7'1" Assane Diouf

higgins3

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2012
7,319
2,434
113
Interesting. A kid like this should really take his time in HS. No reason for this kid to rush the process.
 

Russ Wood

Heisman
Oct 12, 2011
94,313
45,143
0
I saw him at that event yesterday. Other than his size, I was not impressed. Didn't dominate, like a 7-footer should. A 6'4 kid went right at him, in the post, and scored pretty easily on him.

He should really go to a prep school with a good track record with big men, get in better shape, improve his footwork and his motor.

Oh, and he should never shoot another three-pointer. Ever.
 

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
38,225
19,521
98
What is Jay Young training? I think he’s the weak link on the staff.

Wow really? I disagree 100%. Jay Young to me is the best on the staff. What has Rutgers improved on the most since Eddie? Defense and rebounding, what are Jay Young's responsibilities? Defense and rebounding. Who has improved the most on the team, Eugene, Jay Young worked with Eugene. Jay Young scouts the other teams offense and sets up our defensive plans.
 

tru2ru1

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
5,683
3,356
66
Wow really? I disagree 100%. Jay Young to me is the best on the staff. What has Rutgers improved on the most since Eddie? Defense and rebounding, what are Jay Young's responsibilities? Defense and rebounding. Who has improved the most on the team, Eugene, Jay Young worked with Eugene. Jay Young scouts the other teams offense and sets up our defensive plans.
100% agree, after Pike, Young is the best coach on staff IMHO
 

kcg88

Heisman
Aug 11, 2017
10,862
17,230
0
Let's see how the staff does with Doucoure before we crown them or bury them when it comes to developing bigs.
 

seels2662

Heisman
Aug 16, 2005
24,461
17,005
113
Now that we have at least two spots open for next year, I think we hit this kid hard now for that second open spot. I know people don't want a "project", but in this case its perfect. His freshman year he won't be asked to be the savior, since we will have Doorson, Doucoure and Johnson at center and Carter and Omoryuri at the 4. Then he slips in for minutes when Doorson leaves. Its really perfect.
 

kcg88

Heisman
Aug 11, 2017
10,862
17,230
0
There's a lot of upside here. Rough but coordinated, athletic, strong. Think two years from now.

Let him go to junior college or a lower-major and transfer up, then. We can't keep taking on big projects like this.
 
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MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
38,225
19,521
98
Let him go to junior college or a lower-major and transfer up, then. We can't keep taking on big projects like this.

Can you explain this thought? We have Doorson, Myles Johnson, Doucoure, Shaq Carter and Eugene O all available this coming season to contribute, why would taking one 7'1" player with what looks like some upside hurt? I am not saying take him or not here, just not sure why a potential player a few years down the road would be an issue for what Pike is building.
 
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seels2662

Heisman
Aug 16, 2005
24,461
17,005
113
Let him go to junior college or a lower-major and transfer up, then. We can't keep taking on big projects like this.
This makes no sense to me. A polished center with talent goes to Duke and Kentucky. If its the one position that you need to develop its that position. And we are in a super rare place that this coming season we don't need to rely on him we can get his feet wet without affecting the team. Its like the perfect spot to get a kid like this.
 
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kcg88

Heisman
Aug 11, 2017
10,862
17,230
0
This makes no sense to me. A polished center with talent goes to Duke and Kentucky. If its the one position that you need to develop its that position. And next year we are in a super rare place that this year we don't need to rely on him we can get his feet wet without affecting the team. Its like the perfect spot to get a kid like this.

So the only options are Marvin Bagley or Assane Diouf? There's no in between?

Here's some bigs who played well as freshmen in the Big Ten over the past few seasons:

Matt Haarms, Purdue - 3 stars
Jack Nunge, Iowa - 3 stars
Mike Watkins, Penn State - 4 stars
Luke Garza, Iowa - 4 stars
Michael Finke, Illinois - 3 stars
Moritz Wagner, Michigan - 4 stars (low playing time his freshman year but that was more about the talent UM had)
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin - 3 stars
Bruno Fernando, Maryland - 4 stars

Just about every other program in the conference is getting 3- or 4-star big men who can be good players as freshmen.
 

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
38,225
19,521
98
So the only options are Marvin Bagley or Assane Diouf? There's no in between?

Here's some bigs who played well as freshmen in the Big Ten over the past few seasons:

Matt Haarms, Purdue - 3 stars
Jack Nunge, Iowa - 3 stars
Mike Watkins, Penn State - 4 stars
Luke Garza, Iowa - 4 stars
Michael Finke, Illinois - 3 stars
Moritz Wagner, Michigan - 4 stars (low playing time his freshman year but that was more about the talent UM had)
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin - 3 stars
Bruno Fernando, Maryland - 4 stars

Just about every other program in the conference is getting 3 or 4 star big men who can be good players as freshmen.

Doucoure 4 stars
Myles Johnson 3 stars
Shaq Carter not sure if 3 or 4 stars out of HS, and one of the top Juco big men who was selected to play with team USA
 

kcg88

Heisman
Aug 11, 2017
10,862
17,230
0
Doucoure 4 stars
Myles Johnson 3 stars
Shaq Carter not sure if 3 or 4 stars out of HS, and one of the top Juco big men who was selected to play with team USA

My point was to illustrate that being a true freshman big doesn't mean little or no production.

Doucoure was a net negative as a true freshman, and Myles Johnson obviously was nothing as a redshirt.

Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't have recruited those guys. I have no idea what happened with Doucoure, hopefully it was just that he wasn't ready and shouldn't have reclassified, but the difference between him and Fernando (both four stars) was night and day. We'll see what happens with Johnson.

I'm just saying that I don't think any other Big Ten team would take this Diouf guy based on his video. If we want to be competitive on the court, then we have to be competitive with recruiting.
 

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2008
7,500
4,869
113
Let him go to junior college or a lower-major and transfer up, then. We can't keep taking on big projects like this.
Problem is after two years JUCO he might have some big time offers, plus he will help us defensively his first year. Kid is athletic and its not like you can't see potential here.
 

seels2662

Heisman
Aug 16, 2005
24,461
17,005
113
So the only options are Marvin Bagley or Assane Diouf? There's no in between?

Here's some bigs who played well as freshmen in the Big Ten over the past few seasons:

Matt Haarms, Purdue - 3 stars
Jack Nunge, Iowa - 3 stars
Mike Watkins, Penn State - 4 stars
Luke Garza, Iowa - 4 stars
Michael Finke, Illinois - 3 stars
Moritz Wagner, Michigan - 4 stars (low playing time his freshman year but that was more about the talent UM had)
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin - 3 stars
Bruno Fernando, Maryland - 4 stars

Just about every other program in the conference is getting 3- or 4-star big men who can be good players as freshmen.
You do realize that Diouf is a top 175 player in 247 composite right? That the only reason he's not rated yet for Rivals is that he recently reclassified from 2019 to 2018?
 

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2008
7,500
4,869
113
My point was to illustrate that being a true freshman big doesn't mean little or no production.

Doucoure was a net negative as a true freshman, and Myles Johnson obviously was nothing as a redshirt.

Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't have recruited those guys. I have no idea what happened with Doucoure, hopefully it was just that he wasn't ready and shouldn't have reclassified, but the difference between him and Fernando (both four stars) was night and day. We'll see what happens with Johnson.

I'm just saying that I don't think any other Big Ten team would take this Diouf guy based on his video. If we want to be competitive on the court, then we have to be competitive with recruiting.
Fortunately its not just about current production but future production. 7'1" athletes don't grow on trees. Diouf has a high upside, and Doucoure starting more than half the season by itself doesn't make him a net negative. We're on track and ahead of schedule. Enjoy the ride.
 

kcg88

Heisman
Aug 11, 2017
10,862
17,230
0
Fortunately its not just about current production but future production. 7'1" athletes don't grow on trees. Diouf has a high upside, and Doucoure starting more than half the season by itself doesn't make him a net negative. We're on track and ahead of schedule. Enjoy the ride.

Doucoure shooting 35% makes him a net negative. That's a terrible percentage and honestly might be bottom-5 in the country for players with at least 100 shots.

I see the potential but Doucoure's season was a massive disappointment by any standard.
 

RutHut_rivals

All-Conference
Aug 11, 2017
4,483
4,903
0
If Russ is not impressed, then I vote no. Just being 7'-1" is not enough in our league. I remember one recruiting site being high on Brian Okum.