The 2013-14 Season

With the first practice just two days away, it seemed the right time to quit adding to the "2013 Offseason" posts and start fresh.  

A great way to start may be with the posting of the "2013-14 Men's Basketball Totally Unofficial Photo."
Great to see the four new additions.....11-Bobby, 54-Aitor (Xubi), 2-Alec, and 52-Volodymyr (Voldy).

It's probably easier to choose this year's starting lineup than it will be to choose this year's starting shoe.  The guys have at least 5 Nike models to choose from......
#1#2
#3#4
#5 (Great for breast cancer awareness day)
I like #1....less Swoosh, more Purple....What's your choice?

Good lord, that is one bad-ass team. Not even a hint of a smile on any of them.

DeanMurdoch wrote:Good lord, that is one bad-ass team. Not even a hint of a smile on any of them.

Ha-ha, well, to be fair.....this is a very unofficial photo; I'm sure the "official" picture will be posted by UP soon.
(For those of you viewing the picture on your phone or tablet, the entire right side of the photo could be cut-off, that's why you might not see Coach Rev and Coach Eric.

Here's a more fun/upbeat picture of the team:

Shoe #3 would be my choice.

Not a LeBron fan, but the shoes are nice (#1). The Hyperdunks (#5) are cool with the two shades of purple (the picture makes it look pink, but it's light purple).

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote: The Hyperdunks (#5) are cool with the two shades of purple (the picture makes it look pink, but it's light purple).

Those (#5) will probably be green in the Chiles Center.  

I like the first shoes for the not so prominent swoosh, but #3 is good as well.

#4 looks like something you would wear to a party in the Hamptons.

I might get a pair.

One of each, please. Thanks.

Geezaldinho wrote:#4 looks like something you would wear to a party in the Hamptons.

Ha-ha, I thought the same thing.....saw Alec trying on a pair of this model....he made no comment.

From this morning.....the coach you don't often get to see:  

"DC's back, DC's back!!"

DeanMurdoch wrote:"DC's back, DC's back!!"

He really is....and moving much better than expected, IMO....Xubi too.  

There should be some good competion for minutes.

What's the over/under on how many days Rev's voice lasts?

Did I see Gat Bol helping at out practice in that video?

NoPoNeighbor wrote:Did I see Gat Bol helping at out practice in that video?

Keen eye, NPN, I believe that is young Gat.  

Not sure what his role may be, but my guess is he's either trying-out or has been "hired" as one of the student managers.  As I said in an earlier post, he's much too lightweight and not nearly strong enough to "compete" at the D-1 level, but he obviously knows his way around a basketball court and can be huge help with drills, etc.

DoubleDipper wrote:If you've been following the Men's Basketball on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/upmensbasketball?sk=wall, you'll know there's been a contest to choose this season's slogan, and the winner is UP junior Ryan Kain, and the slogan for the 2013-14 season is:

YOU DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING

.....and for his winner's prize, Ryan chose the "Party in the Hamptons" style.

Wise choice.

Anyone been out to any practices? How's the team looking? (only 23 days until CU-Irvine)

DeanMurdoch wrote:Anyone been out to any practices? How's the team looking? (only 23 days until CU-Irvine)

Yes, and too soon to tell.....except to say the team is well ahead of last year's pace in terms of the "playbook," or understanding the various offensive schemes.

So far, everyone’s healthy and DC is moving very well....not like the DC back east!

Remember, Saturday's practice is at Howard Hall beginning at 11.

DoubleDipper wrote:

NoPoNeighbor wrote:Did I see Gat Bol helping at out practice in that video?

Keen eye, NPN, I believe that is young Gat.  

Gat is a student manager....one of six, I believe.  As their class schedules are not 'protected' like the student-athletes, usually none are able to stay for entire practice sessions.

I've heard good things from the staff regarding Gat's help with some of the drills.

Has Rev said the team is ahead of last year in terms of learning the playbook? How exactly do we know that?

onetouchfutbol wrote:Has Rev said the team is ahead of last year in terms of learning the playbook?  How exactly do we know that?

How do we KNOW that?  Hmm, good question…..you sound like one of my metaphysics professors  ...but it has been my observation that the four new guys have picked up the offensive scheme of things much quicker than 3 out of 4 of last year's new guys.  

If the Pilots are to successfully play transition basketball they must be aggressive and somewhat structured.....and with Alec at PG it is going much smoother, IMO, than it has in the last couple of years.

The 10 practices in Portland and the 5 games in Spain in August have contributed to the quicker start this year....but 9 players back from last year has to be a big help too.

After only 5 official preseason practices, my vote for most improved is KB and Thomas; best newcomer is Alec; best passer is Korey; and all 13 are working their tails off.

Still a long way to go.......

DoubleDipper wrote:After only 5 official preseason practices, my vote for most improved is KB and Thomas; best newcomer is Alec; best passer is Korey; and all 13 are working their tails off.

So the guy with arguably the most potential is one of the team's most improved? If that's not a good sign, I don't know what is.

I am interested in hearing about the newcomer pg Alec . . .press breaker?