Potential

[GeistBoiler]

Unlike the OSU loss, I did not find last night's game even remotely discouraging. The fact that this team is in the position they are in and many fans are expecting to win a tough road game against a top team in the league is a huge testament to the entire coaching staff and players. We are solidly in contention and this is a very fun team to watch even when we lose.

With that said, I think the most exciting thing about this year's team is what they could look like next year. I see 3 completely realistic improvements that would morph this team into the clear cut favorite to win the Championship next Season.

1 - TKR needs a 15 foot jumper. If he can add this to his game by next year, he will literally be unstoppable at the college level and we are talking about a top 10 pick in the draft. I wager that he leaves 10 points on the table every single game (and costs Smith 5 assists a game) by turning down an open 12-15 ft jumper and bulldozing his way into a tough shot against a bigger opponent.

2 - Jacobson comes back healthy and stronger becoming a 20 minute a game player that controls the paint.

3 - Replace either Colvin or Heide's minutes with an elite wing defender that can also dribble/create with the ball in his hands. There should be elite transfer wings knocking down Painter's door to have a spot on this team's roster for next year. Prototype would be a 6'6" lance Jones.

 

[MetMyWifeAtHarrys]

I am somewhat shocked that TKR hasn't implemented a pure jump shot as you mention by now, his junior year. Next year, he cannot rely on long distance hook shots alone. Those have worked now and again, but is not a reliable shot. It looks awkward, like he is throwing a ball at some target in some carnival tent. Building towards a clean mid range shot will open up the lane for him and his teammates as well.

I would argue he needs to be ready to play around 30 mins, but point well taken.

Yes yes yes. Neither player is getting it done, and for reasons that are not really their fault. CMP needs to consider a true wing, a combo player with size that can play both sides of the ball. Jones is a good comp, but I would also settle for a VE or Hummel clone too.

 

[Schmedly_Whiplash]

6 options to get better I think.
1) Couldn't agree more. The number of times he gets the ball at the free throw line and his man is 3' off him is crazy.
2) that will help
3) can't argue with that
4) Covin/Heide become upperclassmen and get better.
5) some here see Benter as a factor. I didn't see him play in hs so i don't know.
6) Harris and Cox are awfully solid for freshmen. Either or both could make the 3 spot discussion next year a moot point.

 

[MetMyWifeAtHarrys]

6 options to get better I think.
1) Couldn't agree more. The number of times he gets the ball at the free throw line and his man is 3' off him is crazy.
2) that will help
3) can't argue with that
4) Covin/Heide become upperclassmen and get better.
5) some here see Benter as a factor. I didn't see him play in hs so i don't know.
6) Harris and Cox are awfully solid for freshmen. Either or both could make the 3 spot discussion next year a moot point.

Cox will never be a 3.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Unlike the OSU loss, I did not find last night's game even remotely discouraging. The fact that this team is in the position they are in and many fans are expecting to win a tough road game against a top team in the league is a huge testament to the entire coaching staff and players. We are solidly in contention and this is a very fun team to watch even when we lose.

With that said, I think the most exciting thing about this year's team is what they could look like next year. I see 3 completely realistic improvements that would morph this team into the clear cut favorite to win the Championship next Season.

1 - TKR needs a 15 foot jumper. If he can add this to his game by next year, he will literally be unstoppable at the college level and we are talking about a top 10 pick in the draft. I wager that he leaves 10 points on the table every single game (and costs Smith 5 assists a game) by turning down an open 12-15 ft jumper and bulldozing his way into a tough shot against a bigger opponent.

2 - Jacobson comes back healthy and stronger becoming a 20 minute a game player that controls the paint.

3 - Replace either Colvin or Heide's minutes with an elite wing defender that can also dribble/create with the ball in his hands. There should be elite transfer wings knocking down Painter's door to have a spot on this team's roster for next year. Prototype would be a 6'6" lance Jones.

understand your points.

Trey shoots 60% from the floor right now. Similar to Zach, if he starts shooting 10-15 footers, his % will go down and he won’t be as efficient. Other teams will begin to do this to take away his strength of finishing around the rim.

Agree on DJ, should be around 20 min next year.

I say get a wing, athletic defending guard (cuz why not) and an experienced, long rim protector/lob threat who can play 10-20 min a game.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

Cox will never be a 3.

Cox and Loyer are interchangeable right now. But we usually go with a 3 guard lineup so the 2 and 3 are kinda the same thing.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

I am somewhat shocked that TKR hasn't implemented a pure jump shot as you mention by now, his junior year. Next year, he cannot rely on long distance hook shots alone. Those have worked now and again, but is not a reliable shot. It looks awkward, like he is throwing a ball at some target in some carnival tent. Building towards a clean mid range shot will open up the lane for him and his teammates as well.

I would argue he needs to be ready to play around 30 mins, but point well taken.

Yes yes yes. Neither player is getting it done, and for reasons that are not really their fault. CMP needs to consider a true wing, a combo player with size that can play both sides of the ball. Jones is a good comp, but I would also settle for a VE or Hummel clone too.

DJ won’t play 30 next year.

TKR would actually leave points on the floor if he started shooting jump shots. Would you rather him be 60% from 1-6 ft? Or 40-45% from 10-15 ft?

 

[MetMyWifeAtHarrys]

Cox and Loyer are interchangeable right now. But we usually go with a 3 guard lineup so the 2 and 3 are kinda the same thing.

That's fair. I was mostly considering a 'traditional' 3 like VE and Hummel, which on this roster, would have put us over the edge in games like last night perhaps.

Loyer's defense is borderline horrible for a Junior, IMO...but that's neither here nor there.

 

[MetMyWifeAtHarrys]

DJ won’t play 30 next year.

TKR would actually leave points on the floor if he started shooting jump shots. Would you rather him be 60% from 1-6 ft? Or 40-45% from 10-15 ft?

On paper for now, 20 makes more sense, but I bet as the season rolls on, CMP will need him for 25-30. IMO.

The idea is he puts in the work to have a bonafide shot, not just based on ability as it stands now.

 

[DwaynePurvis00]

That's fair. I was mostly considering a 'traditional' 3 like VE and Hummel, which on this roster, would have put us over the edge in games like last night perhaps.

Loyer's defense is borderline horrible for a Junior, IMO...but that's neither here nor there.

Yeah I get what you’re saying.

Don’t fully agree that loyers defense is horrible. He’s not tbh at big of a liability as others think he is. Just because he doesn’t shut a guy down doesn’t meant he isn’t good at defense. He is in the right spots for team defense. He just isn’t going to strip a guy when guarding him or block a shot.

 

[MetMyWifeAtHarrys]

Yeah I get what you’re saying.

Don’t fully agree that loyers defense is horrible. He’s not tbh at big of a liability as others think he is. Just because he doesn’t shut a guy down doesn’t meant he isn’t good at defense. He is in the right spots for team defense. He just isn’t going to strip a guy when guarding him or block a shot.

He needs to move his feet and beat his man to spots. I'm not talking about being a shut down kind of guy, would never put that on him, but more times than not, his footwork gets too wonky and he get cooked on the edge/wing and is chasing the back of someone's jersey. I would say this happens to him more than anyone. The worst is when this happens right after one of his terrible passes, then it just becomes a domino effect. Usually, CMP pulls him late game for this...

 

[GeistBoiler]

DJ won’t play 30 next year.

TKR would actually leave points on the floor if he started shooting jump shots. Would you rather him be 60% from 1-6 ft? Or 40-45% from 10-15 ft?

I agree on DJ. I would love to think he can handle 30, but I think it's too easy to think best case scenario when in actuality, he is a nearly unknown commodity. I am highly confident he can play 20 minutes providing good post defense and rebounding. Anything beyond is a bonus.

On TKR, I would prefer that he becomes a player that has to be closed out on up to 15 ft. I just want to completely eliminate the routine instances where Braden sets him up perfectly with a defender 5 feet from him and he awkwardly pauses and either does nothing or bull rushes toward the taller defender who is already set in position. If he does that, I think he will actually improve his overall efficiency as opposing bigs will have trouble defending both skill sets.