Tulane opens its AAC schedule at Memphis on Tuesday after an unimpressive 7-6 non-conference performance that included zero victories against teams currently ranked in the top 200 according to RealTimeRPI.com, a bad loss to Alabama A&M and some ugly wins against UNO and Drake.
Only twice, against Appalachian State--when Tulane took a 40-8 lead, which is hard to do against air--and in the last 25 minutes against Stephen F. Austen, has Tulane looked good, but the upside is higher than in Ed Conroy's first five years. The problem is in realizing that potential.
Here's my assessment of each scholarship player heading into the Memphis game, starting with the backcourt and proceeding to the frontcourt.
1) Louis Dabney
For most of November and December, he appeared to show little of the trust in his teammates he boasted about before the year started. He forced too many shots as if he did not believe anyone else could get the job done. But in the last two weeks, he calmed down and began letting the game come to him. He needs to continue playing that way because Tulane cannot win with him shooting below 40 percent, and he is not good enough to score consistently against defenses geared to stop him. But he is good enough to do damage if he gets some help from teammates and does not have to carry the burden of trying to score for 40 minutes.
2) Malik Morgan
I'm not crazy about his outside shot, which his mother called "beautiful" in a story I wrote about him and his sister for The Advocate last December. His release point is too high and too late. But he has a knack for the game. At Mississippi State, he scored two baskets in a row by tipping the rebound off the glass and in, and neither was accidental. He can score in a lot of different ways and is crafty. Look for him to play two guard a lot more the rest of the way because he's just not a reliable point guard, going out of control on the dribble too often. He can excel in a role as a scorer and is a good rebounder for his position. Defensively, he gets his hands on a lot of balls but needs to be more judicious. Foul trouble has been an issue, and he has to stay on the floor.
3) Von Julien
Even though did not make a shot in the two games after becoming the starting point guard, he needs to remain the starter because he is the only natural point guard on the roster. He can penetrate and find open players and also is better than Morgan at handling pressure even though he is a freshman. But if he does not develop some scoring ability, Tulane will be in trouble. The coaches have to trust that he will improve as he gets more experience.
4) Kajon Mack
Since coming back from a knee injury, Mack has been better than I anticipated as a backup point guard. Tulane can use his athletic ability and defense. The question always has been whether he could provide anything on offense, and his three assists and zero turnovers in four minutes of first-half action against Southern Miss was encouraging. He will get healthier as the year goes along, and he looks more comfortable than he has in the past.
5) Cameron Reynolds
At some point, he needs to start knocking down some shots because he would be a big attribute if he could. His size and athletic ability make him a valuable defender, but that value is negated when he cannot score. His shooting percentage of .315 is woeful, and it's not because he gets bad looks. Maybe being a regular part of the rotation will help him gain some confidence in his offense. It better. He has the tools.
6) Kain Harris
Harris is Tulane's most reliable freshman, which is not saying much to this point, and the Wave's best outside shooter. Still, he needs to prove he can consistently knock down open 3s. It's hard to win in modern college basketball without the threat of the 3, and no one on the roster scares opponents from behind the arc. Good players improve as they gain experience. The Wave needs Harris to follow that path.
7) Melvin Frazier
Tulane's most hyped freshman has been ineffective, beginning the year as a starter but falling out of the lineup because he's shown nothing other than raw athletic ability. He's not a good ball-handler, passer or shooter, averaging a paltry 5.1 points with 15 turnovers and five assists. He's also horrendous from the foul line. Maybe the light will go on, but he has a long way to go. At this point, he is effective only as the finisher on the fast break.
8) Dylan Osetkowski
He showed promise as a freshman, and it's been no surprise that he has improved dramatically as sophomore. He had all the intangibles that indicated steady growth. Osetkowski will struggle to score when he catches the ball on the post against athletic AAC defenders because he is not a good jumper, but he has outstanding feel for the game, is a superb passer and tough rebounder. With Tulane possessing more options offensively than it did last year, look for him have more games like his 20-point day against Mississippi State.
9) Jernard Jarreau
He's a terrific passer, too, giving Tulane so much more ability on the inside than it ever has had under Conroy. The concern with him is his health. Injuries derailed his career at Washington, and although he has made some athletic plays, giving Tulane a defensive presence on the interior it has lacked for awhile, he looks slow at times during games, too. If Jarreau maintains the level he showed in the non-conference play, he will help the Wave significantly. The one concern is his tendency to hang his head when plays don't go well. That moodiness needs to stop pronto. He also should be a better free throw shooter than his .541 percentage attests. He has good form.
10) Blake Paul
Paul gives Tulane a shot-blocking presence off the bench. Although he looks very much like a freshman offensively, he has the upside to contribute this year. We'll see if it happens.
11) Ryan Smith
The coaching staff loves Smith because of his work ethic. The problem is his limited game. When he is on the floor--and his time has decreased as the year goes along--Tulane essentially is playing 4 on 5 offensively.
12) Taron Oliver
This guy is gifted offensively, possessing nice touch and a variety of shots. He also is no factor because of his weight and likely won't be this year. It's a shame. If he works as hard as everyone around him insists he has done since he arrived on campus, he can be a significant factor in the future.
Only twice, against Appalachian State--when Tulane took a 40-8 lead, which is hard to do against air--and in the last 25 minutes against Stephen F. Austen, has Tulane looked good, but the upside is higher than in Ed Conroy's first five years. The problem is in realizing that potential.
Here's my assessment of each scholarship player heading into the Memphis game, starting with the backcourt and proceeding to the frontcourt.
1) Louis Dabney
For most of November and December, he appeared to show little of the trust in his teammates he boasted about before the year started. He forced too many shots as if he did not believe anyone else could get the job done. But in the last two weeks, he calmed down and began letting the game come to him. He needs to continue playing that way because Tulane cannot win with him shooting below 40 percent, and he is not good enough to score consistently against defenses geared to stop him. But he is good enough to do damage if he gets some help from teammates and does not have to carry the burden of trying to score for 40 minutes.
2) Malik Morgan
I'm not crazy about his outside shot, which his mother called "beautiful" in a story I wrote about him and his sister for The Advocate last December. His release point is too high and too late. But he has a knack for the game. At Mississippi State, he scored two baskets in a row by tipping the rebound off the glass and in, and neither was accidental. He can score in a lot of different ways and is crafty. Look for him to play two guard a lot more the rest of the way because he's just not a reliable point guard, going out of control on the dribble too often. He can excel in a role as a scorer and is a good rebounder for his position. Defensively, he gets his hands on a lot of balls but needs to be more judicious. Foul trouble has been an issue, and he has to stay on the floor.
3) Von Julien
Even though did not make a shot in the two games after becoming the starting point guard, he needs to remain the starter because he is the only natural point guard on the roster. He can penetrate and find open players and also is better than Morgan at handling pressure even though he is a freshman. But if he does not develop some scoring ability, Tulane will be in trouble. The coaches have to trust that he will improve as he gets more experience.
4) Kajon Mack
Since coming back from a knee injury, Mack has been better than I anticipated as a backup point guard. Tulane can use his athletic ability and defense. The question always has been whether he could provide anything on offense, and his three assists and zero turnovers in four minutes of first-half action against Southern Miss was encouraging. He will get healthier as the year goes along, and he looks more comfortable than he has in the past.
5) Cameron Reynolds
At some point, he needs to start knocking down some shots because he would be a big attribute if he could. His size and athletic ability make him a valuable defender, but that value is negated when he cannot score. His shooting percentage of .315 is woeful, and it's not because he gets bad looks. Maybe being a regular part of the rotation will help him gain some confidence in his offense. It better. He has the tools.
6) Kain Harris
Harris is Tulane's most reliable freshman, which is not saying much to this point, and the Wave's best outside shooter. Still, he needs to prove he can consistently knock down open 3s. It's hard to win in modern college basketball without the threat of the 3, and no one on the roster scares opponents from behind the arc. Good players improve as they gain experience. The Wave needs Harris to follow that path.
7) Melvin Frazier
Tulane's most hyped freshman has been ineffective, beginning the year as a starter but falling out of the lineup because he's shown nothing other than raw athletic ability. He's not a good ball-handler, passer or shooter, averaging a paltry 5.1 points with 15 turnovers and five assists. He's also horrendous from the foul line. Maybe the light will go on, but he has a long way to go. At this point, he is effective only as the finisher on the fast break.
8) Dylan Osetkowski
He showed promise as a freshman, and it's been no surprise that he has improved dramatically as sophomore. He had all the intangibles that indicated steady growth. Osetkowski will struggle to score when he catches the ball on the post against athletic AAC defenders because he is not a good jumper, but he has outstanding feel for the game, is a superb passer and tough rebounder. With Tulane possessing more options offensively than it did last year, look for him have more games like his 20-point day against Mississippi State.
9) Jernard Jarreau
He's a terrific passer, too, giving Tulane so much more ability on the inside than it ever has had under Conroy. The concern with him is his health. Injuries derailed his career at Washington, and although he has made some athletic plays, giving Tulane a defensive presence on the interior it has lacked for awhile, he looks slow at times during games, too. If Jarreau maintains the level he showed in the non-conference play, he will help the Wave significantly. The one concern is his tendency to hang his head when plays don't go well. That moodiness needs to stop pronto. He also should be a better free throw shooter than his .541 percentage attests. He has good form.
10) Blake Paul
Paul gives Tulane a shot-blocking presence off the bench. Although he looks very much like a freshman offensively, he has the upside to contribute this year. We'll see if it happens.
11) Ryan Smith
The coaching staff loves Smith because of his work ethic. The problem is his limited game. When he is on the floor--and his time has decreased as the year goes along--Tulane essentially is playing 4 on 5 offensively.
12) Taron Oliver
This guy is gifted offensively, possessing nice touch and a variety of shots. He also is no factor because of his weight and likely won't be this year. It's a shame. If he works as hard as everyone around him insists he has done since he arrived on campus, he can be a significant factor in the future.
Last edited: