Brian is on from about 2:10-30:00 mark.
Brian James on Stephen Bardo’s Podcast
- Thread starter Rynewt20
- Start date
Brian is on from about 2:10-30:00 mark.
Great stuff - totally worth a listen. Here are the cliffs notes for those who don’t have the time:
Thinks Boo has a good chance to make the NBA. Patty Mills and Gabe Vincent comparable. Jose Calderon type guy.
Brooks Barnhizer - chance to be 1st team all league - hit the weight room, playing way above the rim. You think he was good last year, you should see him this year - man possessed in weight room and on the court. Leader of the team. Looks like a heavyweight boxer.
Ty Berry - coming back. Shooting 43% from 3 last year - chomping at bit to get going, will start practice this summer
Nick Martinelli - look at the stat sheet, crazy shots, but puts up the numbers across the board. Stat stuffer. Huge favorite.
Matt Nicholson - can be inconsistent, but when he’s on, he’s really on. One of smartest post players James has ever been around (Bardo mentioned he’s been around a lot of post players). Knows what to do, watches the tape knows what’s going on. He’s coming from 5th metatarsal break, and he’s not going to be able to play until further notice. Remains to be seen when he can come back.
Luke Hunger - had 10 and 8 against UCONN - not afraid of anyone. Played hockey for 9 years and didn’t pick up hoops until freshman or sophomore year in HS. Legit 6’8 or 6’9 - really good interior tough minded player, will play a lot, especially with Nicholson’s injury. Luke will be in the mix for sure.
Keenan Fitzmorris - entering 7th year in college, he’s a good player. Sounded like to me he could start especially with Nicholson hurt. Medical Redshirt. COVID year. 2 degrees. He’s been awesome so far. Felt can’t win in B1G with 2 Centers. Gotta be big - referred to guarding Edey. 14 fouls at center position. Felt needed 3 centers especially with Nicholson injury, pretty good shape. During this part of discussion also commented that teams are going after older players now. Recruit 2 out of HS, the rest will be on the older players. Look at Elite 8 - only 2 freshmen played. Sounds like we are gonna hit the portal aggressively every year, which is good.
Jalen Leach - Bardo super high on him. Looks like he could be a player. James: very smooth, gets things done, he’s a really good player. Will try to see if he can be primary ball handler - his job until he proves otherwise. Can score, can make 3’s, can get in the paint. Only seen him for 1.5 weeks. Needs to work on dealing with physicality in B1G - that will the big thing he’s going to have to get used to in B1G.
KJ Wyndham - 3rd leading scorer in Ben Davis history. Didn’t even start as a junior. James: I love this kid. Military family. This kid can make shots, he’s tough, his goal is to be told by coaches just once, and once you explain to him what he needs to fix/change, he doesn’t want to have to hear it again as he wants to get it fixed immediately after the 1st time. Kid is a student of the game, and we think he’s going to be significant in the rotation.
Jordan Clayton taken a huge jump. Recruited him to play as a freshman, gave him opportunities, he didn’t take advantage - speed and size of game set him back last year. Great spring. This summer with team workouts, been awesome. Distanced himself from others fighting for that spot (ahead of Blake Smith and Mullins). Most improvement in the spring.
Blake Smith he’s still right in the mix.
Justin Mullins - has had illnesses and injuries, athletically strongest of the 3, will always have opportunities.
Angelo C. - James called him out when Bardo asked at the end if there was anyone else James wanted to talk about - already set vertical leap record - best jumper ever in the program. Will have an opportunity to play. Needs to gain strength and work on shot. Great attitude and works hard. Bardo’s speed. This guys gonna dunk and have windmills. At least 6’5 Wing. Damn good player. Gonna continue to recruit Catholic league hard.
Greece tour - 3 games. Gotta learn to play without Boo. 10 extra days of practice. Brooks will handle more than last year, primary ball handler (conflicts with what he said about Leach). Gotta build chemistry with Leach.
Non conference slate - is there a game to get excited about. We are gonna play in Phoenix - Butler, Milwaukee at Pfizer forum, @Dayton, play DePaul who will be much improved with transfers and freshman. Not gonna be a gimme anymore.
Only play 3 teams in the B1G twice this year - gonna go to Northern California and play a couple teams (what? Maybe he meant Pacific NW so maybe Oregon UDub?) and a couple will play in Evanston (USC UCLA?). Thoughts on expansion - seemed nostalgic about when Bardo played. It is what it is.
Thinks Boo has a good chance to make the NBA. Patty Mills and Gabe Vincent comparable. Jose Calderon type guy.
Brooks Barnhizer - chance to be 1st team all league - hit the weight room, playing way above the rim. You think he was good last year, you should see him this year - man possessed in weight room and on the court. Leader of the team. Looks like a heavyweight boxer.
Ty Berry - coming back. Shooting 43% from 3 last year - chomping at bit to get going, will start practice this summer
Nick Martinelli - look at the stat sheet, crazy shots, but puts up the numbers across the board. Stat stuffer. Huge favorite.
Matt Nicholson - can be inconsistent, but when he’s on, he’s really on. One of smartest post players James has ever been around (Bardo mentioned he’s been around a lot of post players). Knows what to do, watches the tape knows what’s going on. He’s coming from 5th metatarsal break, and he’s not going to be able to play until further notice. Remains to be seen when he can come back.
Luke Hunger - had 10 and 8 against UCONN - not afraid of anyone. Played hockey for 9 years and didn’t pick up hoops until freshman or sophomore year in HS. Legit 6’8 or 6’9 - really good interior tough minded player, will play a lot, especially with Nicholson’s injury. Luke will be in the mix for sure.
Keenan Fitzmorris - entering 7th year in college, he’s a good player. Sounded like to me he could start especially with Nicholson hurt. Medical Redshirt. COVID year. 2 degrees. He’s been awesome so far. Felt can’t win in B1G with 2 Centers. Gotta be big - referred to guarding Edey. 14 fouls at center position. Felt needed 3 centers especially with Nicholson injury, pretty good shape. During this part of discussion also commented that teams are going after older players now. Recruit 2 out of HS, the rest will be on the older players. Look at Elite 8 - only 2 freshmen played. Sounds like we are gonna hit the portal aggressively every year, which is good.
Jalen Leach - Bardo super high on him. Looks like he could be a player. James: very smooth, gets things done, he’s a really good player. Will try to see if he can be primary ball handler - his job until he proves otherwise. Can score, can make 3’s, can get in the paint. Only seen him for 1.5 weeks. Needs to work on dealing with physicality in B1G - that will the big thing he’s going to have to get used to in B1G.
KJ Wyndham - 3rd leading scorer in Ben Davis history. Didn’t even start as a junior. James: I love this kid. Military family. This kid can make shots, he’s tough, his goal is to be told by coaches just once, and once you explain to him what he needs to fix/change, he doesn’t want to have to hear it again as he wants to get it fixed immediately after the 1st time. Kid is a student of the game, and we think he’s going to be significant in the rotation.
Jordan Clayton taken a huge jump. Recruited him to play as a freshman, gave him opportunities, he didn’t take advantage - speed and size of game set him back last year. Great spring. This summer with team workouts, been awesome. Distanced himself from others fighting for that spot (ahead of Blake Smith and Mullins). Most improvement in the spring.
Blake Smith he’s still right in the mix.
Justin Mullins - has had illnesses and injuries, athletically strongest of the 3, will always have opportunities.
Angelo C. - James called him out when Bardo asked at the end if there was anyone else James wanted to talk about - already set vertical leap record - best jumper ever in the program. Will have an opportunity to play. Needs to gain strength and work on shot. Great attitude and works hard. Bardo’s speed. This guys gonna dunk and have windmills. At least 6’5 Wing. Damn good player. Gonna continue to recruit Catholic league hard.
Greece tour - 3 games. Gotta learn to play without Boo. 10 extra days of practice. Brooks will handle more than last year, primary ball handler (conflicts with what he said about Leach). Gotta build chemistry with Leach.
Non conference slate - is there a game to get excited about. We are gonna play in Phoenix - Butler, Milwaukee at Pfizer forum, @Dayton, play DePaul who will be much improved with transfers and freshman. Not gonna be a gimme anymore.
Only play 3 teams in the B1G twice this year - gonna go to Northern California and play a couple teams (what? Maybe he meant Pacific NW so maybe Oregon UDub?) and a couple will play in Evanston (USC UCLA?). Thoughts on expansion - seemed nostalgic about when Bardo played. It is what it is.
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Thanks for the summary @EvanstonCat! Concerned a bit about how well Nicholson will recover from his broken foot. Sure hope Fitzmorris is up to the task as his fill in.
It was a little garbled, but I thought I heard James say "We'll play one center maybe two... we might play both at the same time...
Whaaaaaaaat? I'll assume he means Hunger at power forward.
I'll believe Clayton is better than Mullins and Smith when I see it... but James admitting that the coaches missed on Clayton last year was honest. ("We expected him to be ready to play as a freshman")
We don't seem to have a point guard. i.e. Leach and Barnhizer will share primary ballhandling.
James wasn't specific on Nicholson's injury but several different "fifth metatarsal fractures" described here...
Fifth Metatarsal Fracture - Broken 5th Metatarsal | Foot Health Facts - Foot Health Facts
A fifth metatarsal fracture, or broken 5th metatarsal, requires immediate diagnosis and treatment to avoid long term 5th metatarsal pain, among other potential issues.
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his goal is to be told by coaches just once, and once you explain to him what he needs to fix/change, he doesn’t want to have to hear it again as he wants to get it fixed immediately after the 1st time.
This is a really really great quality to have, not just as a basketball player, but also as a husband. If only my "coach" could limit it to just once...
This is a really really great quality to have, not just as a basketball player, but also as a husband. If only my "coach" could limit it to just once...
Brian must have had about 3 Red Bulls before the interview. Got me pumped up for the upcoming season.
Oh hell yeah @EvanstonCat.
So exciting to hear about Brooks. So exciting to hear about Angelo. Fingers crossed on Clayton.
I wish there was confidence that Leach *is* the primary ballhandler, but I imagine that’s hedging more than anything.
Great year to have the extra practices. Excited for Brooks to be an All American.
Gosh I’m so excited.
Mullins can jump out of the gym... when he's healthy... and motivated...
Best hops for NU in recent memory...
So the best Mullins-related news is that the NU trainer says freshman Angelo Ciavarino is the best jumper on the team, best that he's seen at Northwestern.
Mullins and Ciarvino are going to have jumping contests at halftime of home games. Good entertainment for the fans.
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