Is Princeton's Goodrich Going to be a Camp Darling?

I'm somewhat surprised no one is jumping on this, given how much people rave about the Euro game and piont to Princeton. Goodrich is the hero of Princetons 27-2 season when they got ranked #8 in the nation. The first thing that hit me when seeing Goodrich's name was, boy, now that is a high post center!!

<b>Camp Fodder or a mini-Ming in his absence</b>

I've been expecting the Rockets to find someone to bring into camp who might be able to run Yao Ming high post sets out of the gate. <b>The Center is the key to Princeton's offense</b>, and it is to run the offense from the high post. He must have shooting range and great knowledge of the game and passing ability. Goodrich is the best center Princeton has ever had at doing this. Rudy will not have to teach Goodrich any of that, if indeed Rudy indeed wants to practice that in Yao's absence.

Maybe Goodrich is more than Camp fodder. Maybe Goodrich is the body to fill Yao's role in practice until Yao arrives, then he gets cut...

<b>Good Articles about Goodrich's Team Approach to BBall</b>

<a href="http://www.ivybasketball.com/features/verbatim/02-0904-goodrich.html">Great question and answer article with his Pro bio</a>

<a href="http://www.pacpubserver.com/new/sports/12-10-99/goodrich.html">Read this regarding his Princeton Mindset</a>

Anyone who wants to root for a team-first player to make the team should read these. He is the antithesis of rooting for a ball-hog like Langhi. <b>Here's a perfect example of the Goodrich vs Langhi mindset.</b>
<blockquote><i>Q: I imagine coming from Princeton it has to be very frustrating for you to play in these summer league and rookie camps where everyone is out to showcase their individual skills. How do you deal with this?</i>

A: I try to play to my strengths. It is frustrating from a team point of view to play with people who are just trying to play one-on-one all the time, but I can't start doing that, because it will make me look worse. But a lot of teams think that it is a better idea to take a guy with a lot of individual ability and teach him to play, than to take a guy who knows how to play, but lacks some of the ability. And it is hard to argue against that. I actually play a lot better in training camp with veteran pros than I do in summer league camps.</blockquote>

 

Here's another great article explaining the importance of the Carril's Princeton Center and comparing Goodrige to past great Princeton centers.

<a href="http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/Content/1998/05/06/sports/sonneborn.html"> Goodrich’s spectacular play at center sets new standard for men’s hoops’ big men </a>

<blockquote>Now when people talk about the next great center in Princeton basketball history, they will not be looking the next Kit Mueller or the next Rick Hielscher. They will be looking for the next Steve Goodrich.</blockquote>

Also, I didn't realize that Pete Carril became an assistant coach of the Kings in 1996, after two yrs coaching Goodrich. An old star at Princeton (Petrie) is the President of the Kings. No wonder they went out and got Divac!!!

 

verse,
I still watched NCAAs and March Madness until I got season tickets, especially Princeton games. But as you can see, I didn't even realize Carril left Princeton.

Why do you say he can't make the team; he played several months with the Nets last year, to be cut later.

check this quote out.

Eddie Jordan is the Asst Coach of the Nets where Goodrich played last year. Pete Carril was his asst when Jordan coached the Kings.

<b>They conferred with Goodrich on how to run the offense.</b>

<blockquote><i>Q: You were in a unique situation where you probably had a better understanding of the offense than the coaches who were teaching it. Were you ever called upon to help with teaching the offense in New Jersey?</i>

A: I felt the best with the Nets, because it's the team I felt I could contribute the most. <b>They were running an offense I knew completely, and I had a good feel for the other players.</b> I also really liked and respected the coaching staff. It was my best pro experience.
. . .
The Nets run a lot of the same things as we did at Princeton, but they need to shoot the ball a little quicker, because of the shorter shot clock. They don't run the offense using the center as a passer as much as we did at Princeton, and they try to post up their forwards a little bit more.
. . .
Eddie Jordan is the Nets assistant head coach, and Coach Carril was his assistant while he was the head coach in Sacramento, so he has an excellent understanding of the offense and how to run it, and was the principle teacher. <b>I helped him sometimes, in terms of explaining some things that worked for us,</b> and some things we ran that changed after Coach Carril left Princeton, so I tried to be helpful in that way.</blockquote>

 

no, it has to be Mini-Ming

 

goody goody gumdrops....nice nick!!!

He's pretty small at 220. But I do like the coaching ability of him, especially if Rudy got him for that same reason Eddie Jordan got him, and he has a chance to have real 3pt range. He did in college. Maybe his top potential is a Bullard type who knows the game well, helps make practices for effective by helping the coaches and is available for 3s.

here's another article of his time in Chicago ... he's a coach's dream.

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/Content/2001/04/19/sports/947.shtml

<blockquote>"He just absolutely does exactly what we want him to do, every trip,"

Bulls head coach Tim Floyd said after the game. "He makes the right play, passes the ball well. I thought he played well." </blockquote>