Big boy basketball once again.

[tjreese]

TJ, have you seen much video of the Serbian? What are your thoughts on what he could do for us next season?

I've only watched the video provided in this site and yes the "highlights" seem to be an upgrade in performance. Kid can put it on the floor and seems to be able to shoot the ball. No reference to D since in that video D apparently wasn't allowed. Offensively, he is more versatile than Myles or CAm, but have no opinion on rebounding or defense...also in highlight videos you rarely see those things as well as an ability to pass the ball. If he commits (I think he will) I think it is a plus. Now, assuming his competition was better than a typical high school team since he played against "pros", then it is reasonable to assume he gets major minutes. Does he share minutes with Fletch and/or does he provide a potential stretch 4 as well? Problem is there is so much talent out there that we have no idea what is out there. We hear a name and then research that name...few if any really see the players and only see stats or highlights and then make their guess. Purdue can look very solid, which I think it will and another team might be able to piece together things it needs as as well and now they are a challenger.

 

[Do Dah Day]

I have not heard anything like that. Last I heard Purdue got the Serb or will very soon

That is evidently a turd from last year

 

[Old Gold n Black]

Apparently we're not the only ones playing big boy basketball next year. Consider, so far...

- Michigan landed both Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. to play alongside Danny Wolf (if he chooses not to go pro)
- Illinois landed Arkansas transfer Zvonimir "Big Z" Ivisic to pair with his twin brother Tomislav Ivisic in the front court

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Apparently we're not the only ones playing big boy basketball next year. Consider, so far...

- Michigan landed both Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. to play alongside Danny Wolf (if he chooses not to go pro)
- Illinois landed Arkansas transfer Zvonimir "Big Z" Ivisic to pair with his twin brother Tomislav Ivisic in the front court

Wolf should probably go to the league. Wonder if Yaxel and Morez can coexist. Wolf and Goldin worked so well because wolf was more a “point center”.

The ivisic brothers may cause some issues but they can’t guard a chair. So unless they figure it out this offseason they’re gonna get wrecked in the PnR 😂

BUT the B1G is gonna be super tough again.

 

[Heads up BOILER]

Wolf should probably go to the league. Wonder if Yaxel and Morez can coexist. Wolf and Goldin worked so well because wolf was more a “point center”.

The ivisic brothers may cause some issues but they can’t guard a chair. So unless they figure it out this offseason they’re gonna get wrecked in the PnR 😂

BUT the B1G is gonna be super tough again.

I’m hoping that Yaxel gets his wish in the draft for a guaranteed contract … he’s stated he’ll go pro if that’s the case …otherwise he’ll play at Michigan.

 

[tjreese]

So, we are getting the Serbian kid? That's the kid I want. Seems like a high upside per Video🤷‍♂️

correction it may be Omer instead.

 

[Poprudy]

correction it may be Omer instead.

Can we get both of them...please.

 

[tjreese]

Can we get both of them...please.

would love that!

 

[Dryfly88]

If we get Omer, we need an experienced (proven D1) player also. Next year is going to be special if we get the right players from portal. I just don't have confidence in Euro players or freshmen (traditional) to get the job done. Doesn't mean they can't but would feel a whole lot better with proven commodity at this level.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

If we get Omer, we need an experienced (proven D1) player also. Next year is going to be special if we get the right players from portal. I just don't have confidence in Euro players or freshmen (traditional) to get the job done. Doesn't mean they can't but would feel a whole lot better with proven commodity at this level.

Who has been the best euro to come over in college bball and make an instant impact to their team and help them make a deep run?

Am I blanking or has there not really been one?

 

[Poprudy]

Who has been the best euro to come over in college bball and make an instant impact to their team and help them make a deep run?

Am I blanking or has there not really been one?

Its a good thing we have the core of our team back and those guys have made a deep run without any incoming players. Adding these players are just an added plus to an already great team.

 

[Boileratthebeach]

Who has been the best euro to come over in college bball and make an instant impact to their team and help them make a deep run?

Am I blanking or has there not really been one?

I thought I saw someone compare him to Jakucionis from Ill. That dude had an impact…

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

I thought I saw someone compare him to Jakucionis from Ill. That dude had an impact…

Yeah but he still struggled at times and turned it over a lot with dumb passes. He didn’t shoot it well (maybe due to his arm injury) and Illinois was “meh” this year and flamed out in first weekend, which is typical for underwood.

I guess I should rephrase it as, has there been a young euro kid come in and dominate/help his team be at the top of a conference/make a deep run?

 

[Poprudy]

Yeah but he still struggled at times and turned it over a lot with dumb passes. He didn’t shoot it well (maybe due to his arm injury) and Illinois was “meh” this year and flamed out in first weekend, which is typical for underwood.

I guess I should rephrase it as, has there been a young euro kid come in and dominate/help his team be at the top of a conference/make a deep run?

Agree. I think he's just an added plug to fill any voids we have or need. Personally, I don't feel he'll be utilized to be a star. IMO

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Agree. I think he's just an added plug to fill any voids we have or need. Personally, I don't feel he'll be utilized to be a star. IMO

Oh for sure. I wasn’t knocking pour potential euro players, just was wondering if I was blanking on any Euro kids that had huge impacts right away in college ball.

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

Who has been the best euro to come over in college bball and make an instant impact to their team and help them make a deep run?

Am I blanking or has there not really been one?

There's definitely been more than a couple. Of course foreign names don't stick easily, so ......

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

There's definitely been more than a couple. Of course foreign names don't stick easily, so ......

That came over and impacted the first year? I don’t think so.

 

[boilerzz]

That came over and impacted the first year? I don’t think so.

March Madness: 10 European players to watch in the men's NCAA Tournament

The biggest stage of college basketball is upon us, and this year's NCAA tournament features a wealth of young European talent.

www.fiba.basketball

 

[northside100]

March Madness: 10 European players to watch in the men's NCAA Tournament

The biggest stage of college basketball is upon us, and this year's NCAA tournament features a wealth of young European talent.

www.fiba.basketball

Great list, thanks for sharing. A lot of those guys are older, but if Omer could have an impact anywhere close to Anderson at Texas Tech, it could be transformational for Purdue.

As others have said, I don’t think the question for Purdue is whether a freshman international player has come in and led a deep tournament run, as I don’t think Purdue needs that. The question is whether they have played a key role for very good teams.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

March Madness: 10 European players to watch in the men's NCAA Tournament

The biggest stage of college basketball is upon us, and this year's NCAA tournament features a wealth of young European talent.

www.fiba.basketball

Thanks.

This list proves what I thought—guys weren’t able to come in and make an impact to the point where they helped their team make a deep run or even win the conference.

Wolf and Sharp are the best on here and aren’t actual international guys. Both grew up in the states. Although I find it funny sharp played for Israel (born there and dad was from there) but went to a catholic prep school.

The best international guy that made the biggest impact was Marciulionis from St Marys. But he didn’t really make a huge impact until his junior year.

It seems, even though these guys play pro ball over there, it’s quite a bit of an adjustment. KJ was pretty good for Illinois, but had a lot of turnover issues. Tomislav was good as well but definitely needs to work on his defense

 

[Old Gold n Black]

Wolf should probably go to the league. Wonder if Yaxel and Morez can coexist. Wolf and Goldin worked so well because wolf was more a “point center”.

The ivisic brothers may cause some issues but they can’t guard a chair. So unless they figure it out this offseason they’re gonna get wrecked in the PnR 😂

BUT the B1G is gonna be super tough again.

Well, now this is something. Aday Mara to Michigan. Apparently they aren't having trouble convincing multiple bigs that they can coexist...

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Well, now this is something. Aday Mara to Michigan. Apparently they aren't having trouble convincing multiple bigs that they can coexist...

View embedded media

I think Yaxel is gonna go to the draft. I assume Wolf too.

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

Apparently we're not the only ones playing big boy basketball next year. Consider, so far...

- Michigan landed both Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. to play alongside Danny Wolf (if he chooses not to go pro)
- Illinois landed Arkansas transfer Zvonimir "Big Z" Ivisic to pair with his twin brother Tomislav Ivisic in the front court

Look at this year. The league responded to Zach with more 7'ers. Lots of teams with 2 or more now.

 

[Old Gold n Black]

I think Yaxel is gonna go to the draft. I assume Wolf too.

Yaxel and Wolf are listed #25 and #34 respectively on the mock draft board. Is that enough guarantee that they won't come back for a single year multi-million dollar contract at UM? I'm not convinced.

 

[northside100]

Thanks.

This list proves what I thought—guys weren’t able to come in and make an impact to the point where they helped their team make a deep run or even win the conference.

Wolf and Sharp are the best on here and aren’t actual international guys. Both grew up in the states. Although I find it funny sharp played for Israel (born there and dad was from there) but went to a catholic prep school.

The best international guy that made the biggest impact was Marciulionis from St Marys. But he didn’t really make a huge impact until his junior year.

It seems, even though these guys play pro ball over there, it’s quite a bit of an adjustment. KJ was pretty good for Illinois, but had a lot of turnover issues. Tomislav was good as well but definitely needs to work on his defense

If you look at the two guys from IL I’d argue that they could have been excellent had they been added to an existing core versus needing to be headliners on essentially a brand new team.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

If you look at the two guys from IL I’d argue that they could have been excellent had they been added to an existing core versus needing to be headliners on essentially a brand new team.

Absolutely.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Yaxel and Wolf are listed #25 and #34 respectively on the mock draft board. Is that enough guarantee that they won't come back for a single year multi-million dollar contract at UM? I'm not convinced.

If they come back, Michigan has some serious front court issues for playing time. Yaxel prob will go…he will be a fifth year senior and turning 23 this year in sep and will
Be 24 as a rookie next year (if he doesn’t go). If he gets a guarantee for first round, I suspect he goes.

Wolf is intriguing…has great handles but turns it over a lot.

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

Yaxel and Wolf are listed #25 and #34 respectively on the mock draft board. Is that enough guarantee that they won't come back for a single year multi-million dollar contract at UM? I'm not convinced.

National championship probably pays well these days.

 

[SwingAndSwear]

If we get Omer, we need an experienced (proven D1) player also. Next year is going to be special if we get the right players from portal. I just don't have confidence in Euro players or freshmen (traditional) to get the job done. Doesn't mean they can't but would feel a whole lot better with proven commodity at this level.

A Euro pro is going to do ok.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Yaxel and Wolf are listed #25 and #34 respectively on the mock draft board. Is that enough guarantee that they won't come back for a single year multi-million dollar contract at UM? I'm not convinced.

Yup:

 

[Dryfly88]

A Euro pro is going to do ok.

Not saying he can't or won't do well. But I would like to see another proven D1 player signed and I think we will. I don't think CMP is done yet.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Paging @northside100 …sleepers trying to give us the reverse jinx!