I'm sliding into the "worried about Alex" mode

[Blue Heaven]

Not sure what leads some other folks to believe Poythress will be assertive in either play or leadership this season. Not a lot of evidence to suggest that'll be the case.

For all the giddiness that was our run to the champuonship game 2 years ago because of Aarons big shots, those shots would be meaningless without Poythress. Harrison got the pub, but nobody ever acknowledges what Alex did against Wichita State, Louisville, and Michigan. I won't go as far to say he single handedly won the game as Aaron did, but he was relentless on defense, did the dirty work inside, and hit some big shots at crucial moments. He will never be THE leader of a team because that's just not his nature. He is,though, a crucial cog in the machine and we will need him this year in order to make any type of run.

[Joneslab]

For all the giddiness that was our run to the champuonship game 2 years ago because of Aarons big shots, those shots would be meaningless without Poythress. Harrison got the pub, but nobody ever acknowledges what Alex did against Wichita State, Louisville, and Michigan. I won't go as far to say he single handedly won the game as Aaron did, but he was relentless on defense, did the dirty work inside, and hit some big shots at crucial moments. He will never be THE leader of a team because that's just not his nature. He is,though, a crucial cog in the machine and we will need him this year in order to make any type of run.

I actually do think he won the Louisville game. (Of course, having said that, he almost lost it as well--he was basically invisible up until that amazing last few minutes.)

And therein has always been the issue with Poythress. Tremendous one game, absent the next. Amazing for one five-minute stretch, does nothing the next. Just never has been able to find that consistency that great players have.

[George]

For all the giddiness that was our run to the champuonship game 2 years ago because of Aarons big shots, those shots would be meaningless without Poythress. Harrison got the pub, but nobody ever acknowledges what Alex did against Wichita State, Louisville, and Michigan. I won't go as far to say he single handedly won the game as Aaron did, but he was relentless on defense, did the dirty work inside, and hit some big shots at crucial moments. He will never be THE leader of a team because that's just not his nature. He is,though, a crucial cog in the machine and we will need him this year in order to make any type of run.

I don't doubt that for a second. It's just tough (impossible) to guarantee that we'll get that version of Poythress.

[Blue Heaven]

I don't doubt that for a second. It's just tough (impossible) to guarantee that we'll get that version of Poythress.

I agree. He's got the skill and athleticism to be great. For some reason he has been sort of an enigma since he's been here. Some guys are just wired differently.

[DA#23]

^ I hope he still has the athleticism. We've seen many people come back just as strong from ACL and other knee injuries, but there are still some who do not. Sometimes it's just a mental effect and sometimes it's simply that they've lost a notch on the Totem Pole of God-Given ability. Bill Walker comes to mind, which is unfortunate because i just recalled that he whizzed into a towel on the sideline of a game.

I hate to type this, but as Will noted, Poythress has much to improve upon in his game. If he loses a step, in my unfortunate opinion, he's bleeped until he learns to play around it. Not everybody out there is Derek Anderson.