Tidbits from Taylor King article

[ACCBBallFan]

http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082809aab.html

I guess I knew this but had not focused on fact that guys who transfer and sit out a year cannot travel with team. So tough for Seth this year.

Who says King Taylor learned nothing at Duke, used the fist analogy at end of article.

Ironic that last year's brackets had all 3 of teams Taylor King committed to UCLA, Duke and Nova.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Actually what he has to say about being a part of the team, doing whatever he can to contribute, the weight training to improve, etc. sound a bit like what Coach K has been saying for years. What seems significant to me is that Taylor has embraced what is required to be a good basketball player in a much more grown up way..... suggesting that he has matured and now has a good match in terms of basketball program.

[arydolphin]

Quick clarification on the travel issue: players that are sitting out a year can travel to away games, but they have to pay their own way, instead of the University picking up the bill. I'll never forget my parents, who went to the 2001 Final Four in Minneapolis, telling me that they were shocked to find that Dahntay Jones was on their Airtran flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis. He explained to them that he couldn't travel with the team, but still wanted to be with the team at the Final Four, so that's why he was on their flight.

[elvis14]

I know that he ended up being not to popular around here but I thought that Taylor would be a good ball player and a good teammate once he grew up a little. From what I heard he wasn't exactly doing the things the right way when here was at Duke. Sounds like he may have grown up a little.

[roywhite]

I'll be curious to see how much playing time Taylor gets this season at "Nova. Obviously, they have a very good program and good coach. Does Taylor fit in with Coach Wright's defensive approach and get major minutes? Or will he be a long-range shooting specialist coming off the bench?

[MChambers]

I'll be curious to see how much playing time Taylor gets this season at "Nova. Obviously, they have a very good program and good coach. Does Taylor fit in with Coach Wright's defensive approach and get major minutes? Or will he be a long-range shooting specialist coming off the bench?

I'm curious to see if Taylor really gets it, or if he's just talking a good game. I hope it is the former.

[loran16]

Quick clarification on the travel issue: players that are sitting out a year can travel to away games, but they have to pay their own way, instead of the University picking up the bill. I'll never forget my parents, who went to the 2001 Final Four in Minneapolis, telling me that they were shocked to find that Dahntay Jones was on their Airtran flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis. He explained to them that he couldn't travel with the team, but still wanted to be with the team at the Final Four, so that's why he was on their flight.

This is correct.

During the Sweet 16, Taylor King WAS there. In fact, during the game vs Pitt, he was sitting in the section that had previously been marked off for DUMB (Duke Marching Band).

[DukieTiger]

I'll be curious to see how much playing time Taylor gets this season at "Nova. Obviously, they have a very good program and good coach. Does Taylor fit in with Coach Wright's defensive approach and get major minutes? Or will he be a long-range shooting specialist coming off the bench?

One of my buddies who is a big Nova fan seems to think TK actually has a chance to start at the 3 for Nova this year. Personally, I find that hard to believe, but that's what he said.

Can't hurt his chances that Redding is out for the first half of the year though.

[ACCBBallFan]

One of my buddies who is a big Nova fan seems to think TK actually has a chance to start at the 3 for Nova this year. Personally, I find that hard to believe, but that's what he said.

Can't hurt his chances that Redding is out for the first half of the year though. Redding's indiscretion certainly helps Taylor King.

I would think Scottie and the two Corey's start plus one or both of Pena and the freshman big.

If Taylor King starts it would be at the 4, or first sub in for one of the Corey's.

[DukieTiger]

Redding's indiscretion certainly helps Taylor King.

I would think Scottie and the two Corey's start plus one or both of Pena and the freshman big.

If Taylor King starts it would be at the 4, or first sub in for one of the Corey's.

Taylor at the 4 would make more sense to me as well.

For the record, my friend's prediction, I believe was a starting lineup of: Reynolds, Fisher, King, Pena, Yarou.

[bradjenk]

Taylor at the 4 would make more sense to me as well.

For the record, my friend's prediction, I believe was a starting lineup of: Reynolds, Fisher, King, Pena, Yarou.

Can't see King starting over Stokes. In fact I don't see how he fits in with their style of play at all, nor do I see a reason for them to change the style that has been so successful for them. Perhaps more then any other conference, the Big East puts a premium on tough athletic players. King does not fit that profile at all.

[FireOgilvie]

Can't see King starting over Stokes. In fact I don't see how he fits in with their style of play at all, nor do I see a reason for them to change the style that has been so successful for them. Perhaps more then any other conference, the Big East puts a premium on tough athletic players. King does not fit that profile at all.

I agree. I have no idea why he decided to transfer to a school with a team that plays the same kind of 3 guard, man-to-man style that Duke does. He probably should have gone somewhere that played a nice zone. Nonetheless, I believe that he could be one of their top 3 scorers next year, even if he plays as the sixth man; it depends on how much Wright is willing to compromise defense for offense. King scores in bunches. I'm sure he'll have a few 20+ point games.

[whereinthehellami]

Chemistry is so important in college sports. I don't see how King fits in with those other guys. One of the things that bothered me with King when he was at Duke was how he would shoot as soon as he came into the game. A shooter's mentality or a ball hog? I don't see King sticking as a starter. He is just too big of a liability on defense.

[DevilDan]

"Where in the ...." is on the right track. I watched TK during his Mater Dei career in SoCal... as long as he was the tallest in the frontcourt, he shot over smaller, less talented defenders in high school. As soon as the competition stiffened, he moved toward the perimeter, then further ... and further... and further out -- but he was STILL going to get his shots, whether open or not. What a waste of three years, where he could have opted to learn the game and to use his size. He has always fancied himself as THE SHOOTER -- doesn't matter where he is on the floor, or whether he actually HAS a shot, he's going to THROW IT UP.

Sorry to dump on him, but unless something huge has happened between his ears at Villanova in the past year, the results will not change. Were he here at DUKE now, I have to believe he'd be far, far down the bench .... he's a candidate for the European leagues, at best. Wishing him an infusion of maturity, and A LOT of luck ...

[miramar]

I'm glad to see that he has dropped 20 pounds, which is definitely a positive step. I just hope that he has stopped smoking...

I don't know if he will help with rebounding as much as the article says, but I hope he does well and that he gives them an additional scoring threat.