NCAA Basketball --- (discussion générale)

[Sentenza]

Le père spirituelle d'Allen Iverson il me semble

[Garcy22]

Le père spirituelle d'Allen Iverson il me semble

Je ne sais pas si c'est son pere spirituel mais c'est clairement celui qui l'a "sauvé" d'une vie dans la rue après ses déboires de jeunesse qui lui a valu un passage par la case prison...

Il a aussi formé Ewing, Mourning ou autre Mutumbo, des pivots dominants des années 90-00

Assistant coach de l'équipe olympique de 1976, sous les ordres de Dean Smith avec qui il avait une grande amitié

[PistolPete44]

Il a aussi formé Ewing, Mourning ou autre Mutumbo, des pivots dominants des années 90-00

Oui, Georgetown était la grosse fabrique à pivots de cette époque où ils étaient la denrée recherchée, on peut rajouter par la suite Othella Harrington, Greg Monroe ou Roy Hibbert avec beaucoup moins de réussite, mais effectivement le dernier grand joueur coaché par John Thompson c'est bel et bien le "petit" Iverson.

[Garcy22]

La NCAA s'oriente desormais vers la date du 25 Novembre (veille de Thanksgiving) comme date de reprise, decalant ainsi de 2 semaines la date prevue initialement.

Cette proposition doit encore ete votée

[Sentenza]

Kentucky a l'honneur sur ces playoffs!!

[TuniGoBlue]

Caleb Houstan (5*,2021) vient de commit chez Michigan et Juwan Howard.

[PistolPete44]

CBS Sports preseason All-America team

G Jared Butler (Baylor, junior)
G Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois, junior)
G Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State, freshman)
F Corey Kispert (Gonzaga, senior)
C Luka Garza (Iowa, senior)

[Garcy22]

Est ce que la saison va vraiment pouvoir commencé dans quelques jours?

Sinon, les nominations sont relativement logiques avec Cade Cunninghma qui arrive auréolé d'une enorme hype, à suivre.

[PistolPete44]

Déjà ils ont fait sauté la bulle à Orlando où des rencontres entre équipes universitaires devaient avoir lieu, donc 0 match de prépa.

[TuniGoBlue]

Le frenchy Moussa Diabaté (5*,2021) commit chez mes Wolverines !

[opigucci]

J'ai surement déjà posé cette question, mais j'aimerai vraiment m'intéresser encore de plus près à la NCAA cette année, donc si la saison à véritablement lieu, vous savez sur quelle chaîne je peux regarder des matchs? En sachant que je cherche des commentaires en Français... oui oui je sais.

[SylvesterTemple]

[PistolPete44]

A part RMC Sport, et encore la couverture est loin d'être géniale, c'est vraiment au compte-gouttes.

[Sentenza]

Alors que la NBA reprend bientôt, tous les USA hier avait les yeux rivés sur le duel entre les 2 giga proscpects Chet Holmgren et Emoni Bates!






[tweet][/tweet]

[TuniGoBlue]

Chet c'est un cheat code. Il est trop fort, on dirait un jeune Giannis avec un tir.

[PistolPete44]

68 reasons to look forward to the 20-21 college basketball season

(November 19, 2020 by Jon Rothstein)

1. An escape from reality

2020 has been a brutal year on many fronts and college basketball will provide a daily release from the current issues currently existing in the world. The season ahead will be far from perfect due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be enjoyable.

2. There will be an NCAA Tournament in 2021

This HAS to happen. The NCAA lost approximately $900 million dollars from the cancellation of last year’s NCAA Tournament and simply cannot afford to have history repeat itself. The announcement earlier this week to hold this season’s field of 68 in one location — likely Indianapolis — was a tremendous proactive move by the NCAA.

3. The regular season will mean more

Why? If any league chooses to cancel its conference tournament this season then the regular season champion from that respective conference will earn the league’s automatic berth to the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Don’t let anyone tell you that the regular season doesn’t matter this season.

4. Games will have more attention than normal

With minimal attendance expected for the duration of the 20-21 season, more eyeballs will be on TV sets than ever before. This season has a chance to be one of the most watched in the history of the sport.

5. Luka Garza

When has a 6-11 guy averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds and opted to RETURN to school? Garza should rip through college basketball this season like a chainsaw through butter.

6. Iowa

The Hawkeyes haven’t been to the Final Four since 1980 and that’s the goal in 2021. In addition to Garza, Fran McCaffery returns five of his top six scorers from last season’s 20-win team. Iowa also adds three players — Jordan Bohannon, Jack Nunge, and Patrick McCaffery — who missed last season due to injuries. The ceiling is high in Iowa City.

7. The Big Ten

The league would have had 10 teams in the NCAA Tournament if it wasn’t cancelled last March and the conference looks even better this season. The three programs who finished at the bottom of the Big Ten standings a year ago — Minnesota, Northwestern, and Nebraska — have all improved their respective talent bases. Buckle up.

8. Ayo Dosunmu

Dosunmu’s decision to bypass the NBA Draft and return to school for his junior season immediately made Illinois a consensus top-10 team. He’s one of many reasons why the Illini are in position to have their best team since they lost to North Carolina in the 2005 national title game.

9. Illinois

Champaign deserves this. Illinois has one of college basketball’s most underrated fan bases and the sport is better when the Illini are relevant. In addition to Dosunmu, Illinois has another All-American candidate in sophomore big man Kofi Cockburn. This is a Final Four contender.

10. Tennessee

The Vols were picked first in last week’s SEC preseason poll and could be Rick Barnes’ best squad since he took over in Knoxville. This team is experienced, athletic, and deep. Tennessee has the personnel to be outstanding defensively in 20-21.

11. John Calipari

No one in college basketball is better than Calipari at putting a team together for just one season, but even he would admit that he has his work cut out this year. Kentucky returns just ONE player — Keion Brooks — from last year’s team that won the SEC regular season title. As usual, the Wildcats have recruited incredibly well, but it’s up to Calipari to appropriately mold the clay.

12. BJ Boston and Terrence Clarke

These first-year wings will ultimately control Kentucky’s ceiling and what a combination they could be. Both can play multiple positions and both can take over a game at a moment’s notice.

13. Baylor’s brutal opening stretch

Scott Drew isn’t shy. The Bears — who are currently ranked second in the ROTHSTEIN 45 — will open the season on Nov. 25th against Arizona State in the Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun and then play either Villanova or Boston College the very next day. Baylor will then play at Seton Hall on Nov. 29th as part of the Big East-Big 12 Battle and then head to Indianapolis to play Illinois in the Jimmy V Classic. There’s also another game in Indianapolis against Gonzaga on Dec. 5th. Unreal.

14. Adam Flagler

Meet the newest member of Baylor’s star studded back court. A transfer from Presbyterian, the 6-3 Flagler averaged 15.9 points two years ago before redshirting and has All-Big 12 caliber potential.

15. Drew Timme

How will Gonzaga replace Filip Petrusev? This guy. After averaging 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds last season as a freshman, Timme is ready to explode as a sophomore.

16. Gonzaga’s brutal opening stretch

Much like Scott Drew, Mark Few went all-in. Gonzaga will open the 20-21 season on Thanksgiving Day against Kansas in Fort Myers and then face Auburn the next day. The Bulldogs will also face Tennessee on Dec. 2nd in the Jimmy V Classic in Indianapolis and do battle with Baylor in the same city a few days later. There’s also a showdown looming with Iowa on Dec. 19th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The latter two games can be seen on CBS.

17. Jay Wright’s quest for a third national title

Only six coaches — John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski, Bob Knight, Jim Calhoun, and Roy Williams — have won three or more national titles. Wright could join them this season. Villanova — who is currently ranked first in the ROTHSTEIN 45 — has all the requisites to again win the national title in 2021.

18. Sam Hauser

A 6-8 forward, Hauser should add instant offense to Virginia after transferring from Marquette. Hauser never made less than 63 three-point shots or shot worse than 40 percent from three-point range in his three seasons with the Golden Eagles.

19. Memphis

The Tigers don’t have the same type of buzz that they had a year ago when they expected to have James Wiseman, but they’re still loaded with talent. Penny Hardaway has assembled the type of roster that can win multiple games in the NCAA Tournament.

20. Rick Pitino’s return to college basketball

Can Pitino lead Iona to the NCAA Tournament in 2021? Don’t rule it out of the realm of possibility. The Hall-of-Famer has been as good as any coach in college basketball and over the last 30 years and seems rejuvenated after coaching professionally in Greece.

21. Mick Cronin

The reigning Pac-12 Coach of the Year was a jump shot away from sharing the Pac-12 regular season title with Oregon in his first season in Westwood. Eight players return for the Bruins, who also added a likely starter in Kentucky transfer Johnny Juzang.

22. Arizona State/Baylor on Nov. 25th in the Empire Classic

If you like guards, you’ll love this game. Baylor’s back court potential was well documented last season, but it would be foolish to not put Arizona State’s perimeter in bold. A pair of five-star freshmen — Josh Christopher and Marcus Bagley — join the Sun Devils’ returning nucleus of Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge.

23. UCLA/San Diego State on Nov. 25th

The best game of college basketball’s opening day/night will be played at Viejas Arena. Tip off is at 11 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

24. John Becker

Becker has averaged 24.3 wins during his nine years as Vermont’s head coach while winning five America East regular season titles. He would have coached in his fourth NCAA Tournament last March if it wasn’t cancelled due to COVID-19. All this guy does is win. The Catamounts’ program is currently on pause due to COVID-19, but will return to action in December.

25. Houston’s perimeter

No team in college basketball will rely on its perimeter to carry the load this season more than the Cougars. Kelvin Sampson has four guards back — Caleb Mills, Quentin Grimes, DeJon Jarreau, and Marcus Sasser — who averaged 8.1 points or more last season.

26. UConn’s return to the Big East

The only better combination than the Huskies and this conference is avocado and wheat toast. If you’ve haven’t tried the latter then you officially hate fun!

27. James Bouknight

This is a dark horse candidate to be an All-American. Bouknight averaged 13 points as a freshman and scored in double-figures in 12 of UConn’s final 13 games of last season. Buy stock now.

28. Ibi Watson

Dayton’s “sixth starter” a year ago, Watson is now in position to be featured by the Flyers. The 6-5 wing should emerge as one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 this season as Dayton aims to stay nationally relevant post-Obi Toppin.

29. Richmond’s non-conference schedule

The Spiders will have a chance to build a resume early with road games at Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia to go with home games against Northern Iowa, Furman, and Hofstra. Kudos to Chris Mooney for being aggressive and putting together this type of a slate.

30. North Carolina’s freshman class

Help is on the way. Following the worst season of his Hall-of-Fame career, Roy Williams added six freshmen — Caleb Love, Walker Kessler, Day’Ron Sharpe, R.J. Davis, Puff Johnson, and Kerwin Walton — to the Tar Heels’ roster. Three of those players — Love, Kessler, and Sharpe — arrive as five-star prospects.

31. Carlik Jones

Louisville’s staff is already enamored with the 6-1 Jones, who averaged 20 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists last season at Radford. A grad transfer with legitimate experience, Jones’ impact will determine just how big of a mark the Cards will make in the ACC.

32. The CBS Sports Classic

Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will host this annual event on Dec. 19th, which features a doubleheader of North Carolina/Ohio State and UCLA/Kentucky. There’s no better way to spend the Saturday before Christmas!

33. Cam Thomas

Will Wade believes that Thomas could one of the top scorers in the country — this season. The 6-3 freshman was a five-star prospect and should form a potent back court combination alongside Javonte Smart.

34. Leonard Hamilton

College basketball’s sentimental favorite has done everything in his career except make the Final Four. Could that happen this season? Don’t rule it out of the realm of possibility.

35. Scottie Barnes

This is one of the main reasons why Florida State could reach the Final Four in 2021. While the Seminoles have been one of the ACC’s most consistent programs over the past few years, a talent like Barnes could take them to a different level. Expect Hamilton to use the 6-9 Barnes in a “point forward” type role like Ben Simmons.

36. Notre Dame’s schedule

The Irish will play at Michigan State and Kentucky, face Purdue in the Crossroads Classic, and host Tennessee and Ohio State (ACC/Big Ten Challenge) in addiiton to playing 20 ACC conference games. Did Mike Brey hit the egg nog earlier than usual this year?

37. Syracuse’s shot making ability

Joe Girard and Buddy Boeheim — Syracuse’s starting backcourt — combined to make 167 three-point shots last season. The Orange will also add another capable offensive player in Illinois transfer Alan Griffin, who shot 41.6 percent from long distance a year ago. Griffin is expected to replace Elijah Hughes in Syracuse’s starting lineup.

38. Cliff Omoruyi

There won’t be many first-year big men in the country better than Omoruyi, who should be a starter for Rutgers. Pencil him in for 10 and 7. This top-50 recruit is just another sign that the Scarlet Knights have turned a corner under Steve Pikiell.

39. Final Four hopes in Morgantown

Bob Huggins said recently that this is the best roster that West Virginia has had since it went to the 2010 Final Four. It’s hard to argue when you look at the Mountaineers’ personnel. If Sean McNeil and Taz Sherman make shots from deep, this team won’t have many weaknesses.

40. Texas

Shaka Smart returns 100 percent of his scoring from last season and adds a five-star freshman in versatile forward Greg Brown. Everything is aligned for Smart to have his best team yet in Austin.

41. Charles Bassey

A knee injury sidelined Bassey after 10 games last season, but he’s an All-American candidate if he’s healthy. The 6-11 big man averaged 14.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks before suffering a knee injury. His return is the major reason why Western Kentucky should be one of the top mid-majors in the sport.

42. An extra at-large bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament

The Ivy League’s decision to cancel winter sports means that there will be one less automatic qualifier for the the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Potential bubble teams everywhere are already rejoicing.

43. Saint Louis

Travis Ford returns everyone of significance from last year’s team that won 23 games and nearly beat Dayton. The Billikens will also welcome back Gibson Jimerson and Fred Thatch, who both missed the bulk of last season with injuries. Saint Louis has the requisites to be the best non-conference team in the sport in 20-21.

44. Chris Beard

Seven of Texas Tech’s 13 scholarship players were not in the Red Raiders’ program last season, but that doesn’t scare Beard. The former JUCO coach is more than comfortable at putting teams together on short notice. Expect Texas Tech to remain at the top of the Big 12.

45. Franz Wagner

The 6-9 forward averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds last season as true freshman. Expect Wagner to quickly emerge as the Wolverines’ go-to guy and one of the top players in the Big Ten in 20-21.

46. Teddy Allen

Allen had 29 points and was 11-21 from the floor in a recent team scrimmage for Nebraska, further reiterating the scoring ability that he showed when he was at West Virginia. Remember: Allen averaged 11.3 points during three NCAA Tournament games with the Mountaineers in 2018.

47. Wisconsin’s experience

Three fifth-year seniors — D’Mitrik Trice, Aleem Ford, and Micah Potter — are likely to start for the defending Big Ten regular season champions. That’s unheard of in college basketball in 2020. The Badgers’ other two projected starters — Brad Davison and Nate Reuvers — are also seniors.

48. Alabama

The Crimson Tide have elite offensive talent, but will they guard? Alabama gave up an average of 80.2 points in SEC play last season.

49. Boise State

This will be Leon Rice’s best team as a head coach. Expect the Broncos to push San Diego State for a Mountain West regular season title.

50. Utah State’s front court

Multiple high-major coaches would take the Aggies’ power forward/center combo of Justin Bean and Neemias Queta. They’re that good.

51. Trey Pulliam

How will San Diego State attempt to replace Malachi Flynn at point guard? With a reliable veteran. The Aztecs’ staff is confident in Pulliam’s ability to run offense and set the table for his teammates.

52. Bryce Aiken

Seton Hall’s season may ultimately hinge how this grad transfer from Harvard adjusts to being the Pirates’ full-time point guard. A gifted scorer, Aiken has a combined 174 turnovers to 191 assists in his college career.

53. Ziaire Williams

Jerod Haase wrote Williams handwritten letters for 365 straight days to secure his commitment. When you see him play, you’ll see why. A potential top-10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Williams will make Stanford a top tier Pac-12 team this season.

54. USC’s interior defense

The Mobley brothers — Evan and Isiah — will make it especially hard for opponents to score against the Trojans at the rim. Evan Mobley — a five-star prospect — is the top ranked big man by most recruiting services in this year’s freshman class.

55. The Champions Classic

One of college basketball’s top events will be in two different locations on Dec. 1st as Kentucky faces Kansas in Indianapolis and Duke plays Michigan State at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Even if both games aren’t in the same location, it’s still a great thing for the sport when all four of these programs are playing one another on the same night.

56. Kyle Young

Ohio State’s super Glue Guy doesn’t deal with 50-50 balls — they’re 90/10 in favor of the Buckeyes when Young is on the floor.

57. Dave Pasch and Bill Walton

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll thank us later.

58. Auburn’s rebuild

Only Kentucky returns less scoring among SEC teams than the Tigers, who only bring back 15.1 percent of their offense from a year ago. It will be a remarkable feat if Bruce Pearl gets Auburn into the 2021 NCAA Tournament with this type of inexperience.

59. South Carolina’s return to national relevance

This will be Frank Martin’s best team since he led the Gamecocks to the 2017 Final Four. Veteran guards Jermaine Couisnard and A.J. Lawson anchor a veteran attack that also features a burgeoning star in forward Keyshawn Bryant.

60. The SOCON

This league has consistently been one of the top mid-major conferences in the sport and that will again continue. Both Furman and UNC Greensboro enter the season with NCAA Tournament expectations and East Tennessee State isn’t far behind as it transitions from Steve Forbes to Jason Shay.

61. Randy Bennett

Bennett has done as good of a job at Saint Mary’s as any coach has done anywhere. Don’t expect that to change this season. The Gaels don’t return a double-figure scorer, but still have Bennett. History has proven that’s usually more than enough.

62. The top of the Missouri Valley

Northern Iowa, Loyola-Chicago, and Bradley could all win a game in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. How many of the three will get there? Probably just one. This league will be a bloodbath at the top.

63. Eric Musselman

Musselman imports players from all different avenues and has a unique blend in his second season at Arkansas. The Razorbacks have quality freshmen, transfers, and grad transfers. Count on Musselman finding out the proper alignment.

64. Oregon

The names change, but the product does not. Oregon will again be right in the mix for a Pac-12 regular season title.

65. Cade Cunningham

The likely top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft will make Oklahoma State appointment television each and every time they play.

66. Buzz Williams

Williams is going to win regardless of who he’s coaching against and who’s on his roster. The reigning SEC Coach of the Year did yeoman’s work at both Marquette and Virginia Tech before arriving in College Station. He’ll again have the Aggies overachieving this season.

67. Pauly Paulicap

There is a player on DePaul named Pauly Paulicap. Carry on.

68. Selection Sunday

The national holiday will return in 2021 after a one-year hiatus. Here. We. Go.

[Garcy22]

Debut de la saison jeudi pour Thanksgiving!

Sympa les schedules de Baylor et Gonzaga, ils vont tout de suite etre danw le bain de la March Madness. J'espere qu'ils seront prets.

Le retour de UConn au sein de la BigEast est vraiment une super nouvelle

[PistolPete44]

[PistolPete44]

COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOP 50 PLAYERS 2020/21

1/ LUKA GARZA (C-IOWA-Sr)
2/ CADE CUNNINGHAM (G-OKLAHOMA STATE-Fr)
3/JARED BUTLER (G-BAYLOR-Jr)
4/ AYO DOSUMNU (G-ILLINOIS-Jr)
5/ COLLIN GILLESPIE (G-VILLANOVA-Sr)
6/ COREY KISPERT (G/F-GONZAGA-Sr)
7/ TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS (F/C-INDIANA-So)
8/ EVAN MOBLEY (F/C-USC-Fr)
9/ JAMES BOUKNIGHT (G-CONNECTICUT-So)
10/ SCOTTIE BARNES (G/F-FLORIDA STATE-Fr)
11/ DREW TIMME (F-GONZAGA-So)
12/ GARRISON BROOKS (F-NORTH CAROLINA-Sr)
13/ JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL (F-VILLANOVA-So)
14/ BJ BOSTON (G-KENTUCKY-Fr)
15/ MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI (G-CREIGHTON-Jr)
16/ KOFI COCKBURN (C-ILLINOIS-So)
17/ KEYONTAE JOHNSON (F-FLORIDA-Jr)
18/ MARCUS GARRETT (G-KANSAS-Sr)
19/JALEN CRUTCHER (G-DAYTON-Sr)
20/ REMY MARTIN (G-ARIZONA STATE-Sr)
21/ SAM HAUSER (F-VIRGINIA-Red Sr)
22/ OSCAR TSHIEBWE (WEST VIRGINIA-So)
23/ OSCAR DA SILVA (F-STANFORD-Sr)
24/ ISAIAH LIVERS (F-MICHIGAN-Sr)
25/JOEL AYAYI (G-GONZAGA-Red Jr)
26/ CHRIS SMITH (F-UCLA-Sr)
27/ TREVION WILLIAMS (C-PURDUE-Jr)
28/ TERRENCE CLARK (G-KENTUCKY-Fr)
29/ OCHAI AGBAJI (G-KANSAS-Jr)
30/ GREG BROWN (F-TEXAS-Fr)
31/ AARON HENRY (G-MICHIGAN STATE-Jr)
32/ JALEN SUGGS (G-GONZAGA-Fr)
33/ JOSH CHRISTOPHER (G-ARIZONA STATE-Fr)
34/ JOHN FULKERSON (F-TENNESSEE-Sr)
35/McKINLEY WRIGHT IV (G-COLORADO-Sr)
36/ ZIAIRE WILLIAMS (G-STANFORD-Fr)
37/ OLIVIER SARR (C-KENTUCKY-Sr)
38/ JALEN JOHNSON (F-DUKE-Fr)
39/ MACIO TEAGUE (G-BAYLOR-Sr)
40/ JA'VONTE SMART (G-LSU-Jr)
41/ FRANZ WAGNER (F-MICHIGAN-So)
42/ CALEB LOVE (G-NORTH CAROLINA-Fr)
43/ TIMMY ALLEN (G-UTAH-Jr)
44/ CHARLES BASSEY (C-WESTERN KENTUCKY-Jr)
45/ TERRENCE SHANNON (G-TEXAS TECH-So)
46/ NEEMIAS QUETTA (C-UTAH STATE-Jr)
47/ ROMEO WEEMS (G-DePAUL-So)
48/ JADEN SPRINGER (G-TENNESSEE-Fr)
49/ FATTS RUSSELL (G-RHODE ISLAND-Sr)
50/ MOUSSA CISSE (C-MEMPHIS-Fr)

[Garcy22]

2 français dans le top40, cocorico

Et pas de surprise pour le #1

[Gugur]

Here we go. Le premier match de Elle annulé, cas de covid dans l'équipe d'en face.
Tennessee pareil dont le coach.

[Cracker]

Je place ça là même si un peu HS.

Victor Wembanyama est une anomalie de la nature. Un jeune homme hors du commun comme on en voit qu’une seule fois dans une vie d’éducateur et encore, si l’on est chanceux. « Il est… étonnant, sourit Jacques Commères, directeur de la performance et des équipes de France de basket-ball. Même quand on pense avoir de l’expérience à haut niveau, dans le suivi des joueurs depuis 1984 me concernant, des individus comme lui, on n’en voit pas tous les jours. »
Victor Wembanyama est tellement unique qu’on pourrait le croire sorti tout droit de l’esprit créatif d’un scénariste de cinéma. Il a 16 ans, il mesure 2,20 m, il court (vite), il shoote (très bien), il dribble (bien) et il a surtout la tête très bien faite. Philippe Da Silva, entraîneur adjoint de l’équipe de Nanterre, où il évolue, et en charge du développement des jeunes résume bien le phénomène : « il a la tête d’un meneur de jeu, la mobilité d’un arrière et le physique d’un intérieur. Allier ces trois choses-là, c’est quasiment du jamais vu ».
« On a tendance à me résumer à ma taille, mais je montre d’autres qualités à Nanterre », soufflait le joueur en février. Commères valide : « non seulement il a un shoot, mais avec son intelligence de jeu, c’est un remarquable passeur ». Da Silva aussi : « Au niveau de la passe, il ressemble à Nikola Jokic (joueur de Denver), il a la mobilité et la vitesse de Giannis Antetokounmpo (le MVP de NBA) et le tir et la faculté à s’écarter de Kevin Durant. »

Le natif du Chesnay, dans les Yvelines le 4 janvier 2004, évolue sur un chemin tout tracé vers l’excellence depuis son plus jeune âge. En basket, il a toujours été surclassé, de son club du Chesnay-Versailles où il a fait ses débuts à 8 ans, à Nanterre où il joue depuis 2014. À l’école, il est aussi en avance, puisqu’il va passer son bac cette année.

Il est le cadet de sa famille, dont la vie est tournée autour du sport : son père, Félix, est un ancien athlète (triple saut, longueur), sa mère, Élodie, a joué au basket à haut niveau, sa grande sœur, Ève, est membre des équipes de France jeunes de basket et au centre de formation de l’Asvel et son frère, Oscar, performe en handball.

Mais le plus prometteur de la famille, c’est bien Victor. Nanterre a mis en place un dispositif spécial cette saison, en lien avec la Fédération, pour lui permettre de s’épanouir. Il jouit d’une double licence, qui lui permet de participer au championnat espoirs et aux matches de Jeep Élite et d’Eurocoupe avec Nanterre, mais aussi à la Nationale 1 avec le Centre Fédéral. « C’est un gamin très précoce, alors il fallait très vite trouver un moyen pour qu’il progresse davantage, relève Da Silva. La double licence lui permet de jouer en N1 contre des adultes, plus imposants que ceux qu’il peut rencontrer en espoirs. S’il arrive à dominer avec une telle différence d’âge cette année, l’an prochain il sera opérationnel pour être un pro à part entière. »

Lors de son seul match avec le Centre Fédéral jusqu’ici, il a crevé l’écran : 22 points, 10 rebonds, 7 contres et un succès, le quatrième seulement de l’histoire de l’Insep en N1 en 250 matches. Les vidéos ont fait le buzz sur les réseaux sociaux, comme toute l’actualité qui touche de près ou de loin à ce gamin. Quelques jours avant ce match, la vidéo d’un duel avec Rudy Gobert était devenue virale. L’international français avait lui même adoubé le jeune prodige sur RMC. « C’est le plus grand talent, loin devant moi, que j’ai vu. À 16 ans, moi je jouais en cadets région ! On n’a jamais vu ça en France. Et franchement, j’ai rarement vu ça dans le monde. »

« C’est un gamin qui travaille beaucoup, qui est humble et qui sait où il va, commente le meneur des Bleus Andrew Albicy, qui a joué face à lui en Eurocoupe il y a quinze jours. Sur le terrain, on sent qu’il est à l’aise. On n’a pas l’impression que c’est un petit jeune qui vient de rentrer. Il est impressionnant quand même et on le sent, ça pue le basket… »
Sociable, souriant, bien élevé, Wembanyama fait l’unanimité auprès de tous. « Pour l’anecdote, il s’est encore entraîné avec nous récemment et tous les joueurs pros sont conscients qu’il a un gros travail physique à faire. À un moment donné, il avait cinq pompes à effectuer avec l’équipe qui avait perdu. Mais pour lui, cinq pompes c’est énorme. Tout le monde s’est mis à l’encourager », révèle Da Silva. Déjà doté d’une très belle technique, l’intérieur doit maintenant progresser sur l’aspect physique.

Da Silva glisse une autre anecdote : « En deux ans, Victor a gagné 23 kg ! Il pesait 72 kg au moment où il intègre le centre de formation et là il en pèse 95. Il y a un énorme travail de fait, qui va lui permettre d’encaisser les impacts, d’être plus solide sur ses jambes, pour que l’on puisse éviter toutes les blessures possibles ». La Fédération pense déjà à lui « en vue de Paris 2024, même s’il n’aura que 20 ans », dixit Commères.
Fan de dessin – une activité qu’il pratique au quotidien – Victor Wembanyama ne semble pouvoir être freiné que par une blessure. Lui, en tout cas, regarde déjà dans les étoiles. « J’imagine me faire drafter, disait-il en février. Pas seulement jouer, mais être un joueur dominant et mener une équipe à un titre NBA. Il y a encore énormément d’étapes à franchir et de paliers entre le Victor d’aujourd’hui et celui que j’espère devenir. » Il brillera. Tout là-haut. (Source : Ouest France)

[PistolPete44]

Je place ça là même si un peu HS.

Un peu oui

Parce qu'il n'a aucune chance de jouer en College, mais il aurait toutes les powerhouses à ses pieds s'il décidait du contraire.

[Cracker]

C’était surtout pour le côté prospect. Je pense que plus de monde passe lire le topic ici que les topics sur le basket européen.

[PistolPete44]

17 games (déjà) annulés sur les 139 du Opening Day de mercredi.