Getting the freshman treatment. 
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He did sign young
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I agree with you. Jamal Shead was a winning player. But offensive guru he was not. Shead had killer instincts and knew what it took to win. He was a high level passer too.
But I think losing Shead on the offensive side could actually open up other guys to get more looks. Shead didnāt draw as many fouls as he should have and was a bad 3 point shooter.
To me, if I was a fan, I would be real excited about Sharp and what he is going to do with more shots. He had a 37% Foul Rate last year, and splashed at a pretty good rate from 3. If he can start making 2ās at the same clip that Shead did, while maintaining or improving his 3 point shot, getting fouled at the same rate and maintaining his insanely good free throw percentage, then the dude is an unanimous All American.
Mark it down, they will be talking about Sharp like they Shead last year, like they did Marcus sasser the year prior and Corey Davis the year before then.
Heās the killer on the team. Even tho Cryer will get the pre season hype.
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Sharp is also a full year removed from having that rod removed from his leg, that he had put in after his brutal accident in HS.
He has the potential to become a Rob Gray scorer with better 3 pt shooting.
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I hope the offense is better if weāre forced to not rely on Shead. Nobody is āthe guyā right now.
Im high on sharp taking a jumpā¦how big of a jump? idk yetā¦ ive noted if sharp improves off-the-dribble at all he will arguably the best scorer in the countryā¦ his fearlessness and the window he needs to shoot is so small (quick release), that if he can create his own space off the dribble, i dont think anyone could guard himā¦ he is lethal as is, with almost no off the dribble shooting
(he made these 2, defended by 6ā7 players, to show how much space he need)
there are talks thats heās improved off the dribble but one of those that i need to see to believe
to counter your point some thoughā¦ i think LJ is in for Big jump tooā¦
100% of every major transfer at houston (minute players) took a HUGE year 2 jump. (Grimes, Rob gray, Corey Davis, Damyean Dotson) the average year 2 jump is +4pts per, and +4% increase in 3pt%ā¦ do i think LJ will get that? no. 20.5pts at 43%3% isnt likely, but even half of that jump would be big for LJ (17.5pts at 41%)
heās gained the most muscle on the team this offseasonā¦
sampson notes he expects a big jump from him too
in sampson words: the 1st year is just figuring how the system works, the 2nd year you know the system, its how do i thrive in it
im not sure you remember this from the old csnbbs, but when rob gray left, and you noted that we had no one to replace gray. that corey and armoni were just catch and shoot guys (you actually had more faith in armoni if one of them had to step up)ā¦and then corey davis exploded as a seniorā¦ LJ first year was better the coreys 1st yearā¦
Beyond those 2: we had almost no bench points- limited big points
- Milos for every player/coach interview, milos is drastically better shooter than his stats indicated and a is really good shooter
- Jojo- was only defense last year is expected to be shooting 3s this year
- Arcenueax- 5pts per last year, is deseprate to improve his plummenting draft stock, and been pushing to improve his offensive pedigree this year
- Mercy Miller- even if some of the players DONT take the jump, this year we have a fail safe in Mercy who was a national high school all American for scoringā¦ Averaged 29.8 points, 9.3 rebounds in a top high school circuit (the only maxprep all american not a 5star)
i feel pretty confident the offense will be better
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Karen Sampson saying ālisten to what he says, not how he says itā I feel like is the perfect encapsulation of being coached by CKS.
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I donāt like players who avoid contact and donāt get fouled being your go to player.
His 14% foul rate is pretty low. Itās never been high in his career so I have time seeing that. He can get strong all he wants but if still avoids contact, it wonāt help at the end of games.
I think the teams highest ceiling will be if Sharp hits his highest ceiling. Sharp shows he has tools today to be a closer. But LJ is a bit too finesse for me.
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iām just happy we have both. If only one was the go-to player people would gameplan so much for that one guy. With two - one player can have an off night while the other still goes off. And if both go off we win big time
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I dont think lj change will ever be āget to the FT lineā, but he doesnt need to be
the not great season that everyone seems to be downplaying LJ for was 15.5pt and 38% from 3, on the top 2 kenpom teamā¦ he got that not being that aggressive ā¦ playing with a broken foot most of the season
even marginal improvements lets say 17pt and 40% from 3 on a top 4 team will already have in all American territory
even at āend of gamesā lj is a shifty guard with a career 42% 3pt shooter on high volume, thats automatic at ft lineā¦ that is definitely who you want the ball in their hands at the end of gamesā¦ he has numerous buzzer beaters to his name ā¦ high efficient shot, or them forcing a foul to prevent high efficient shot is what you want and the end of gamesā¦ NOT hoping the refs give you favorable whistles by being ultra physical on not great shots ā¦
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Hey man not everybody can be Gary Clark or Ol Man Cumby:)
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We have had a lot of success with players who donāt get to the line a lot.
I too think this will be the best shooting team under Sampson. Sharp has ice in his veins and honestly he is the guy I think we go to in pressure situations.
LJ has proven he can shoot, and after a year under Sampson learning the defense, I think he is going to be very, very good and live up to his AA accolades.
Glad to hear Tugler is shooting better because he wasnāt good in that area as a freshman. Maybe he shoots some treys this year, but my biggest hope is that he attacks the hoop and uses that NBA frame to open up his outside game.
I was hoping to hear Arceneaux has improved his outside shot, but it is what it is. I agree with others, one way or the other this is his swan song at UH.
Havenāt seen Miller or the other freshmen shoot, but young Miller seems to have that special talent, like Sharp, of being able to hit from anywhere on the court.
Miller biggest thing IMO will be learning how defense for Sampson.
This is one of the deepest, probably the deepest group of talented players that the Cougars have ever happen.
No Olajuwon or Drexler or Rob Williams, but from 1-14 we are loaded.
Canāt wait for the season to startā¦
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FWIW, In @HRReview interview with Lauren Sampson, she said she helped with the design on this years uniforms. Some interesting stuff about it. IMO, these are he best unis we have had in a long time.
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who and where?
I must have missed this
Its either Ole Miss or Duke. My guess
Sampson always likes to scrimmage Beard
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