by JP Pelzman
It became a familiar sight at the Prudential Center last season. Seton Hall sophomore Sandro Mamukelashvili would swoop down the lane, his 6-foot-10 frame apparently ready to unleash a monster dunk or perhaps an artistic finger roll.
And although there were times when one of those options was the result, particularly the dunks, it often seemed as if just as many times Mamukelashvili gave the ball up to a teammate for a three-point attempt.
But now with Big East Preseason Player of the Year Myles Powell once again in bold letters on each opponent’s scouting report, the time has come for Mamukelasvili to start cashing in more of that offense for himself to provide a necessary complement to the 6-2 pre-season All American.
And Mamukelashvili knows it.
He vows this season to be “more aggressive,” telling PirateCrew.com that “last year was a learning experience for me and this year I’m coming in with more experience, more anger and I’m just going to play the game like I know how I can play.”
“I tell Sandro all the time the sky’s the limit for him,” Powell said. “He’s a 6-10 guy that can dribble, shoot, make plays, push the ball, defend. He was one of the leading shot-blockers in the Big East last year so, as soon as he gains that confidence, his game will go through the roof. … Every year I see him progressing more and more and more into being the best player that he can be.”
As does head coach Kevin Willard.
“He’s young, he’s not an old guy,” Willard said of the native of the Eastern European county of Georgia. “Even though he’s experienced and he’s traveled, he’s still only 20 years old. He's had the best summer he’s had so far (at Seton all) which I think also has helped him in gaining confidence.”
What also should help is the fact that Mamukelashvili no longer will be playing out of position. With Florida State transfer Ikey Obiagu now eligible after sitting out 2018-19, plus the emergence of senior 7-2 Romaro Gill, Mamukelashvili won’t be spending much time at center anymore, freeing up from the incessant banging on defense he endured a year ago.
“I had a lot of physical battles inside,” Mamukelashvili said of last season, in which he averaged 8.9 points after being a role player as a freshman. “Everything was new for me. You can’t apply everything you’ve learned in one year. This year I feel like I’m calmer on the court, I’m playing my true position, which is 4 (power forward), so I feel like that will translate into a better version of me.”
But he also wants to incorporate his physical play of a year ago into his new role.
“I feel I needed that,” he said of last season’s physical match-ups. “Right now I know how it feels to be physical. … I’m just going to try to be as physical as I can.”
Although he led the Pirates by averaging 7.8 rebounds per game last season, Mamukelashvili knows that critics sometimes knock European players for not being quite as physical as their American counterparts.
“I feel like soon enough we’re going to break that stereotype,” he said.
As for perhaps being too unselfish as a player, he noted with a smile, “I hear that a lot. I’m a team guy. Growing up, the team always came before me. I probably have to shoot a little more (this season) to show everybody I’m a capable scorer, but to be honest, I just want to get the W.”
The Pirates are projected by most experts to get plenty of Ws this season, as they are pretty much a consensus Top 20 pick and were chosen by the Big East coaches to win the conference.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I can’t wait for it to start. Big expectations, they gave us the attention we deserve, we were asking for it all last year. (But) we’re not looking at it like we’re No. 1. We’re looking at it like we’re 8 or 9.”
The goal, he added, is to “prove to everybody what we’ve got.”
Toward that, Mamukelashvili put in plenty of hours in the gym during the summer.
“I put so much hard work into it over the summer,” he said. “I’ve put so much heart into it, every day meant a lot to me.“
I feel like I’ve been looking forward to this year for so long. It means a lot for me to be out here and help my team get better and get Ws.”
Points of emphasis, he said, were “my pick and pop game, my post-up game. I’m going to have to be able to switch on guards. … Most of all, I worked on my confidence. Every missed shot, I wouldn’t care at all, I would just keep shooting, keep shooting until the shots started falling."
“I want to show everyone I’m a 4 man who can shoot, who can pass and who can dribble.”
Willard noted that one drawback in the position move is the fact Mamukelashvili won’t have as many chances to utilize his quickness against a bigger defender.
“Where we were able to take advantage of some mismatches for him” last year, Willard said, “that’s where it might be a little tougher for him. … At times it helps us and at times we don’t have the benefit of him on a bigger guy.”
But Willard believes being subjected less often to physical play down low should increase Mamukelashvili’s shooting percentage. Despite a nice stroke, he only converted 30.1 percent from beyond the arc in 2018-19.
“He’s not going to be banging and wearing himself down as the game goes on,” Willard said, “because when you’re banging a guy like Ikey or Ro, even in practice, it’s going to affect your shot.”
Powell said, “I tell him, ‘just keep pushing, bro. I see it in you (as a player). Whatever you see in me, I see it in you as well.’ Sandro is just a great guy and I can’t wait to see him take off.”
And Mamukelashvili wants the same for his teammates.
“I feel like we’re motivated,” he said. “We’re ready to show our talent and (represent) our school’s name. … We don’t look at the negatives. We stay positive. My mother always tells me to stay positive. I just thank God that every day I wake up that’s the most important part.”
Seton Hall should have a special season in 2019/20, Sandro Mamukelashvili's play on the court taking a positive turn should make it all the more special.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
COMMENTS
It became a familiar sight at the Prudential Center last season. Seton Hall sophomore Sandro Mamukelashvili would swoop down the lane, his 6-foot-10 frame apparently ready to unleash a monster dunk or perhaps an artistic finger roll.
And although there were times when one of those options was the result, particularly the dunks, it often seemed as if just as many times Mamukelashvili gave the ball up to a teammate for a three-point attempt.
But now with Big East Preseason Player of the Year Myles Powell once again in bold letters on each opponent’s scouting report, the time has come for Mamukelasvili to start cashing in more of that offense for himself to provide a necessary complement to the 6-2 pre-season All American.
And Mamukelashvili knows it.
He vows this season to be “more aggressive,” telling PirateCrew.com that “last year was a learning experience for me and this year I’m coming in with more experience, more anger and I’m just going to play the game like I know how I can play.”
“I tell Sandro all the time the sky’s the limit for him,” Powell said. “He’s a 6-10 guy that can dribble, shoot, make plays, push the ball, defend. He was one of the leading shot-blockers in the Big East last year so, as soon as he gains that confidence, his game will go through the roof. … Every year I see him progressing more and more and more into being the best player that he can be.”
As does head coach Kevin Willard.
“He’s young, he’s not an old guy,” Willard said of the native of the Eastern European county of Georgia. “Even though he’s experienced and he’s traveled, he’s still only 20 years old. He's had the best summer he’s had so far (at Seton all) which I think also has helped him in gaining confidence.”
What also should help is the fact that Mamukelashvili no longer will be playing out of position. With Florida State transfer Ikey Obiagu now eligible after sitting out 2018-19, plus the emergence of senior 7-2 Romaro Gill, Mamukelashvili won’t be spending much time at center anymore, freeing up from the incessant banging on defense he endured a year ago.
“I had a lot of physical battles inside,” Mamukelashvili said of last season, in which he averaged 8.9 points after being a role player as a freshman. “Everything was new for me. You can’t apply everything you’ve learned in one year. This year I feel like I’m calmer on the court, I’m playing my true position, which is 4 (power forward), so I feel like that will translate into a better version of me.”
But he also wants to incorporate his physical play of a year ago into his new role.
“I feel I needed that,” he said of last season’s physical match-ups. “Right now I know how it feels to be physical. … I’m just going to try to be as physical as I can.”
Although he led the Pirates by averaging 7.8 rebounds per game last season, Mamukelashvili knows that critics sometimes knock European players for not being quite as physical as their American counterparts.
“I feel like soon enough we’re going to break that stereotype,” he said.
As for perhaps being too unselfish as a player, he noted with a smile, “I hear that a lot. I’m a team guy. Growing up, the team always came before me. I probably have to shoot a little more (this season) to show everybody I’m a capable scorer, but to be honest, I just want to get the W.”
The Pirates are projected by most experts to get plenty of Ws this season, as they are pretty much a consensus Top 20 pick and were chosen by the Big East coaches to win the conference.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I can’t wait for it to start. Big expectations, they gave us the attention we deserve, we were asking for it all last year. (But) we’re not looking at it like we’re No. 1. We’re looking at it like we’re 8 or 9.”
The goal, he added, is to “prove to everybody what we’ve got.”
Toward that, Mamukelashvili put in plenty of hours in the gym during the summer.
“I put so much hard work into it over the summer,” he said. “I’ve put so much heart into it, every day meant a lot to me.“
I feel like I’ve been looking forward to this year for so long. It means a lot for me to be out here and help my team get better and get Ws.”
Points of emphasis, he said, were “my pick and pop game, my post-up game. I’m going to have to be able to switch on guards. … Most of all, I worked on my confidence. Every missed shot, I wouldn’t care at all, I would just keep shooting, keep shooting until the shots started falling."
“I want to show everyone I’m a 4 man who can shoot, who can pass and who can dribble.”
Willard noted that one drawback in the position move is the fact Mamukelashvili won’t have as many chances to utilize his quickness against a bigger defender.
“Where we were able to take advantage of some mismatches for him” last year, Willard said, “that’s where it might be a little tougher for him. … At times it helps us and at times we don’t have the benefit of him on a bigger guy.”
But Willard believes being subjected less often to physical play down low should increase Mamukelashvili’s shooting percentage. Despite a nice stroke, he only converted 30.1 percent from beyond the arc in 2018-19.
“He’s not going to be banging and wearing himself down as the game goes on,” Willard said, “because when you’re banging a guy like Ikey or Ro, even in practice, it’s going to affect your shot.”
Powell said, “I tell him, ‘just keep pushing, bro. I see it in you (as a player). Whatever you see in me, I see it in you as well.’ Sandro is just a great guy and I can’t wait to see him take off.”
And Mamukelashvili wants the same for his teammates.
“I feel like we’re motivated,” he said. “We’re ready to show our talent and (represent) our school’s name. … We don’t look at the negatives. We stay positive. My mother always tells me to stay positive. I just thank God that every day I wake up that’s the most important part.”
Seton Hall should have a special season in 2019/20, Sandro Mamukelashvili's play on the court taking a positive turn should make it all the more special.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
COMMENTS
