Was not on the trip this weekend.
Was wondering if he's sick or injured.
Or if something else is going on.

Interesting. I don't recall seeing Bower and Thorpe either but I wasn't looking closely.

BC Calfan said:

---

Interesting. I don't recall seeing Bower and Thorpe either but I wasn't looking closely.

---

Bowser and Thorpe are redshirting.
Redshirts do not travel to away games.

I'm mildly surprised there is a thread wondering about Klonaris.
Is it of any consequence whether he was there or not?
He wasn't going to play a meaningful minute either way.

graguna said:

---

I'm mildly surprised there is a thread wondering about Klonarus.
Is it of any consequence whether he was there or not?
He wasn't going to play a meaningful minute either way.

---

They wanted him there so Fox could put him in the last minute of the Oregon game to shoot and make a "rub your nose in it" trey like that classless bench warming UCLA pu$$ie did to us.

*And like Monty would do to us when he coached Furd.

Alkiadt said:

---

Was not on the trip this weekend.
Was wondering if he's sick or injured.
Or if something else is going on.

---

I went to the Huskies/Cougars games at Haas. I wanna say that, against UW, Klonaras scored a couple of buckets in garbage time, but then was in not in uniform against WSU. So maybe he's in the "mystery" category with Thorpe and Bowser.

Alkiadt said:

---

I'm not really interested in his playing time.
I'm more interested in scholarship spots.

---

I'm not really interested in CAL Basketball.
Havent watched a minute of it.
Cal Basketball sucks.

222nd in FG %
240th in 3-point %
217th in Points Scored
193rd in Total Rebounds.

Yeah, it sucks.

Alkiadt said:

---

graguna said:

---

I'm mildly surprised there is a thread wondering about Klonaris.
Is it of any consequence whether he was there or not?
He wasn't going to play a meaningful minute either way.

---

I'm not really interested in his playing time.
I'm more interested in scholarship spots.

---

I certainly hope that Fox is not attempting to pull a Wyking (encouraging Winston and McCullough to find
the exit after one year). Theoretically, that could have resulted in a net-positive but....it didn't.


GO BEARS!!!!

Cal8285 said:

---

bearup said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

graguna said:

---

I'm mildly surprised there is a thread wondering about Klonaris.
Is it of any consequence whether he was there or not?
He wasn't going to play a meaningful minute either way.

---

I'm not really interested in his playing time.
I'm more interested in scholarship spots.

---

I certainly hope that Fox is not attempting to pull a Wyking (encouraging Winston and McCullough to find
the exit after one year). Theoretically, that could have resulted in a net-positive but....it didn't.


GO BEARS!!!!

---

It is OK to encourage players to find an exit, what is not OK is to tell players they aren't on the team anymore, or aren't wanted, unless they aren't putting out effort.

Tell the players that you don't see a path to anything other than the scout team and garbage time, but they have a spot on the team/scholarship for four years if they want to stay and work hard as scout team players, and if that's what they want, that's what you want for them. Of course, the players who can best help the team win will play, so if they show a lot of improvement, they could end up in the rotation, but it is really unlikely. If they want to leave, you'll help find a landing spot if they want.

Act like the kindly father who wants them around but needs to be honest with them and will help them leave IF that's what they want. That maximizes the chances that the players will actually leave and free up the scholly ASAP, and doesn't make the program look bad. And if the player stays and takes up a scholly spot, the player stays, it is the price we pay for the coach making a recruiting mistake.

But "you're off the team because you suck and I never should have offered you a scholarship" is the wrong way to go, it makes the program look bad, and makes the players want to stick it to the coach if they can, whether by taking the scholly without having to work for it, or holding on to it as long as possible so the coach can't fill the spot the next year even if the player leaves (which is what Winston and McCullough did).

---

+1000

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

Big C said:

---

Cal8285 said:

---

bearup said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

graguna said:

---

I'm mildly surprised there is a thread wondering about Klonaris.
Is it of any consequence whether he was there or not?
He wasn't going to play a meaningful minute either way.

---

I'm not really interested in his playing time.
I'm more interested in scholarship spots.

---

I certainly hope that Fox is not attempting to pull a Wyking (encouraging Winston and McCullough to find
the exit after one year). Theoretically, that could have resulted in a net-positive but....it didn't.


GO BEARS!!!!

---

It is OK to encourage players to find an exit, what is not OK is to tell players they aren't on the team anymore, or aren't wanted, unless they aren't putting out effort.

Tell the players that you don't see a path to anything other than the scout team and garbage time, but they have a spot on the team/scholarship for four years if they want to stay and work hard as scout team players, and if that's what they want, that's what you want for them. Of course, the players who can best help the team win will play, so if they show a lot of improvement, they could end up in the rotation, but it is really unlikely. If they want to leave, you'll help find a landing spot if they want.

Act like the kindly father who wants them around but needs to be honest with them and will help them leave IF that's what they want. That maximizes the chances that the players will actually leave and free up the scholly ASAP, and doesn't make the program look bad. And if the player stays and takes up a scholly spot, the player stays, it is the price we pay for the coach making a recruiting mistake.

But "you're off the team because you suck and I never should have offered you a scholarship" is the wrong way to go, it makes the program look bad, and makes the players want to stick it to the coach if they can, whether by taking the scholly without having to work for it, or holding on to it as long as possible so the coach can't fill the spot the next year even if the player leaves (which is what Winston and McCullough did).

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

what ever happened to Winston and McCullough?
I remember they had a good run at SFCC and then transferred to a low D-1 school

of the two, I thought McCullough had more potential as he was a shooter with size.

bearup said:

---

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

---

Foreman is a better shooter. Brown plays 30 and Foreman 10, when he can. If Foreman cant go Hyder might get in.

oskidunker said:

---

bearup said:

---

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

---

Foreman is a better shooter. Brown plays 30 and Foreman 10, when he can. If Foreman cant go Hyder might get in.

---

Those few minutes are going to Roberson.

I believe Hyder simply played himself out of the rotation.

HoopDreams said:

---

what ever happened to Winston and McCullough?
I remember they had a good run at SFCC and then transferred to a low D-1 school

of the two, I thought McCullough had more potential as he was a shooter with size.

---

*Winston washed out at Central Michigan

*Surprised the heck out of me, but McCullough IS starting (and not shooting particularly well)
for Campbell

Austin McCullough College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

GO BEARS!!!!

bearup said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

what ever happened to Winston and McCullough?
I remember they had a good run at SFCC and then transferred to a low D-1 school

of the two, I thought McCullough had more potential as he was a shooter with size.

---

*Winston washed out at Central Michigan

*Surprised the heck out of me, but McCullough IS starting (and not shooting particularly well)
for Campbell

Austin McCullough College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

GO BEARS!!!!

---

Shooting 69 % from two. 35% from three

If I were Klonaras I wouldn't go anywhere. Next season we'll have only 5 guards on the roster so he should be getting some playing time. If anyone gets hurt he'll be in the rotation.

oskidunker said:

---

bearup said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

what ever happened to Winston and McCullough?
I remember they had a good run at SFCC and then transferred to a low D-1 school

of the two, I thought McCullough had more potential as he was a shooter with size.

---

*Winston washed out at Central Michigan

*Surprised the heck out of me, but McCullough IS starting (and not shooting particularly well)
for Campbell

Austin McCullough College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

GO BEARS!!!!

---

Shooting 69 % from two. 35% from three

---

Uh, 30.3% from three and 55.9% from the line

GO BEARS!!!!

bearup said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

what ever happened to Winston and McCullough?
I remember they had a good run at SFCC and then transferred to a low D-1 school

of the two, I thought McCullough had more potential as he was a shooter with size.

---

*Winston washed out at Central Michigan

*Surprised the heck out of me, but McCullough IS starting (and not shooting particularly well)
for Campbell

Austin McCullough College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

GO BEARS!!!!

---

Thanks ... here's the espn stats. He's had a couple big scoring games of 17 and 16 and averages 25 minutes as a senior. I think he made the right move, as I doubt he would have gotten off the Cal bench.

Interesting that he never made a FG at Cal (0-12)

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4278142/austin-mccullough

bearup said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

what ever happened to Winston and McCullough?
I remember they had a good run at SFCC and then transferred to a low D-1 school

of the two, I thought McCullough had more potential as he was a shooter with size.

---

*Winston washed out at Central Michigan

*Surprised the heck out of me, but McCullough IS starting (and not shooting particularly well)
for Campbell

Austin McCullough College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

GO BEARS!!!!

---

I'm not taking one second to research this myself, but if Campbell's mascot is not the Soups, something is very, very wrong.

stu said:

---

If I were Klonaras I wouldn't go anywhere. Next season we'll have only 5 guards on the roster so he should be getting some playing time. If anyone gets hurt he'll be in the rotation.

---

Brown, Hyder
Roberson. DK

Alters???

I must be missing someone????

Of course, there is THE PORTAL......

GO BEARS!!!!

I'd call Celestine a SG even though he's playing mostly SF now. He certainly has guard skills.

stu said:

---

I'd call Celestine a SG even though he's playing mostly SF now. He certainly has guard skills.

---

Yes….Thanks.

GO BEARS!!!!

HoopDreams said:

---

Big C said:

---

Cal8285 said:

---

bearup said:

---

Alkiadt said:

---

graguna said:

---

I'm mildly surprised there is a thread wondering about Klonaris.
Is it of any consequence whether he was there or not?
He wasn't going to play a meaningful minute either way.

---

I'm not really interested in his playing time.
I'm more interested in scholarship spots.

---

I certainly hope that Fox is not attempting to pull a Wyking (encouraging Winston and McCullough to find
the exit after one year). Theoretically, that could have resulted in a net-positive but....it didn't.


GO BEARS!!!!

---

It is OK to encourage players to find an exit, what is not OK is to tell players they aren't on the team anymore, or aren't wanted, unless they aren't putting out effort.

Tell the players that you don't see a path to anything other than the scout team and garbage time, but they have a spot on the team/scholarship for four years if they want to stay and work hard as scout team players, and if that's what they want, that's what you want for them. Of course, the players who can best help the team win will play, so if they show a lot of improvement, they could end up in the rotation, but it is really unlikely. If they want to leave, you'll help find a landing spot if they want.

Act like the kindly father who wants them around but needs to be honest with them and will help them leave IF that's what they want. That maximizes the chances that the players will actually leave and free up the scholly ASAP, and doesn't make the program look bad. And if the player stays and takes up a scholly spot, the player stays, it is the price we pay for the coach making a recruiting mistake.

But "you're off the team because you suck and I never should have offered you a scholarship" is the wrong way to go, it makes the program look bad, and makes the players want to stick it to the coach if they can, whether by taking the scholly without having to work for it, or holding on to it as long as possible so the coach can't fill the spot the next year even if the player leaves (which is what Winston and McCullough did).

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

what ever happened to Winston and McCullough?
I remember they had a good run at SFCC and then transferred to a low D-1 school

of the two, I thought McCullough had more potential as he was a shooter with size.

---

Mcullough was touted as a shooter, yet he did not score a single basket while playing for Cal. 0-10 on threes, 0-2 on two-pointers. He was, however, 2-2 on free throws. Very disappointing.

oskidunker said:

---

bearup said:

---

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

---

Foreman is a better shooter. Brown plays 30 and Foreman 10, when he can. If Foreman cant go Hyder might get in.

---

Hyder was reportedly (earlier in the season) still recovering from an injury he sustained late last season. Meanwhile, Foreman has been playing semi-decent backup PG.


I gotta hand it to Foreman: Dude went through some struggles to play at this level (and that, as a grad student) and also had a lower-body injury, but he's persevered and has been playing semi-decent backup point guard... as a 2nd year grad transfer. I'm sure, had his presence on the team not been really positive, Fox wouldn't have invited him back.

I am going to be clapping for this guy at "Senior Night" (which maybe needs to be renamed?)!


I'm hoping that both Brown and Hyder can up their game a bit next season (as it looks like they are our PGs).

Big C said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

bearup said:

---

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

---

Foreman is a better shooter. Brown plays 30 and Foreman 10, when he can. If Foreman cant go Hyder might get in.

---

Hyder was reportedly (earlier in the season) still recovering from an injury he sustained late last season. Meanwhile, Foreman has been playing semi-decent backup PG.


I gotta hand it to Foreman: Dude went through some struggles to play at this level (and that, as a grad student) and also had a lower-body injury, but he's persevered and has been playing semi-decent backup point guard... as a 2nd year grad transfer. I'm sure, had his presence on the team not been really positive, Fox wouldn't have invited him back.

I am going to be clapping for this guy at "Senior Night" (which maybe needs to be renamed?)!


I'm hoping that both Brown and Hyder can up their game a bit next season (as it looks like they are our PGs).

---

I'll be shocked if we see anything more than we have from Hyder the last two years. Last year I was very excited to see what he could do once reinstated, given the fair amount of hype/hope placed on his addition to the team. Three games in I'd seen enough. And nothing has changed since then. If the last few games are an indication, it seems like Fox has now also seen enough.

Meanwhile, Brown continues to improve significantly. I think Brown will take a big step forward next season, as he is visibly playing with more confidence, and Fox is showing more confidence in him. All signs are pointing to lift-off for Brown from this season to next. But a serviceable backup PG will need to be found (cuz, unfortunately, Hyder ain't it).

drizzlybear said:

---

Big C said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

bearup said:

---

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

---

Foreman is a better shooter. Brown plays 30 and Foreman 10, when he can. If Foreman cant go Hyder might get in.

---

Hyder was reportedly (earlier in the season) still recovering from an injury he sustained late last season. Meanwhile, Foreman has been playing semi-decent backup PG.


I gotta hand it to Foreman: Dude went through some struggles to play at this level (and that, as a grad student) and also had a lower-body injury, but he's persevered and has been playing semi-decent backup point guard... as a 2nd year grad transfer. I'm sure, had his presence on the team not been really positive, Fox wouldn't have invited him back.

I am going to be clapping for this guy at "Senior Night" (which maybe needs to be renamed?)!


I'm hoping that both Brown and Hyder can up their game a bit next season (as it looks like they are our PGs).

---

I'll be shocked if we see anything more than we have from Hyder the last two years. Last year I was very excited to see what he could do once reinstated, given the fair amount of hype/hope placed on his addition to the team. Three games in I'd seen enough. And nothing has changed since then. If the last few games are an indication, it seems like Fox has now also seen enough.

Meanwhile, Brown continues to improve significantly. I think Brown will take a big step forward next season, as he is visibly playing with more confidence, and Fox is showing more confidence in him. All signs are pointing to lift-off for Brown from this season to next. But a serviceable backup PG will need to be found (cuz, unfortunately, Hyder ain't it).

---

Joel Brown had a great game against Oregon State! Were it not for that game though, I think it would be pretty hard to say that "all signs are pointing to lift-off for Brown". He had a weekend in January (LA schools?) where he didn't score a single point. Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for him and would love to see him have a break-out senior season, so I look forward, in a year, to being able to post here that "You called it, drizzlybear!".

Big C said:

---

drizzlybear said:

---

Big C said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

bearup said:

---

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

---

Foreman is a better shooter. Brown plays 30 and Foreman 10, when he can. If Foreman cant go Hyder might get in.

---

Hyder was reportedly (earlier in the season) still recovering from an injury he sustained late last season. Meanwhile, Foreman has been playing semi-decent backup PG.


I gotta hand it to Foreman: Dude went through some struggles to play at this level (and that, as a grad student) and also had a lower-body injury, but he's persevered and has been playing semi-decent backup point guard... as a 2nd year grad transfer. I'm sure, had his presence on the team not been really positive, Fox wouldn't have invited him back.

I am going to be clapping for this guy at "Senior Night" (which maybe needs to be renamed?)!


I'm hoping that both Brown and Hyder can up their game a bit next season (as it looks like they are our PGs).

---

I'll be shocked if we see anything more than we have from Hyder the last two years. Last year I was very excited to see what he could do once reinstated, given the fair amount of hype/hope placed on his addition to the team. Three games in I'd seen enough. And nothing has changed since then. If the last few games are an indication, it seems like Fox has now also seen enough.

Meanwhile, Brown continues to improve significantly. I think Brown will take a big step forward next season, as he is visibly playing with more confidence, and Fox is showing more confidence in him. All signs are pointing to lift-off for Brown from this season to next. But a serviceable backup PG will need to be found (cuz, unfortunately, Hyder ain't it).

---

Joel Brown had a great game against Oregon State! Were it not for that game though, I think it would be pretty hard to say that "all signs are pointing to lift-off for Brown". He had a weekend in January (LA schools?) where he didn't score a single point. Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for him and would love to see him have a break-out senior season, so I look forward to, in a year, being able to post here that you called it.

---

The OSU game wasn't about scoring, even if he got 9 points, he was 3-9 floor and 3-5 line, not exactly pointing to lift-off.

It was the LA schools in January where he got zero points, but the SC game wasn't bad in the non-scoring categories, 9 assists to 0 TO's, 4 boards and 3 steals. UCLA not as good, 2 assists, 2 TO's, 4 boards, 0 steals.

OSU, in addition to the 9 points, were 7 assists to 1 TO (not as good as SC in January, but good), 9 boards (better than SC in Jan), and 3 steals (same as SC in Jan). Oregon was not a great game in all those numbers, the 2-3 floor and 2-3 FT's is OK, the 2 assists to 4 TO's not so good, 0 steals, but 7 boards.

There are no signs of Brown being a great scorer, the other stuff, we'll see, I'm happier with the SC game at Haas than with the OSU game, if for no other reason than that it was against a much better opponent, but OSU was obviously a good game for Brown, too. Let's hope we see more of the Jan. SC game and Feb OSU game from Brown going forward, and hope that when he shoots he is efficient (like against Oregon) even if he doesn't score a lot.

Big C said:

---

drizzlybear said:

---

Big C said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

bearup said:

---

Big C said:

---

Well stated! Treat the young men as you would want your own son (or daughter) treated. And that is what Fox seems to be doing. That said, there are a number of reasons why a marginal player might leave early (you alluded to one above:
- lack of projected PT
- yearning to be closer to home or don't like Berkeley
- academic difficulty
- don't like coaches (or teammates)
- injury retirement

I'd be surprised if we didn't have 1-2 schollies free up over the next few months (besides Kelly), just because that is the way it usually happens nowadays.

---

Is Hyder injured?

---

Foreman is a better shooter. Brown plays 30 and Foreman 10, when he can. If Foreman cant go Hyder might get in.

---

Hyder was reportedly (earlier in the season) still recovering from an injury he sustained late last season. Meanwhile, Foreman has been playing semi-decent backup PG.


I gotta hand it to Foreman: Dude went through some struggles to play at this level (and that, as a grad student) and also had a lower-body injury, but he's persevered and has been playing semi-decent backup point guard... as a 2nd year grad transfer. I'm sure, had his presence on the team not been really positive, Fox wouldn't have invited him back.

I am going to be clapping for this guy at "Senior Night" (which maybe needs to be renamed?)!


I'm hoping that both Brown and Hyder can up their game a bit next season (as it looks like they are our PGs).

---

I'll be shocked if we see anything more than we have from Hyder the last two years. Last year I was very excited to see what he could do once reinstated, given the fair amount of hype/hope placed on his addition to the team. Three games in I'd seen enough. And nothing has changed since then. If the last few games are an indication, it seems like Fox has now also seen enough.

Meanwhile, Brown continues to improve significantly. I think Brown will take a big step forward next season, as he is visibly playing with more confidence, and Fox is showing more confidence in him. All signs are pointing to lift-off for Brown from this season to next. But a serviceable backup PG will need to be found (cuz, unfortunately, Hyder ain't it).

---

Joel Brown had a great game against Oregon State! Were it not for that game though, I think it would be pretty hard to say that "all signs are pointing to lift-off for Brown". He had a weekend in January (LA schools?) where he didn't score a single point. Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for him and would love to see him have a break-out senior season, so I look forward to, in a year, being able to post here that you called it.

---

I, too, hope you're able post that next year!

I should've been more clear that, for me, I don't ever expect JB to be an impactful scorer or a reliable shooter. My realistic hope for him is that he can be a Prentice McGruder type of PG, who controls tempo, takes care of the ball, effectively runs offense and sets up scorers, and effectively defends opposing PG. In short, all the things that McGruder did to make him such an effective PG (of course having Ed Gray and that lineup around him certainly helped McGruder).

I see JB as having turned one significant corner this year, though there are still better games and worse games. But what I really like is that he seems to be finally playing with confidence. It might actually be watching the team struggle so much without him in the WA games. That might have contributed to his seeing his own value to the team. And Fox clearly is showing more confidence in JB.

I feel like this is the year where JB is finally getting his feet underneath him, so to speak. And I'm hopeful that next year he will hit the ground running from the start, and be much more consistent in his good games. That's what i really mean by his "lift-off". To this point we've been suffering through his development, but I think next year he arrives as a confident and effective P12 PG (even if he's still not a great scorer or shooter). Plus, although the sample size is small, I feel like he is also showing improvement at the free throw line (which is critical for him). And I'm hoping that's a big point of emphasis for him in the off-season and he is at least serviceable (60%+) at the line next season.