Mag - More than just raw athleticism?

[MLBash93]

I know a lot of people are big fans of Mag and what his potential upside is as a wing for Rutgers in the future.

We all see the athleticism and the body that can develop and has developed in spurts, we have seen good on ball defense, a big time finish vs purdue and a stretch of good play in december before a tooth injury against Michigan.

That being said, I am still a bit worried about his overall game.

When I watch mag play I see a kid who is completely lost on both sides of the ball from an awareness standpoint, he has tons of athletic ability and what seems to be an endless amount of energy. That being said I don't think he knows how to control either of those things. Playing hard and having a lot of energy can have its positive effects on a team when it comes to getting loose balls, playing hard nosed defense and getting out in transition. But it can also be a detriment.

A few things that happened in the Minnesota game seemed to show the negative side of that. There was a missed shot late that looked like McConnell had a rebound and Mag comes flying in to tap the ball and ends up tapping it to the other team. Announcers seemed to mention a Minny guy doing that but I could have sworn it was mag. Another play was on offense where I swear he went to set a screen on air. It was like he was so focused on running the play where they set two high ball screens but the guard had already went the other way since mag was late on the play. He seems to be just a step behind on what we are doing offensively and run/moves around with actual purpose.

I am hoping film work and repetition cleans stuff up for him, because he does have the athletic potential to be a nice piece, but I am a bit worried that he will never reach his potential with his lack of basketball IQ.

I know some people will be up in arms about this post because god forbid you say anything negative. But I am curious how others feel about him or if I am alone on my evaluation of his game so far.

 

[MadRU]

He is playing too fast right now. Needs to slow down the game. Comes with experience. No idea what his upside is yet, not enough of a sample size. Seems to be a willing defender at the low end of his play at this level.

 

[Scangg]

Mag is fine. His bball IQ is fine. I like his overall game, not just his athleticism. Can't wait to see how he develops. High on his future

 

[Degaz-RU]

He was playing well before the injury, but the injury set him back and now with spotty minutes, he hasn't been able to get back in the groove.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

If you consider Mag as a RS frosh and compare Mag to Eugene in his 1st season at RU, Mag is a little more advanced and has more skills to build on.

Eugene however, played with an edge or determination that bordered on "over the line"....he ended one game with a flagrant 1" against Nebraska in the B1G tournament.

Mag just is not a fluent basketball talent, from an offensive standpoint and if he can develop more of that, he will always be a part of a rotation, grinder-dirty worker player you want on your roster.

It will be up to Pkke to develop Mag into a scorer and to understand where he can or cannot score from. The defense/rebounding and toughness are all at a B1G standard.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I think i like what i see from Mag, but i haven't come to any conclusion about what i think he will be or can become at Rutgers.

He was a major reason why we beat Purdue. He has not built anything off that game. Obviously getting knocked in the mouth is a reason.

 

[MLBash93]

He is playing too fast right now. Needs to slow down the game. Comes with experience. No idea what his upside is yet, not enough of a sample size. Seems to be a willing defender at the low end of his play at this level.

This may be a better way to say it, I agree I think he is definitely playing too fast

 

[Knight Owl]

This may be a better way to say it, I agree I think he is definitely playing too fast

Once he develops a little herky jerk to his game, a consistent three, and a little step back j he’ll be fine offensively. Might take him another year or two or three but I’m sure he’ll work on it at least.

 

[MLBash93]

Once he develops a little herky jerk to his game, a consistent three, and a little step back j he’ll be fine offensively. Might take him another year or two or three but I’m sure he’ll work on it at least.

He may graduate from college before he develops all of that lol

 

[Knight Owl]

He may graduate from college before he develops all of that lol

Harper has improved practically all of his stats year by year. He’s a 45% from three and an almost 80% free throw shooter these days…

 

[AZBlues]

A few things that happened in the Minnesota game seemed to show the negative side of that. There was a missed shot late that looked like McConnell had a rebound and Mag comes flying in to tap the ball and ends up tapping it to the other team. Announcers seemed to mention a Minny guy doing that but I could have sworn it was mag. Another play was on offense where I swear he went to set a screen on air. It was like he was so focused on running the play where they set two high ball screens but the guard had already went the other way since mag was late on the play. He seems to be just a step behind on what we are doing offensively and run/moves around with actual purpose.

If the rebound play that you mentioned is the same one that I looked at a few times, then I'm not sure if Mag made an egregious mistake.. He was boxing out Willis under the basket on Ron's missed 3 pointer from the side near the RU bench, and Mag was facing the basket while boxing out. The shot was short and bounced off the rim, behind Mag toward the middle of the paint. It looked like Mag immediately leapt up and back with one arm extended trying for the rebound, and Caleb was behind him in the paint also trying to rebound. Mag was looking upward toward the ball and didn't see Caleb a step or two behind him until it was too late, and their arms or hands hit and neither one was able to grab the ball. It didn't look like Mag tapped the ball to anyone, but the contact may have inadvertently prevented Caleb from rebounding it. If Mag hadn't had his back toward Caleb because he was closer to the rim and boxing out, or if Caleb was a step or two further from him, I don't think they would've made contact. The play happened really quickly.

I like Mag's motor and his toughness, and I think he can improve, learn more, and become more comfortable and slow down a little bit on the floor with more experience.

I held my breath toward the end of the first half when he put himself in position to successfully draw the charge on a driving Thiam, because everything leading up to the contact, including his stance, was identical to both the high school play and the Michigan play that caused his severe dental/facial injuries. His mouth currently is a mess and his willingness to take one for the team hasn't changed. I appreciate the guy.

 

[BigEastPhil]

He is playing too fast right now. Needs to slow down the game. Comes with experience. No idea what his upside is yet, not enough of a sample size. Seems to be a willing defender at the low end of his play at this level.

Agree. Mag plays too fast and is trying to do too much.

 

[Knight Owl]

He may graduate from college before he develops all of that lol

Maybe. Maybe not.

 

[Scangg]

OP fail

 

[MLBash93]

OP fail

He played a great game but he also still did some of the negative stuff that drives me crazy with him.

The inbound pass where Paul throws it out a bound because he's out of control.

The tipped rebound we had AGAIN.

He has a nice shooting touch but 8 of his 13 points were at the line or layups (he had a nice postup too).

I didn't say he sucked I just said idk if he'll ever realize his potential

 

[dpwhite]

He played a great game but he also still did some of the negative stuff that drives me crazy with him.

The inbound pass where Paul throws it out a bound because he's out of control.

The tipped rebound we had AGAIN.

He has a nice shooting touch but 8 of his 13 points were at the line or layups (he had a nice postup too).

I didn't say he sucked I just said idk if he'll ever realize his potential

He’s played in maybe 20 games over his whole career in college.

 

[MLBash93]

He’s played in maybe 20 games over his whole career in college.

Yea I also didn't realize the **** he's gone through while here with multiple injuries and covid and just overall no rhythm.

I think you guys think I'm trying to say he's a bad player. I see good things in his game.

I just think he sometimes runs around like a chicken with his head cutoff

 

[dpwhite]

Yea I also didn't realize the **** he's gone through while here with multiple injuries and covid and just overall no rhythm.

I think you guys think I'm trying to say he's a bad player. I see good things in his game.

I just think he sometimes runs around like a chicken with his head cutoff

I don’t think you’re saying he is bad, but I think it’s very premature to say he’ll never reach his full potential.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

He played a great game but he also still did some of the negative stuff that drives me crazy with him.

The inbound pass where Paul throws it out a bound because he's out of control.

The tipped rebound we had AGAIN.

He has a nice shooting touch but 8 of his 13 points were at the line or layups (he had a nice postup too).

I didn't say he sucked I just said IDK if he'll ever realize his potential

Classic sh*t on a win/player post from some fans.

 

[MLBash93]

Classic sh*t on a win/player post from some fans.

I posted this after the Minnesota game you dumbass

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

I posted this after the Minnesota game you dumbass

I never called you a name. I doubt if it came down to confronting me you would be so bold to say dumbass to me or the athletes you talk sh*t about regularly. Grow up.

 

[MLBash93]

I never called you a name. I doubt if it came down to confronting me you would be so bold to say dumbass to me or the athletes you talk sh*t about regularly. Grow up.

I'm not talking **** about anyone. Sorry should I place all these guys on a pedestal for you?

 

[Yeah Baby]

I never called you a name. I doubt if it came down to confronting me you would be so bold to say dumbass to me or the athletes you talk sh*t about regularly. Grow up.

No he would hide from a guy like Mag. He likes to criticize on the keyboard though.

Those who can’t do criticize.

 

[MLBash93]

No he would hide from a guy like Mag. He likes to criticize on the keyboard though.

Those who can’t do criticize.

Here we go again. I never said he wasn't a good player or had ability.

I mainly asked does he have the ability to do the things to take his game to another level.

He has good skills (athletic, strong, active, can shoot) but I felt like he doesn't have the best "feel for the game" aka know where to go, where to be, when to help, etc.

But I forgot if I don't I you say anything that isn't glowing positive you get met with the army of pitchforks

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

I'm not talking **** about anyone. Sorry should I place all these guys on a pedestal for you?

Criticizing the program or players is fine, but can't you just enjoy the win for a minute before going off the deep end?

 

[MLBash93]

Criticizing the program or players is fine, but can't you just enjoy the win for a minute before going off the deep end?

I started this thread after the minnesota game dude, it just reappeared bc someone wanted to call me out. I am enjoying the win

 

[Scangg]

Here we go again. I never said he wasn't a good player or had ability.

I mainly asked does he have the ability to do the things to take his game to another level.

He has good skills (athletic, strong, active, can shoot) but I felt like he doesn't have the best "feel for the game" aka know where to go, where to be, when to help, etc.

But I forgot if I don't I you say anything that isn't glowing positive you get met with the army of pitchforks

He does have a good feel for the game though. He's a smart player. High IQ

 

[Yeah Baby]

Here we go again. I never said he wasn't a good player or had ability.

I mainly asked does he have the ability to do the things to take his game to another level.

He has good skills (athletic, strong, active, can shoot) but I felt like he doesn't have the best "feel for the game" aka know where to go, where to be, when to help, etc.

But I forgot if I don't I you say anything that isn't glowing positive you get met with the army of pitchforks

He passed the eyeball test the first time I saw him. I thought he was a bigger Montez though Tez liked to shoot more right out of the gates. Both play good D. Mag is bigger and rebounds better though Tez could get up.

Mag played great against Purdue. He got some teeth knocked out. He had Covid before Purdue. He played really well yesterday. He plays very hard. He’s not perfect but he’s a solid player. He could be more but let’s see.

 

[ChasRC69]

Here we go again. I never said he wasn't a good player or had ability.

I mainly asked does he have the ability to do the things to take his game to another level.

He has good skills (athletic, strong, active, can shoot) but I felt like he doesn't have the best "feel for the game" aka know where to go, where to be, when to help, etc.

But I forgot if I don't I you say anything that isn't glowing positive you get met with the army of pitchforks

Your description could also be about Cliff. Why don't you question whether Cliff will ever reach his full potential? Plus, Mag is probably one of the few on our team cognizant enough of the flight of a shot to realize it's short, catch it, and put it in. I think both Nag and Cliff will be exponentially better in the next couple of years.

 

[higgins3]

Then he had a big game. Not worried about Mag. You'd always rather a player play too fast.

 

[patk89]

His defense against Nebraska's star down the stretch was very very good. Size and quickness, rare combo. Has shown some ability to shoot from the perimeter. Team player. Will be a solid B1G starter beginning next season if he stays healthy. A winning player.

 

[NightKnight]

post

"There was a missed shot late that looked like McConnell had a rebound and Mag comes flying in to tap the ball and ends up tapping it to the other team."

That is somewhat on both for not communicating. Playing the game is a completely different vision than watching from the sidelines (coach), bench, stands or TV. Great rebounders do not know where the other 9 guys on the court are. They see where the ball will probably go and have a fuzzy to firm idea of who they're contesting for it. 80% of rebounds go to the defense so tipping the ball on an offensive rebound is great rebounding strategy. Bad luck is very different from bad play. (Example of where Mike Rice would scream and Pikes would no better.)

"Another play was on offense where I swear he went to set a screen on air. It was like he was so focused on running the play where they set two high ball screens but the guard had already went the other way since mag was late on the play. "

When Mags goes in, he is suppose to do exactly what Pikes tells him. He's not a vet. He's not a star. Do what you're told even if you're late and it makes no sense. It's not that he doesn't have a feel for the game. He hasn't earned the stripes yet to play at his own discretion. Obviously Baker would not be expected to do that same thing. I think we don't see more of Hyatt because he is not on the same page.

 

[Caliknight]

He is playing too fast right now. Needs to slow down the game. Comes with experience. No idea what his upside is yet, not enough of a sample size. Seems to be a willing defender at the low end of his play at this level.

Same with Cliff. Just needs to slow down. That will come with experience. Cliff is light years better than last season. And he will be next season.