obviously pressing. Just have fun and relax and the shots will fall.
Ball handling was better tonight, he’ll get there
Ball handling was better tonight, he’ll get there
Relax Nojel
- Thread starter joe for prez
- Start date
How about props to those who did play well. PJ, Haarms, Carson.....
he actually made some good plays but couldn't finish......he will be a good player......if he can get untracked, he could contribute this year
Actually made some good plays, hustled and got into position to score, and made a great pass to DM. Sure missing the two bunnies was tough....but he will be fine.
I was impressed with his defense before his two missed shots. He needs a cleansing breath and learn that layups count the same as a dunk and infinitely more than a miss. I look forward to watching him grow. There was a lot to like in this game. I never felt like we were losing the entire second half even when we were down. Loved the D we played
Sure, props to those guys but this thread is about Eastern. He played well and has something to build on for the rest of the season. This was not an easy game and he upheld his part.
actually thought the team clicked great with him in. he just missed. it happens.
I was feeling the same way.. He's definitely pressing. Relax.. He'll be fine. Nice to see we can still when with defense!!
And Dakota probably hit the two most important shots all night for us!
You don't miss an open dunk and a lay up back to back and "play well unless you hit your next six". I hope he learns and gets better. Remember the old saying, "The good thing about a freshman player....is next year he'll be a sophomore."
That said, the boys hung tough and held on for the win.
You could see that on the defensive side tonight clearly. He is starting to pick up the intricacies of the concepts CMP coaches. His offense will come around with time...although I wouldn’t mind if he spent 3 days a week with Mount in Lebanon during the spring and summer to get that jumpshot form cleaned.
Struggling isn’t all that bad, if that makes sense. Everybody wants to play well, I get that, sometimes just getting thru the basics, you get a sense of accomplishment, a little more confident, these first 15 games are baby steps, we all heard he is a hard worker, takes Coaching well, great teammate, and then Click, it starts to make all the more sense.
These kind of kids, once they take off, they don’t stop!
He is gonna be fun the next 3+ years!
These kind of kids, once they take off, they don’t stop!
He is gonna be fun the next 3+ years!
I am hoping that he will become that small forward as in Jimmy Oliver, the smothering guard in Kenny Loewe, and the quick first step of Kelsey Barlow.
Just keep working on that shooting form and defense over the summer..
Go Nojel!!
Just keep working on that shooting form and defense over the summer..
Go Nojel!!
Your not giving him credit for his play on defense where he fit into the team concept and that is the most important part. Your better than that. I don't understand you right now. But don't answer that because it will probably be another back handed compliment.
missing the two bunnies was freshman jitters. but his foul shooting needs a lot of work.
Yeah I'd say both Eastern & Haarms' foul shooting looks a bit uneasy. Anyone know if Nojel was a good FT shooter in HS?
I like his rebounding, he is aggressive on the boards. Carsen played okay, aggressive, shots from 3 didn't fall, fortunately he made 9 of 11 from the free throw line.
Real game is a lot different from practice, give Eastern a little more game time playing and he will be fine.
Eastern will be a stud and I thought did very well considering what he was up against.
To be real Eastern is playing poorly. Outside of the first game he hasn't been that good.
That being said Painter is playing him because his issues are mental and he is so talented. Eastern has the tools he is just not adjusting well to the college game. I hope he figures it out this year but it will not be the end of the world if he doesn't since he is a true freshman.
I can't say that after The Johnsons and Stevens I am not a little nervous about a highly rated Purdue guard under performing. The difference with eastern is the effort. Eastern is big athletic and has a great motor, he is already playing great defense and could easily be Purdues next conference defensive player of the year. on Offense i am worried about his shot, poor free throw shooting is indicative of poor shooting potetial. That being said he has shown flashes of great vision and with his size I think he can be a productive offensive player without being a good shooter driving and dishing to shooters like Carsen and Cline next year.
I think best case he is an all american worst case he is rapheal davis but better on offense and worse on defense
That being said Painter is playing him because his issues are mental and he is so talented. Eastern has the tools he is just not adjusting well to the college game. I hope he figures it out this year but it will not be the end of the world if he doesn't since he is a true freshman.
I can't say that after The Johnsons and Stevens I am not a little nervous about a highly rated Purdue guard under performing. The difference with eastern is the effort. Eastern is big athletic and has a great motor, he is already playing great defense and could easily be Purdues next conference defensive player of the year. on Offense i am worried about his shot, poor free throw shooting is indicative of poor shooting potetial. That being said he has shown flashes of great vision and with his size I think he can be a productive offensive player without being a good shooter driving and dishing to shooters like Carsen and Cline next year.
I think best case he is an all american worst case he is rapheal davis but better on offense and worse on defense
I was at the airport but due to a delay, got to watch the whole game. I thought he gave us some needed court time, ball handling and defense. If he makes the two bunnies and the free throws, his stat line would have looked good for us off the bench. That said, he looks like his confidence is down a bit, like he is worried he will make a mistake and will get pulled. Obviously his talent set is high. It has to be hard for a freshman on a team with lots of seniors. I remember when Keith Edmonson came to Purdue and had a similar freshman year. He blew up his 2nd year. Nojel will be a starter next year and I expect similar results. I hope he has some patience as I think rewards will be good.
On the neg, what's up with free throw shooting with freshmen? I've noticed this on other teams also. Seems like it wasn't a priority in high school. You have to hit at least 2 of 3, minimal. Maybe it's just jitters.
Go Boilers!
On the neg, what's up with free throw shooting with freshmen? I've noticed this on other teams also. Seems like it wasn't a priority in high school. You have to hit at least 2 of 3, minimal. Maybe it's just jitters.
Go Boilers!
Nojel is averaging pretty well considering he is only getting about 11 minutes a a game:
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4277984/nojel-eastern
His minutes are only going to go up and he had 4 key rebounds last night. His mom has the best insight over any of us here so anything else we think is going on is only speculation.
Play defense in Coach’s system. Get minutes.
I saw progress from Nojel last night. He had several nice rebounds that he battled for and showed real improvement on defense. Yes, he missed a couple of close range layups/dunks. I just get the sense he is trying so hard to do what he is supposed to do, and to make a difference out there that it can sometimes backfire and cause him to miss a layup or pickup a dumb foul 20 ft. from the basket. Once he settles down and the game slows down a bit more for him he should be very well. The nice thing is, he is already showing noticeable progress. If he can continue to improve he should be a big piece of the puzzle come tourney time this year.
This the most accurate/honest take in this thread. Truth is eastern has not been good this year, you can see the talent and potential is there though.
With Haarms "it appears to me" that he has a bit of a hitch after his lift and just before the thrust. I think a bit more lift (for a bit more arc) and a smooth flow into the thrust might soften his shot and give a better downward angle.
Seeing the large scoreboard it "appeared" that Nojel is still starting the shot on the right side of his face...crossing his face and then moving into the shot on his left side. I would much rather he keep it on his shooting side since THAT is what aligns his shot...rather than moving sideways in his shooting pocket. Still, it was a big game...national TV and a lot of pressure on those two at the line. Haas went from 57% as a freshman to almost 80% as a senior...which for his size, hand size is amazing...
Completely agree. If he didn't have a relative on the board, he would be getting the same treatment Haas is getting.
Uh...maybe shooting them in real time game in front of 14000+ fans.
Nojel isn't playing poorly at all. Yes, he cost the team 6 points in a critical stretch BUT the fact that he was in and impacting the game says more than those missed shots. I don't believe any of his playing issues are mental but rather just a product of a young player being on a big stage...likely the largest he has had up to this point. He has adjusted at the proper rate given his role with the team and his defense has taken an incredible leap forward since the WUG. He still needs to use a larger drop step when defending laterally but that will come with more video of himself against high level talent like he did last night. Eastern, by the end of the season, is likely a 15 minute, 6 points, 4 rebound, 3 assist type of player. He is the next stat stuffing player for Purdue once Vince leaves.
On a cursory review...it is really easy to see high school and college players with dismal fundamentals and understanding of the game...and the rule changes in college don't help. The execution of the game, the fundamentals of the game have given way to individual play and indoor track...
Yup. NE is getting destroyed on twitter. Appears the to have the physical skills...just needs to get it together between the ears. His shot needs A LOT of work. I do believe he only had one turnover last night which is a step in the right direction though.
Whether Zona or Lousiville, Nojel makes it more difficult for a smaller guard to lob the ball to a big for a stuff. You can't teach size and speed, but his shooting can be improved...and he can become a good shooter with the right technique and the personal dedication to make it happen. Carsen has missed two dunks in Atlantis and so seeing Nojel miss one is frustrating, but no more frustrating for me than he I'm sure. Carsen last night ...thank God just tried to lay it in rather than go for the dunk in a close game. Nojel will become as good as he wants and although the FT shooting is not where we would like...he realized that his open 3s were to goad him into a shot which he was mature enough to not take. Haas' pass on Nojel cutting was due to insuffcient spacing and a poor pass by Haas.
He is a freshman in a huge, national TV game. Purdue will need Nojel to play really solid down the road...and he WILL get better as most players do
Wait, what were you guys expecting? 15 & 7 guy in his first 8 college games? Go be Kentucky fans.
Nojel is fine. He's just getting his sea legs so to speak. He wants to do well and this is all so new. He wants to do what the coaches want and does not want to make mistakes. He will be more confident with additional playing time. I do think the coaching staff needs to reassure him when he makes a mistake because he will be a great player when he plays loose within the coaching schemes and philosophy. It can be a slippery slope to want something so much and make mistakes ... easy to be overly hard on yourself.
As for shooting, it seems he doesn't hold the ball correctly, but it's correctable with some work. Elbow isn't directly beneath the ball. (Want shoulder -> elbow -> hand to be a solid base vertically, then follow through straight up. Then, you can trust the ball will always be inline with hoop, then it's a matter or touch/arc based on distance of shot). Nojel seems to have some angles in this form that he must compensate with motion through the follow thru. So, sometimes the shot isn't in line and it's not easily reproducible.
As for shooting, it seems he doesn't hold the ball correctly, but it's correctable with some work. Elbow isn't directly beneath the ball. (Want shoulder -> elbow -> hand to be a solid base vertically, then follow through straight up. Then, you can trust the ball will always be inline with hoop, then it's a matter or touch/arc based on distance of shot). Nojel seems to have some angles in this form that he must compensate with motion through the follow thru. So, sometimes the shot isn't in line and it's not easily reproducible.
Excellent comment. Eastern is doing fine and the few armchair coaches on here need to back off.
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