Re-starting Arizona State men's tennis

J

jcgatennismom

Hall of Fame
Nacho said:
Ok, so its complicated, thanks for the info! This ultimately seems to favor the international player, so its just a vicious cycle. Makes sense that coaches build around that, I would if I were a coach.
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There will be some slightly older American kids in the future as a new trend for some US players is repeating the 8th grade. The repeated year has to be before high school as NCAA is strict about 4 years to complete high school. We know a couple kids who repeated a year for tennis-that is one way to jump from a 4 star to 5 star overnight. One kid has a fall Bday so he was older anyway; he will turn 20 in fall of his freshmen year. He is older than my son but is a junior now. Of course that means those kids have to play men's tourneys as juniors or seniors in high school; there are few tournament opportunities for 19 year juniors except for the Circuits. Those kids will probably be playing a lot of qualifiers...
 
A

andfor

Legend
jcgatennismom said:
There will be some slightly older American kids in the future as a new trend for some US players is repeating the 8th grade. The repeated year has to be before high school as NCAA is strict about 4 years to complete high school. We know a couple kids who repeated a year for tennis-that is one way to jump from a 4 star to 5 star overnight. One kid has a fall Bday so he was older anyway; he will turn 20 in fall of his freshmen year. He is older than my son but is a junior now. Of course that means those kids have to play men's tourneys as juniors or seniors in high school; there are few tournament opportunities for 19 year juniors except for the Circuits. Those kids will probably be playing a lot of qualifiers...
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There was a long and highly contested thread about this very thing 5 or 6 years ago. The prediction of 8th grade tennis players being held back then never materialized. Only anecdotal accounts of this type activity could be produced. Wasn't a problem then, has not become one and highly doubtful it ever will become a widespread reality.
 
Nacho

Nacho

Hall of Fame
andfor said:
There was a long and highly contested thread about this very thing 5 or 6 years ago. The prediction of 8th grade tennis players being held back then never materialized. Only anecdotal accounts of this type activity could be produced. Wasn't a problem then, has not become one and highly doubtful it ever will become a widespread reality.
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Probably because it is too much effort for most parents, easier to pull them out of tennis and into other more time and money manageable sports
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
andfor said:
There was a long and highly contested thread about this very thing 5 or 6 years ago. The prediction of 8th grade tennis players being held back then never materialized. Only anecdotal accounts of this type activity could be produced. Wasn't a problem then, has not become one and highly doubtful it ever will become a widespread reality.
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Very true. And we've gone off the rails here. This was really supposed to be about the new Arizona Satate players coming in next year
 
M

MC86

Rookie
Clemson_tennis said:
Anyone remember Michael Dornbusch for Baylor? He played literally only half a semester. Became eligible in march and played through the ncaas at #6 and that was it for him. I'm pretty sure he was older.
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Dornbush was at university in Germany (Cologne) and was basically just an exchange student for one semester. It was always his plan to just do the one (half) season and return to Cologne. Pradella had the same plan but ended up meeting a local girl and hence stayed longer.
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
C_BcFo9U0AAjPAK.jpg:large
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
Arizona State will be my adopted team for this season. I am going to go watch them play next weekend vs A&M. Possibly vs Duke as well. Would love to go watch the TCU match as well on the 21st.
 
Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Southerncharm said:
Welcome to the top 3 in the PAC 12 next year
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Who in that group is the BEST player ? and do you think he would be top 10 in NCAA ? you really see that happening this coming season ? These European guys don't always get into spirit of college tennis and doesn't always have that motivation to win the division and do well in NCAA tournaments
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
I watched both of ASU's matches over the weekend in Tempe. Very impressive commitment from ASU staff to both matches. It seems they are really going to try and make it a winning and good product at ASU. The crowds were very good as well.

The facility itself is pretty good, however I wish you cold watch from behind the courts as opposed to the side view.

I was high on this team. Thought they could be top 15. I might backpedal on those lofty expectations a little and say that too 30 is a more likely scenario for this season.

The first thing that's evident is that Makey Rakotomalala is the spark(y) plug of the team already. He is constantly engaging the crowd and fighting for every point. He has fully bought into the College team tennis aspect and will be the emotional cornerstone of the team. He impressed with his play as well, very sharp in doubles and fought hard in singles vs Arconada to pull out a 7-6 3rd set win when the team result had long since been decided. Certainly the biggest positive from the weekend for ASU.

Geerts is another positive from the weekend. He played well in doubles with Rakotomalala, they had a good chemistry. He played very well in spots in singles against 2 of the nations top players.

Hannestad also showed flashes of talent, coming up with several sparkling shots and points.

ASU will need to improve depth as the season goes on. They have a brutally tough schedule (particularly at home) but I think they will get better as the season goes on and I bet they will pull off a big upset at some point in the PAC 12 season.
 
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D

Deacon Drive

Rookie
Clemson_tennis said:
I watched both of ASU's matches over the weekend in Tempe. Very impressive commitment from ASU staff to both matches. It seems they are really going to try and make it a winning and good product at ASU. The crowds were very good as well.

The facility itself is pretty good, however I wish you cold watch from behind the courts as opposed to the side view.

I was high on this team. Thought they could be top 15. I might backpedal on those lofty expectations a little and say that too 30 is a more likely scenario for this season.

The first thing that's evident is that Makey Rakotomalala is the spark(y) plug of the team already. He is constantly engaging the crowd and fighting for every point. He has fully bought into the College team tennis aspect and will be the emotional cornerstone of the team. He impressed with his play as well, very sharp in doubles and fought hard in singles vs Catanzariti to pull out a 7-6 3rd set win when the team result had long since been decided. Certainly the biggest positive from the weekend for ASU.

Geerts is another positive from the weekend. He played well in doubles with Rakotomalala, they had a good chemistry. He played very well in spots in singles against 2 of the nations top players.

Hannestad also showed flashes of talent, coming up with several sparkling shots and points.

ASU will need to improve depth as the season goes on. They have a brutally tough schedule (particularly at home) but I think they will get better as the season goes on and I bet they will pull off a big upset at some point in the PAC 12 season.
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That's cool to read. Thanks for the update.
 
D

Deacon Drive

Rookie
Clemson_tennis said:
I watched both of ASU's matches over the weekend in Tempe. Very impressive commitment from ASU staff to both matches. It seems they are really going to try and make it a winning and good product at ASU. The crowds were very good as well.

The facility itself is pretty good, however I wish you cold watch from behind the courts as opposed to the side view.

I was high on this team. Thought they could be top 15. I might backpedal on those lofty expectations a little and say that too 30 is a more likely scenario for this season.

The first thing that's evident is that Makey Rakotomalala is the spark(y) plug of the team already. He is constantly engaging the crowd and fighting for every point. He has fully bought into the College team tennis aspect and will be the emotional cornerstone of the team. He impressed with his play as well, very sharp in doubles and fought hard in singles vs Catanzariti to pull out a 7-6 3rd set win when the team result had long since been decided. Certainly the biggest positive from the weekend for ASU.

Geerts is another positive from the weekend. He played well in doubles with Rakotomalala, they had a good chemistry. He played very well in spots in singles against 2 of the nations top players.

Hannestad also showed flashes of talent, coming up with several sparkling shots and points.

ASU will need to improve depth as the season goes on. They have a brutally tough schedule (particularly at home) but I think they will get better as the season goes on and I bet they will pull off a big upset at some point in the PAC 12 season.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the double post. It is cool to see a team resuscitated from the dead though!
 
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C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
Arizona State coach Matt Hill makes fairly negative comments about his team after losses. That's different than most college tennis coaches who almost always make positive statements or in many cases none at all after losses (or at least they aren't put into the post match breakdown). Check out these comments after the Stanford loss.

"We had some missed opportunities at two doubles early on," coach Matt Hill said. "At one doubles, I feel like we didn't serve as well as we have been which made it tough on ourselves even though we were right there. Three doubles was the same deal with not enough first serves and playing from behind."
"We're not getting consistence performance out of the same guys, so it makes it really challenging to know what you're going to expect," Hill said. "They can't go patches of smart tennis where they're competing well and then patches where they're not. It doesn't work like that when you're plating a top-10 team."

He's probably frustrated with how this season is going with those early losses and now knows the team needs wins quickly.
 
SavvyStringer

SavvyStringer

Professional
Clemson_tennis said:
Arizona State coach Matt Hill makes fairly negative comments about his team after losses. That's different than most college tennis coaches who almost always make positive statements or in many cases none at all after losses (or at least they aren't put into the post match breakdown). Check out these comments after the Stanford loss.

"We had some missed opportunities at two doubles early on," coach Matt Hill said. "At one doubles, I feel like we didn't serve as well as we have been which made it tough on ourselves even though we were right there. Three doubles was the same deal with not enough first serves and playing from behind."
"We're not getting consistence performance out of the same guys, so it makes it really challenging to know what you're going to expect," Hill said. "They can't go patches of smart tennis where they're competing well and then patches where they're not. It doesn't work like that when you're plating a top-10 team."

He's probably frustrated with how this season is going with those early losses and now knows the team needs wins quickly.
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Is he screaming at his players about all the dumb things they're doing and telling them they're dumb? I saw that earlier this year when our women played Texas Tech. Their coach was actually talking crap to his own players about them.
 
PhxRacket

PhxRacket

Hall of Fame
Dawgie Dawg said:
I root against this program thanks to Ponwith. He disrespected UGA and Manny.
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Tap the brakes. You can’t distill an entire program down to your dislike of one player. He is on a tear. Appreciate his athleticism, root for a young man who is proving everyday. Cut young people a little slack.
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
SavvyStringer said:
Is he screaming at his players about all the dumb things they're doing and telling them they're dumb? I saw that earlier this year when our women played Texas Tech. Their coach was actually talking crap to his own players about them.
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I don't think Hill does that mid match. But some coaches definitely have some unique styles and different tactics. For instance Ecarma of Louisville will audibly yell out tactics to his players across courts. No pretense of covering his mouth, whispering or anything.
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
Kellovsky (Ok State) and Hannestad (Miami) are both transferring from ASU.

Edit: and just as I post this, I see Wright is also transferring, to Auburn.

Mass exodus from Tempe?
 
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ChaelAZ

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
My son will be hitting with Kirkman when we get back in a week. I thought Hannestad was already gone??

Bummer Kellovsky is going though.
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
Is it safe to say the progress of this re-start has been a bit slower than anticipated? There were some lofty goals to start, like consistent top 20 team, even top 15. But this year's team looks to be the weakest iteration yet and is likely not a tournament team.
 
Booger

Booger

Hall of Fame
Clemson_tennis said:
Is it safe to say the progress of this re-start has been a bit slower than anticipated? There were some lofty goals to start, like consistent top 20 team, even top 15. But this year's team looks to be the weakest iteration yet and is likely not a tournament team.
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I watch every home match and their top guys pretty much stand on the baseline and bang away down the middle. You can usually tell within the first 3 games who will win the match. George Stoupe (freshman) doesn't have the polished groundstrokes of the higher guys, but I think has a higher potential ceiling as a thinking all-court player.
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
Qualified for the national indoors. One of the strongest top 2s in the country this year. Could be a pretty good year for the Sun Devils. Probably the best since their re-start.
 
A

andfor

Legend
anindit gopalakrishnan said:
Anyone know why Cash Hanzlik never ended up actually playing at ASU?
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Good question. There's nothing on the internet as to why he never played at ASU. From what I remember, he played 1 year at Tyler JC 2022, then signed with ASU. He may have been on their fall roster 2022 with plans to start playing the next semester, then he was gone last spring.

Doing a search on ASU's men's tennis site has some references to him. Other than that, nothing. https://thesundevils.com/searchresults.aspx?q=cash hanzlik
 
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