Many folks at the Tailgate asking about TOmmy. Had a nice visit with COach Groce who said Tommy had sent him a long email talking about life in the UK and his adjustment to the team and thinkgs he missed about being an athlete in the US. 

Came home to find the article on his first game as a pro.  Still wiating to get their new gear in. Wearing a different number for now. SOunds like he had a good start, work this summer is paying off.

Wow, thanks for the update.  Sounds like a great opening game for Tommy.  Keep the updates coming please!

Sounds like the player I know!  Good way to start things off, and I hope he's enjoying being able to keep playing the game!

Wow, 29 points is an impressive debut!

Is the MAC tougher than some pro leagues?

Way to go!  Keep it up, Tommy!!

The hoop is 10 feet high everywhere. If you can put it in the hoop, you can find success.

From my experience talking with guys who have played in Europe, Tommy will tear this league up.  Many if not most of the USA players over there are inside guys with athleticism but not a great deal of fundamental skills.  Freeman has the skills and will pick these teams apart simply because he sees the floor so well and the speed of the game is more to his liking.

European basketball tends to be out on the perimeter more than American ball, so Tommy is more valuable in that style.

Not sure what you are implying  Shabamon.

Got a feeling McLemore has to be getting tired of headlines when he is on the floor at the same time as Tommy.

Freeman sets career high

Freeman hits for career total

And now he plays for Guilford and sees a 29 point performance. Martelle has got to be wondering whythis kid keeps going off when they face each other. 

Western is in the MAC no? Won the West I think no? Maybe I just misunderstood your point.

Borna, was wondering this as well.  What is the overall talent equivalent to here in the USA?  How do the players compare in overall  talent to various conferences here?  Just wondering.

I would assume that the competition in most Euro leagues is fairly similar to that of the NBA "D-league" if you're familiar with that? I'm not entirely sure tho...there are obviously international teams that we may never hear about in the states that are quite good, but I'll bet the competition is also pretty inconsistent.  The bottom line though is that if you're playing professionally in Europe, it means that someone thinks you're good enough to make a career out of it and that's saying something.  So good for Tommy...29 points is an outstanding first pro game.

I have not had enough exposure to tell.

Richie Gordon was recruited by Dustin Ford at Western Carolina. He could easily have seen big minutes had he been at OU the last 4 years. His offensive skills are just coming around but he meets people at the rim and blocks a lot of shots.

Prezzie Blue is a pure point guard looking for pass first but able to knock down the shot (4 treys first game out) and is experienced enough to wait till the ball comes back around and he has his feet set for the open look. Not sure where he played but I felt he would have competed in the MAC much as Randy Davis, Gary (WMU) or most current guards in the MAC do.

The Americans came in and took the starting spots.

The Spaniard on that team played upper echelon ball in SPain as a 17, 18 year old and is on scholarship working on his masters at Worcester. More of an Atlantic Sun, OVC type player.

Tin Tin Watts is a 6'9 wing that puts the ball on the floor, fluidly runs and seems to have a variety of shots with both hands around the basket. He is skinny but seems to be pretty deadly form anywhere on the floor. Gives them a true big man presence. More athletic than Pete Campbell was at Butler but probably would have been in the same vein as far as being able to defend and step out and shoot the three.

Callum is the team captain returning PG. After the first five depth is an issue. He played in the states at Pace University in NY and is a legit D2 guard, strong and wiley. Not terribly co ordinated but he makes the offense run and rarelyu shooots setting up inside with drive s to the basket and dishing and setting up outside with nice passes and kicks off the drive. Ugly and inconsistent shot. I wanted so bad to just walk over and start from scratch.

Alex isa 6' 10 kid with a wierd presence around the basket, Canadian and is a big body. Makes shots from strange angles and runs the floor. Like most Canadians some of the things we take for granted in 6th grade they are just learning. Defending the post, up and under etc. Played on the 18s  and 19s I think. Great guy and the one you wnat to have your back walking down a dark alley. He reminds me of the kid up at Kent State ...Brandon Parks.

I know nothing of the other teams. Many MAC palyers have started out in this league and moved on from there. The whole thing is a mess this year with the NBA lockout muddying up final destinations and putting guys in leagues where they may have been some other place to start their careers.

It is nice to be in an English speaking country. WHen his X box transformer fried from the 240  throughthe 240 -110  convertor it was pretty simple to walk down to the electronics exchange and discuss options with a bloke who felt sorry for him. ANd the bartenders and birds speak basically the same language. Nice place to start and learn the ropes. With only 3 americans on each team I think the problem is more than anything ....the depth issue that plagues most teams.....and from what I heard prior to the season, the officials make MAC refs look like superstars.

Nice post, Borna.  Helps us to get a better grasp of what is going on there.

29 points in opening game is awesome!