Looking For an Outside Perspective

[BigRed3588]

I know, I know. This is a Purdue board. But that's why I decided to come here to post this (I discussed it on the UK board as well). I post here from time to time and there are a lot of knowledgable fans on this board, so it seemed like the logical place to come for an outside perspective. What is your guys' opinion on OG Anunoby? I made a far-fetched pre-season prediction over here and said I thought OG was a potential NBA player. And obviously IU fans are excited about him. I just want to know what some outsiders thought.

Also, to bring Purdue into the discussion, I wanted to say that I was impressed with what I saw out of Mathias this year. He's a sophomore right? I think we'll see him blossom over the next couple seasons. I'd just like to see a little more confidence/assertiveness out of him.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

I know, I know. This is a Purdue board. But that's why I decided to come here to post this (I discussed it on the UK board as well). I post here from time to time and there are a lot of knowledgable fans on this board, so it seemed like the logical place to come for an outside perspective. What is your guys' opinion on OG Anunoby? I made a far-fetched pre-season prediction over here and said I thought OG was a potential NBA player. And obviously IU fans are excited about him. I just want to know what some outsiders thought.

Also, to bring Purdue into the discussion, I wanted to say that I was impressed with what I saw out of Mathias this year. He's a sophomore right? I think we'll see him blossom over the next couple seasons. I'd just like to see a little more confidence/assertiveness out of him.

OG is a very good looking freshman. Whether he is skilled enough to make it in the NBA, I don't know yet, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

 

[tigerchump]

OG impressed me,but I don't follow the NBA closely,so I have no idea if he can make it there or not.

 

[Boiler_HD]

I know, I know. This is a Purdue board. But that's why I decided to come here to post this (I discussed it on the UK board as well). I post here from time to time and there are a lot of knowledgable fans on this board, so it seemed like the logical place to come for an outside perspective. What is your guys' opinion on OG Anunoby? I made a far-fetched pre-season prediction over here and said I thought OG was a potential NBA player. And obviously IU fans are excited about him. I just want to know what some outsiders thought.

Also, to bring Purdue into the discussion, I wanted to say that I was impressed with what I saw out of Mathias this year. He's a sophomore right? I think we'll see him blossom over the next couple seasons. I'd just like to see a little more confidence/assertiveness out of him.

He has all of the tools to be a NBA player. Like stated above, who knows if scouts think he is ready. His explosion and defensive prowess make him extremely special. As a Purdue fan I would prefer he left haha!

 

[TC4THREE]

Love Anunoby. Great defender who is competent offensively. Most underrated player on your team.

 

[Cleanface]

 

[mathboy]

I think OG will be much like VO if he carries the same work ethic into the off season. I think he will see similar results when it comes to the NBA as well. What's with the "O"s in the names, eh?

 

[TwinDegrees2]

I know, I know. This is a Purdue board. But that's why I decided to come here to post this (I discussed it on the UK board as well). I post here from time to time and there are a lot of knowledgable fans on this board, so it seemed like the logical place to come for an outside perspective. What is your guys' opinion on OG Anunoby? I made a far-fetched pre-season prediction over here and said I thought OG was a potential NBA player. And obviously IU fans are excited about him. I just want to know what some outsiders thought.

Also, to bring Purdue into the discussion, I wanted to say that I was impressed with what I saw out of Mathias this year. He's a sophomore right? I think we'll see him blossom over the next couple seasons. I'd just like to see a little more confidence/assertiveness out of him.

Were IU to advance to the FF, don't be surprised to see OG gone next season based on potential. Probably a year too early, but he didn't come to IU based on Crean's promise that he'd become a Rhode's Scholar. He's there to play basketball and to get to where he's playing for a bigger paycheck than he's getting at IU. I think he totally changes IU's game when he comes in, and the pro's are certainly adept at seeing it too.

I'd advise both he and Bryant to go as soon as possible and not risk an injury by coming back next year. And most IU fans I know certainly want Williams to go.

 

[punaj]

He is my favorite Hoosier player. Very humble, it seems. Reminds me a lot of Victor.

 

[Heller]

He falls into that lucky find category like Brees was for Purdue. Can't predict if he will make the league.

 

[tjreese]

I know, I know. This is a Purdue board. But that's why I decided to come here to post this (I discussed it on the UK board as well). I post here from time to time and there are a lot of knowledgable fans on this board, so it seemed like the logical place to come for an outside perspective. What is your guys' opinion on OG Anunoby? I made a far-fetched pre-season prediction over here and said I thought OG was a potential NBA player. And obviously IU fans are excited about him. I just want to know what some outsiders thought.

Also, to bring Purdue into the discussion, I wanted to say that I was impressed with what I saw out of Mathias this year. He's a sophomore right? I think we'll see him blossom over the next couple seasons. I'd just like to see a little more confidence/assertiveness out of him.

without reading anyone's thoughts I really like him. Over the year, the times I was able to see him some (can't recall anything in the IU /Purdue game) I found him to be solid. First, I would have killed Williams. As soon as he started doing his brain dead activity I would have made Knight look like a choir boy. What I really like about OG is that he seems to be a pretty good athlete that plays within himself and lets the game come to him. He seems versatile enough to defend different players, but what I mostly like is what appears to be a focus and good attitude...the makings of a winner. I haven't watched enough, but on the surface I'm not sure how well defined his skill set it or if he will ever have the quickness and ball handling to go to a 3 spot. I'm thinking his size is around 6'8" or so and not sure the NBA will have an interest for a 4 with that size and so he needs to develop ball skills...again on limited views. He might be my second pick after Yogi and I know that goes against conventional thought will Bryant and Williams, but Williams and I wouldn't begin to get along...Bryant possibly as I don't think he does as many stupid things. Sooooooo, I really like him for college...just like I really like Yogi for college...the pro game is a ways away and he has the athletic ability to improve. Now...on to reading other thoughts that may have seen him much more than me....

 

[yiana]

Looks like a elite role player in the NBA. Then again he could be the next Kawai.

 

[Fan4Life]

It's very early, but I see a lot of Oladipo in his game. The question is whether he works as hard as Oladipo did over his college career to become an NBA player.

As a side-note. Many guys have the natural talent to be NBA players. What separates them is if they are
1) a physical freak(staying with the Magic theme - Aaron Gordon )
2) they work on their game to have one unique skill like shooting (Kyle Korver)
3) they become all-around players and keep improving

 

[johnboiler]

I think OG will be much like VO if he carries the same work ethic into the off season. I think he will see similar results when it comes to the NBA as well. What's with the "O"s in the names, eh?

that's pretty good guy you're comparing him to in VO. i've watched many magic games and to be honest VO was a turnover machine at pg last year. he has really stepped his game up in the last few games. he has a bright future and i didn't think so until recently. he's improving a lot.

 

[BigRed3588]

I can see the comparisons with Oladipo on the defensive end but I don't think he has the explosive first step that Oladipo had. Then again, Oladipo didn't show that until his sophomore year. I'd say OG is definitely a better shooter at this point in his career, and he plays with more control than Oladipo did as a freshman. I really can't think of anything OG has done that's made me say "freshman mistake."

Like other poster have said, my favorite thing is the way he carries himself. He makes a big play and just runs back on defense. As his dad said in a recent interview, "he's all about business, and not much else." That's nice to see in today's game.

TD2, I hope you're right about Troy leaving. I'm about tired of the constant out of control play. He's come up big a few times but IMO it's not enough to justify the recklessness. I'd hate to lose Bryant or Anunoby though. I don't think either of them are ready and we need them next year. Unfortunately, it's looking like Bryant might make the jump. He's been climbing in some mock drafts and if IU manages to go much deeper Off his play it'll be hard to convince him to stay.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

I can see the comparisons with Oladipo on the defensive end but I don't think he has the explosive first step that Oladipo had. Then again, Oladipo didn't show that until his sophomore year. I'd say OG is definitely a better shooter at this point in his career, and he plays with more control than Oladipo did as a freshman. I really can't think of anything OG has done that's made me say "freshman mistake."

Like other poster have said, my favorite thing is the way he carries himself. He makes a big play and just runs back on defense. As his dad said in a recent interview, "he's all about business, and not much else." That's nice to see in today's game.

TD2, I hope you're right about Troy leaving. I'm about tired of the constant out of control play. He's come up big a few times but IMO it's not enough to justify the recklessness. I'd hate to lose Bryant or Anunoby though. I don't think either of them are ready and we need them next year. Unfortunately, it's looking like Bryant might make the jump. He's been climbing in some mock drafts and if IU manages to go much deeper Off his play it'll be hard to convince him to stay.

Bryant will do well in the NBA, I think. I believe that he's the best prospect on IU's team and one of the best in the Big Ten. I'll be surprised if he returns to IU next season.

 

[BigRed3588]

Bryant will do well in the NBA, I think. I believe that he's the best prospect on IU's team and one of the best in the Big Ten. I'll be surprised if he returns to IU next season.

That's what I was thinking up until an interview he gave a week or two ago. It sounded like he knows he has a lot to work on and plans on continuing to develop at IU. But you never know with these kids and that was before he had a big game against UK (in front of a bunch of scouts, I'm sure).