Wolves Shootout: JM flies by Riverside
During the pregame warm-up a Milwaukee Riverside assistant turned to me and said “JM is in big trouble, we are going to fly by these guys”. Really? That’s interesting. The only flying by going on was the Rockets forcing Riverside…
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Continue ReadingDuring the pregame warm-up a Milwaukee Riverside assistant turned to me and said “JM is in big trouble, we are going to fly by these guys”. Really? That’s interesting. The only flying by going on was the Rockets forcing Riverside into bad shots and then JM flying the other direction for transition scores and halfcourt ball movement that “flew by” the Riverside players resulting in open JM attempts possession after possession.
Michael and Matthew Hurt traded first half face-up attacking scores, face-up jumpers, threes, and then give and gos to one another. They were both on the scoreboard for 15 points, six boards, and three blocks at the break. The only thing that JM did wrong was give up numerous offensive boards and had they rebounded better offensively they would have been up 49-25 instead of 49-34.
Isaiah Walden (6-ft-0, Jr, PG). Isaiah helped JM move past a mini Riverside run by hitting a really nice kiss off the glass from ten feet after contact and then he followed that by threes on each wing. JM had zero turnovers in the first half and Isaiah was a part of that taking the pressure and then moving the ball quickly through it. Isaiah also does a nice job moving the ball with the Hurt brothers keeping the ball in constant motion. Like what he does in transition to running wide without the ball or getting middle and then making the right delivery at the foul line to the players moving with him.
D’Angelo Tines. (6-2, Sr, SF). A strong bodied three man who is a muscle slasher in that he scores on the move and uses his size to take contact and then finish plays. Stronger than three that defended him so he was able to get to space and then board or finish. A nice player to compliment the other JM scoring options.
Matthew Hurt.(6-9, Fr, PF). Riverside D1 prospect Justin Woffrd could do nothing with him on either end. Matthew put the ball on the floor and went right by the 6-foot-6 forward into extending scores at the rim, Matthew moved without the ball to get in position for jumpers, putbacks, and cutting scores, and on the other end he uses his length to control the paint for several early blocks. JM gave up way too many putback scores but Matthew helped by erasing many of them. As a 6-foot-9 freshman his skill level, body control, and agility combination is so rare. It’s top 25 freshman in the nation rare. Just love his body control. Nothing seems to intimidate Matthew either. He seems to like the contact so he can then recalculate and finish.
Michael Hurt. (6-6, Sr, SF). Michael opened the game with a putback, a three, and a cut off the ball catching from his brother for a score at the rim before the defense could react to get a body in front of Michael. I’ve said this many times before but Michael is one of the best off the ball. He is so good moving off the ball that he gets to a spot to catch and finish well before the defense can react. Michael showed the Gopher fans watching him that he has a nice face-up score from the post, he can hit cutters for scores with dimes out of the post, that he uses his length to block shots or deflections, that he will dive on the floor, and that he has a nose for boards. Michael did just about everything in his repertoire and that repertoire is large as he is skilled, works hard, and a highly intelligent player.
Brandon Kriegel (5-11, SG, G). Bench player that stepped on the floor and did a nice job first on defense being in the right position to help create a couple turnovers and then he fit right in with the JM ball movement using quick rotations to earn a couple assists. Also found space to score a couple shots inside the arc with one of them being on the move. Plays because he works hard and does what is asked on both ends.