On Wes McElroy's radio show Friday, Melvin Johnson was asked which freshman caught his eye. Johnson immediate went to Jonathan Williams, calling him a bad boy, drawn out as baaaad booooy, and then explained: "When you're talking about basketball and you say someone is a bad boy, that means he's good, he's extremely talented."
Now I see what Johnson meant.
From my notes during the Black & Gold scrimmage, because it's easiest and most real:
<ul>
<li>Melvin three off Williams pass. Smart cut to space. Williams knows what he's doing.</li>
<li>Williams to Melvin again. Another space play.</li>
<li>Williams finds Johnson again--three times in eight minutes for open threes. Not much of that last year.</li>
<li>Williams to Tre. Don't know assist total but kid makes every good pass. Has command of the basketball and puts himself in position to make plays.</li>
<li>Williams strong left hand--drives hard with it instead of protecting.</li>
<li>Williams strong entry pass to Mo to start 2H. Need post passing in the offense.</li>
<li>Stop and pop smooth for Williams.</li>
</ul>
You get the picture. To me, Jonathan Williams did not look like a freshman out there. There was a seasoning to his game. "He knows what he's doing" is how I phrase it. Yes, there were six turnovers but that doesn't change the overall picture of Williams, and why Johnson said what he said on Friday.
Williams is like buttermilk. He's okay by himself, but when you add him to anything else, he makes it better. Think I'm wrong? Think about a biscuit, and then a buttermilk biscuit. Pancakes and then buttermilk pancakes. There's hiking, and then there's hiking the Buttermilk Trail.
***
It wasn't the Buttermilk Williams Show, though. There were plenty of notes on the iPhone.
<ul>
<li>Stu is half-full 45 minutes prior to the tip of an intrasquad scrimmage. Signs and gold shirts like a regular season game.</li>
<li>Team doing various yoga poses as part of its pregame stretch.</li>
<li>Robby about four words into his introduction of Shaka, and the place rises to its feet for a standing ovation. No more introduction needed.</li>
<li>Shaka introduces the "new and improved number five, Doug Brooks."</li>
<li>Graham double-clutch and then a Melvin three opens black team scoring. I could get used to that.</li>
<li>Graham an effortless pop three.</li>
<li>With an open shot, Doug Brooks passes to Guest for a layup. New and improved.</li>
<li>There's a different veneer of confidence in Melvin. Confidence, not arrogance. Like he will make a shot not because he thinks he's better than everyone else. More he will make a shot because he's a good shooter.</li>
<li>Weber takes charge when needed to.</li>
<li>The game looks effortless for Larrier. Throwing up ugly looking shots but the kid is a natural.</li>
<li>Brooks rewards us with his second airball.</li>
<li>Gilmore great control of athletic body. Needs to figure it out, but has obvious skill.</li>
<li>Guest two offensive rebound stick backs--Shaka said do less and be more effective. Guest missed an 18-footer earlier and not even looking for that anymore.</li>
<li>Lewis all over the place.</li>
<li>Brooks misses a three--first Tillman, then Gilmore above everyone for rebound. Different kind of athletes.</li>
<li>Tillman showed frustration outwardly and I'm good with that.</li>
<li>Gold team up 10 and playing harder. Playing with an edge. Lewis, Gilmore, Weber looking like SOBs.</li>
</ul>
***
Here's the thing: I went straight notes because analysis is fairly pointless. We all saw some things, and realize this is a different kind of freshman class. But keep in mind for most of the great plays somebody made, it was at the expense of another VCU player.
For me, the litmus test of a great Black & Gold game is whether or not the coaching staff saw what they wanted to see. For me, and I think for you, we saw exactly what we wanted to see: the VCU Rams back on the basketball court, and a clock was running.
You can see the makings, but don't hang that national championship banner just yet. We haven't even played the exhibition game, much less one that counts in the standings. I'm reminded of a Shaka Smart quote from last year that is better to frame this year:
A lot to work on, but a lot a to work with.
Now I see what Johnson meant.
From my notes during the Black & Gold scrimmage, because it's easiest and most real:
<ul>
<li>Melvin three off Williams pass. Smart cut to space. Williams knows what he's doing.</li>
<li>Williams to Melvin again. Another space play.</li>
<li>Williams finds Johnson again--three times in eight minutes for open threes. Not much of that last year.</li>
<li>Williams to Tre. Don't know assist total but kid makes every good pass. Has command of the basketball and puts himself in position to make plays.</li>
<li>Williams strong left hand--drives hard with it instead of protecting.</li>
<li>Williams strong entry pass to Mo to start 2H. Need post passing in the offense.</li>
<li>Stop and pop smooth for Williams.</li>
</ul>
You get the picture. To me, Jonathan Williams did not look like a freshman out there. There was a seasoning to his game. "He knows what he's doing" is how I phrase it. Yes, there were six turnovers but that doesn't change the overall picture of Williams, and why Johnson said what he said on Friday.
Williams is like buttermilk. He's okay by himself, but when you add him to anything else, he makes it better. Think I'm wrong? Think about a biscuit, and then a buttermilk biscuit. Pancakes and then buttermilk pancakes. There's hiking, and then there's hiking the Buttermilk Trail.
***
It wasn't the Buttermilk Williams Show, though. There were plenty of notes on the iPhone.
<ul>
<li>Stu is half-full 45 minutes prior to the tip of an intrasquad scrimmage. Signs and gold shirts like a regular season game.</li>
<li>Team doing various yoga poses as part of its pregame stretch.</li>
<li>Robby about four words into his introduction of Shaka, and the place rises to its feet for a standing ovation. No more introduction needed.</li>
<li>Shaka introduces the "new and improved number five, Doug Brooks."</li>
<li>Graham double-clutch and then a Melvin three opens black team scoring. I could get used to that.</li>
<li>Graham an effortless pop three.</li>
<li>With an open shot, Doug Brooks passes to Guest for a layup. New and improved.</li>
<li>There's a different veneer of confidence in Melvin. Confidence, not arrogance. Like he will make a shot not because he thinks he's better than everyone else. More he will make a shot because he's a good shooter.</li>
<li>Weber takes charge when needed to.</li>
<li>The game looks effortless for Larrier. Throwing up ugly looking shots but the kid is a natural.</li>
<li>Brooks rewards us with his second airball.</li>
<li>Gilmore great control of athletic body. Needs to figure it out, but has obvious skill.</li>
<li>Guest two offensive rebound stick backs--Shaka said do less and be more effective. Guest missed an 18-footer earlier and not even looking for that anymore.</li>
<li>Lewis all over the place.</li>
<li>Brooks misses a three--first Tillman, then Gilmore above everyone for rebound. Different kind of athletes.</li>
<li>Tillman showed frustration outwardly and I'm good with that.</li>
<li>Gold team up 10 and playing harder. Playing with an edge. Lewis, Gilmore, Weber looking like SOBs.</li>
</ul>
***
Here's the thing: I went straight notes because analysis is fairly pointless. We all saw some things, and realize this is a different kind of freshman class. But keep in mind for most of the great plays somebody made, it was at the expense of another VCU player.
For me, the litmus test of a great Black & Gold game is whether or not the coaching staff saw what they wanted to see. For me, and I think for you, we saw exactly what we wanted to see: the VCU Rams back on the basketball court, and a clock was running.
You can see the makings, but don't hang that national championship banner just yet. We haven't even played the exhibition game, much less one that counts in the standings. I'm reminded of a Shaka Smart quote from last year that is better to frame this year:
A lot to work on, but a lot a to work with.