Four Quarters Podcast: Steve Alford, NBA Draft Preview and Early Season Reviews
In this week's Four Quarters Podcast, hosts
In this week's Four Quarters Podcast, hosts
By DENNIS CHAMBERS
NEWARK — After a picture-perfect win following a two-loss trip in the AdvoCare Tournament, Seton Hall freshman Myles Powell said “Cheese” to Columbia as the Pirates eased past the Lions 95-71 behind Powell’s seven three-pointers.
The Pirates rookie – making his first career start – registered 21 points in the win and continues to provide consistent outside scoring to a team that shot just 34 percent from deep last year.
Head coach Kevin Willard sees the fruits of Powell’s labor over the long summer in the early goings of this season.
“He can play longer,” Willard said of Powell losing 45 pounds over the summer. “He’s not just shooting three’s, he’s getting to the rim, his game has really changed because he has worked so hard to change his body … Once I saw his dedication to his work ethic and how good he was, I sat there and said ‘the sky is the limit for this kid.'”
Add Michigan State stud freshman Miles Bridges
You might have missed new Tulane coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. in the cozy gym at The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J. this fall.
After all, Kentucky coach John Calipari passed through on several occasions and Arizona’s Sean Miller and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was there, too.
They were busy recruiting Nick Richards, the 6-foot-11 big man who ultimately signed with Kentucky.
But Dunleavy snuck in and out of the Garden State long enough to land two steals in 6-foot-9 Bul Ajang and 7-footer Buay Koka, who will be key frontcourt players this season as The Patrick School, loaded with five Division 1 signees, looks to win the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title. The two natives of South Sudan signed with Tulane last month, as first reported by ZAGSBLOG.
Associate head coach Doug Stewart, a New Jersey native with prior coaching experience at Nevada, Oregon State and in the NBA D-League, was the point man on the recruitment.
UCLA freshman Lonzo Ball will enter Saturday’s game at No. 1 Kentucky having been named the MVP of the Wooden Classic and the Pac-12 Player of the Week.
Kentucky freshman De’Aaron Fox will enter the game against No. 11 UCLA coming off just the second triple-double in Kentucky history (an accomplishment that was later disputed by ESPN, but then determined to be legitimate by the official scorer).
Go ahead and get the popcorn ready for this nationally televised matchup featuring these two Speedy Gonzales-type floor generals of undefeated teams.
The 6-foot-6 Ball is now projected as the No. 4 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, while the 6-4 Fox is currently projected at No. 10. Expect a slew of NBA personnel and Draft experts to attend this game and also scrutinize it on TV.
