Jordan Murrell, Skylar Thomas and Josh Janniere training with TFC?

[Roger miller]

It thought it was the North Carolina (Not Duke) program that sapped the skills out of the players in a favour of tactics and systems. What was it they use to say about Michael Jordan? That the only guy who could stop Michael Jordan was Dean Smith. But, You guys might be right, maybe its duke as well.

FyI Dean Smith was the long time coach at UNC.

[ag futbol]

It thought it was the North Carolina (Not Duke) program that sapped the skills out of the players in a favour of tactics and systems. What was it they use to say about Michael Jordan? That the only guy who could stop Michael Jordan was Dean Smith. But, You guys might be right, maybe its duke as well.

FyI Dean Smith was the long time coach at UNC.

No, it's quite directly the opposite. But that analogy is outdated at this point. Duke has produced a butt load of NBA players lately and their "only good at the college level" rep is pretty much gone. Traditionally North Carolina was blue-chip prospect finishing school and Duke was good for NBA flame-outs like Christian Laettner. At this point they're both about equal in terms of ability to bring guys to the next level.

UNC went through some lean years after Smith retired and then long time assistant then head coach Bill Guthridge retired too. Matt Doherty did a poor job with the program but Roy Williams has brought it back as strong as ever.

Edit: rewrote it to explain a little better.

[Macksam]

??? I can't think of too many US high school and AAU coaches that could even be qualified to carry Coach K's jock strap. Perhaps if it was a Serbian kid moving from a pro academy environment to play in Rick Pitino's full court press system you might have a point....

So you're also a big basketball fan. I learn something new every day on this forum. What do you think of Canada's new professional league?

[mserson]

??? I can't think of too many US high school and AAU coaches that could even be qualified to carry Coach K's jock strap. Perhaps if it was a Serbian kid moving from a pro academy environment to play in Rick Pitino's full court press system you might have a point....

It's an opinion I've heard in the American sports media that may no longer be relevant as ag futbol explained. On top of that I don't know the context of comments from Rongen so I might have stretched that link too far.

[jpg75]

So you're also a big basketball fan. I learn something new every day on this forum. What do you think of Canada's new professional league?

Wouldn't consider myself a big fan of B-Ball, it's probably tied for 4th/5th favourite with Baseball (Hockey, Soccer, NFL Football being 1-2-3). But i used to watch NBA playoffs back in the 80's and 90's when players still had fundamentals and i still have mild interest in March Madness (used to get right into it in my 20's). It's great to see a guy like Tim Duncan still getting it done, nothing pretty, just simple execution -which is something that has been lost on this generation of NBA player. Most of these guys come from the playgrounds, dominate high school, play on AAU teams that are more collections of individuals showcasing themselves than actual teams and then 1 and done in college before hitting the NBA. There is little skill development anymore (shooting, passing, movement off the ball), learning to play the game within a team concept. It's all athleticism and individual ball skill/taking it to hoop. That's why most Dukies don't make it in the NBA, Coach K recruits the most talented kids that fit his idea of how the game should be played; guys who can pass and shoot the ball, spacing, blocking out, game situations, tactics, etc. That and the fact that Duke is one of the better academic institutions means he ends up with mostly highly educated, middle-class kids who have been well-coached at the high school level and he just has to fit them in to his system and they are very receptive to his coaching.

Anyways, you asked me about the Canadian League. I think it's a great idea and i hear they did pretty well this year. Read an article about the Oshawa team and how they had a bunch of Canadians and were doing well and the level of play was surprisingly high. I'd like to see them increase the Cdn quota though, maybe do it slowly, but at some point we need a path for CDN kids to play after CIS or NCAA.

[nolando]

Janniere got to play 32 minutes versus the Liverpool reserves tonight. Good on him.

[Gian-Luca]

However, it was Tyler Pasher & Cammargo who were the most impressive of the TFC academy in that game, IMO. They both look like they could contribute to the first team right now....

[canucklefan]

However, it was Tyler Pasher & Cammargo who were the most impressive of the TFC academy in that game, IMO. They both look like they could contribute to the first team right now....

Camargo impressed me too. The goal Amarikwa scored was thanks to him. He is TFC Academy top scorer in CSL with 6 goals and he's only 17 years old.

Also, I've read in rednation that Nicholas Lindsay played recently in TFC Academy game against Brampton. That's good to hear.
http://www.rednationonline.ca/Camarg...hepackatT.aspx

"Another thing that caught my eye on the weekend was a pleasant surprise, as long time injured forward/midfielder Nicholas Lindsay started the match and played the entire first half."

[madmonte]

Camargo impressed me too. The goal Amarikwa scored was thanks to him. He is TFC Academy top scorer in CSL with 6 goals and he's only 17 years old.

Also, I've read in rednation that Nicholas Lindsay played recently in TFC Academy game against Brampton. That's good to hear.
http://www.rednationonline.ca/Camarg...hepackatT.aspx

"Another thing that caught my eye on the weekend was a pleasant surprise, as long time injured forward/midfielder Nicholas Lindsay started the match and played the entire first half."

I was extremely happy to watch that Liverpool match! As much as everyone was talking about it being a waste of TFC's time mid schedule, and all it did was bring out Liverpool fans who have no interest in TFC, I respectfully disagree. I think even the players that got on the pitch had some fun. And was it more Liverpool reserves? Yes, but then we played tit for tat and brought on ours as well, which was AWESOME because how often do you get to see those young Canadian guys on HDTV? Camargo I think has a future!

[Ivan]

However, it was Tyler Pasher & Cammargo who were the most impressive of the TFC academy in that game, IMO. They both look like they could contribute to the first team right now....

Was going to post the same thought this morning, but had no time. Also thought Makabuya didn't look bad. Interseting Mariner gave Pasher the armband for the second half!