Harden

[KFX]

Anyone know the story about this young man. Not looking for “not good enough” etc... responses. Anyone have specific information on how he practices, attitude? Thanks.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I thought this was discussed already. Mack has said a lot about his effort in practice. Harden just sits behind 2 seniors and two freshmen who are a year older.


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[PeteXU]

Yeah there is no shame in not being good enough to get playing time as a freshman. Especially when you consider two of the guys he would be taking minutes from are two top 25 scorers in program history. The opportunity is right there for him next year, and if he seizes it, he could easily play 15-20 minutes a game.

[bleedXblue]

I really hope he stays at it........gains some weight and strength over the off season and comes in next year with a better opportunity to play and some added confidence.

[Masterofreality]

Kid is also slighter of build. Don't think he's physically ready for the Big East strength.

Get him in the weight room and on the right diet. I'm sure Matt Jennings will work wonders with him over the summer. Too bad he didn't redshirt this year.

[SemajParlor]

Based on my minimal observations he seems to love his teammates. He's always first off the bench and supporting. Hopefully he develops into a contributor for this team.

[American X]

I heard he is articulate and well-spoken.

[GoMuskies]

I heard he is articulate and well-spoken.

Definitely clean cut

[mistabeecee41]

Anyone know the story about this young man. Not looking for “not good enough” etc... responses. Anyone have specific information on how he practices, attitude? Thanks.

he played well in the exhibition. also remember reading that he played well in the WVU scrimmage as well. It's a numbers game that just so happens to many freshmen around the country, especially when you play the same position as JP and Tre.

Makai Ashthon Langford, Providence's prized recruit has also seen his minutes go away during the conference season. Same situation - plays the same position as a stud PG who steals most of the minutes.

[throwbackmuskie]

He has a nice stroke, just not quite ready to contribute meaningful minutes yet. At times when he played he looked overwhelmed, most Freshman do. I think he will be a solid rotation guy next year

[markchal]

I hope he's not discouraged. We can't afford any transfers, as he'd be our sixth or seventh man next year by default, and we'll desperately need the shooting. Agree it's unfortunate he couldn't redshirt, since he's played only a handful of minutes all season.

[GetUp5]

A lot can be said for the experience he's gaining this year. Practicing with the team and learning from the seniors. He'll be much better off for it next year when he has a legitimate shot to join the rotation. Also hoping he sticks around.

[KFX]

If already covered I missed it. Anyway thanks for the replies, I know minutes are tough to come by on this team but would’ve thought he’d get more of a taste than he is getting. Thought maybe there might be an issue. Keep working hard Elias! You will get your chance.

Can’t wait for tomorrow.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

X was in so many close games that I can understand why Mack was reluctant to put Harden in the games.

[GIMMFD]

A lot can be said for the experience he's gaining this year. Practicing with the team and learning from the seniors. He'll be much better off for it next year when he has a legitimate shot to join the rotation. Also hoping he sticks around.

Legitimate shot might be underplaying it with all we're losing, I think he's gonna get a good amount of minutes and that in itself should deter him from transferring. I agree with everyone else though, he seems to have a good attitude, and Mack has commented on his effort in practice. Sounds like the kid has a good head on his shoulder and is willing to work his tail off to get better, and it'll only help in the long run for him. We're in a fortunate position to have a lot of depth this year, just unfortunate for Harden in terms of his on court development.

[Blue Blooded-05]

Harden has played a total of 97 minutes this year. For comparison, Jason Love played a total of 76 minutes in ‘06-‘07 and James Farr played a total of 42 minutes in ‘12-‘13. They both grew into very solid contributors.

Kinda wish Mack would have redshirted Harden this year, though.

[GIMMFD]

Harden has played a total of 97 minutes this year. For comparison, Jason Love played a total of 76 minutes in ‘06-‘07 and James Farr played a total of 42 minutes in ‘12-‘13. They both grew into very solid contributors.

Kinda wish Mack would have redshirted Harden this year, though.

Would have been nice to redshirt him, but those 97 game minutes will still come in handy, the pace in an actual game (no matter if it's against scrub competition or not) is completely different than practice. I'd assume Mack wanted to at least expose him to that a bit before throwing him into the fire next season.

[Snipe]

I think I have him scheduled to do some mop up in garbage time in tomorrows stone cold butt kicking.

[ballyhoohoo]

I heard he plays piano while driving and Uber. Also a team of five Elias Harden’s could win the A-10

[IM4X]

Harden has played a total of 97 minutes this year. For comparison, Jason Love played a total of 76 minutes in ‘06-‘07 and James Farr played a total of 42 minutes in ‘12-‘13. They both grew into very solid contributors.

Kinda wish Mack would have redshirted Harden this year, though.

Good bit of research here that puts things into perspective.

There were years where I could definitely see him getting more minutes. This just happens to be a year where there are already so many on the roster capable of playing at a high level... plus he gets that Naji and Paul were considered a bit more ready-to-go coming in.

I look forward to seeing what all he can do when he gets more playing time next year.

[xu82]

Harden has played a total of 97 minutes this year. For comparison, Jason Love played a total of 76 minutes in ‘06-‘07 and James Farr played a total of 42 minutes in ‘12-‘13. They both grew into very solid contributors.

Kinda wish Mack would have redshirted Harden this year, though.

I don’t disagree, but I’ll play devil’s advocate. The same line of thinking might have said Nick Foles was an expensive luxury for the Eagles. They should have traded him at a $5.5 mil cap value. You never know when you will need a little more depth during what could be a special year. This could be a special year for Xavier.

That’s the best I can do, and I’m not saying that was the reason. I hope the minutes he DOES get help him next year.

[GoMuskies]

Love also got hurt, which cut his season short.

[GIMMFD]

I heard he plays piano while driving and Uber. Also a team of five Elias Harden’s could win the A-10

Please god not another Uber bit.

[XUGRAD80]

It wasn’t so long ago that it was very rare for freshman to get a whole lot of playing time. Players staying for 4 years was the norm and it was hard to find playing time for freshmen. But times have changed, and with so many players staying only a few years many freshmen have been pressed into service. Some, especially those that played prep school and are a little older, are able to,handle it. Others take a few years to get to the point where they have the skills and physical maturity to compete at the BE/National level that X competes in. I see Harden in the latter group, but still think that if he hangs in there, puts in the work necessary, and sticks it out, that he will have a pretty good career at X. I hope he does and I hope I’m right.

[bleedXblue]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdKBpERINzQ

I think the kid can really play.......he just needs to stick to working hard and playing time will come for him

[XU3232]

Harden has played a total of 97 minutes this year. For comparison, Jason Love played a total of 76 minutes in ‘06-‘07 and James Farr played a total of 42 minutes in ‘12-‘13. They both grew into very solid contributors.

Kinda wish Mack would have redshirted Harden this year, though.

I agree that it would have been better if he redshirted.. but that is not completely Mack’s choice. Harden could have easily said he just doesn’t want to redshirt.

[UCGRAD4X]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdKBpERINzQ

I think the kid can really play.......he just needs to stick to working hard and playing time will come for him

He seems to have a pretty good mid-range game. Don't see a lot of that any more. Could work to his advantage. Looking forward to seem him use it to continue league dominance.

[Smails]

He was a top 135 recruit with offers from X, Auburn, Texas Tech, and Maryland. He was a targeted recruit for XU (not a 'fall back' guy) and happens to be stuck behind a couple of studs/all-time greats on a team playing for #1 seed. I think the kid can play and is definitely a part of the program's future. 10 lbs of muscle and a completely different roster will look really good on him next season.

[GIMMFD]

He was a top 135 recruit with offers from X, Auburn, Texas Tech, and Maryland. He was a targeted recruit for XU (not a 'fall back' guy) and happens to be stuck behind a couple of studs/all-time greats on a team playing for #1 seed. I think the kid can play and is definitely a part of the program's future. 10 lbs of muscle and a completely different roster will look really good on him next season.

Let's hope he's as good of a shooter as advertised, because we're really going to miss Tre and JP's 3 point threat, but hopefully Q and Scruggs can show this isn't an anomaly and they truly have gotten better at hitting them as they've shown this season, could take a lot of pressure off of him next year as well, he's going to get thrown into the fire.

[markchal]

A lot of guys will be thrown into the fire. Tre has been a focal point of the offense for four years and JP has been a key contributor all four as well. Losing those two combined with two very good centers and a lot of guys will be in new roles next year. Sort of reminds me of when West left and even with all that returning experience guys had to learn to step into bigger roles. We have some talent, but we're definitely gonna have some growing pains as we figure out all that stuff. It's also gonna be a pretty young team. But we have plenty of time to worry about that.

[Lloyd Braun]

Harden got some run today

[Snipe]

Not quite the way I was hoping, but he did get in the game.

It was good to easing the young Frosh in to our bi-annual thrashing by Nova. Start him off in small doses so he can take the full ass kicking as an upperclassman.