open on the wing against SJU and attempted to dunk on Opeka. Which was great and all, but there was no one between him and the basket which makes it pretty easy to drive.
I think he hasn't played until now because he's a swingman which is the position we've been strongest at over the past couple years between Otto, Greg, and Hollis. Presumably Greg will be back soonish, but Domingo seems to have fallen out of favor for the moment so if Bowen is going to make an impact and demand greater minutes, here's his opportunity to do it.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jan 15, 2013 17:03:23 GMT -5
What is the back story on this kid? Aaron's parents were on their honeymoon, heading to a remote Caribbean island, when their plane crashed. Stranded, they made a life for themselves over the next 18 years. Aaron was born soon after, and his father constructed a rude court and hoop with one goal in mind: to create the perfect dunker. Which was good, because teaching Aaron to do much else with a coconut for a ball would have been silly. Have you ever tried to get proper backspin on a coconut? Needless to say, when the Bowens were rescued years later, Aaron was the perfect dunking machine. His hours of practice every day, taking off on sand, made it so dunking from an actual hard court was rather simplistic. His outside shot also has a pretty incredible arc on it, because his mom used to guard him, simulating taller players by holding up a palm frond in front of him. Or is that another player? I can never remember. Anyway, that's why Aaron is so aggressive going to the hoop. Years and years of practice.
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BigmanU
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by BigmanU on Jan 15, 2013 17:05:43 GMT -5
I really don't see the evidence that he's effective driving to the basket. He got the ball open on the wing against SJU and attempted to dunk on Opeka. Which was great and all, but there was no one between him and the basket which makes it pretty easy to drive. I think he hasn't played until now because he's a swingman which is the position we've been strongest at over the past couple years between Otto, Greg, and Hollis. Presumably Greg will be back soonish, but Domingo seems to have fallen out of favor for the moment so if Bowen is going to make an impact and demand greater minutes, here's his opportunity to do it. Opeka is the nations leading shot blocker. 8 times out of 10 he is fouled or embarrassing someone. I agree with all of the second paragraph however.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Jan 15, 2013 17:11:17 GMT -5
I know this would never happen in our offense, but I'd sort of like to see Bowen in an isolation situation to see if he could beat a defender one-on-one. He clearly has athletic ability to leap, which I love watching, but it would be interesting to see how he actually drives, etc.
Obviously, we want Whittington's situation resolved ASAP, but I am glad this will likely give Bowen more run in tomorrow's game. By all accounts I've read online, it sounds like Bowen has always enthusiastic about the school. If true, all the more reason to want him to succeed.
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Post by HometownHoya on Jan 15, 2013 17:14:43 GMT -5
What is the back story on this kid? Aaron's parents were on their honeymoon, heading to a remote Caribbean island, when their plane crashed. Stranded, they made a life for themselves over the next 18 years. Aaron was born soon after, and his father constructed a rude court and hoop with one goal in mind: to create the perfect dunker. Which was good, because teaching Aaron to do much else with a coconut for a ball would have been silly. Have you ever tried to get proper backspin on a coconut? Needless to say, when the Bowens were rescued years later, Aaron was the perfect dunking machine. His hours of practice every day, taking off on sand, made it so dunking from an actual hard court was rather simplistic. His outside shot also has a pretty incredible arc on it, because his mom used to guard him, simulating taller players by holding up a palm frond in front of him. Or is that another player? I can never remember. Anyway, that's why Aaron is so aggressive going to the hoop. Years and years of practice. ;D Ah explains his lack of defensive prowess. Both of his parents had leg injuries in the crash so his father trained a wild pig for Aaron to defend.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jan 15, 2013 17:24:45 GMT -5
Yep -- he's quick, because the pig was quick. But it explains why he often overreacts and moves more than necessary, as if he doesn't get out of the way, he might get gored.
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nychoya3
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by nychoya3 on Jan 15, 2013 17:33:19 GMT -5
Hey, I liked that take. No shame in getting blocked by Opeka. I really don't see the evidence that he's effective driving to the basket. He got the ball open on the wing against SJU and attempted to dunk on Opeka. Which was great and all, but there was no one between him and the basket which makes it pretty easy to drive. I think he hasn't played until now because he's a swingman which is the position we've been strongest at over the past couple years between Otto, Greg, and Hollis. Presumably Greg will be back soonish, but Domingo seems to have fallen out of favor for the moment so if Bowen is going to make an impact and demand greater minutes, here's his opportunity to do it. Opeka is the nations leading shot blocker. 8 times out of 10 he is fouled or embarrassing someone. I agree with all of the second paragraph however.
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Post by strummer8526 on Jan 15, 2013 17:39:38 GMT -5
Hey, I liked that take. No shame in getting blocked by Opeka. Opeka is the nations leading shot blocker. 8 times out of 10 he is fouled or embarrassing someone. I agree with all of the second paragraph however. Yeah, it was just nice to see a Hoya actually try a play like that. It was a very Pat Jr.-type move. Jabril has it in him, too.
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EtomicB
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Post by EtomicB on Jan 15, 2013 18:06:25 GMT -5
I really don't see the evidence that he's effective driving to the basket. He got the ball open on the wing against SJU and attempted to dunk on Opeka. Which was great and all, but there was no one between him and the basket which makes it pretty easy to drive. I think he hasn't played until now because he's a swingman which is the position we've been strongest at over the past couple years between Otto, Greg, and Hollis. Presumably Greg will be back soonish, but Domingo seems to have fallen out of favor for the moment so if Bowen is going to make an impact and demand greater minutes, here's his opportunity to do it. NYC, he blew by the Sampson kid on his way to the basket on that drive. I get what JWp91 is saying about Aaron, he's aggressive offensively. He had a driving dunk in the Texas game also. I liked the minutes he gave last game because he didn't hunt shots like he normally does. I'd like to see if he can become a positive contributor
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boxout05
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by boxout05 on Jan 15, 2013 18:13:28 GMT -5
I've never seen a more emphatic garbage time dunker than Aaron Bowen. Hope this stretch improves his game and Greg's.
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rockhoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by rockhoya on Jan 15, 2013 18:19:50 GMT -5
He averaged 20 ppg on a Quincy Miller led High school basketball team (QEA?). Kid is athletic and gets after it. In Kenner he always hit the offensive boards and had at least one putback a game. He plays above the rim and that is an important dimension for this team to have. Especially with our scoring woes.
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Post by HometownHoya on Jan 16, 2013 21:13:36 GMT -5
Just needs to work on rebounding and help D. Otherwise he had a great game. His shot looks great and he had a nice drive off the wing that unfortunately Hopkins missed. I asked in the game thread but does anyone know if he is a Lefty?
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DoctorHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by DoctorHoya on Jan 16, 2013 21:33:32 GMT -5
Great player, awesome aggression. Keep giving the guy minutes...
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