Frank Burlison on Jeff Green

[MCIGuy]

After his performance during three games at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu this week, it's obvious that 6-foot-8-inch, 235-pound Jeff Green of Georgetown is one of the top 10 or so freshmen in the country. He averaged 16.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in wins over Long Beach State and Clemson and a loss to Oral Roberts. He'll be the leading challenger to Rudy Gay of Connecticut as the No. 1 freshman in the Big East Conference.


msn.foxsports.com/story/3273774

[MEGAFAN]

Great to hear JG getting some credit on the national scene early in his career. It seems that Sweetney never go the recognition he deserved because he was only on one team that made it to the NCAA's. Let's hope Jeff is able to make it at least to the NIT this year, and to the NCAA's every year after that.

Congrats Jeff Green and...

GO HOYAS!!!

[nychoya3]

As for Sweetney, I think his solid, workman-like game also didn't lend itself to national hype. Even when he was dropping 40 on ND or 30 on Duke, it was mostly on layups and easy jumpers. Jeff, because of his jumping ability, is going to be much more of a regular in high light films. Sweetney is such a throwback as a player. Jeff is far more modern. I think Jeff will get more recognition, both because his game demands attention and because we're a program on the move.

[MCIGuy]

nychoya3 said:

As for Sweetney, I think his solid, workman-like game also didn't lend itself to national hype. Even when he was dropping 40 on ND or 30 on Duke, it was mostly on layups and easy jumpers. Jeff, because of his jumping ability, is going to be much more of a regular in high light films. Sweetney is such a throwback as a player. Jeff is far more modern. I think Jeff will get more recognition, both because his game demands attention and because we're a program on the move.

I get what you are saying but I still somewhat disagree.

In those ND games Sweets did have a bunch of layups. But you make it sound as if that type of scoring was automatic or something for a big man. Even when Sweets scored layups he did most with a bunch of people clinging all over him. And most of his buckets came through powerful moves and graceful footwork, the kind you don't see any more. Not to mention I think he used glass to make most of his field goals. That is a lost art, most big men don't have a clue in terms of using the glass to get their two points. Sweets knows how to use every angle of the glass when he wants that ball to drop in the hole. This is why he has shoots well over 50% in both college and the pros. He's not very explosive in terms of leaping abilitiy and he is not very tall either for a top notch big man. Since he doesn't dunk very much if he simply tried to go in for layups he would have much more of his shots sent back to him. But because he is so automatic with the glass he is able to immediately kiss it off the surface over the outstretched arms/hands of a defenders and watch as it the rocks drops in. Again its an incredible skill that some of the best players can go to occassionally but hardly any are very good at it. Reminder this is not arguing with your point over why Jeff could get more press. You are right that flashier and more athletic players get the share of the spotlight. Its just my pointing out how what Sweetney does looks harder than it is and is, as you pointed out with your throwback comment, much more rare to find in today's game.

Also, minor nitpick, Sweets didn't hit that many jumpers in games against Notre Dame or Duke. Trust me on this.

Last of all in Sweets' freshmen season he averaged about 20 minutes a game (especially early on) because the team was so deep. While he ended up being the team's leading scorer and most consistent player he didn't put up such huge numbers early on to draw a whole lot of attention to himself. That being said by his first or second week in the BE play Sweets became one of the more well known freshmen in the country. And Burlison was one of the guys who was routinely championing him throughout his career.

[kghoya]

wow what a deep team that was that made the sweet 16...didnt take long to go from deep to playing walk ons!

[hoyarooter]

major love for jg great to see jg to be big east frosh of the year who needs rudy gay go jg*


*hoyarooter's impression of lic ;D

[lichoya68]

only thing wrong in the post is that rudy gay will be trying to catch jeff green for the big east rookie of the year go jeff go hoyas can pitt be on the radar what an upset if we can do it there would that make believers of some go hoyas