RE: freshmen developement

[Brad Holdheide]

I am really torn by this question and response from Huggins.

On one side I think if Huggins would have played the freshmen significant
minutes all year they would be seasoned by now and we wouldn't lose to teams
like Southern Miss.  We may have lost one or two more games early but we'd
likely be winning now against the likes of Southern Miss, St. Louis and
Charlotte.

But, if the freshmen aren't playing hard in practice I don't want them to
think they can get away with this for the next three years and still play.

Somehow other teams get their freshmen to play every year.  But then again,
only 2-3 teams have won more games than us in the past 12 years, and not may
teams have had average players turn into All-Americans like UC has.  So I
guess Huggins may know what he's doing when it comes to player development.

Makes me glad I'm not the coach.


-----Original Message-----
From: dfairchild [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 8:41 AM
To: address@hidden
Subject: [UC Basketball] freshmen developement


I've been bothered by the slow development of our newcomers. Some might be
interested in a question I sent Mike Decoursey and his response.


Question:
The pace of development of UC's newcomers, particularly the freshmen, has
been disappointing.  I have been comforting myself when comparing the
contribution Dedrick Finn has made at Xavier to any of the UC freshmen, by
saying that it is easier to get that type of contribution when the freshmen
is surrounded by a veteran team:  DerMarr Johnson had that type of
advantage and similarly contributed.  But then I read your piece about
Florida and how they are getting not 2, but 3 freshmen to significantly
contribute!  Why hasn't Huggins been able to get more from his newcomers?
 Did his heart attack/health play a factor?  Does his style and system work
against their quick development? Does this group of players lack the skills
people thought they possessed when they were recruited?

To a great March!
Darryl Fairchild


Response:
Darryl:

I talked to Huggins about this after the Memphis game. I think part of the
problem for the sluggish development of Hicks has been just being asked to
do
more than he is capable; he's a 6-5/6-6 forward and he's basically trying to
play center. Not easy. Chadd Moore has actually PLAYED very well, but he's
not PRACTICED well enough for Huggins to turn him loose.
Huggs made a good point: If I play him while he's practicing like that and
scared of competing against Taron Barker, then how will he ever work hard
enough to get better.
Too bad, though. I still think this team wins 3-4 more games if Chadd plays.
I think he's looked really good -- at both ends. When he took over for T in
the latter moments of the USM game, he played excellent defense. Same in the
OK State game.

Mike DeCourcy