Re: Whaley

[jon breiner]

Wow, I appreciate you coming out with your first post here and laying it on
the line, but I take issue with many of your points regarding Whaley.  First
I do not know him, but that does not mean we cannot talk about him.  I
assume you do not know Huggins, yet proceed to judge him!

Whaley is NOT a superstar player.  He has had success against lesser
competition and has not shown the ability to succeed against high levels of
competition.  He may have personal problems and responsibility issues
stemming from his background, but ultimately, when given multiple chances to
overcome them, you have to take responsibility and step up and do just that.
To this point, he has failed (multiple times).

As for the players quitting and coming back and succeeding, many do, and
many don't.  Didn't Rob quit already?  So he should have already come back
and succeeded.  I think the main thing with Rob is that UC (Goin?) is the
first person to tell him no.  He has not tried to work hard at basketball or
school because his natural gifts have always allowed him to get by.
Eventually someone always says "yes".  It may have finally caught up with
him here.

Dirk IS an excellent rebounder, Odom is more of a wing player in a big body,
Walker and Wallace have perimeter skills and power forward skills.  Other
than the ability to occasionally hit the 15 footer (Rob missed many more
though!) Whaley has never shown the SF skills the latter two also possess.
As a matter of fact, if Rob would learn how to position himself and play
defense, he might actually be considered to finally have well-rounded low
post skills.  I think he should concentrate on that before he tries to be
mediocre at multiple positions.

Finally, I do wish Huggins would run the pick and roll more.  I would likely
vote for Max to be running it though. not Whaley.  Whaley has never shown an
ability to take a pass on the wing and go to the basket.  Max displayed that
new found skill for him last year and I expect him to be even better going
to the basket now.

So to rap this up, I think you are judging Whaley on potential. and you do
not create an offense around someone's potential.  Especially when they have
shown themselves to be unreliable, whatever the reason.

Jon


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Iroq Gathing" <address@hidden>
To: <address@hidden>
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 7:49 AM
Subject: [UC Basketball] Whaley


> To all of you who do not know Big Rob personally.  Whaley is a superstar
player that has gotten a bad rap.  He has personal problems stemming from
his background, as well as responsibility issues also stemming from his
background.Things that can be cured with understanding and real coaching.
Coaching is not a one size fits all job.  Huggins every year builds a team
around troubled players that have talent, but have problems consistently
working hard.  And every year his best players quit, and then come back
their senior year to succeed.  Why?  Because Huggs let them play, and these
players understand its their last chance to succeed.
> Big Rob is different because Huggins is trying to teach him the wrong
thing. I recall Huggins saying "anyone 6'11 better be rebuilding as a main
objective".  This is not true, Dirk, Odom, Walker, Bender, Rasheed Wallace,
etc. all are score first big men who get around to rebounding as they get
into the game.  HUGGINS WILL NEVER WIN A TITLE!!!! until he learns to draw
up a game plan utilizing his teams strengths.  Big Rob is a great scorer,
and will be a dominant scorer in an offense designed for him.  Big Rob has
consistently been a good rebounder throughout his career, if he's given the
opportunity to just play.  Besides the Bearcats do not need another dominant
rebounder; they have Maxiell and Hicks for that job.  They do not need
another 3-point threat or true-point guard.  They not need an athletic
slasher, James got that covered.  BEARCATS NEED A BIG TIME SCORER IN THE
POST AND 16 FEET FROM THE BASKET.  Big Rob can do that with his eyes closed,
but not in Huggins current offense
>  (with guards jacking up threes all willy-nilly).  A basic pick and roll a
perfect for the talent on Huggins team, with the ball going through Big Rob.
> ---------------------------------
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