FWIW
Isaiah and Jordan walked in the gym about 10 seconds before the game started, so they had zero warm-up time. I thought that is why Isaiah looked a little out of sorts for the first couple of minutes and Jordan didn't get into a flow until the second half. Once Jordan got going he gave a couple of pretty good attempts at dunking on Reggie- I think he went 1 for 3. Missed free throws, knocked down a college 3, missed an NBA 3, but the form looked good. The free throws must a thing because the shot form looks ok, but it isn't shot with much confidence.
Isaiah's first possession ended in a dunk for Joey King- but Joey was on the other team. As long as the refs call the carry violation for him the same as they never did for Melo Trimble he will be ok, but it is borderline. As a ref, it looked to me like he gained a little too much of an advantage on some of them and that is when you have to call it. He had a few possessions where it was a lot of dribbles to go nowhere and I would rather see one quick good move that gets him past a defender, but he knows how to play to the crowd. I can see why the All-Star games love him. Once he quit looking down to make sure he was behind the NBA 3 pt line, the shot improved. Over-all I was impressed-- as a veteran watcher of the Howard Pulley Pro-Am at the Sal, I must throw in the disclaimer that I was more impressed with Devron Bostick's first appearance that Isaiah's so take everything I say with a grain of salt, I guess.
Jamir Harris lit it up early and often- I think he missed his first one and then knocked in 3 in a row and wasn't affected by the deeper 3 pt line at all. I didn't notice the loose handles as much as the other reporters on here, but he did have a bad turnover at a crucial point in the game on a pass.
I think it is tough for these young guys, or really any Gopher because they haven't played in this sort of environment before, to get used to the defense being played. There is about 10 possessions in a row where it seems like an NBA all-star game with no-one playing any D and then when some D is played it is physical, grabby, pushy D played by a 28 yr old MAN who doesn't want to get shown up by a young Gopher.
Jarvis Johnson was there last night, but isn't on a roster. He could play last year because it wasn't a NCAA certified league yet, but this year they have that certification so the U might have more control and won't let him play. I should have gone over and asked but I didn't want to bother him.
The rosters, as always, are merely a guide for who will show up and play. Trevor Mbwake is on a roster and was there watching but didn't play. Tyus stayed for both games. Amir didn't play, Matz Stockman was there (I think that's who it was) and didn't play. Royce wasn't there and a few others. Still a good time and good venue. They have some concessions this year and the price is right for an evening of entertainment
