Are we too deep?
- Thread starter seels2662
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We have no idea how “deep” we are. We were “paper deep” two years ago too. We brought in 2 all conference caliber mid major scorers in Dercack and Acuff who put up a ton of points. Another starter from a west coast conference who averaged double figures in PJ. A starter from a good Princeton team (Martini). Those were 4 newcomers expected to compete for starting roles alongside Ace and Dylan in addition to bringing a penciled in starter in J Will, and a frosh 4 star center who was expected to play a ton in Lathan. Ogbole was coming off injury and expected to share the minutes at center. That’s 9 players not even including Davis (who played plenty as a frosh and at worse expected to absorb the back up PG role for Dylan). So that’s 10 deep without even considering the other 2 frosh Grant or Dortch.
There are two ways to look at this:
1. If all 15 guys are legit D-1 basketball talents, practice should be much more competitive and that will help our top 8 guys improve.
2. If we paid $2M in total for players 9-15, I would rather have 6 walk-ons and a $2M star to add to the starting lineup.
1. If all 15 guys are legit D-1 basketball talents, practice should be much more competitive and that will help our top 8 guys improve.
2. If we paid $2M in total for players 9-15, I would rather have 6 walk-ons and a $2M star to add to the starting lineup.
Since I just looked at the data relating to how comparatively bad Powers efficiency was last year (related to the other active string) - there’s one player on the list of only 9 I identified who saw meaningful PT on a high major last year that’s worth pointing to here to level set everyone’s expectations of “too much depth”.
Kyon Evans on UNC shot 32.8% for them from the field last year. This is after transferring in from Col State where he played 28 mph and averaged 10.6 ppg and 3.1 assists on 47.1% overall efficiency and 44.6% made 3s. Clearly his success in the MWC did not transfer to the ACC. We don’t have MWC transfers coming in. The players we’re relaying on played at an even lower level or in unknown levels in Europe. We really don’t know how much depth we will have. It’s TBD.
Kyon Evans on UNC shot 32.8% for them from the field last year. This is after transferring in from Col State where he played 28 mph and averaged 10.6 ppg and 3.1 assists on 47.1% overall efficiency and 44.6% made 3s. Clearly his success in the MWC did not transfer to the ACC. We don’t have MWC transfers coming in. The players we’re relaying on played at an even lower level or in unknown levels in Europe. We really don’t know how much depth we will have. It’s TBD.
Lou, very doubtful RU paid $1 million total for players 9-15, plus $2 million does not buy a star in the B1G
Your point is definitely a cautionary tale! Acuff had the broken foot and the other transfers didn’t rise to the occasion and often seemed afraid to shoot, except for Derkack who would drive to the basket where he was too small to effectively get his shot up. There is no guarantee that any of the transfers will be able to compete at the Big Ten level. Francis and Cam Spencer both rose to the challenge, but it is not a given that any of the new players will.
We honestly have no idea how good this depth is or is not until we start play. On paper, don't know if we have a roster that can crack the top 50% of the league. With that standard, we are not too deep. We just have a lot of bodies. The trick is whether this staff can develop and pull out a set of 8 to 9 that can get us into the top 50% of the conference.
Felt like Badalau was the only guy tall enough to guard the perimeter or at least contest a shot when we faced guards who were taller than 6 3, so his PT was probably more out of need than desire.
How can you say it doesn’t look “improved”? May not be improved enough to have an impact, but the roster is definitely upgraded.
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Hope so. My interest in the b-ball program has dwindled to almost nothing. The Dylan/Ace season was crushing.
Who are the ones who are way overvalued and won't play much? Gurdak started much of the season in the ACC so he's not one of them. Badalau and Zrno started games for us, and Diego and Miteo are head over heels better than them. Jones comes pretty highly regarded - maybe Smith and the 7'2" kid.
Sydnor is the key in my opinion. Diego could be important too since he is known for defense. D is what killed us most last season. We couldn’t stop anyone.
Agree, I think the "4" position will be the key as to whether RU is over 500 or under 500 this year.
RU has to be + on the glass this year, especially in limiting the opponents offensive rebounds
Gotta be over .500. We only need 4 more wins than last year and we sucked last year. .500 or below and you can kiss Pike good-bye.
Yup, have said it repeatedly, Syndor being above average or not will determine how this particular season goes.
Another way of putting it - will we have a 4 who is materially better than Dylan Grant? That’s what it comes down to and Sydnor is the lead candidate to possibly make this answer yes. Buchanan will be good for 12ish min at the 4. Anyone else is a shot in the dark.
True, but DB is limited at the 4 and not his ideal spot at this level, so notnsure his minutes can/will have a material impact to the positive side. Love him, but he's best as bully ball guard where he can take advantage of his strength. Most true 4's match him at strength and have the height and length advantage
Buchanan is what he is. He’s not going to play the 2. Not a good enough ball handler since he has no left. We have better options than him even if we’re small. Plus Jones could even beat him out there. Not seeing it.
He’ll probably get 10-12 min at both the 3 and 4 for 22-24ish mpg. The open question is who gets the other 28-30 min at the 4 and how will they perform. And then secondarily the the 3. Sydnor is closest to “proven” at the 4 of anyone on the roster. At the 3, Powers and Buchanan absorbed most minutes last year. Kaden split time there and at the 2 behind Tariq. The competition for those minutes will come from Jones, Diego and Smith and then Wooten a long shot wildcard. Sydnor is really the only guy we brought in who is truly a 4. Miteo I consider a complete wildcard for playing time anywhere as the competion he played at is completely unknown. Can’t go by film.
so your comment is based on emotion rather than objective thoughts .
thanks for clarifying
I will be interested to see what effect the RU S & C program has had on Buchanan. Perhaps he will be able to play some "bully ball" at the 4 spot
Garavaglia's write up mentions he was a top defender in Europe, we'll see how that equates to the B1G style of play, and then there is Syndor and possibly Miteo.
Agree with PSAL, the above is already an upgrade over Dylan Grant and Dortch
Yeah, hard to project the foreign guys, one of them does look similar to what I hoped Nwuli could grow into, but we won't know until seeing them up close. Agree, Syndor is the 4 hope, I like DB as a three more than a two or four, but he'll play three and four this year..
Yeah - I think DB will basically get back up minutes at both the 3 and 4 which will combine for 22-24ish total minutes. It’s TBD who will get the bulk of the minutes at those 2 positions. There are no minutes available for new players at the 1 and prob not more than 15-20 min max at the 2 (Lino/JMike/Tarik). So basically an estimate of about 50 minutes to allocate at the 2/3 between Jones, Powers, Diego, Smith, and Wooton. I don’t expect Martin to play.
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