Souf Arrives on Sunday

ruman

All-American
Nov 30, 2001
12,463
9,123
98
This is very good. We need a guy that can contribute for next year with the open scholarship (grad transfer preferred). Then let's go!
 

Knights 1212

All-American
Sep 9, 2003
27,560
8,500
113
Maybe now all the negative postings on Souf not being eligible for the coming season will stop. I have said over and over to not panic but some posters don't seem to be happy unless they are not complaining. I am quite certain that Doucoure will not reclassify either. I still don't understand why people keep thinking this is going to happen.
 

RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
33,014
37,858
113
DON'T underestimate the value of this guy for the Rutgers team....passing was horrible last year and was a B1G concern for Coach Pikiell as he stated in his first off-season interview. I am anxiously awaiting the public comments from Pikiell on the role that he sees for Mensah.

Souf Mensah: "And we can count on my speed to push the ball and find the guys."
 

sct1111

All-American
Nov 30, 2014
6,116
8,407
113
Tape looks impressive. He's a big strong true PG who passes very well. He looks great in transition. Not a great shooter but it's something he can work on.
 

RUJeffro

Junior
Mar 15, 2007
258
273
45
I think a good passer will really help Thiam. He didn't get the ball enough last year.
 

RUJMM78

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
26,250
12,530
113
Tape looks impressive. He's a big strong true PG who passes very well. He looks great in transition. Not a great shooter but it's something he can work on.
His value as a point guard will be dependent largely on wing players making the 3 point shot.
 

OntheBanks

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2001
13,224
4,574
113
Maybe now all the negative postings on Souf not being eligible for the coming season will stop. I have said over and over to not panic but some posters don't seem to be happy unless they are not complaining. I am quite certain that Doucoure will not reclassify either. I still don't understand why people keep thinking this is going to happen.
Not thinking it's going to happen, just hoping that it will.
 

AshCatchEm

Heisman
Jan 8, 2016
13,892
19,965
113
Again, why anyone would not want a true point guard on a team with exactly 0 true point guards..is beyond me. Guy could contribute 0 PPG to our team and still be a blessing if he's dishing out 5-8 assists any given night
 

higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Again, why anyone would not want a true point guard on a team with exactly 0 true point guards..is beyond me. Guy could contribute 0 PPG to our team and still be a blessing if he's dishing out 5-8 assists any given night

So if Souf was on the team last year, he gets 5-8 assist a night?Just saying. You don't just get people making shots out of nowhere. D1 is very hard. It is just not realistic.
 
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AshCatchEm

Heisman
Jan 8, 2016
13,892
19,965
113
So if Souf was on the team last year, he gets 5-8 assist a night?Just saying. You don't just get people making shots out of nowhere. D1 is very hard. It is just not realistic.
Missing my point entirely. 5-8 is an overstatement but he would still be valuable with 3-5 assists per game and contribute to a winning basketball team. I don't think it's that far fetched to think a passing specialist brought in solely for that ability would create the most assists on our squad.
 
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RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
33,014
37,858
113
Missing my point entirely. 5-8 is an overstatement but he would still be valuable with 3-5 assists per game and contribute to a winning basketball team. I don't think it's that far fetched to think a passing specialist brought in solely for that ability would create the most assists on our squad.

Ash.....I get your point.

I have no idea what the numbers would be but I think if guys are moving and you have a coach/PG dedicated to ball movement you should definitely see assist and scoring increase. Players love getting the ball in their so-called "Sweet spot".

This was a problem last year....the stagnant offense at times was a bad offense.

It falls in line with a Pikiell quote from last year.... " Are we bad shooters or just taking bad shots".

IMO, Definitely, both. You may not improve the former, but, you can certainly improve the latter.......and the PG is the key. Watching our two main ball handlers holding onto the ball too much last year is why l am bullish on Mensah.
 
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RedChucken123

Senior
Oct 21, 2015
488
565
88
Welcome Souf!!!

I am definitely interested to see how his role will play out, especially if he shares the floor with Sanders. Corey's bread-and-butter was getting to the hoop, but with the ball possibly in Souf's hands, maybe the dynamic will be a little different. I do feel that as close games went on down the stretch, Corey either got a little tired or tried to take on too much and hopefully Souf can take some off that pressure off of him.
 

RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
33,014
37,858
113

Yes, I saw highlights of them playing together. Actually, he 'looks more advanced than Issa. Looks like the same kind of shooter as Issa,but, with a better overall game.....specifically, he has an inside game. Finally, bigger than Issa at 6'8 and 200.

** I did not confirm that this is Issa's Brother *** It probably is but I did not see it stated.

Explicit lyric alert for those that don't like it.

 
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Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
I looked at Souf's numbers and din't get warm and fuzzy. My eyes see a backup PG that plays 10 MPG, which every team needs. To me the 13th player HAS to be a 20-25 MPG guy that can put the ball in the basket.
 

higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Missing my point entirely. 5-8 is an overstatement but he would still be valuable with 3-5 assists per game and contribute to a winning basketball team. I don't think it's that far fetched to think a passing specialist brought in solely for that ability would create the most assists on our squad.

I thought you were serious about those numbers since you wrote them. Even 3-5 assist is exaggerated. A passing specialist? The numbers do not support that argument. Just trying to be realistic.
 

higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Souf will help the team no doubt. People that are saying he will be the true pg savior though. I don't see the evidence at all. Plus, the jump is huge in defense and length. Well see what happens.
 

RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
33,014
37,858
113
Souf will help the team no doubt. People that are saying he will be the true pg savior though. I don't see the evidence at all. Plus, the jump is huge in defense and length. Well see what happens.

Savior? Never saw that mentioned or implied.

It's about helping to transform how a team plays....a lot less 1 on 1 to a team focused on player and ball movement to create opportunities. So, if Freeman is getting a pass as he cuts to the basket that is a lot better than him trying to go 1 on from 20 feet out against a bigger player.
 
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higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Savior? Never saw that mentioned or implied.

It's about helping to transform how a team plays....a lot less 1 on 1 to a team focused on player and ball movement to create opportunities. So, if Freeman is getting a pass on the way to the basket that is a lot better than him trying to go 1 on from 20 feet out.

I have seen "A true PG" said on the boards quite a lot. Where is the evidence he is a passing specalist? 4 assist a game in the juco ranks?I am trying to be realistic. I am not just the optimist. I think Souf will have an impact here. The defenses get a lot better, and the numbers for kids improving their shot is not going to sky rocket from .30 to .45 in a year. Add in he took 9 threes in the juco ranks, and teams will back off him, those assist are harder to make with the lanes closing.

What is your prediction for his play? I think he scores 4 ppg this year, and has 2 assist. The conversation is open with Sanders now. He still has the show, and Pikiell is going to have a lot more conversation with him. Souf will contribute, and look to get 12-14 mpg.
 

RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
33,014
37,858
113
I have seen "A true PG" said on the boards quite a lot. Where is the evidence he is a passing specalist? 4 assist a game in the juco ranks?I am trying to be realistic. I am not just the optimist. I think Souf will have an impact here. The defenses get a lot better, and the numbers for kids improving their shot is not going to sky rocket from .30 to .45 in a year. Add in he took 9 threes in the juco ranks, and teams will back off him, those assist are harder to make with the lanes closing.

What is your prediction for his play? I think he scores 4 ppg this year, and has 2 assist. The conversation is open with Sanders now. He still has the show, and Pikiell is going to have a lot more conversation with him. Souf will contribute, and look to get 12-14 mpg.

Predictions are a useless exercise. What I do know is that ball and player movement was bad last year.
 
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higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Predictions are a useless exercise. What I do know is that ball and player movement was bad last year.

It's not incredibly hard to see what a player will produce. You don't shoot up out of nowhere from good juco player, to great D1 player.
 

higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
You can go from good JUCO player, to contributing/helpful D1 player. I think most on here could give realistic expectations for all the players on the team as far as PPG,RPG,APG.
 

RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
33,014
37,858
113
You can go from good JUCO player, to contributing/helpful D1 player. I think most on here could give realistic expectations for all the players on the team as far as PPG,RPG,APG.

Higgins.....What's the difference from a guy getting 3 or 5 assists a game? It's two guys getting a pass and then missing an easy shot. lol Those two shots do not transform that PG from average to very good. IMO, Good PG's keep the ball moving on the court.

Time will tell, but, I expect to see a lot more ball and player movement this year....I think Pikiell will demand it.
 

higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Higgins.....What's the difference from a guy getting 3 or 5 assists a game? It's two guys getting a pass and then missing an easy shot. lol Those two shots do not transform that PG from average to very good. IMO, Good PG's keep the ball moving on the court.

Time will tell, but, I expect to see a lot more ball and player movement this year....I think Pikiell will demand it.

From what I have read, Mensah is being touted as a true pg. That means he can get some assist.A lot has to happen for a guy to go from 3 to 5 assist per game and it does not depend on the player passing the ball. I am just trying to gauge a realistic expectation of what Mensah will bring to the court after reading what is said here.

I agree. Souf getting an assist is not the end all be all. If he swings it quickly, that helps the team a ton.

Pikiell communicating with Sanders is still highly important to the success of this year.Sanders as we know is a talent. But if they are not active in conversation, the group play will suffer a little bit.
 

higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Good players keep the ball moving on the court. And we would probably agree, those players are becoming less and less.Mensah will help a lot there, but still, what is to be expected and how often will he be on the court.


We will know more in the upcoming weeks.
 

NeverOddOrEven33

Sophomore
Aug 5, 2014
193
130
0
I honestly don't know what to make of him. He has a reputation as a good passer but I think that's like the old "defensive catcher" definition people came up: he can't hit so he must be a good defender (NOTE: this was not always true). Souf can't score, so he must be a good passer. Only thing is, his assist-to-turnover ratio was bad in JUCO. Kind of scared to see how it goes in the B1G.