WSU comes into the season with many more seasoned players than last year. The 2010-2011 WSU roster had zero seniors, but they did have three RS juniors and six regular juniors. This year WSU has four seniors and three juniors, but are without two key components of last years team. WSU finished 22-13 overall and 9-9 in conference. WSU also broke the streak of four straight wins by UW by winning two straight themselves before losing to UW in the Pac-10 tournament. WSU took part in the NIT where they won three games before losing to Wichita State 75-44. That's a whomping right there.
Key Losses:
DeAngelo Casto 6-8 255lb
WSU's best and only real legitimate post option. Casto was third in scoring at 12 points and first in rebound at 7 boards per game. Casto chose to take his talents overseas after his junior year due to financial reasons (he had a kid, good for him for stepping up and taking care of it). A much better choice than Venoy Overton...Casto provided depth and security down low that opened up the perimeter for Klay Thompson to do his thing. He was only of the few Cougars who could bang in the post with guys like Aziz N'Diaye and Josh Smith. While a tad undersized for a true 5, he gave his all and certainly had success. I have a feeling the Cougars will miss him more than Thompson soon enough.
Klay Thompson 6-6 202lb
After struggling 2 straight years against UW, Thompson found his own and opened up in all three games, scoring 43 in the tournament. Thompson could shoot lights out from nearly anywhere on the court. He was selected with the 11th pick in the NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. Thompson was a decent defender, though what he did was mostly overshadowed by his extreme offensive capabilities. Faisal Aden and Reggie Moore will need to step their scoring up to help replace him.
Incoming Freshmen:
Greg Sequele 6-7 210lb
Sequele is an athletic 4 with great endurance, hustle, and tenacity. He needs to put in work developing his offensive game, but the Cougars should be happy with what he can bring on the defensive side of the ball. He attacks the glass well and is solid in transition plays. He is a good backup for Brock Motum and the other more senior players.
Davonte Lacy 6-3 190lb
Lacy is a combo guard with a great shot. He can penetrate the lane as well as drop back to the arc and hit. Lacy has the passing skills necessary to not only make the right decisions, but execute them as well. Lacy is known for occasionally forcing too fast of an offense and taking shots early, but that is something that good coaching can quickly amend.
Returning Players:
Reggie Moore 6-1 180lb
Marcus Capers 6-4 185lb
Faisal Aden 6-4 185lb
Will DiIorio 6-5 188lb
Mike Ladd 6-5 190lb
Abe Lodwick 6-7 208lb
Patrick Simon 6-8 214lb
Dave Wink 6-8 245lb
Brock Motum 6-10 230lb
Charlie Enquist 6-10 235lb
Moore, Capers, and Aden will likely be the backbone of the team's scoring ability. Lodwick and Motum will shore up the center with Enquist providing relief.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Reggie Moore 6-1 180lb
Faisal Aden 6-4 185lb
Marcus Capers 6-4 185lb
Abe Lodwick 6-7 208lb
Brock Motum 6-10 230lb
This seems like a decently sized line-up though it does make the 3 a tad smaller than some teams might like. Overall, these five players should have enough talent to keep the game close for the first two minutes until their thin depth begins to hurt them.
What to Expect:
WSU is going to be missing Thompson and Casto a bunch this year. They were the biggest reasons the Cougars were able to be so competitive last year. Just look at the Wichita State game or and of the WSU losses versus UW. In 90% of those games, Thompson and/or Casto struggled to get going offensively. WSU has a roster of secondary players outside of Aden and Moore. By that I mean, they would be coming off the bench for teams like UCLA, UA, and UW. Cal could use some of these guys to fill out their own bench, which is lacking in my mind. WSU will finish in the bottom half of the conference, likely somewhere between 7th and 10th. Maybe 6th if they can develop a solid post. Their perimeter will be their best threat.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
University of Utah 2011-2012 Preview
Utah comes into the Pac-12 looking much worse off than they did in football. A 13-18 season, 6-10 in the Mountain West Conference, does not bode well in what is definitely a stronger conference. Utah comes in missing a lot of past seasons players. Let's look quickly at a list of everyone they lost and then we will pursue a more in depth look at the key losses for the Utes.
Players Lost:
Jay Watkins 6-8 215lb
Chris Kupets 6-0 175lb
Antonio DiMaria 6-6 195lb
Will Clyburn 6-7 200lb
Shawn Glover 6-7 195lb
Seth Tippetts 6-8 235lb
J.J. O'Brien 6-7 215lb
Neal Monson 6-10 230lb
Dominique Lee 6-4 205lb
Michael Hodgman 6-1 175lb
Preston Guiot 6-0 185lb
Josh Fuller 6-7 210lb
Count it, 12 players down. 12. Wowza. Somehow they have managed to fill their roster back out with members from each class, including 5 freshmen. With only 4 returning players, not starters mind you just players in general, Utah is far and beyond the team with the most work to do. Anything better than a last place finish in the Pac-12 should be considered a success. Heck, I'd be amazed if they pull off 10 wins total with this kind of turn over. Sure they are bringing in players with some experience, but the Utes will be missing a lot of team cohesion and chemistry that is extremely important in winning close games and staying in what could otherwise be complete blowouts. If Utah and Colorado thought they were being stepped on in football, just wait until basketball season when UW, UA, and UCLA come marching in to greet them properly. Utah missing playing UW and WSU on the road as well as UCLA and USC at home. So Utah will play UA and Cal twice as well as UW and UCLA once, which most fans on either side of the ball should chalk up as 6 losses for Utah. The opposing team must be certain to never overlook a team, even one as beat up as Utah. Anyone can be beaten on a given day. Just look at SPU who beat Arizona by 1 in Arizona. Arizona was also down 12 at one point to Humboldt State in their most recent exhibition and only pulled out the win in the final 4 minutes or so when foul shots allowed Arizona to keep their lead. With that in mind, let's look at who the key losses are this off season.
Key Losses:
Will Clyburn 6-7 200lb
With a team leading 17 points and 8 rebounds a game, Clyburn was the heart, soul, and star of the Utah basketball team. He also led the team in steals per game and 3 point shooting percentage. Keep in mind Clyburn also made twice as many 3 pointers than anyone else on the roster, so it was not just a "fluke" or low attempt number that gave him such a good percentage. He will be greatly missed.
Jay Watkins 6-8 215lb
Older brother of returning leading scorer, Josh Watkins, Jay was third in scoring at nearly 15 points per game and had a team high 3.5 assists per game. Unfortunately, he also had a team high 3.4 turnovers which essentially negates whatever good he did for the team.
J.J. O'Brien 6-7 215lb
With 7 points and 6 rebounds a game (good for second on the team) O'Brien was another solid wing lost by the Utes this past year. I can't comment too much on what any of these players brought to their teams outside the statistics I've found as I really didn't watch them play last year. All I know is that Utah will be hurting in a very bad way.
Incoming Freshmen:
Kareem Storey 6-0 190lb
Storey is known to be a solid scorer with the ability to hit inside with a good driving attack as well as outside with a decent 3 pointer. He does force a lot of shots, hordes the ball, and often lacks the court vision to see open teammates. Storey could be more of a hindrance than an asset for Utah, but he is a college level player, which Utah would have been severely lacking otherwise.
Anthony Odunsi 6-3 195lb
Odunsi is a combination guard, much like Isaiah Thomas, but not nearly as skilled and lacking a consistent 3 pointer. He is a solid rebounder with the strength to bounce around in the lanes. He seems like a much more reliable point guard prospect for Utah.
George Matthews 6-6 190lb
Matthews has a great scoring skill set. At 6-6 he can shoot over players in the lane and at the post. He can also finish outside the arc, which forces defenders to stay honest at all times. He energy level can waver at times on offense and defense, occasionally forcing shots or letting the opposition blow by him.
Utah also brings in 3 JC transfers, plus 7 other transfers/redshirts.
Returning Players:
David Foster 7-3 255lb
Josh Watkins 6-0 200lb
Jason Washburn 7-0 230lb
Chris Hines 6-0 195lb
Well that was easier than usual.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Josh Watkins 6-0 200lb
David Foster 7-3 255lb
And that's about as far as I can guess. They have so many incoming players I can't even begin to ponder who will be in their starting 5 outside those two. It's anyone's to take.
What to Expect:
Don't expect Utah to come close to competing. Even ASU and WSU should be able to make Utah look bad. Utah does return some size in a pair of 7 footers, but neither has shown too much offensive promise yet. Defensively they are a dangerous duo, especially if they could play on the court at the same time. Utah will be lucky to win 3 or 4 games in conference. If they manage to string together some sort of consistent starting 5 and find some decent enough bench players, Utah could struggle out of the basement to maybe 11th or 10th place. Higher than that would be asking far too much of the players and coaching staff. Utah won't be competitive in conference for at least another 2 or 3 year, in my opinion.
Players Lost:
Jay Watkins 6-8 215lb
Chris Kupets 6-0 175lb
Antonio DiMaria 6-6 195lb
Will Clyburn 6-7 200lb
Shawn Glover 6-7 195lb
Seth Tippetts 6-8 235lb
J.J. O'Brien 6-7 215lb
Neal Monson 6-10 230lb
Dominique Lee 6-4 205lb
Michael Hodgman 6-1 175lb
Preston Guiot 6-0 185lb
Josh Fuller 6-7 210lb
Count it, 12 players down. 12. Wowza. Somehow they have managed to fill their roster back out with members from each class, including 5 freshmen. With only 4 returning players, not starters mind you just players in general, Utah is far and beyond the team with the most work to do. Anything better than a last place finish in the Pac-12 should be considered a success. Heck, I'd be amazed if they pull off 10 wins total with this kind of turn over. Sure they are bringing in players with some experience, but the Utes will be missing a lot of team cohesion and chemistry that is extremely important in winning close games and staying in what could otherwise be complete blowouts. If Utah and Colorado thought they were being stepped on in football, just wait until basketball season when UW, UA, and UCLA come marching in to greet them properly. Utah missing playing UW and WSU on the road as well as UCLA and USC at home. So Utah will play UA and Cal twice as well as UW and UCLA once, which most fans on either side of the ball should chalk up as 6 losses for Utah. The opposing team must be certain to never overlook a team, even one as beat up as Utah. Anyone can be beaten on a given day. Just look at SPU who beat Arizona by 1 in Arizona. Arizona was also down 12 at one point to Humboldt State in their most recent exhibition and only pulled out the win in the final 4 minutes or so when foul shots allowed Arizona to keep their lead. With that in mind, let's look at who the key losses are this off season.
Key Losses:
Will Clyburn 6-7 200lb
With a team leading 17 points and 8 rebounds a game, Clyburn was the heart, soul, and star of the Utah basketball team. He also led the team in steals per game and 3 point shooting percentage. Keep in mind Clyburn also made twice as many 3 pointers than anyone else on the roster, so it was not just a "fluke" or low attempt number that gave him such a good percentage. He will be greatly missed.
Jay Watkins 6-8 215lb
Older brother of returning leading scorer, Josh Watkins, Jay was third in scoring at nearly 15 points per game and had a team high 3.5 assists per game. Unfortunately, he also had a team high 3.4 turnovers which essentially negates whatever good he did for the team.
J.J. O'Brien 6-7 215lb
With 7 points and 6 rebounds a game (good for second on the team) O'Brien was another solid wing lost by the Utes this past year. I can't comment too much on what any of these players brought to their teams outside the statistics I've found as I really didn't watch them play last year. All I know is that Utah will be hurting in a very bad way.
Incoming Freshmen:
Kareem Storey 6-0 190lb
Storey is known to be a solid scorer with the ability to hit inside with a good driving attack as well as outside with a decent 3 pointer. He does force a lot of shots, hordes the ball, and often lacks the court vision to see open teammates. Storey could be more of a hindrance than an asset for Utah, but he is a college level player, which Utah would have been severely lacking otherwise.
Anthony Odunsi 6-3 195lb
Odunsi is a combination guard, much like Isaiah Thomas, but not nearly as skilled and lacking a consistent 3 pointer. He is a solid rebounder with the strength to bounce around in the lanes. He seems like a much more reliable point guard prospect for Utah.
George Matthews 6-6 190lb
Matthews has a great scoring skill set. At 6-6 he can shoot over players in the lane and at the post. He can also finish outside the arc, which forces defenders to stay honest at all times. He energy level can waver at times on offense and defense, occasionally forcing shots or letting the opposition blow by him.
Utah also brings in 3 JC transfers, plus 7 other transfers/redshirts.
Returning Players:
David Foster 7-3 255lb
Josh Watkins 6-0 200lb
Jason Washburn 7-0 230lb
Chris Hines 6-0 195lb
Well that was easier than usual.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Josh Watkins 6-0 200lb
David Foster 7-3 255lb
And that's about as far as I can guess. They have so many incoming players I can't even begin to ponder who will be in their starting 5 outside those two. It's anyone's to take.
What to Expect:
Don't expect Utah to come close to competing. Even ASU and WSU should be able to make Utah look bad. Utah does return some size in a pair of 7 footers, but neither has shown too much offensive promise yet. Defensively they are a dangerous duo, especially if they could play on the court at the same time. Utah will be lucky to win 3 or 4 games in conference. If they manage to string together some sort of consistent starting 5 and find some decent enough bench players, Utah could struggle out of the basement to maybe 11th or 10th place. Higher than that would be asking far too much of the players and coaching staff. Utah won't be competitive in conference for at least another 2 or 3 year, in my opinion.
Monday, October 31, 2011
University of Southern California: 2011-2012 Preview
USC is coming off a tipsy turvy year. USC was part of the 8 teams who had to play their way into the NCAA tournament where they lost to the miracle VCU team who shocked college basketball like Butler last season. USC finished 19-15 overall and 10-8 in conference, one game back from UW.
Unfortunately for USC, the Trojans look to be taking a huge step backwards after graduating 4 seniors and junior, Nikola Vucevic. Alex Stephenson and Nikola Vucevic combined for 27 points and 20 rebounds a game in what was one of the best frontcourt duos in the nation. Stephenson was .2 points and .8 rebounds from averaging a double-double along with Vucevic.
After losing so much size, experience, and talent the Trojans will have a lot of work to do, especially in the frontcourt. Their backcourt was looking fairly solid until Jio Fontan, last season's second leading scorer, blew out his knee during their Brazilian tour. He had season ending surgery and will not return until 2012-2013. The Trojans will likely be without Curtis Washington this season as he suffered a torn labrum (shoulder injury). The Trojans' new 7 foot center, Dwayne Dedmon, suffered a broken hand in mid October that has kept his practice limited for the past few weeks (common recovery time is 2-3 weeks for the injury he suffered, so he should be back to full mobility in his hand quite soon).
As you can see its been a rough off season for USC, so much so that during the Pac-12 media day Trojan coach, Kevin O'Neil, made this statement: "If Mo gets hurt we can't really play the game. ... We'd have to start a freshman point guard and that would be a disaster. ... I need him (Jones) to do more all the time. ... His impact on our team is unbelievable. If he's in trouble or gets hurt, don't come to our games because it will be ugly."
Key Losses:
Alex Stephenson 6-10 250lb
A big man with a big game. The second best rebounder in the conference behind teammate Nikola Vucevic, Stephenson was a big, talented body who helped USC battle their way to the NCAA. Stephenson had a strong inside game, but his shooting from range struggled a bit in comparison to his counterpart.
Nikola Vucevic 6-10 240lb
A top prospect in the Pac-10, Vucevic was drafted with the 16th overall pick in the NBA draft. He averaged 17 points and over 10 boards per game. Dominating is the only way to describe him. He could push his weight around inside and drop the long ball every now and then. USC will be missing him greatly.
Jio Fontan 6-0 170lb
Fontan has a terrific junior season. Second in scoring at 11 ppg and first on the team with 4 assists per game, Fontan was the guard they needed after losing a lot of backcourt talent the previous seasons. He was going to be the saving grace for the Trojan until his knee injury. He'll be back next season.
Incoming Freshmen:
Alexis Moore 6-2 180lb
Moore adds some much needed depth at the PG position. He is a solid passer who has been developing his shooting game with relative success. His biggest problems lie in his form when passing and a tendency to take too many shots. Moore will have to quickly learn how to play at the collegiate level because Maurice Jones is going to need a hand.
Byron Wesley 6-5 210lb
Wesley will be a terrific 2/3 for the Trojans if he can add a 3 point shot to his arsenal. He has a solid mid-range game that is tough to stop with his strength and height. He strikes me as a less talented, but stronger Terrence Ross. Regardless, the backcourt is USC's weak point Wesley could find himself getting immediate play time.Haven't heard or seen much about his defensive skills so I can't comment on what type of impact he could have there, but at 210lbs he can bang with the best of them on the outside.
USC also added two JC transfers in 7-1 260lb, James Blasczyk, and 6-3 180lb, Greg Allen. Both players could bring in much needed experience to an underdeveloped team.
Returning Players:
Maurice Jones 5-7 155lb
Tyler Sugiyama 5-10 150lb
Daniel Munoz 5-10 175lb
Eric Strangis 6-4 190lb
Daniel Dragovic 6-5 195lb
Aaron Fuller 6-6 235lb
Garrett Jackson 6-6 225lb
Evan Smith 6-7 225lb
Curtis Washington 6-10 245lb
Not a whole lot of big name talent coming back for USC. Like O'Neill said, if Maurice gets hurt then the Trojans are in for a world of hurt. The talent coming in doesn't come close to replacing the talent going out and honestly, the talent remaining is far from spectacular with all the injuries they have sustained. That being said, USC should not be the worst team in conference. They have enough size and "veteran" players win against teams like Utah and ASU, maybe even WSU.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Maurice Jones 5-7 155lb
Alexis Moore 6-2 180lb
Garrett Jackson 6-6 225lb
Curtis Washington 6-10 245lb
James Blasczyk 7-1 260lb
Look at that line-up. Recognize anyone from last season? Jones is the only player who had an impact last season for USC at nearly 10 points and over 3 assists per game. Jackson played in all but one game for USC, though he only averaged 3 points.
What to Expect:
USC is going to have to do all it can to keep its guards healthy as well as find a way to get the frontcourt developing. Not a lot of talent to be seen here and they'll be scrapping for every win they can get. USC has a tough match-up as their last non-conference game against Kansas. They also face Georgia (who UW beat in the NCAA last season) and New Mexico (who UW beat two season ago in the NCAA). USC will have a losing record and finish in the bottom four of the conference. I'd be surprised if they finished higher than 8th. Utah will keep USC out of the basement, but not far from it. Keep your heads up Trojan fans. There is always football to look forward to.
Unfortunately for USC, the Trojans look to be taking a huge step backwards after graduating 4 seniors and junior, Nikola Vucevic. Alex Stephenson and Nikola Vucevic combined for 27 points and 20 rebounds a game in what was one of the best frontcourt duos in the nation. Stephenson was .2 points and .8 rebounds from averaging a double-double along with Vucevic.
After losing so much size, experience, and talent the Trojans will have a lot of work to do, especially in the frontcourt. Their backcourt was looking fairly solid until Jio Fontan, last season's second leading scorer, blew out his knee during their Brazilian tour. He had season ending surgery and will not return until 2012-2013. The Trojans will likely be without Curtis Washington this season as he suffered a torn labrum (shoulder injury). The Trojans' new 7 foot center, Dwayne Dedmon, suffered a broken hand in mid October that has kept his practice limited for the past few weeks (common recovery time is 2-3 weeks for the injury he suffered, so he should be back to full mobility in his hand quite soon).
As you can see its been a rough off season for USC, so much so that during the Pac-12 media day Trojan coach, Kevin O'Neil, made this statement: "If Mo gets hurt we can't really play the game. ... We'd have to start a freshman point guard and that would be a disaster. ... I need him (Jones) to do more all the time. ... His impact on our team is unbelievable. If he's in trouble or gets hurt, don't come to our games because it will be ugly."
Key Losses:
Alex Stephenson 6-10 250lb
A big man with a big game. The second best rebounder in the conference behind teammate Nikola Vucevic, Stephenson was a big, talented body who helped USC battle their way to the NCAA. Stephenson had a strong inside game, but his shooting from range struggled a bit in comparison to his counterpart.
Nikola Vucevic 6-10 240lb
A top prospect in the Pac-10, Vucevic was drafted with the 16th overall pick in the NBA draft. He averaged 17 points and over 10 boards per game. Dominating is the only way to describe him. He could push his weight around inside and drop the long ball every now and then. USC will be missing him greatly.
Jio Fontan 6-0 170lb
Fontan has a terrific junior season. Second in scoring at 11 ppg and first on the team with 4 assists per game, Fontan was the guard they needed after losing a lot of backcourt talent the previous seasons. He was going to be the saving grace for the Trojan until his knee injury. He'll be back next season.
Incoming Freshmen:
Alexis Moore 6-2 180lb
Moore adds some much needed depth at the PG position. He is a solid passer who has been developing his shooting game with relative success. His biggest problems lie in his form when passing and a tendency to take too many shots. Moore will have to quickly learn how to play at the collegiate level because Maurice Jones is going to need a hand.
Byron Wesley 6-5 210lb
Wesley will be a terrific 2/3 for the Trojans if he can add a 3 point shot to his arsenal. He has a solid mid-range game that is tough to stop with his strength and height. He strikes me as a less talented, but stronger Terrence Ross. Regardless, the backcourt is USC's weak point Wesley could find himself getting immediate play time.Haven't heard or seen much about his defensive skills so I can't comment on what type of impact he could have there, but at 210lbs he can bang with the best of them on the outside.
USC also added two JC transfers in 7-1 260lb, James Blasczyk, and 6-3 180lb, Greg Allen. Both players could bring in much needed experience to an underdeveloped team.
Returning Players:
Maurice Jones 5-7 155lb
Tyler Sugiyama 5-10 150lb
Daniel Munoz 5-10 175lb
Eric Strangis 6-4 190lb
Daniel Dragovic 6-5 195lb
Aaron Fuller 6-6 235lb
Garrett Jackson 6-6 225lb
Evan Smith 6-7 225lb
Curtis Washington 6-10 245lb
Not a whole lot of big name talent coming back for USC. Like O'Neill said, if Maurice gets hurt then the Trojans are in for a world of hurt. The talent coming in doesn't come close to replacing the talent going out and honestly, the talent remaining is far from spectacular with all the injuries they have sustained. That being said, USC should not be the worst team in conference. They have enough size and "veteran" players win against teams like Utah and ASU, maybe even WSU.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Maurice Jones 5-7 155lb
Alexis Moore 6-2 180lb
Garrett Jackson 6-6 225lb
Curtis Washington 6-10 245lb
James Blasczyk 7-1 260lb
Look at that line-up. Recognize anyone from last season? Jones is the only player who had an impact last season for USC at nearly 10 points and over 3 assists per game. Jackson played in all but one game for USC, though he only averaged 3 points.
What to Expect:
USC is going to have to do all it can to keep its guards healthy as well as find a way to get the frontcourt developing. Not a lot of talent to be seen here and they'll be scrapping for every win they can get. USC has a tough match-up as their last non-conference game against Kansas. They also face Georgia (who UW beat in the NCAA last season) and New Mexico (who UW beat two season ago in the NCAA). USC will have a losing record and finish in the bottom four of the conference. I'd be surprised if they finished higher than 8th. Utah will keep USC out of the basement, but not far from it. Keep your heads up Trojan fans. There is always football to look forward to.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
University of California: Los Angelas 2011-2012 Preview
UCLA finished second in the conference last season with a 13-5 record and 24-11 overall. The Bruins will be a scary team this season. With 6 returning seniors, Josh Smith, and the Wear Twins, UCLA will have a lot of talent especially in the front court. They will be tall, strong, and skilled. A very dangerous combination that makes them the clear front runner in the Pac-12 and likely a top 20 to top 15 team. Their guard play may be slightly weaker than in previous seasons with the early departure of Malcolm Lee (he went in the second round to the Chicago Bulls and then was traded to Minnesota) and Tyler Honeycutt (picked in the second round by Sacramento).
UCLA brings in 3 new freshmen as well as gaining the eligibility of the Wear twins to pump up their roster. They have 6 players standing 6-8 or taller, including 4 players at 6-10. No one is shorter than 6-0 on the team.
Key Losses:
Malcolm Lee 6-5 200lb
Lee was a great PG and SG talent for the Bruins. He was second in scoring behind Reeves Nelson at 13 points per game as well as dishing out 2 assists per outing. His outside shot was a little suspect at only 30%, but he had a dangerous slashing drive attack that gave him a lot of opportunities in the key. Lee had great ball handling and defensive skills that made a huge mismatch for opposing point guards. He had the height to shoot over smaller guards and the speed to move around stronger opponents. Big loss for the Bruins. Lazeric Jones and Jermine Anderson will have to step up their games to fill the gap.
Tyler Honeycutt 6-8 188lb
Honeycutt was third in scoring for the Bruins at nearly 13 points per game. He was second in rebounding behind Reeves Nelson and ahead of Josh Smith. In my mind, Honeycutt could have used another year to develop his game, but he and the NBA decided he was ready and it probably has a lot to do with his height. Honeycutt did struggle at times against solid defenders and against UW he had trouble getting open shots (he went 4-12 and 0-6 from the field in two games against UW). Honeycutt is very similar to UW's Terrance Ross in that he has a wide skill set from outside shooting to driving the lane and crashing the boards. Brendan Lane and Tyler Lamb will likely try to fill the hole left by Honeycutt.
Incoming Freshmen:
Khalid McCaskill 6-6 190lb
A new walk-on for the Bruins, replacing Alex Schrempf who has transferred to UW but will not play this season. McCaskill is known for his driving abilities, but also possesses a decent jump shot. I suspect McCaskill will redshirt or see very little if any play time. Even with a lack of talented depth in the backcourt, McCaskill is a ways back in the line-up.
Norman Powell 6-3 200lb
Powell is a slash and drive guard first and foremost. His mid-range and 3 point shot are still in development, but with his speed and athleticism he can create opportunities for himself and other in the open court. Powell will play the 2 as his ball handling skills are rough when going to his left, something that a 1 guard needs to be able to do. Give Powell a year or two to fine tune his game and he'll be a much better guard for the Bruins.
Returning Players:
Kenny Jones 6-0 190lb
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Tyler Trapani 6-0 190lb
Nick Kazemi 6-0 175lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb
Larry Drew II 6-2 190lb
Matt DeMarcus 6-3 203lb
David Brown 6-3 185lb
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
De'End Parker 6-6 215lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Brendan Lane 6-9 223lb
Anthony Stover 6-10 235lb
David Wear 6-10 225lb
Travis Wear 6-10 220lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
Parker is a JC transfer who averaged about 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. A solid prospect with two remaining years of eligibility, Parker should contribute almost immediately at the 3 position. Smith still remains to be overweight and out of shape, which greatly limits his ability to contribute in transition plays and often led to sloppy fouls when defending outside the post. Between Nelson and the Wear twins, the Bruins have the strongest 4 and 5 possibly in the nation. A lot of rebounding and post scoring ability to be sure. Nelson is a work horse who is the returning leading scorer for UCLA at nearly 14 per game and a team high 9 rebounds. Nelson will likely average a double double next season much like former UW star Jon Brockman. I like Nelson for a possible Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb (After his two game suspension for theft)
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
What to Expect:
Smith and Nelson will be the leading scorers and rebounders this season without a doubt. Smith uses his weight to make up for his lack of agility in the post to score against defenders. Aziz N'Diaye will need to keep his foul situation under control against UCLA to prevent Smith from dominating inside. UCLA has a tough tournament ahead in Maui (which UW participated in last year). UCLA's success will largely depend on how well the backcourt can move the ball around to feed it inside where their true strength lies. Expect UCLA to dominate a lot of smaller teams and even in conference they should find a few teams they can push around at will. Teams can beat UCLA by excellent guard play and defense, preventing the ball from moving inside. UW should be able to compete, but I expect a series split this season with each team winning at their home court. I can't see UCLA losing to many games in conference and should finish no lower than third, though finishing lower than second in conference should be considered disappointing considering the talent on the team.
UCLA brings in 3 new freshmen as well as gaining the eligibility of the Wear twins to pump up their roster. They have 6 players standing 6-8 or taller, including 4 players at 6-10. No one is shorter than 6-0 on the team.
Key Losses:
Malcolm Lee 6-5 200lb
Lee was a great PG and SG talent for the Bruins. He was second in scoring behind Reeves Nelson at 13 points per game as well as dishing out 2 assists per outing. His outside shot was a little suspect at only 30%, but he had a dangerous slashing drive attack that gave him a lot of opportunities in the key. Lee had great ball handling and defensive skills that made a huge mismatch for opposing point guards. He had the height to shoot over smaller guards and the speed to move around stronger opponents. Big loss for the Bruins. Lazeric Jones and Jermine Anderson will have to step up their games to fill the gap.
Tyler Honeycutt 6-8 188lb
Honeycutt was third in scoring for the Bruins at nearly 13 points per game. He was second in rebounding behind Reeves Nelson and ahead of Josh Smith. In my mind, Honeycutt could have used another year to develop his game, but he and the NBA decided he was ready and it probably has a lot to do with his height. Honeycutt did struggle at times against solid defenders and against UW he had trouble getting open shots (he went 4-12 and 0-6 from the field in two games against UW). Honeycutt is very similar to UW's Terrance Ross in that he has a wide skill set from outside shooting to driving the lane and crashing the boards. Brendan Lane and Tyler Lamb will likely try to fill the hole left by Honeycutt.
Incoming Freshmen:
Khalid McCaskill 6-6 190lb
A new walk-on for the Bruins, replacing Alex Schrempf who has transferred to UW but will not play this season. McCaskill is known for his driving abilities, but also possesses a decent jump shot. I suspect McCaskill will redshirt or see very little if any play time. Even with a lack of talented depth in the backcourt, McCaskill is a ways back in the line-up.
Norman Powell 6-3 200lb
Powell is a slash and drive guard first and foremost. His mid-range and 3 point shot are still in development, but with his speed and athleticism he can create opportunities for himself and other in the open court. Powell will play the 2 as his ball handling skills are rough when going to his left, something that a 1 guard needs to be able to do. Give Powell a year or two to fine tune his game and he'll be a much better guard for the Bruins.
Returning Players:
Kenny Jones 6-0 190lb
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Tyler Trapani 6-0 190lb
Nick Kazemi 6-0 175lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb
Larry Drew II 6-2 190lb
Matt DeMarcus 6-3 203lb
David Brown 6-3 185lb
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
De'End Parker 6-6 215lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Brendan Lane 6-9 223lb
Anthony Stover 6-10 235lb
David Wear 6-10 225lb
Travis Wear 6-10 220lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
Parker is a JC transfer who averaged about 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. A solid prospect with two remaining years of eligibility, Parker should contribute almost immediately at the 3 position. Smith still remains to be overweight and out of shape, which greatly limits his ability to contribute in transition plays and often led to sloppy fouls when defending outside the post. Between Nelson and the Wear twins, the Bruins have the strongest 4 and 5 possibly in the nation. A lot of rebounding and post scoring ability to be sure. Nelson is a work horse who is the returning leading scorer for UCLA at nearly 14 per game and a team high 9 rebounds. Nelson will likely average a double double next season much like former UW star Jon Brockman. I like Nelson for a possible Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb (After his two game suspension for theft)
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
What to Expect:
Smith and Nelson will be the leading scorers and rebounders this season without a doubt. Smith uses his weight to make up for his lack of agility in the post to score against defenders. Aziz N'Diaye will need to keep his foul situation under control against UCLA to prevent Smith from dominating inside. UCLA has a tough tournament ahead in Maui (which UW participated in last year). UCLA's success will largely depend on how well the backcourt can move the ball around to feed it inside where their true strength lies. Expect UCLA to dominate a lot of smaller teams and even in conference they should find a few teams they can push around at will. Teams can beat UCLA by excellent guard play and defense, preventing the ball from moving inside. UW should be able to compete, but I expect a series split this season with each team winning at their home court. I can't see UCLA losing to many games in conference and should finish no lower than third, though finishing lower than second in conference should be considered disappointing considering the talent on the team.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Stanford University Preview: 2011-2012
After a season where the Stanford roster featured not one senior player, the Cardinals have 4 seniors, 2 juniors, and 6 sophomores. A lot more experience could mean a lot more talent, but that remains to be seen as the early departure of Jeremey Green for the NBA draft has left another big hole in the Stanford offense. Stanford finished 15-16 overall and 7-11 in conference. Thankfully, for the Cardinals, Josh Owens is around for his final season along with Andrew Zimmerman (Here) and Jack Trotter meaning there is some good experience and size in the post. This will be helpful as the Stanford backcourt will likely be less talented than in past years.
Key Losses:
Jeremy Green 6-4 198lb
The athletic guard let Stanford in scoring at 17 points per game. Following in the steps of Landry Fields, Green was a quick guard with the ability to create shots at will. He had a sweet shot, hitting nearly 43% from the 3-point line. Last season was his junior year, but rather than returning for his senior season like Fields, Green opted to declare for the draft and hired an agent almost immediately thereby making himself illegible for his senior season should he wish to withdraw from the draft. In the end Green made a poor decision for his career. Between not getting drafted and the NBA lockout, Green has missed out on valuable playing time that could have helped his stock and skill set.
Incoming Freshmen:
Chasson Randle 6-1 170lb
Randle is a hybrid 1/2 guard will room to improve in each positions skill set. His shot is effective out to the 3 point range, but from deep it is still so-so. With a better 3 point range, his scoring ability can jump through the roof. He also needs to develop his passing abilities should he wish to run an offense properly. He should be a good guard for the Cardinals, not terribly exceptional, but good enough to get the job done. He should find more success once he develops a role within the team.
Wade Morgen 6-1 165lb
Jack Ryan 6-7 200lb
I couldn't find anything useful on either of these new freshmen. ESPN didn't list them on Stanford's 2011 class list and the Stanford web page offered little in terms of useful information. Even Googling the players told me next to nothing about their talents and weaknesses. If you know anything about these guys or have video highlights, post a link in the comments.
Returning Players:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Gabriel Harris 6-2 190lb
Robbie Lemons 6-3 205lb
Jarrett Man 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Heustis 6-7 225lb
Andy Brown 6-7 210lb
Andrew Zimmerman 6-8 230lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
John Gage 6-9 225lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
Jack Trotter 6-9 225lb
Stefan Nastic 6-11 245lb
It'll be all about Stanford's frontcourt this year. Owens, Powell, Trotter, Zimmerman, and Gage all have experience and some talent amongst them. Owens and Powell are the cream of their crop and will likely play the 4 and 5 in the starting positions. Look for Bright to lead the backcourt.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Jarrett Mann 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
What to Expect:
Stanford will likely be near the middle to bottom of the conference again. As experienced as their frontcourt is, the talent the players' possess is far from exceptional. Owens will likely have the biggest impact as the returning, leading scorer and could average a double-double if he picks up his rebounding game a bit. Owens should shore up the middle with Powell, while Bright and Mann lead the attack from the perimeter. Stanford plays too much of a slow down offense to compete with athletic teams like UW and UA who like to run. Teams like UCLA have too much strength and size for Stanford to bang with and UO has a much better backcourt. I could see Stanford as high as 6th and as low as 9th in conference. I'm betting on ASU, CU, and Utah to fill out the basement.
Key Losses:
Jeremy Green 6-4 198lb
The athletic guard let Stanford in scoring at 17 points per game. Following in the steps of Landry Fields, Green was a quick guard with the ability to create shots at will. He had a sweet shot, hitting nearly 43% from the 3-point line. Last season was his junior year, but rather than returning for his senior season like Fields, Green opted to declare for the draft and hired an agent almost immediately thereby making himself illegible for his senior season should he wish to withdraw from the draft. In the end Green made a poor decision for his career. Between not getting drafted and the NBA lockout, Green has missed out on valuable playing time that could have helped his stock and skill set.
Incoming Freshmen:
Chasson Randle 6-1 170lb
Randle is a hybrid 1/2 guard will room to improve in each positions skill set. His shot is effective out to the 3 point range, but from deep it is still so-so. With a better 3 point range, his scoring ability can jump through the roof. He also needs to develop his passing abilities should he wish to run an offense properly. He should be a good guard for the Cardinals, not terribly exceptional, but good enough to get the job done. He should find more success once he develops a role within the team.
Wade Morgen 6-1 165lb
Jack Ryan 6-7 200lb
I couldn't find anything useful on either of these new freshmen. ESPN didn't list them on Stanford's 2011 class list and the Stanford web page offered little in terms of useful information. Even Googling the players told me next to nothing about their talents and weaknesses. If you know anything about these guys or have video highlights, post a link in the comments.
Returning Players:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Gabriel Harris 6-2 190lb
Robbie Lemons 6-3 205lb
Jarrett Man 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Heustis 6-7 225lb
Andy Brown 6-7 210lb
Andrew Zimmerman 6-8 230lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
John Gage 6-9 225lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
Jack Trotter 6-9 225lb
Stefan Nastic 6-11 245lb
It'll be all about Stanford's frontcourt this year. Owens, Powell, Trotter, Zimmerman, and Gage all have experience and some talent amongst them. Owens and Powell are the cream of their crop and will likely play the 4 and 5 in the starting positions. Look for Bright to lead the backcourt.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Jarrett Mann 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
What to Expect:
Stanford will likely be near the middle to bottom of the conference again. As experienced as their frontcourt is, the talent the players' possess is far from exceptional. Owens will likely have the biggest impact as the returning, leading scorer and could average a double-double if he picks up his rebounding game a bit. Owens should shore up the middle with Powell, while Bright and Mann lead the attack from the perimeter. Stanford plays too much of a slow down offense to compete with athletic teams like UW and UA who like to run. Teams like UCLA have too much strength and size for Stanford to bang with and UO has a much better backcourt. I could see Stanford as high as 6th and as low as 9th in conference. I'm betting on ASU, CU, and Utah to fill out the basement.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Oregon State University Preview: 2011-2012
Oregon State had a rough season last year, finishing 5-13 in conference and 11-20 overall. It doesn't look to be getting any easier for the Beavers either after graduating four seniors, including two redshirt seniors. This season the Beaver roster only sports one senior in Kevin McShane, who only averaged 9 minutes and .9 points per game. The Beavers had a smaller recruiting class with two incoming freshman, including a point guard from Sweden who is relatively unknown. This team will rely heavily on Jared Cunningham, Joe Burton, and Roberto Nelson. While the Beavers team is somewhat tall (the average height is 6-7) they lack overall depth.
Key Losses:
Calvin Haynes 6-3 188lb
The Beavers had far from a high scoring offense, but Haynes was second on the team at 9.4 ppg. His scoring came mostly from inside and driving the lane as his 3 point shot struggled most of the season. Haynes did a little bit of everything for the Beavers adding 3 boards and 2 assists on average. His speed and experience will be missed by OSU.
Omari Johnson 6-9 220lb
Johnson led the Beavers in rebounds last season at 6.4 per game and was 5th in scoring at 7.2 ppg. A poor free throw shooter, but a solid man on the block, Johnson provided strength inside along with Joe Burton to prevent teams from cheating out on the perimeter. Burton and Angus Brandt will have to step their games up to fill in the rebounding hole.
Incoming Freshman:
Challe Barton 6-3 188lb
Barton played for the Swedish U16, U18, and U20 teams giving him some good experience coming into his freshman year. He will be a backup behind Ahmad Starks. He is a pass first guard, which is great for the Beavers who were led in assists by Joe Burton, the 6-7 280lb F. Both he and Starks will be important in generating more offense for OSU.
Daniel Gomis 6-9 220lb
Gomis will help fill in where Johnson left off. He is a workhorse on the glass and defensively, but his offense leaves a lot to be desired. ESPN says his best shot is his dunk and other than that he tends to struggle to maintain a consistent stroke. Like Joe Wolfinger, the former UW 7 footer, Gomis is known to take a few 3 pointers, but does not have the talent to be a threat with it. Gomis should become a much better and more impacting player for the Beavers after a year or two in the system, working on his shot.
Returning Players:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Rhys Murphy 6-7 195lb
Devon Collier 6-7 206lb
Kevin McShane 6-9 225lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
Eric Moreland 6-10 201lb
Chris Brown 6-11 262lb
Daniel Jones 6-11 208lb
During the summer, Nelson cut his hand up pretty good after breaking a glass backboard during a game abroad with the rest of the Beavers. Overall it is a minor injury in the grand scheme of things and is already back in action. Starks should continue to be a dangerous player with a deadly 3 pointer from extreme ranges as well as the speed necessary to make him a great defender. His size often leads to a mismatch, but Isaiah Thomas showed that if you are a good enough athlete it doesn't matter. The difference between I.T. and Starks is that I.T. is actually 5-9 and has 20lbs on the much smaller Starks. Cunningham is a fantastic athlete who had one of the better dunks in conference last season and should lead the team in scoring once more. If Barton and Starks can run the offense, Cunningham may find more opportunities on the perimeter to add to his lane driving ability. The biggest question for the Beavers is if their frontcourt can provide enough support to keep the Beavers in games. While Burton is a big body, he is fairly slow and out of shape, which leads to more fast breaks against speedier, transition teams like UW.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
What to Expect:
Despite having a tall team, the Beavers lack real talent in the frontcourt and will likely struggle to compete with teams like UCLA and UW. Beyond the starting 5 the Beavers leave a lot to be desired, but on the plus side, the Beavers have a fairly easy non-conference schedule that will hopefully give the young players some opportunities to develop some confidence and skills. Their toughest test comes on the road against Texas and OSU will likely get blown out of the water despite Texas losing 8 players. Oregon State is in for another tough season, but their coach is aiming high at an NCAA tournament bid. OSU should be happy with a CBI or NIT invitation. Look for OSU to finish amongst the bottom of the Pac-12 once more. I don't see OSU doing any better than 7th in the conference and will likely finish no lower than 10th.
And as an added bonus, for those who haven't seen this video yet, some team "bonding" from the OSU Beavers: "Tickle Fight"
Key Losses:
Calvin Haynes 6-3 188lb
The Beavers had far from a high scoring offense, but Haynes was second on the team at 9.4 ppg. His scoring came mostly from inside and driving the lane as his 3 point shot struggled most of the season. Haynes did a little bit of everything for the Beavers adding 3 boards and 2 assists on average. His speed and experience will be missed by OSU.
Omari Johnson 6-9 220lb
Johnson led the Beavers in rebounds last season at 6.4 per game and was 5th in scoring at 7.2 ppg. A poor free throw shooter, but a solid man on the block, Johnson provided strength inside along with Joe Burton to prevent teams from cheating out on the perimeter. Burton and Angus Brandt will have to step their games up to fill in the rebounding hole.
Incoming Freshman:
Challe Barton 6-3 188lb
Barton played for the Swedish U16, U18, and U20 teams giving him some good experience coming into his freshman year. He will be a backup behind Ahmad Starks. He is a pass first guard, which is great for the Beavers who were led in assists by Joe Burton, the 6-7 280lb F. Both he and Starks will be important in generating more offense for OSU.
Daniel Gomis 6-9 220lb
Gomis will help fill in where Johnson left off. He is a workhorse on the glass and defensively, but his offense leaves a lot to be desired. ESPN says his best shot is his dunk and other than that he tends to struggle to maintain a consistent stroke. Like Joe Wolfinger, the former UW 7 footer, Gomis is known to take a few 3 pointers, but does not have the talent to be a threat with it. Gomis should become a much better and more impacting player for the Beavers after a year or two in the system, working on his shot.
Returning Players:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Rhys Murphy 6-7 195lb
Devon Collier 6-7 206lb
Kevin McShane 6-9 225lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
Eric Moreland 6-10 201lb
Chris Brown 6-11 262lb
Daniel Jones 6-11 208lb
During the summer, Nelson cut his hand up pretty good after breaking a glass backboard during a game abroad with the rest of the Beavers. Overall it is a minor injury in the grand scheme of things and is already back in action. Starks should continue to be a dangerous player with a deadly 3 pointer from extreme ranges as well as the speed necessary to make him a great defender. His size often leads to a mismatch, but Isaiah Thomas showed that if you are a good enough athlete it doesn't matter. The difference between I.T. and Starks is that I.T. is actually 5-9 and has 20lbs on the much smaller Starks. Cunningham is a fantastic athlete who had one of the better dunks in conference last season and should lead the team in scoring once more. If Barton and Starks can run the offense, Cunningham may find more opportunities on the perimeter to add to his lane driving ability. The biggest question for the Beavers is if their frontcourt can provide enough support to keep the Beavers in games. While Burton is a big body, he is fairly slow and out of shape, which leads to more fast breaks against speedier, transition teams like UW.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
What to Expect:
Despite having a tall team, the Beavers lack real talent in the frontcourt and will likely struggle to compete with teams like UCLA and UW. Beyond the starting 5 the Beavers leave a lot to be desired, but on the plus side, the Beavers have a fairly easy non-conference schedule that will hopefully give the young players some opportunities to develop some confidence and skills. Their toughest test comes on the road against Texas and OSU will likely get blown out of the water despite Texas losing 8 players. Oregon State is in for another tough season, but their coach is aiming high at an NCAA tournament bid. OSU should be happy with a CBI or NIT invitation. Look for OSU to finish amongst the bottom of the Pac-12 once more. I don't see OSU doing any better than 7th in the conference and will likely finish no lower than 10th.
And as an added bonus, for those who haven't seen this video yet, some team "bonding" from the OSU Beavers: "Tickle Fight"
Monday, October 24, 2011
Norris Frederick Silent Auction 10/26/11
Norris Frederick, a UW Track and Field Alum, is hosting a Silent Auction this coming Wednesday in Seattle. The event includes a raffle, silent auction, and a variety of other UW Alumni such as Isaiah Thomas, Jon Brockman, Spencer Hawes, Roy Lewis, and members of Seattle's LFL (Lingerie Football League) team. Many of the celebrities will be part of a "date auction" where the highest bidder wins a date with the celebrity. Frederick is looking to raise money for his 2012 Olympic campaign to represent the USA and UW in London. There will be a live DJ, a bar for those over 21, and other fun events to keep the night going.
You can find out more here on the Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237497606300407
Frederick's personal web page can be found here: http://www.norrisfrederick.com/
The event starts at 7pm and will go through much of the night. It is being hosted at Citrus Seattle.
You can find out more here on the Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237497606300407
Frederick's personal web page can be found here: http://www.norrisfrederick.com/
The event starts at 7pm and will go through much of the night. It is being hosted at Citrus Seattle.
Citrus Seattle
1001 Fairview Ave N
Seattle, WA
Check it out, give money to a good cause, and have some fun.
Go Dawgs!
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