The value of exhibition games

From a coaching standpoint, the value of exhibition games is typically that of seeing your players compete against others under actual game conditions.

However, the final stats compiled from such contests usually don't contain a great deal of value, having come against physically inferior and less-skilled opponents.

Some of things coaches are really looking for are:

*** the implementation of what is taught in practices being put into effect

*** the implementation of individual drills such as proper footwork, positioning and the like being put into effect

*** determining who plays to his limits each and every moment and who's competitiveness level depends on the quality of the opponent

*** who both understands and is willing to play an assigned role and stay within those parameters

There certainly are many more but these are some of the more common ones.

Continually going up against teammates can definitely have a stale effect and other 'tests' such as exhibitions can allow demonstration of who is advancing, whose is in neutral and who is going backwards in real time.

Having written all this, two things jumped out at us from the first series of games involving WAC teams this past weekend or so.

First, Nevada's Armon Johnson seems to have a lock on the starting point position for the Wolf Pack, Sure, such is a brash and very early declaration but such a move would allow star Marcelus Kemp to remain either at the two spot or the wing -- his more natural positions. Forgetting his 22 point total against Seattle Pacific, Johnson played a team-leading 36 minutes with an eight assist to two turnover ratio in his first collegiate start. Those are numbers Mark Fox will enjoy but, of course, the key will be can Johnson keep such stats up as the level of opponents gets better. Keep an eye on this.

#2 involves center 7-0 JaVale McGee. Again, forget his point total as he faced nobody even remotely close to what he will encounter in the WAC but do notice that McGee went two-for-two from three-point range.

Now it certainly could be an aberration -- although he did go 2-3 on his three point attempts last season -- because he shot a miserable .471 from the foul line in 2006-2007, 16-34. But if McGee manages to keep this up, pairing deep shooting range with his close-to-the-basket proficiency would make him an offensive monster.

To utilize a silly -- but heck why not? -- comparison, McGee could be the ebony of Nick Fazekas' ivory contributions to the success of the Nevada the past four seasons.

I can't believe I just typed that. I think we better close it out about right now before this web site sinks even lower and the collective groans from its readers reaches an even louder crescendo.