Riek to start running/enjoys official visit [Archive]

GoBearcats31

11-01-2008, 10:35 PM

http://www.zagsblog.com/2008/11/01/riek-to-start-running-soon/#more-6147

“He just gets clearance this month to start running,” said Riek’s adviser, Fatah Muraisi. “On Nov. 5 he’ll get the green light to start running. He’ll be joining the team in December.”

“He’s having a nice visit,” Muraisi said. “He said it was real nice. He said Yancy [Gates} is just tremendous. He was just watching them play.”

Thegreatone

11-02-2008, 08:08 AM

Nice, I am just glad we got him on campus. It makes him playing for us a reality, I cant help but to think that something will go wrong but those doubts are fading quickly.

Mick's Da Man

11-02-2008, 06:16 PM

Yancy's debut and reviews of his debut are giving me hope that he will be more of force, quicker and sooner, than I thought he would be. He is used to being the man, and it will free everyone else up on that team, offensively, with Yancy being the focus of his opponents defensive schemes.

Everything I've read so far from Yancy and Mick tells me that Yancy is working and playing hard. I feared some laziness, but he has eliminated that concern so far.

Imagine if Riek can actually contribute something? Mike Williams - Yancy Gates - McClain - Toyloy and Riek? Best depth we've had in years in the low post by far, if it holds up. Plus Toyloy is like 6'-8 1/2", Yancy is 6'-9", McClain 7' and Riek 7'-2". Gone are the days of 6'-5" Kareem Johnson manning the low post for us. I know height isn't everything, but if you have equally talented players who are 6'-5" and 7'-0". The 7 footer is going to cause more problems defensively.

TheLivingLegend

11-02-2008, 07:57 PM

[QUOTE=
Gone are the days of 6'-5" Kareem Johnson manning the low post for us. I know height isn't everything, but if you have equally talented players who are 6'-5" and 7'-0". The 7 footer is going to cause more problems defensively.[/QUOTE]

I'd rather have a 6'5 guy that goes hard, rather then a 7ft biggie who is soft.

Mick's Da Man

11-02-2008, 08:53 PM

I'd rather have a 6'5 guy that goes hard, rather then a 7ft biggie who is soft.

Uh......did you read what I said?

I said if you have a 6'-5" guy and a 7' footer of EQUAL TALENT.........geez.

Do I have to explain that too? :rolleyes:

Toyloy, Williams, McClain, Gates and Riek ARE TALENTED players taller than 6'-5".

Thegreatone

11-02-2008, 09:21 PM

Uh......did you read what I said?

I said if you have a 6'-5" guy and a 7' footer of EQUAL TALENT.........geez.

Do I have to explain that too? :rolleyes:

Toyloy, Williams, McClain, Gates and Riek ARE TALENTED players taller than 6'-5".

I love anybody tellin off LivingLegend I really do, but your post just lost all credibility. MCCLAIN AS A TALENTED PLAYER!!!?!?! No sir.

SLMadiCat

11-02-2008, 09:44 PM

Why all the hate on Biggie? He is a raw 7 footer. What the **** did you expect? If you have seen him play this year vs. last year you would notice the improvement.

GoBearcats31

11-02-2008, 09:56 PM

It's amazing how I posted the link talking about Riek. There is some potential with him, so if he joins the team as it appears he will next month, then that could be good. But instead, let's rip on Biggie...great. We know he is a project too, but we've gotta give him some time as well. Besides, he hasn't even played a regular season game this year.

TmacGoCats

11-02-2008, 09:59 PM

McClain has improved greatly from last year to this year!
Riek is gonna be a huge addition half way through the year. And it's exciting that he enjoyed his visit. I'm also impressed with his compliments about Yancy!

TheLivingLegend

11-02-2008, 10:32 PM

Why all the hate on Biggie? He is a raw 7 footer. What the **** did you expect? If you have seen him play this year vs. last year you would notice the improvement.

Ya hes raw, I could care less about that. Hes soft. Period.

What improvement? He is just as soft this year as last. That will never change, which in return will never make him a good player.

Reik looked huge in the stands. Only great news to hear him getting back to being healthy

Scheids21

11-03-2008, 01:56 AM

BigDaddyCornHusker

11-03-2008, 05:42 AM

When Reik is eleigible, does that mean he's eligible to play or eligible to practice? Can he practice now & start learning the plays?

London 'Cat

11-03-2008, 06:59 AM

When Reik is eleigible, does that mean he's eligible to play or eligible to practice? Can he practice now & start learning the plays?

He must actually be enrolled in school at UC in order to do either. I think there is still some work to do for that enrollment to happen. Let's hope it happens.

Thegreatone

11-03-2008, 07:36 AM

Back to Reik...When is he officially eligible? I keep hearing December but is that the beginning of December or the end of the fall quarter or what? (Fall Quarter ends: Dec. 13....Xavier Game: Dec. 13)

How nice would that be... not a possibility even if he could play but that would be great.

Billy Don

11-03-2008, 07:46 AM

Why all the hate on Biggie? He is a raw 7 footer. What the **** did you expect? If you have seen him play this year vs. last year you would notice the improvement.

I think it might come from the fact Mick said he would probably lose Biggie to the pro's early when he signed him. Fans expected something different than what they got. Of course the foot came into play but even at that Biggie even at 7 foot has a long way to go if he's going to be a pro.

SLMadiCat

11-03-2008, 08:56 AM

Ya hes raw, I could care less about that. Hes soft. Period.

What improvement? He is just as soft this year as last. That will never change, which in return will never make him a good player.

Reik looked huge in the stands. Only great news to hear him getting back to being healthy

No, not "period", that is your opinion. He is 7' and still pretty lean. He also hasn't yet learned how to bang in the post. He will eventually, IMO. He blocks and alter shots quite often. He is getting better at rebounding and his offensive game has improved a lot. Aww, but who cares, the guy is apparently the softest player in the country.

Mick's Da Man

11-03-2008, 09:51 AM

I guess Mick and his coaches have no credibility either, huh?

When asked about the starting lineup in the postgame conference, Mick said he told his assistants to give him the 5 best defensive players. McClain started. I watched the game. Was McClain a world-beater? No. Was he better than last year? Yes.

jeffto

11-03-2008, 11:10 AM

Back to Reik...When is he officially eligible? I keep hearing December but is that the beginning of December or the end of the fall quarter or what? (Fall Quarter ends: Dec. 13....Xavier Game: Dec. 13)
I would think he must be a student, which wouldn't happen until the winter quarter starts - Jan 5. If he's just starting to run now, I don't think he'd be game ready before then anyway.

Scheids21

11-03-2008, 01:32 PM

I would think he must be a student, which wouldn't happen until the winter quarter starts - Jan 5. If he's just starting to run now, I don't think he'd be game ready before then anyway.

I guess my question continues then: Cant true freshman football players play in games before they even take a class? So I really wonder what the ruling is here.

CincyBeerCo

11-03-2008, 01:41 PM

I guess my question continues then: Cant true freshman football players play in games before they even take a class? So I really wonder what the ruling is here.

My understanding (right or wrong?) is that as long as he is enrolled/registered to take classes Winter qtr, he can begin playing as soon as Fall qtr is over (December)

Thegreatone

11-03-2008, 01:46 PM

No, not "period", that is your opinion. He is 7' and still pretty lean. He also hasn't yet learned how to bang in the post. He will eventually, IMO. He blocks and alter shots quite often. He is getting better at rebounding and his offensive game has improved a lot. Aww, but who cares, the guy is apparently the softest player in the country.

No, not apparently, he is the softest player in the country. He wil help very little if at all this year. He most certainly wont help in Big East play. If Riek is like biggie than I dont want him. I dont like 4 year projects. That just means that they wont be any good. Give me Maxiell over Biggie any day of the week. **** give me Ron Allen over biggie.

CroninCrazy

11-03-2008, 01:51 PM

I guess my question continues then: Cant true freshman football players play in games before they even take a class? So I really wonder what the ruling is here.

Makes sense to me because football players start the season in August when classes actually start in September.

So the same SHOULD be true for basketball?

SLMadiCat

11-03-2008, 01:54 PM

No, not apparently, he is the softest player in the country. He wil help very little if at all this year. He most certainly wont help in Big East play. If Riek is like biggie than I dont want him. I dont like 4 year projects. That just means that they wont be any good. Give me Maxiell over Biggie any day of the week. **** give me Ron Allen over biggie.

Okay, at least now I know not to take anything else you say seriously.

jeffto

11-03-2008, 01:54 PM

No, not apparently, he is the softest player in the country. He wil help very little if at all this year. He most certainly wont help in Big East play. If Riek is like biggie than I dont want him. I dont like 4 year projects. That just means that they wont be any good. Give me Maxiell over Biggie any day of the week. **** give me Ron Allen over biggie.I don't think Max or Allen have any eligibility left. You seem to forget how long it took KMart to develop. It was worth the wait.

You can coach aggression. You cannot coach 7' 0"

SLMadiCat

11-03-2008, 01:56 PM

By the way, I do like this quote. Biggie now will help very little this year. But before it was no doubt he will be a huge asset to this team.

Adam is what he is, I mean if your expecting him to put in 20 points a game then your going to be disappointed. Biggie will be fine, he needs time to work on post game and he needs to put on some muscle no doubt about it. He will, they always do and he will be a huge asset to this team. This year will teach him a lot and we will be better off having him get experience.

bubbachunk

11-03-2008, 01:57 PM

My understanding (right or wrong?) is that as long as he is enrolled/registered to take classes Winter qtr, he can begin playing as soon as Fall qtr is over (December)

Yea that is how it will work to my understanding. If he actually had to be taking classes then we would see him in games til mid jan since he wouldnt be with the team til jan 5th

Scheids21

11-03-2008, 03:55 PM

By the way, I do like this quote. Biggie now will help very little this year. But before it was no doubt he will be a huge asset to this team.

Hahaha now that is funny....

TheLivingLegend

11-03-2008, 04:40 PM

I don't think Max or Allen have any eligibility left. You seem to forget how long it took KMart to develop. It was worth the wait.

You can coach aggression. You cannot coach 7' 0"

Wrong you cant coach aggression.

TheLivingLegend

11-03-2008, 04:45 PM

No, not "period", that is your opinion. He is 7' and still pretty lean. He also hasn't yet learned how to bang in the post. He will eventually, IMO. He blocks and alter shots quite often. He is getting better at rebounding and his offensive game has improved a lot. Aww, but who cares, the guy is apparently the softest player in the country.

Better rebounding, how? he was out of position most of the time he played. He goes after rebounds with one arm, and gets the ball taken from him at will.

How are you going to teach someone to bang in the post? thats not his mentality, it will never happen. Look at a guy like Yancy, he may still be raw, but he has that mentality. Its not something you teach, its something you either have or dont. Biggie doesnt. PERIOD.

SLMadiCat

11-03-2008, 04:53 PM

Wrong you cant coach aggression.

Have you ever played or coached a sport? I would hope so, but by the comment above I'm having my doubts. Of course you can coach aggression. Have you ever heard a coach talk about a scorer not looking for his own shots enough? They always talk about someone needing to be more aggressive. It is coached all the time. PERIOD! EXCLAMATION POINT!

Better rebounding, how? he was out of position most of the time he played. He goes after rebounds with one arm, and gets the ball taken from him at will. Well, after one exibition game he had 5 rebounds in 10 minutes. A lot of his problem is he still needs to get stronger. He didn't have to be strong in high school. He does now. He has already gotten stronger and will continue to get stronger.

How are you going to teach someone to bang in the post? thats not his mentality, it will never happen. Look at a guy like Yancy, he may still be raw, but he has that mentality. Its not something you teach, its something you either have or dont. Biggie doesnt. PERIOD.

Actually, Yancy has gotten a lot of criticism for not banging in the post enough. Yancy also has a much larger frame than Biggie. The fact that you think you can't teach someone to bang in the post says a lot. Almost as much as saying you'd take Ron Allen over Biggie.

bearcat65

11-03-2008, 04:59 PM

No, not apparently, he is the softest player in the country. He wil help very little if at all this year. He most certainly wont help in Big East play. If Riek is like biggie than I dont want him. I dont like 4 year projects. That just means that they wont be any good. Give me Maxiell over Biggie any day of the week. **** give me Ron Allen over biggie.

Ryan Fletcher seemed to be able to get bigger and more physical from his freshman year to his senior year. Same with several former Bearcats.
Ron Allen over Biggie?????? No one would make that trade.

jeffto

11-03-2008, 05:05 PM

Wrong you cant coach aggression.Try telling that to Coach Huggins.

TheLivingLegend

11-03-2008, 05:34 PM

Well, after one exibition game he had 5 rebounds in 10 minutes. A lot of his problem is he still needs to get stronger. He didn't have to be strong in high school. He does now. He has already gotten stronger and will continue to get stronger.

5 rebounds in 10 minutes against a team who looked like high school kids. I'm not saying they where not good, but there tallest player was around 6'7. lets be real here, that team did NOT have BE size or strength. (although number 13 was JACKKEDDD)

TheLivingLegend

11-03-2008, 05:35 PM

Try telling that to Coach Huggins.

Wrong, if you where soft under huggins, you didnt play.

Thegreatone

11-03-2008, 11:29 PM

By the way, I do like this quote. Biggie now will help very little this year. But before it was no doubt he will be a huge asset to this team.

This was a posts from a while ago, I was biggie's biggest supporter no doubt, but he hasnt gotten any better so it has hit me that he will not get any better. He is the anti-yancy. I was looking forward to biggie but now I just want him to give back his scholorship and award it to eddie tyree.

Look for real I know biggie can help alter shots and block shots. I know he can do some stuff but I think a lot of people can but I dont want them to start. He should be somewhere around the 3rd or 4th player off the bend.

jeffto

11-03-2008, 11:47 PM

Wrong, if you where soft under huggins, you didnt play.
Only if he couldn't make you hard, and he did coach that into a lot of players. Your premise that you can't coach aggression was wrong from the get-go.

NorrisHopper30

11-03-2008, 11:49 PM

Wrong you cant coach aggression.
What are you smoking? You can coach aggression, you can coach passion. You can't even argue against that, players can come in soft and be taught how to play like it's your last game.

Thegreatone

11-03-2008, 11:55 PM

He can get tough, he wont, but he can. It not something Mick can teach him. Yancy and Toyloy can teach him by pushing him around. He is just sooooo terribly unathletic. There is nothing Mick can say or do to get him tough. You cant teach toughness, that is a fact. You can learn it from getting you punk butt pushed around and deciding to 'man' up but biggie wont. he is tall and will use that instead of toughness.

Scheids21

11-04-2008, 12:07 AM

Thegreatone

11-04-2008, 07:46 AM

No I meant the only way for him to get tough is to play and get punched in the mouth. It isnt anything Mick can do. I dont think it will ever happen.

SLMadiCat

11-04-2008, 08:02 AM

This argument is just plain stupid. You were so sure of Biggie a little while ago and now your so sure he sucks. If you were wrong before, chances are you could be wrong again. Look at anyone's review of the first game. They will tell you that Biggie looked improved. I know it's only one game but that is all you have to base it off of.

If you truly think that aggression can't be coached then I'm just done arguing b/c it's obviously pointless.

oldcat48

11-04-2008, 08:18 AM

Biggie looked MUCH improved over last year, and it's reasonable to think he hasn't topped out yet. Anyone who missed that just wasn't watching. He was much more coordinated, bigger, and slightly tougher. I expect this trajectory to continue.

And to those who thought this was a high school team we played, this was the best team in Canada who lost to KANSAS by ONE POINT. Get real.

Mick's Da Man

11-04-2008, 08:22 AM

Frankly, based on a few negative reviews of Biggie on this board.........I was surprised Mick played him 10 minutes. ;)

anbuc88

11-04-2008, 08:54 AM

We should all feel very lucky that we have such good talent evaluators who frequent this board. They don't need to see someone in practice on a daily basis, just a few minutes in a scrimage and can tell whether a player will amount to anything during his career. Why hasn't someone tapped into this brilliant individual and offered them a coaching position. Is it just me or can't anyone else see the unlimited talent of the self appointed "thegreatone." (sarcasm)

Thegreatone

11-04-2008, 09:18 AM

SLMadiCat

11-04-2008, 09:39 AM

If you dont give everyone a great review on the team people get upset. We can be done with the biggie thing until the season starts because some people see improvment, i dont that is fine. I think youll see what I am talking about, he will play less and less throughout the season. I am done talking about anthony.

And this type of argument is fine. Most people don't get upset when you say you haven't seen Biggie improved. But when you say he will never be any good, PERIOD, then you are stating it as a fact, which it is not.

ralph1950

11-04-2008, 10:15 AM

The addition of Reik makes UC a National Title contender this season. The combination of Reik and Yancy Gates gives UC probably the best recruiting class in the USA. The job that Mick Cronin has done at UC is totally amazing. I see multiple National Titles during Mick's long tenure as head coach at UC.

Thegreatone

11-04-2008, 12:43 PM

And this type of argument is fine. Most people don't get upset when you say you haven't seen Biggie improved. But when you say he will never be any good, PERIOD, then you are stating it as a fact, which it is not.

That is fair, i understand what your saying and dont disagree. Regardless if he can or will we dont have to have biggie because we have others that can bang. If he contributes I only see that as a bonus

UCbball21

11-04-2008, 01:08 PM

Biggie will turn out to be a good player, maybe not the NBA stud he was heralded to be but I'd be suprised if we don't see Biggie averaging 8pts, 8rebs, and 2 blocks by the time he's a senior. He's got talent, his injury really held him back last year.

Mick's Da Man

11-04-2008, 02:46 PM

It's no biggie if Biggie doesn't play big all the time or in big games. There is another biggie that will play big before long.

xlax1306

11-04-2008, 03:32 PM

I just love how everyone has anointed Gates as a physical presence after one game against a physically out-matched oponent. Not to take anything away from yancey (I loved his intensity and the way he played and didn't shy away from receiving the ball on the offensive end), but I am going to hold judgement on how much of a banger he is until I see him do it against guys at least somewhat similar to his size/skill/athleticism (Jeff Adrien, DeJuan Blair, Harangody, etc.)

I watched Yancey in high school a few times and what i saw from him Saturday was a complete 180 from what I saw from him in high school. Carleton may not be very athletic in the grand scheme of things, but they are well coached (Canadian National Team coach coaches them), unselfish, play as a team, make the extra pass, don't miss defensive assignments, and didn't back down.

Those are the type of schools I watched Yancey struggle against in high school (St. X two years in a row in the tourny). I think a lot of that had to do with well coahced teams being able to key on him in high school as withrow didn't have the players around him UC does. I was excited to see him doing the things he is supposed to do to the people he's supposed to do them to (throwing down putbacks against smaller, weaker oponents, using his size and commanding the ball in the lane instead of floating by the 3-point line).

I am excited about what I saw from him on Saturday, but as the old saying goes let's see him 'pick on someone his own size'

NorrisHopper30

11-04-2008, 04:03 PM

I am excited about what I saw from him on Saturday, but as the old saying goes let's see him 'pick on someone his own size'

That might be a problem, there aren't many dudes as big as Yancy.

xlax1306

11-04-2008, 04:26 PM

That might be a problem, there aren't many dudes as big as Yancy.

True, in that case I'll wait until he picks on someone closer to his own size than Carleton's big men.

Carleton's defender played good solid d on him but he was able to simply overpower them on the way to the rim and score. I'm interested to see how he will fair against guys that have a bit more size to go along with some good solid d.

I also wonder who Mick likes to match him up against in practice. Toyloy and Williams are two guys that I believe will prove invaluable to Yancey's development because of the defense they will play against him in practice.

SLMadiCat

11-04-2008, 04:36 PM

Yancy (note the spelling of his name. I don't normally care about spelling but it seems you keep spelling it wrong) will struggle at times because he is still a little raw with his post moves. But there is no mistaking his size. He can match up with anyone physically right now.

jeffto

11-04-2008, 05:51 PM

The job that Mick Cronin has done at UC is totally amazing. I see multiple National Titles during Mick's long tenure as head coach at UC.I agree. I think we'll see a big improvement in fans' perception of his bench-coaching ability. Amazing what some talent can do.

rayscott425

11-04-2008, 06:01 PM

Roy Hibbert was so athletic he looked like a fish swimming in the water!!!! The only thing he had was size. I don't see why the time biggie is a sr. he can't be similar to Hibbert!!!!

Billy Don

11-04-2008, 08:36 PM

Roy Hibbert was so athletic he looked like a fish swimming in the water!!!! The only thing he had was size. I don't see why the time biggie is a sr. he can't be similar to Hibbert!!!!

It's possible you could compare Biggie to Hibbert in time but because of the foot problem I'm sure we haven't seen Biggie at his best as yet. He will be for defense and rebounding just like Hibbert. The main thing I don't like about Biggie is he's foul prone. One game he had 5 fouls in 5 minutes and another 3 fouls in 3 minutes. He has to improve in that area a lot. Just because you are 7 foot tall doesn't mean you will be a decent player on a major team. For example WV had a 7 foot senior who started almost every game last year but only adveraged 5 minutes or less playing time. Myself for the time being I don't see Biggie being much more than a role player for UC. Reserve the right to change my opinion on that.

the_dude

11-05-2008, 10:46 AM

If you dont give everyone a great review on the team people get upset. We can be done with the biggie thing until the season starts because some people see improvment, i dont that is fine. I think youll see what I am talking about, he will play less and less throughout the season. I am done talking about anthony.

And only 3 hours later....

That is fair, i understand what your saying and dont disagree. Regardless if he can or will we dont have to have biggie because we have others that can bang. If he contributes I only see that as a bonus

I thought you were done talking about Biggie. 9 posts on in one thread about him. You seem to be a bit obsessed with him actually.

TheLivingLegend

11-05-2008, 11:10 AM

Thegreatone

11-05-2008, 11:12 AM

You seem a bit obsessed with me, I understand that though. I was just agreeing with what he said and was saying I could be wrong. I was simply responding to a comment and not starting a new thread about anthony. I know you like to read what i post but dont take everything i say and put it under a microscope.

Scheids21

11-05-2008, 02:59 PM

The injury held him back? weak excuse.

Honestly, how is that a weak excuse? Feet are sometimes important in basketball

cat-attack2008

11-10-2008, 07:39 PM

Did i miss something? Because i was looking at the basketball roster, and didnt see him anywhere.

Help me out here

Richard_Head

11-10-2008, 08:29 PM

Reik doesn't enroll into school until the winter semester so they cannot put him on the basketball roster until then.

Globe Trotting Cat Fan

11-10-2008, 09:40 PM

John Riek is not officially on the roster until he is enrolled as a student at the university. He will not be able to do that until the next quarter starts in December. with his injury, he will most likely not play until January when he has fully healed from his surgery.

Go Cats!