Hoopraker tips its tattered Cincinnati Reds cap to Joe Nuxhall who passed away yesterday at the age of 79. Listening to Reds games called by Marty Brennaman and the ol’ lefthander rounding third and heading for home on the Big One, 700 WLW, defined many summer days for this Hoopraker. Nuxie will be missed. With that respect duly paid, on to some basketball observations from the first week of the season.
On to New York City
After dispatching a decent Wisconsin-Green Bay team and yet struggling finish off an improved Columbia team, it’s apparent Kosta Koufos has a nice touch and decent post moves against players six inches his junior. We’ll have a much better grasp on his talent when Ohio State plays an athletic and long Syracuse team in Madison Square Garden next week.
Thad Matta has given Jamar Butler carte blanche on offense and so far, it looks like the leaner but more heavily tattooed Butler has an improved jump shot. Chatter continues to chitter around Kosta taking a big contract and heading to Greece after one season in Columbus, the genesis being the $5 million he was offered this summer from the professionals in Athens.
A Brand New Style
Matt Painter’s freshmen are fast, can score and can defend. From his whole team, it’s apparent Painter is getting a bushel and peck of effort. Coupled with their talent, Purdue will be interesting to watch this season. E’twuan Moore is one of the best frosh in a Conference loaded with solid freshmen, and Chris Kramer, a true leader in the Purdue tradition, is one of the best point guards in the Conference.
Although Hoopraker favorite Carl Landry is gone, the team may be better this season as they are deeper and more athletic than last season. While Purdue may miss Landry and David Teague, sometimes subtraction of a talented player promotes the growth of the whole; they look like an NCAA caliber team. Next week, Purdue gets power forward Nemanja Calasan for more help in the post.
Make Some Free Throws
Against the high scoring #20 ranked Stanford Cardinal, one with a legitimate 7 foot and mobile center, the Northwestern Wildcats dictated the tempo, played aggressively, had a chance to win. In fact, the Wildcats nearly overcame getting dominated in the paint by the ridiculously taller Cardinal but, in the end, as they tend to do, Northwestern missed too many layups and too many free throws to overcome.
In the loss, bright spots exists in Chicago Public Leaguer Michael Thompson and Glenbard East’s Mike Cappoci. With Big Ten quickness and athleticism, both represent a great addition to Evanston. Like Jeff Ryan who made some sweet passes, Jason Okrezesik (whose birthday is coming up on November 20) was aggressive and looks ready to cache his forgettable 2006 season.
As Advertised
In Bloomington, this year’s version of IU hoops is not your father’s IU team. As advertised, they are fast and very athletic, although behind DJ White and DeAndre Thomas, they’re relatively shallow in the post. That’s being picky and with Eric Gordon’s uncanny talent and confidence, IU may be able to work around any perceived deficiency. It’s unfortunate for Illinois fans, but Gordon is indeed as good as advertised.
Welcome Jeff Peterson
In a pivotal contest against Rocky Mountain power Northern Colorado, Iowa was painful to watch as turnovers mounted into what resembled one large pile of dung. Nevertheless, before a Carver-Hawkeye crowd more silent and sparse than the Bryce-Jordan Center on football Saturday, it’s obvious freshman point guard Jeff Peterson is a smart, solid and good Big Ten player. Groomed through the D.C. basketball factory at DeMatha High School, Peterson has quickly established himself as Iowa’s catalyst.
