keaton miles

[Modsquad24]

How does he look to factor in this yr? 10-12 Min a game?

[poloprince]

Lock down defender that defends 4 positions.

[-Blu]

I think he'll be the second or third guy off the bench this year.  Should play at both the 3 and 4 spot.  He will be our most versatile defender, able to guard the 1-4 position.  I think he plays anywhere from 13-17 MPG.

[ErieHog]

I just don't see him getting a ton of minutes, unless our PG situation blows up, or Kingsley is unable to stay on the floor for long.

Why our PG?   Because he's going to get a minutes squeeze, if everyone can play their natural position;  you want Madden at the 2,  Qualls playing at the 3,  and Portis at the 4, with Alandise Harris getting the lion's share of backup minutes for our wing spots.

If we end up having to play Madden a lot at the point, we probably play Qualls more minutes at the 2, which opens up minutes for a guy like Miles.

[-Blu]

I just don't see him getting a ton of minutes, unless our PG situation blows up, or Kingsley is unable to stay on the floor for long.

Why our PG?   Because he's going to get a minutes squeeze, if everyone can play their natural position;  you want Madden at the 2,  Qualls playing at the 3,  and Portis at the 4, with Alandise Harris getting the lion's share of backup minutes for our wing spots.

If we end up having to play Madden a lot at the point, we probably play Qualls more minutes at the 2, which opens up minutes for a guy like Miles.

Mike is going to play 9-10 guys double figure in minutes.  From everything I've heard from practice reports and from Coach A himself, Miles will definitely be in that rotation.  CMA has said in multiple interviews he's going to be this year's "Coty Clarke".  If anyone is going to miss out on minutes it's going to be 1 or 2 of the freshmen. 

[UNCLE BACK]

If Miles can score, he will play a good amount of min. If he is one deminsional and can only play D, I don't see a ton of minutes for him. He did not score much for Huggy Bear at WV.

[Corkscrew Johnson]

He looks huge in that team photo

[Hawgphish]

I saw him at the open practice Saturday.  I was really impressed.  He can jump out the building and he was knocking down jump shots. 

[Ham Sandwich]

If Miles can score, he will play a good amount of min. If he is one deminsional and can only play D, I don't see a ton of minutes for him. He did not score much for Huggy Bear at WV.

You mean his true freshman year on a veteran team that went to the NCAA's? He started for that team too. I don't think he was asked to score a lot on that particular team.

[mhuff]

I saw him at the open practice Saturday.  I was really impressed.  He can jump out the building and he was knocking down jump shots. 

Good to hear.... I thought recently that I had been discounting his ability. I have not seen him play. I had read elsewhere that he was knocking down jump shots. They don't have to be long range. We have others for that.... I just have a sneaky suspicion that he is going to be a terror on the press.

[Hawgphish]

Some other observations from practice.  Portis looked awesome.  He worked on low post moves the entire drill period.  Qualls was late to practice and had to push the sled and ran for punishment.    Beard looked comfortable.  Took it right at the vets.   Madden jas a strange demeanor about him.  Almost seems to loaf at times.  Overall a lot of hustle no horseplay at all.  I was very impressed.  Ang good to see lee mayberry coaching the guards.

[mhuff]

Some other observations from practice.  Portis looked awesome.  He worked on low post moves the entire drill period.  Qualls was late to practice and had to push the sled and ran for punishment.    Beard looked comfortable.  Took it right at the vets.   Madden jas a strange demeanor about him.  Almost seems to loaf at times.  Overall a lot of hustle no horseplay at all.  I was very impressed.  Ang good to see lee mayberry coaching the guards.

Was Portis using the back board on shots ?

[Hawgphish]

Yes when nit dunking it.  He looks bigger.  Arms more muscular. 

[azhog10]

I just don't see him getting a ton of minutes, unless our PG situation blows up, or Kingsley is unable to stay on the floor for long.

Why our PG?   Because he's going to get a minutes squeeze, if everyone can play their natural position;  you want Madden at the 2,  Qualls playing at the 3,  and Portis at the 4, with Alandise Harris getting the lion's share of backup minutes for our wing spots.

If we end up having to play Madden a lot at the point, we probably play Qualls more minutes at the 2, which opens up minutes for a guy like Miles.

I see what you are saying. But I actually think Miles will get plenty of "opportunity" to play. Obviously it will be about what he does with that opportunity that matters. But Miles may be the most, or second most versatile player we have next to Madden. He can play 2-4 and will be able to provide a lot to this team defensively. I've heard that his shot has greatly improved since he left WVU, that said from what I understand it was really bad when he was there so I don't know what to think about that. But there is no doubt he will have the opportunity to play a lot of positions on the floor and so I feel early in the year he will see quite a bit of time. Also, Qualls and Madden have had a tendency to miss games in the past due to off court issues. So having a guy like Miles will be HUGE for our depth.

[azhog10]

You mean his true freshman year on a veteran team that went to the NCAA's? He started for that team too. I don't think he was asked to score a lot on that particular team.

It's also why he left the program........

[The_Iceman]

Some other observations from practice.  Portis looked awesome.  He worked on low post moves the entire drill period.  Qualls was late to practice and had to push the sled and ran for punishment.    Beard looked comfortable.  Took it right at the vets.   Madden jas a strange demeanor about him.  Almost seems to loaf at times.  Overall a lot of hustle no horseplay at all.  I was very impressed.  Ang good to see lee mayberry coaching the guards.

Thank you so much for this!

[TomBigBeeHog]

Some other observations from practice.  Qualls was late to practice and had to push the sled and ran for punishment.

This is concerning because I hoped Qualls would be showing leadership. Don't want to see MA have to suspend or sit him this season. Qualls should be modeling the correct behaviour and attitude this year and playing with consistency, if his goal is to maximize his pro potential.

If he can't see that toeing the line is in his own best interest, he will not be leadership material. If he tests MA. he may end up off the team. Just hoping that this isn't a flare up of the problem from last year.

[Big Nasty 34]

This is why when people ask who the leader is, I undoubtably say Portis. Madden and Qualls don't lead by example at all.

[HawgAdvocate]

This is why when people ask who the leader is, I undoubtably say Portis. Madden and Qualls don't lead by example at all.

Qualls worked his tail this off-season to shore up the weaknesses in his game (ball handling, etc), so in that regard he has led by example, but yeah off the floor he's still a 'wild card' more often than not and isn't considered internally to be a 'leader.'

[The Hogfather]

Qualls worked his tail this off-season to shore up the weaknesses in his game (ball handling, etc)

Love to hear this!

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

It's also why he left the program........

WV has had some major transfers the last few season. I believe their top 2 scores from last year both transferred out

[Hawg Red]

Mike is going to play 9-10 guys double figure in minutes.  From everything I've heard from practice reports and from Coach A himself, Miles will definitely be in that rotation.  CMA has said in multiple interviews he's going to be this year's "Coty Clarke".  If anyone is going to miss out on minutes it's going to be 1 or 2 of the freshmen.

I agree, Miles is going be heavily involved in the rotation. Players like Thompson, Beard and Babb will likely take a back seat. I wouldn't be surprised to see Miles getting more minutes than Williams either.

[Breems]

I just don't see him getting a ton of minutes, unless our PG situation blows up, or Kingsley is unable to stay on the floor for long.

Why our PG?   Because he's going to get a minutes squeeze, if everyone can play their natural position;  you want Madden at the 2,  Qualls playing at the 3,  and Portis at the 4, with Alandise Harris getting the lion's share of backup minutes for our wing spots.

If we end up having to play Madden a lot at the point, we probably play Qualls more minutes at the 2, which opens up minutes for a guy like Miles.

Portis will be our 5 guy again with Harris at the 4. Miles will probably be the backup there.

[-Blu]

I agree, Miles is going be heavily involved in the rotation. Players like Thompson, Beard and Babb will likely take a back seat. I wouldn't be surprised to see Miles getting more minutes than Williams either.

TBH, I would think Williams is still battling to get in the rotation.  Let's be honest he's got to learn how to slow down and just play his role which is to grab rebounds, use his length on the press, and score on fast breaks.  If he can do that, he'll be a real asset for us.  I just remember every time he got in the game last year he thought he was Michael Jordan.  Hopefully he gets it this year and gets in that rotation, but I wouldn't say I'd be surprised if he's on the outside looking in, especially if Thompson shows he can contribute something.

I would think the top 8 right now is Portis,Harris,Qualls,Madden,Durham,Bell, Kingsley, Miles.  I think those last 2-3 spots in the rotation are up for grabs.  That's JMO.

[MB Hog]

If Miles is as good of a defender as we've heard, I expect him to get very good minutes... in the 20 per game range.  Not so much taking other players minutes, but sliding from one position to the next as our other players rotate in and out for a breather.