You can tell we got the better end of the deal compared to Freeman with Pitino. Pitino is mad that their NIL is spent because he overpaid for the injury ridden forward.
Ousmane N'Diaye or Donnie Freeman
- Thread starter MdWIldcat55
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Yes, exactly ... Babe Ruth ain't worth a damn, if he ain't there !!!
He will be better then Jelavic, offense and Defense, looks far more aggressive then Jelavic was. Time will tell us
Depends:
Freeman has the higher floor, lower ceiling.
N'Diaye has the lower floor, higher ceiling.
I think in a vacuum, Freeman is the better player at this point in time (really not that close). However, N'Diaye can do things Freeman will never be able to learn and he doesn't need a handful of basketball to it. Also, Freeman has injury issues which frankly scared me to death.
N'Diaye, better fit. Worse now, perhaps better later. Give me the upside and the versatility.
Freeman has the higher floor, lower ceiling.
N'Diaye has the lower floor, higher ceiling.
I think in a vacuum, Freeman is the better player at this point in time (really not that close). However, N'Diaye can do things Freeman will never be able to learn and he doesn't need a handful of basketball to it. Also, Freeman has injury issues which frankly scared me to death.
N'Diaye, better fit. Worse now, perhaps better later. Give me the upside and the versatility.
The one thing that gives me a lot of confidence in terms of popes substitution patterns (which quite frankly make me want to pull my hair out) is that a lot of these euro guys only average ~20-25 minutes a game which seems to be what Pope wants. I feel like with euros that are used to being subbed in and out at a higher clip there won’t be as much rust shaken off between rotations.
More motivated, less likely to tap out emotionally - N-Diaye.
Better - Freeman, but he chose a coach that is going to push the hell out of him.
This guy is way more athletic and quicker than Freeman and can stretch the floor.He's taller and looks to have a good handle. Freeman won't make it thru the season without injury in the Big least!
The potential issue is that he leaves before UK gets to enjoy that higher ceiling.
No more players with pre existing lower leg and foot problems
Of course. That's always going to be true.
That's part of why it was important for Pope NOT to overpay anyone this cycle. It makes it nearly impossible to keep them.
Dodged a bullet?
Freeman: Addition by Subtraction?
Freeman: Addition by Subtraction?
Freeman is a better player but never should've been zeroed in on by Pope. Why would Pope recruit another injury ridden player???? It was insane how Pope went all in for him. So yes freeman is better. He also should never have been recruited
Huh? Guess this guy can’t play defense at all because the knock on freeman is his defensive effort and intensity
I've seen the words interesting and intriguing, but dang, I'm just excited after watching the highlights. If he picks his shots better I think his 3 pt % will go up. He sure doesn't seem to lack for confidence, he is mobile for a 7', he handles the ball, aggressive, etc.
Plus, it may have just freed up some $$$ for Stokes. I'm happy with N'D.
Plus, it may have just freed up some $$$ for Stokes. I'm happy with N'D.
“The” knock? Freeman has elite defensive ability including crucially switching that he’s demonstrated plenty and that our guys couldn’t find last year with both hands and a flashlight. Hope our euro league beanpole will be the guy who magically starts picking up what Pope’s laying down in that department but I’m not impressed with some blowhard’s views of effort and intensity.
One of N’Diaye’s strengths is his versatility and defensive upside. Has potential to guard 1-5. Freeman isn’t a better defender but Donnie is the much better offensive player at this time. Far more refined than Ousmane. You could pencil Donnie in for about 15-17ppg probably if he was a Cat. 10-11ppg projected for ON according to someone I follow. Can’t remember if was Miya or Ramsey.
A young big man with foot problems is never a good sign.
Honestly that was my only gripe from the whole debacle. Not mad we didn't get him, mad we wasted time and effort on him in the first place. We could've had Rancik and N'Diaye if Pope wasn't tilting at windmills with Freeman
Agreed. I was gunshy from the injury situation the past 2 years running. And injuries period since .... well, forever... but I digress..
I am concerned the defensive effort and intensity Freeman would bring is his primary advantage over having him or N'Diaye. That said, the upside is definitely higher with what we have now, and could be a truly surprising chemistry element for this team moving forward. Perhaps Ndiaye can surprise us with learning defense quickly and getting ready to body up. It's coming.
Still a roster in progress, but at least, in progress.
I'm quietly being encouraged here at seeing it move forward (finally)
Im optimistic.
always.
Go Big Blue !
We all gonna find out together. He looks like a basketball player to me. Size, nice touch, finishes strong and moves well. Defense and rebounding are key. Step back, fade away 3s won't fly.
Jelavic was a flop unfortunately. Moved and jumped like me, I'm 50 with bad arthritis
Jelavic was a flop unfortunately. Moved and jumped like me, I'm 50 with bad arthritis
Supposedly the league he plays in is comparable to the top end of the SEC. Do with that what you will.
I take that to mean if he can go for 11 and 7 in Europe, he probably goes for similar stats here. Id take 10-12ppg, 6-8rpg and a 3 every now and again with some solid defense.
I take that to mean if he can go for 11 and 7 in Europe, he probably goes for similar stats here. Id take 10-12ppg, 6-8rpg and a 3 every now and again with some solid defense.
I'd never heard of N'Diaye before yesterday, but to be fair, the only Donnie Freeman I'd ever heard of was a solid guard for the Dallas Chaparrals in the old ABA. I'd never heard of the Donnie Freeman we were pursuing until a couple of weeks ago. That said...
N'Diaye - Crazy highlight reel, but it's a highlight reel. They never show you the turnovers, missed shots, getting lost/beat on defense.
Pros:
* Looks crazy athletic.
* Very long.
* Nice shooting touch with range.
* Good ball handling skills for someone that tall.
Cons:
* His shot selection in that reel was atrocious even though they went in.
* Shot 32% from three. Not awful, but with better shot selection that could make a jump.
* VERY thin, but it's not like he's going to be spending much time in the low post.
* Could be a defensive liability.
Freeman - I've never taken the time to watch his highlight reel, but...
Pros:
* Undoubtedly a far more polished all-around basketball player than N'Diaye.
Cons:
* At 6'9 205, he's pretty thin himself.
* Due to injuries, he's only played in 37 games in 2 seasons. Given our injury situation the last two seasons, that's a MASSIVE red flag.
Who would I prefer between N'Diaye and Freeman? Due to his crazy athleticism, length and shooting touch, I'd rather take a flyer on N'Diaye than a guy with a history of injuries.
N'Diaye - Crazy highlight reel, but it's a highlight reel. They never show you the turnovers, missed shots, getting lost/beat on defense.
Pros:
* Looks crazy athletic.
* Very long.
* Nice shooting touch with range.
* Good ball handling skills for someone that tall.
Cons:
* His shot selection in that reel was atrocious even though they went in.
* Shot 32% from three. Not awful, but with better shot selection that could make a jump.
* VERY thin, but it's not like he's going to be spending much time in the low post.
* Could be a defensive liability.
Freeman - I've never taken the time to watch his highlight reel, but...
Pros:
* Undoubtedly a far more polished all-around basketball player than N'Diaye.
Cons:
* At 6'9 205, he's pretty thin himself.
* Due to injuries, he's only played in 37 games in 2 seasons. Given our injury situation the last two seasons, that's a MASSIVE red flag.
Who would I prefer between N'Diaye and Freeman? Due to his crazy athleticism, length and shooting touch, I'd rather take a flyer on N'Diaye than a guy with a history of injuries.
Injury on Freeman’s part would be my concern.
The biggest thing to me is when will he arrive at ky??
Felt like this really hurt jelavic last year.
The sooner he gets to summer scrimmaging the better there development will be as a team!
Agree completely. The Rancik kid seemed like a better choice for Pope's system even if he wasn't better all around. ON seems a better fit than Freeman too. And the injury thing, how were we justifying that?
We will see. Jelevic looked.like a freak show big shooting 3s in Europe as well. Dude looks really skinny. I think the physicality of collegiate D1 and the SEC might be a problem for him. Everyone thinks their Euro player is going to be the next Dirk Nowoski. Few are.
That "beanpole" is 5 lbs. heavier than Freeman. They are very similar in their lack of bulk.
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wow he must be elite at everything then why isn’t he in the nba? Somebody read the highschool scouting reporting instead of actually watching games.
On his Italian team last year he was in the starting lineup along with Payton Willis and Al Durham, who were both pretty solid college P5 players.
I see it as with Freeman you know more of what you are getting. Although he appears to have a higher injury risk, and after the past 2 years of injuries we are more sensitive to that.
And with N’Daiye he has both a higher ceiling and a lower floor. But from video he looks more fluid, better ballhandler, with better form on his shot than Z or Jelavic. So IMO worth the risk.
And with N’Daiye he has both a higher ceiling and a lower floor. But from video he looks more fluid, better ballhandler, with better form on his shot than Z or Jelavic. So IMO worth the risk.
True, but isn’t that the same issue with OAD high school recruits - and a bunch of casual fans think they are necessary and crucial to give a team the best chance to win a title.
N’Diaye is bigger and more physically mature than any 2026 5-star high school PF. Add to that I doubt any of those high school kids have displayed more basketball skills or more athleticism. Finally, N’Diaye is 22 and has played many years against grown men, not adolescents. So, while I don’t know if his potential will translate to winning games, it’s comical to me that some of the same posters who would cream themselves over UK landing a 5-star freshman (cue that Daffy Duck gif) completely disregard the potential of this player. Confirms what I’ve always thought – those fans are more excited by recruiting rankings and the expected publicity that comes with that than winning.