Covington v. Pipikis -- the parallels

[S-money]

After the last few games, I've noticed how Jimmy Covington has progressed along similar lines as Janis Pipikis '04 (until, of course, Pipikis' season-ending injury). Jimmy's sophomore year looks a lot like the beginning of Janis' senior year.

 

Both started out not playing a whole lot the year before and having little to no offensive output when they did get significant minutes. But each had sort of a breakout game (Pipikis against Army and Covington against Stony Brook). Since the breakout game, each showed a lot more offensive confidence and became a significant physical presence in the paint, though Pipikis' run only lasted a few games. Both played essentially as undersized centers in terms of height but with fairly large builds.

 

I was really disappointed when Pipikis went down for the season because he was showing quite a bit of improvement and the coaches seemed to have more and more confidence in him, and he in himself. We may not have had a winning record that 2003-04 season, but I'm pretty sure we would've won more than five games had Pipikis been playing--just look at all the close games we had. Hopefully Jimmy's story turns out different and he's got another two years to go anyway. Just thought the two players have a lot in common.

 

S$

[purplehaze]

After the last few games, I've noticed how Jimmy Covington has progressed along similar lines as Janis Pipikis '04 (until, of course, Pipikis' season-ending injury). Jimmy's sophomore year looks a lot like the beginning of Janis' senior year.

 

Both started out not playing a whole lot the year before and having little to no offensive output when they did get significant minutes. But each had sort of a breakout game (Pipikis against Army and Covington against Stony Brook). Since the breakout game, each showed a lot more offensive confidence and became a significant physical presence in the paint, though Pipikis' run only lasted a few games. Both played essentially as undersized centers in terms of height but with fairly large builds.

 

I was really disappointed when Pipikis went down for the season because he was showing quite a bit of improvement and the coaches seemed to have more and more confidence in him, and he in himself. We may not have had a winning record that 2003-04 season, but I'm pretty sure we would've won more than five games had Pipikis been playing--just look at all the close games we had. Hopefully Jimmy's story turns out different and he's got another two years to go anyway. Just thought the two players have a lot in common.

 

S$

Janis was not injured. There were some questions regarding his eligibilty , , so to be safe Coach Brown did not play him

[UAalum72]

Janis was not injured. There were some questions regarding his eligibilty , , so to be safe Coach Brown did not play him

Excuse me? From the archives:

BASKETBALL'S JANIS PIPIKIS WILL MISS THE REMAINDER OF THE 2003-04 SEASON

 

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany basketball center Janis Pipikis will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. MRI results showed on Wednesday, Dec. 31 that Pipikis has torn both his anterior cruciate ligament and a medial collateral ligament in the right knee. He will have surgery within the next two weeks to correct the damage.

 

Pipikis, a 6-foot-8 senior from Ventspils, Latvia, suffered the injury in a morning practice on Dec. 27

 

You're not confusing him with Kareem Ouattara, are you?

[alum73]

I guess the progress Jan made for his final year was similar to Jimmie's progress, but Jimmie's quite a bit better than Jan, IMHO. Jimmie looks better than Jan did as a Senior.

[UA_MA_2000]

I've noticed substantial improvement and confidence from game to game this season in J.C. It's fun to watch us develop an inside game.

[kikuria]

As of last night Jimmie lead the America East in Free Throw percentage. Sweet! Thats something at least that he has over Zoellner, But I must say Kirsten was a much bigger threat and fould more often. In part because he was a relatively poor Free throw shooter.

[purplehaze]

As of last night Jimmie lead the America East in Free Throw percentage. Sweet! Thats something at least that he has over Zoellner, But I must say Kirsten was a much bigger threat and fould more often. In part because he was a relatively poor Free throw shooter.

It would be nice as Both Jimmie and Gifford develop to see a nice 1-2 punch in the middle---10 fouls to give are better than 5.

reminds me of the rotation Joe B. Hall had at Kentucky in the late '70's with a 3 center rotation--Rick Robey, a kid named Phillips and another guy. Joe B. used to say having 3 centers with 15 fouls to give is better than one with 5 to give

[purplehaze]

As of last night Jimmie lead the America East in Free Throw percentage. Sweet! Thats something at least that he has over Zoellner, But I must say Kirsten was a much bigger threat and fould more often. In part because he was a relatively poor Free throw shooter.

It would be nice as Both Jimmie and Gifford develop to see a nice 1-2 punch in the middle---10 fouls to give are better than 5.

reminds me of the rotation Joe B. Hall had at Kentucky in the late '70's with a 3 center rotation--Rick Robey, a kid named Phillips and another guy. Joe B. used to say having 3 centers with 15 fouls to give is better than one with 5 to give

[purplehaze]

As of last night Jimmie lead the America East in Free Throw percentage. Sweet! Thats something at least that he has over Zoellner, But I must say Kirsten was a much bigger threat and fould more often. In part because he was a relatively poor Free throw shooter.

It would be nice as Both Jimmie and Gifford develop to see a nice 1-2 punch in the middle---10 fouls to give are better than 5.

reminds me of the rotation Joe B. Hall had at Kentucky in the late '70's with a 3 center rotation--Rick Robey, a kid named Phillips and another guy. Joe B. used to say having 3 centers with 15 fouls to

[S-money]

I guess the progress Jan made for his final year was similar to Jimmie's progress, but Jimmie's quite a bit better than Jan, IMHO. Jimmie looks better than Jan did as a Senior.

 

No question, Jimmie's more talented. I'm just saying his progress, build, and style of play brought Pipikis to mind. True low post players are somewhat of a rare bird in our league, and it's interesting to see them develop like these two did. If Jimmie and Giff could consistently give us 20-25 ppg between the two of them, it would do wonders for our guard play.