Basketball season is back! It may only be an exhibition game, but I'm excited to see what the Cowboys look like in tomorrow night's game against UCCS. Here are three things I will have my eye on:
1. Can Hankerson Jr. be the go-to scorer that this team lacks? We've heard conflicting reports ranging from him being the best player on the floor to more pessimistic evaluations of him as a high-volume, low-percentage shooter. Hankerson Jr. reminds me a lot of a pre-injury Afam Muojeke. He is athletic and has the ability to get to the basket and create shots at the rim. The key will be whether or not he can draw fouls and/or finish through contact once he gets there. For this team to have a legitimate shot at a "real" post season tournament, like the NIT or NCAA, Hankerson Jr. will need to perform at a high level.
2. How much has Larry Nance Jr. improved? The reports suggest he has really bulked up, which should help him be more physical on the blocks, but added muscle does not guarantee an improvement, especially on the offensive end. Nance Jr. was inconsistent last year. Of course, nagging injuries became an issue down the stretch and likely played a roll in that inconsistency. We need Nance Jr. to be a double-double guy night in and night out. Will he take that next step this season? The answer to that question will have a big say in how this season goes.
3. What exactly can we expect from Granberry? In my opinion, Granberry works best as a specialist. He is a potent long-range threat, but that's about it. If we are forced to rely on Granberry to be an offensive creator beyond his deadly jump shot, I think that is a bad sign for the Pokes. I'll be happy if Granberry can come in and shoot 40% from long range and hit a couple big 3's for us each game.
Enough about the Pokes. Here is a little bit about UCCS for those interested:
Player to Watch: Derrick White (6'5, G, So) - Mr. White is the reigning RMAC freshman of the year and only underclassmen to be named to the RMAC preseason all-conference team. He has great length for the guard position and plays with a score first mentality. It will be interesting to see Josh Adams matched up with him. Adams was trusted with shutting down the opposing teams best guards at the end of the season last year, and while White is not on par with the best guards in the MWC, he will provide an early challenge for the Pokes defense.
UCCS was picked to finish 9th in the 14 team RMAC. They are coming off a poor 6-22 season, but return all 5 starters. Their strength is rebounding, and they especially hit the glass hard on the offensive end. At times, the Pokes struggled with rebounding the basketball last season. However, they should have a physical advantage against UCCS and I will be keeping an eye on whether they can limit the second chance opportunities of UCCS.
1. Can Hankerson Jr. be the go-to scorer that this team lacks? We've heard conflicting reports ranging from him being the best player on the floor to more pessimistic evaluations of him as a high-volume, low-percentage shooter. Hankerson Jr. reminds me a lot of a pre-injury Afam Muojeke. He is athletic and has the ability to get to the basket and create shots at the rim. The key will be whether or not he can draw fouls and/or finish through contact once he gets there. For this team to have a legitimate shot at a "real" post season tournament, like the NIT or NCAA, Hankerson Jr. will need to perform at a high level.
2. How much has Larry Nance Jr. improved? The reports suggest he has really bulked up, which should help him be more physical on the blocks, but added muscle does not guarantee an improvement, especially on the offensive end. Nance Jr. was inconsistent last year. Of course, nagging injuries became an issue down the stretch and likely played a roll in that inconsistency. We need Nance Jr. to be a double-double guy night in and night out. Will he take that next step this season? The answer to that question will have a big say in how this season goes.
3. What exactly can we expect from Granberry? In my opinion, Granberry works best as a specialist. He is a potent long-range threat, but that's about it. If we are forced to rely on Granberry to be an offensive creator beyond his deadly jump shot, I think that is a bad sign for the Pokes. I'll be happy if Granberry can come in and shoot 40% from long range and hit a couple big 3's for us each game.
Enough about the Pokes. Here is a little bit about UCCS for those interested:
Player to Watch: Derrick White (6'5, G, So) - Mr. White is the reigning RMAC freshman of the year and only underclassmen to be named to the RMAC preseason all-conference team. He has great length for the guard position and plays with a score first mentality. It will be interesting to see Josh Adams matched up with him. Adams was trusted with shutting down the opposing teams best guards at the end of the season last year, and while White is not on par with the best guards in the MWC, he will provide an early challenge for the Pokes defense.
UCCS was picked to finish 9th in the 14 team RMAC. They are coming off a poor 6-22 season, but return all 5 starters. Their strength is rebounding, and they especially hit the glass hard on the offensive end. At times, the Pokes struggled with rebounding the basketball last season. However, they should have a physical advantage against UCCS and I will be keeping an eye on whether they can limit the second chance opportunities of UCCS.
