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Post by trimster on Jan 7, 2020 12:07:02 GMT -5
Post-game, 45 and I were talking in the lobby when Joe came by. If he is 6'5", 45 and I agreed that we need to add 2 inches to our claimed heights (very important as we age as I know that I have shrunk at least an inch in height from my college days). Joe has been through the HC elongator apparently. His haircut, like Jehyve's, perhaps designed to add altitude? On a more serious note, while I agree Matt has great shooting form and believe he will get into a foul shooting groove as he gains more playing time, I really don't care about Joe's form as long as it goes in. He seems streaky as noted above, he had two very good free throw shooting games and most poor to horrendous games. We need to get the good free throw shooters to the line more. Bottom line: I'll take the less than ideal free throwing shooting baggage if that's what the trade-off has to be for Joe. P.S. Is Josh Sankes free throw shooting hypnotist available? Mike Vicens was 6'3 1/2" according to Jim Dougher and Mike was a so-so foul shooter. The similarities between Pridgen and Vicens are striking. |
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Post by hc80 on Jan 7, 2020 12:12:33 GMT -5
When I was being taught the officiating gig in Central Massachusetts, my mentor always said to do the count to ten at the free throw line but if you get to 10... go to 12. Just keep moving the hand...
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Post by dadominate on Jan 7, 2020 12:12:52 GMT -5
Post-game, 45 and I were talking in the lobby when Joe came by. If he is 6'5", 45 and I agreed that we need to add 2 inches to our claimed heights (very important as we age as I know that I have shrunk at least an inch in height from my college days). Joe has been through the HC elongator apparently. His haircut, like Jehyve's, perhaps designed to add altitude? On a more serious note, while I agree Matt has great shooting form and believe he will get into a foul shooting groove as he gains more playing time, I really don't care about Joe's form as long as it goes in. He seems streaky as noted above, he had two very good free throw shooting games and most poor to horrendous games. We need to get the good free throw shooters to the line more. Bottom line: I'll take the less than ideal free throwing shooting baggage if that's what the trade-off has to be for Joe. P.S. Is Josh Sankes free throw shooting hypnotist available? Mike Vicens was 6'3 1/2" according to Jim Dougher and Mike was a so-so foul shooter. The similarities between Pridgen and Vicens are striking. from one who is so disappointed he never got to see vicens play that he has asked the athletic department for video of vicens (none available, sadly), accounts like yours make it sound like watching pridgen is the next best thing. can't wait to see him continue to develop. |
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Post by dadominate on Jan 7, 2020 12:16:24 GMT -5
hightower was a teammate, a good friend, and an absolutely great guy. you're right, it was 100% psychological both from the line and the perimeter with him later in his career. it's a shame, because as you noted, he could really get to the hole and had some of the longest arms you'll ever see on a 6'1 player which helped him as a great defender. he was actually a street and smith's honorable mention all american and a pretty highly touted recruit from boston. our backcourt recruiting class with he and malik waters, also a street and smith's all american from new mexico who was plagued by a devastating knee injury, was one of the best of that era but sadly never panned out with many wins. I seem to recall Hightower had a killer crossover. Was a shame Waters had that injury; he looked to have a great deal of potential. Very smooth looking shot if my memory is not failing me; sort of like a right handed Ryan Wade. your memory is incredible, nad. hightower's go to move was the crossover and he had an uncanny ability to get to the hole more generally. waters was also an explosive athlete, but never got back after he blew out his knee. too bad we never got to see what they could do together. raynor was a pretty good recruiter, the stress of the job was just too much for him i think. |
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Post by WorcesterGray on Jan 7, 2020 12:20:45 GMT -5
Mike Vicens was 6'3 1/2" according to Jim Dougher and Mike was a so-so foul shooter. The similarities between Pridgen and Vicens are striking. Their freshmen seasons . . .
JP. 16.5p, 6.8r, 2.4a, 57.1% FG, 53.3% FT MV. 14.7p, 6.8r, 1.9a, 47.3% FG, 61.5% FT
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Post by hchoops on Jan 7, 2020 12:21:35 GMT -5
I seem to recall Hightower had a killer crossover. Was a shame Waters had that injury; he looked to have a great deal of potential. Very smooth looking shot if my memory is not failing me; sort of like a right handed Ryan Wade. your memory is incredible, nad. hightower's go to move was the crossover and he had an uncanny ability to get to the hole more generally. waters was also an explosive athlete, but never got back after he blew out his knee. too bad we never got to see what they could do together. raynor was a pretty good recruiter, the stress of the job was just too much for him i think. More than the stress were the shocking transfer of Walter Brown and the no scholarship PL policy. |
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 7, 2020 12:27:36 GMT -5
your memory is incredible, nad. hightower's go to move was the crossover and he had an uncanny ability to get to the hole more generally. waters was also an explosive athlete, but never got back after he blew out his knee. too bad we never got to see what they could do together. raynor was a pretty good recruiter, the stress of the job was just too much for him i think. More than the stress were the shocking transfer of Walter Brown and the no scholarship PL policy. I know his transfer stressed me out! |
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Post by trimster on Jan 7, 2020 12:29:43 GMT -5
Mike Vicens was 6'3 1/2" according to Jim Dougher and Mike was a so-so foul shooter. The similarities between Pridgen and Vicens are striking. from one who is so disappointed he never got to see vicens play that he has asked the athletic department for video of vicens (none available, sadly), accounts like yours make it sound like watching pridgen is the next best thing. can't wait to see him continue to develop. Another similarity is George Blaney used to say Michael covers more ground without walking, (or imo at least getting called for it), than any player I know. There were several times in the Navy game when JP attacked the rim that looked like traveling but wasn't called. |
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Post by lou on Jan 7, 2020 12:32:46 GMT -5
Maybe his first travel call, in the Navy game, early
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Post by CHC8485 on Jan 7, 2020 12:44:14 GMT -5
Mike Vicens was 6'3 1/2" according to Jim Dougher and Mike was a so-so foul shooter. The similarities between Pridgen and Vicens are striking. from one who is so disappointed he never got to see vicens play that he has asked the athletic department for video of vicens (none available, sadly), accounts like yours make it sound like watching pridgen is the next best thing. can't wait to see him continue to develop. Pretty sure the archives in Dinand has basketball video from many periods including the 1974-75 to 1977-78 seasons. Some of it is copywritten (TV broadcasts) so it can't be copied and distributed, but if you ever are in the area sometime and can spend an afternoon on the 3rd floor, you may be able to watch it. They may have some game film as well that they will copy for a fee. Believe the former head of the archives retired last Spring, but here's the page with contacts and it appears that a new head of the archives has been hired. Pretty sure you can reach out to them and see what they might have and what they can do. www.holycross.edu/archives-and-special-collections/contact-information |
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 7, 2020 12:45:15 GMT -5
If one of us bumps into Mike V at an upcoming game, we should ask him for his impressions of JP.
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Post by ndgradbuthcfan on Jan 7, 2020 13:11:09 GMT -5
Joe P, has changed his technique from the beginning of the season..He now shoots the ball with a lot of height, I think that will help him in the long term, and he will be streaky until he settles in the style..I wonder if Coach Nelson has offered that style to him? Blake does the same thing...Joe works so hard that he is visibly trying to catch his breath before he shoots FT's, He needs, IMHO, a method to settle himself before he shoots, easier said than done... From the time the ref hands the ball at the line to the FT shooter, the player has 10 seconds to shoot. Shooters do not have to step up to the line immediately. Shooters rarely take more than five.seconds. In 65+ years of playing, coaching and watching, I have never seen that violation. Players that have a difficult time adjusting to the complete stop of action should take more time before shooting. Nadal and Djokovic are fortunate to be not playing basketball. |
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Post by hchoops on Jan 7, 2020 13:22:13 GMT -5
Mike Vicens was 6'3 1/2" according to Jim Dougher and Mike was a so-so foul shooter. The similarities between Pridgen and Vicens are striking. Their freshmen seasons . . .
JP. 16.5p, 6.8r, 2.4a, 57.1% FG, 53.3% FT MV. 14.7p, 6.8r, 1.9a, 47.3% FG, 61.5% FT
Joe is a bit lesser version of Mike. Similar games, attitude, aggressiveness, but Mike was on a higher.level. |
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Post by rgs318 on Jan 7, 2020 13:25:47 GMT -5
Even as a freshman? Hard to fairly compare a frosh to Mike, when we know Mike's full body of work.
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 7, 2020 13:28:38 GMT -5
He's played in what, 15 games? Let's let JP be JP and when his career is over, then we can compare him to other past players.
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Post by dadominate on Jan 7, 2020 13:45:48 GMT -5
from one who is so disappointed he never got to see vicens play that he has asked the athletic department for video of vicens (none available, sadly), accounts like yours make it sound like watching pridgen is the next best thing. can't wait to see him continue to develop. Pretty sure the archives in Dinand has basketball video from many periods including the 1974-75 to 1977-78 seasons. Some of it is copywritten (TV broadcasts) so it can't be copied and distributed, but if you ever are in the area sometime and can spend an afternoon on the 3rd floor, you may be able to watch it. They may have some game film as well that they will copy for a fee. Believe the former head of the archives retired last Spring, but here's the page with contacts and it appears that a new head of the archives has been hired. Pretty sure you can reach out to them and see what they might have and what they can do. www.holycross.edu/archives-and-special-collections/contact-informationawesome. thanks! |
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 7, 2020 14:35:40 GMT -5
The first time I saw JP (prep game), when I took a first quick look I thought he resembled ole #22. I swore I would not mention this on the board, as I knew it would eventually lead to where the thread has gone.  But - was I the one who brought up MV's name here first?? I honestly don't think I did. |
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 7, 2020 14:47:27 GMT -5
Maybe MV can teach JP the 180 degree reverse slam dunk for a critical game. The Hart will rock. 🤗
For those who were not there to witness in the ECAC New England Championship game in 1977, it was Epic. It was a statement, we bow to no team play.
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Post by lou on Jan 7, 2020 14:51:38 GMT -5
Maybe MV can teach JP the 180 degree slam dunk for a critical game. The Hart will rock. 🤗 I'm just getting used to the drive to the hoop and slam with one hand ability he has. His teammates especially seem to have fun with that one |
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Post by dadominate on Jan 7, 2020 16:31:26 GMT -5
interesting observation about the elongator. pridgen also looks to be about 6'3 or so to me, too. makes his feats even more impressive. on the topic of comparisons, i wonder who would win a cage match between pridgen and butler ? two of the physically toughest hc players in recent memory. |
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Post by hcpride on Jan 7, 2020 17:16:03 GMT -5
I'm a big fan of Butler and Pridgen but I've got to say that Butler plays bit shorter than his listed 6'5" (hence his difficulties around the rim) while Pridgen looks like a 6'4" guy (listed at 6'5") and does a great job at small forward. (At the risk of going astray I think we were lucky enough to nab him perhaps because he is a tad shorter than some schools prefer at the forward position.).
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Post by dadominate on Jan 7, 2020 17:25:07 GMT -5
I'm a big fan of Butler and Pridgen but I've got to say that Butler plays bit shorter than his listed 6'5" (hence his difficulties around the rim) while Pridgen looks like a 6'4" guy (listed at 6'5") and does a great job at small forward. (At the risk of going astray I think we were lucky enough to nab him perhaps because he is a tad shorter than some schools prefer at the forward position.). my guess is that butler is also only a little above 6'3? haven't seen butler and pridgen side by side yet to see who's taller, but i'm sure plenty of our posters have. agree that pridgen plays bigger and has better footwork, and that we got probably landed pridgen because of his height, just as we have landed many others who were deemed too small, slow, skinny, etc. but could actually play. |
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Post by rgs318 on Jan 7, 2020 18:36:48 GMT -5
interesting observation about the elongator. pridgen also looks to be about 6'3 or so to me, too. makes his feats even more impressive. on the topic of comparisons, i wonder who would win a cage match between pridgen and butler ? two of the physically toughest hc players in recent memory. I would feel bad for that poor cage!  |
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Post by possum on Jan 7, 2020 18:52:50 GMT -5
If Joe P comes close to having the kind of career Mike Vicens had we will be very fortunate.
MV played his best in the biggest games against top competition. Although not a great foul shooter my recollection is that his percentage was better in tight spots.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 7, 2020 20:11:25 GMT -5
For any comparison to be valid, Joe has to kick the sheeet out of some All American like Mike did to Adrian Dantley. |
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But - was I the one who brought up MV's name here first?? I honestly don't think I did. 
