OT: Silly Random thoughts and made up stuff

[DanL53]

1. Caleb Swanigan was recently forcibly escorted from a Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Parlor. Witnesses stated there was too much sampling of the Thirty-One Flavors and not enough apparent intention to actually choose one! The store manager was quoted as saying, "Imagine if every customer did this! We don't want his kind!"

2. On a related note. This writer notices that Swanigan has now taken longer to pick a College Basketball Program than (should he however unlikely it is end up what I suspect he thinks he is) he will attend should he manage to be a one and done player. (Go that? Grammar is my enemy) Caleb! You've simply GOT to learn to make decisions. And, eventual coach of Caleb Swanigan, what are the odds he will be happy and want to STAY after one year even if he isn't ready for the pros? I'm sorry but the store manager from point one is starting to look pretty smart.

3. So HMP (I don't like using initials but in this case I will) and Devin Davis have been booted from Indiana due to an incident involving pot. Stop and think about this. They play for Tom Crean. The transfers we've seen at Indiana? The stress placed on kids knowing that every year Indiana over-signs and somebody has got to go? Davis even threw himself in front of a car last year! This is one of a handful of programs where I think it is not only a good idea, but should be required for their mental health, that all players smoke pot.

4. And Indiana finds itself with only eleven scholarship players on May 15th! At the start of the season. (Really, this is true) At the start of the 2014/15 basketball season they had no openings and over-recruited THREE players. Nobody went pro. And still they find themselves down two players on the 2015/16 roster! Yet if you read the Peegs board, you will find fans salivating at the idea of improving the lineup. There is talk of Thon Maker, the highly ranked ex-class of 2016 center who decided to bump to the 2015 class (this gets long, I'm sorry) now finds that even at a prep school designed to pump out basketball players and rent their gym for parties (true) he can't qualify until possibly the SECOND semester of 2015/16...yet everyone knows he intends to go pro after one year..(pause to let my fingers catch their breath)

So, to continue. Thon Maker would/could potentially play for half a season and then turn pro. That would make him a 1/2 and done. Hey, I guess Indiana would be the right place for him to land as that seems like ABOUT as long as their players stick around anyway!

5. Can't wait for the PTL. But I suspect it will be a zoo this year. Kind of miss now that they don't play as many games as they once did. To the folks posting videos and interviews like our own guys here at Hawkeye Report, thanks in advance. More, longer, if possible please!

 

[hooper56]

I think Calipari is in Swanigan's ear and Caleb is indeed "evaluating" the "offer". And I agree, we will have a lot to watch for in the PTL this year. And I am running a lottery to see which poster is the first to remind us that "the PTL is glorified pick up basketball and is not indicative of what will happen in the regular season. There is no defense and we should not make any judgments based upon what we see there."

I always felt like no one ever hit big numbers during the regular season before doing it first in the PTL. I still remember how excited I was the first time I set eyes on Reggie Evans in the PTL. It was pretty obvious he was going to be a star.

 

[DanL53]

Great points Hooper! Thanks for saving the thread from the nut who started it.

I agree, the more reports from the PTL the better. There are aspects to a players game that a reasonably learned (4th grade and above) basketball fan can evaluate. Besides, it is just fun to talk Hawkeye basketball in June and July.

Yes, someone will eventually explain that watching live games at the PTL is no way to evaluate a player, especially as compared to highlight videos and high school player rankings. All I can say in defense, is that SOMEONE in every tribe in the distant past must have been the designated taster of all things to see what actually could be eaten. A tough job, but someone had to do it. I appreciate people saying what they think.

 

[nu2u]

The Prime Time League is much like a glorified YMCA shirts and skins game between a mix of middle-age desk managers and former high school bench players who are seeking the post-game locker room glory that comes with a perfectly executed behind the back pass to an unguarded teammate under the basket for the game winner. No defense. A worthless gauge of what to expect when the season begins.

so........



what did I win?

 

[hooper56]

The Prime Time League is much like a glorified YMCA shirts and skins game between a mix of middle-age desk managers and former high school bench players who are seeking the post-game locker room glory that comes with a perfectly executed behind the back pass to an unguarded teammate under the basket for the game winner. No defense. A worthless gauge of what to expect when the season begins.

so........



what did I win?

You win nothing. You should have waited until tickets were sold. The jackpot is currently at $0.00

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

What is the fascination with Caleb Swanigan and his decision-making?

 

[bouma1415]

What is the fascination with Caleb Swanigan an his decision-making?

What is your fascination with the fascinations of others???

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

What is your fascination with my fascination of others fascinations?

 

[hawk-i bob]

and you can say the reverse about seeing players up close in action in the PTL...remember after seeing Aaron White in the PTL for the very first time....some "experts" posted he is not B1G ready...among other things. White should have listened to them and left that day...therefore failing to become Iowa's 2nd all-time leading scorer.

what it really says is for every expert with an opinion there is another one with the opposite opinion.

all kidding aside...its fun to get a peak of the newcomers...and yes I would suggest people get there sooner than they would for games at CHA......that is if you want a seat.

 

[hawkeyesports92]

and you can say the reverse about seeing players up close in action in the PTL...remember after seeing Aaron White in the PTL for the very first time....some "experts" posted he is not B1G ready...among other things. White should have listened to them and left that day...therefore failing to become Iowa's 2nd all-time leading scorer.

what it really says is for every expert with an opinion there is another one with the opposite opinion.

all kidding aside...its fun to get a peak of the newcomers...and yes I would suggest people get there sooner than they would for games at CHA......that is if you want a seat.

Legend always took shots at Aaron White and said he wasn't close to Big Ten ready.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Legend always took shots at Aaron White and said he wasn't close to Big Ten ready.

ya I remember that....

 

[DanL53]

and you can say the reverse about seeing players up close in action in the PTL...remember after seeing Aaron White in the PTL for the very first time....some "experts" posted he is not B1G ready...among other things. White should have listened to them and left that day...therefore failing to become Iowa's 2nd all-time leading scorer.

what it really says is for every expert with an opinion there is another one with the opposite opinion.

all kidding aside...its fun to get a peak of the newcomers...and yes I would suggest people get there sooner than they would for games at CHA......that is if you want a seat.

Yeah, I think it is important for readers to sift through various PTL reports and use a wary eye and a stiff shot of skepticism. Eventually the posters who have a knack for evaluating talent do shine through.

 

[hawksense]

What the PTL never, ever shows are the guts a player has when the big lights go on in big preconference games and, eventually, the B1G. Whitey showed up on Day One with guts and a willingness to belong. Uhl shows the same type of unflinching effort. He just needs more meat and playing time.

Years ago, I saw Kevin Smith play in the PTL and thought he was the real deal. He was never given 4 years to show it, but was hardly a world beater in his time here.

 

[1BigGalloot]

PrimeTime is more relevant now that UNI is participating. Close to half of the 72-80 roster spots are D1 players from two, top 25 programs that are getting to be NCAA Tourney regulars. Granted, I wouldn't put much stock in the numbers that come out of the PTL. There is a shot about every ten to 12 seconds, and at most, 4 passes a possession. Hell, didn't Brody Boyd have 70 one game?

There are things you can see though. Last summer McCaffery challenged Uthoff to take charge and look for his shot and not defer as he had in his first season on the floor with his teammates. Jarrod did, and that carried over to game one of 2014/15.

There will be judgments you can make regarding the Freshman and who/which might be the redshirt(s) Fran admitted to recently. This will be their first chance to play against bigger stronger players, and their first time on the floor with and against D1 players.

Jones missed a year with a knee. What's a Wagner Brickhouse look like? Fleming/Ellingson, any distinction? ....

There are lots of reasons for the curious to attend. Seeing is different than reading numbers off a box score.

 

[oakhawk]

I would suggest that people ignore the stats. Just watch HOW they play the game. You can get a lot more information by doing that than looking at points.
Do they make the extra pass? Do they know what a good shot is? Will they mix it up for rebounds? Do they keep calm when things aren't going well? Do they slack off on defense? Do they encourage their teammates?

 

[wondergrape]

PTL is enormously informative, and anyone who says otherwise probably has not been to many games. Yes, it's a glorified playground league. But skill and talent is still easy to spot in a playground league.

 

[larrygreenwallswildride]

If recent reports are to be believed, my 360 windmill dunks are nearly perfected. Working on halftime entertainment bookings now.