Peter Kiss

[Greene Rice FIG]

If you play solid defense chances are you will see a lot of PT. Unless Kiss is equal to Issa defensively or clearly superior offensively I don't believe for a minute he plays more minutes.

I’d be surprised if Kiss was a better defender and you have to play D to get minutes here. With that being said we are epicly bad offensively. They haven’t yet invented adjectives to describe it. 1 thru 5 we were most deficient at 3. You can’t compete with that.

Issa has a ton of improving, in my eyes, to play over what I think Kiss is

 

[higgins3]

believe Kiss will play more than Issa as well.

 

[ouchmyknee]

Even though they're different positions, I predict Kiss will put up Rob Hodgson-like numbers. 12 ppg, 5 rpg, and near 80% from the line.

 

[RUJMM78]

believe Kiss will play more than Issa as well.

Issa has size and defensive skills better than Kiss which means he probably will start initially and they will share playing time at small forward position.Rutgers needs at least 15 points from that position.

 

[RutgHoops]

Thiam’s numbers didn’t change much in conference v. OOC. To me, that indicates a player who is improving. Should have redshirted his frosh year but we didn’t have that luxury. I thought he was a MUCH better player this year versus last. I think he could make a “Eugene-like” leap forward next season.

 

[scarletrat]

I'm also in the camp that Thiam will take a big jump next season. He deferred a lot, and I think he will be more comfortable out there with 2 seasons under his belt. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the leading scorer for the team next season. I think Kiss will be a key rotational player--maybe the 7th or 8th guy on the team.

With Sanders (hopefully):
Sanders
Baker
Thiam
Eugene
Carter

Without Sanders
Baker
Mathis
Thiam
Eugene
Carter

 

[RUChoppin]

Choppin....My son came home with a D on his test and I wasn't happy. He said, "Dad I got most of the questions I answered right." I asked him why he didn't finish the test he said, "A lot of those questions were hard so I didn't answer them because I didn't want to get them wrong."

Huh? I'm guessing this is trying to say he doesn't shoot enough?

Let’s be real honest here. He is out there for 3 point shooting and he is afraid to take them.

See, I disagree with that limitation on what he's out there for - he became a much more versatile player this year than just "out there for 3 point shooting".

He shot fewer threes, but more twos - and got to the FT line more. Adjusting for minutes, he improved in almost every statistical category (aside from 3PM/3PA/3PAr, USG%, and PF) - while also improving his defense.

If you're looking for him to do nothing but huck up threes, then I can see why you'd only look at the regression. If you're looking at the complete offensive package, though, he improved.

Looking for more of the pieces to come together for him next year and for his overall comfort/confidence level to rise.

 

[RUChoppin]

Thiam played about zero minutes at guard this season. I have not seen Kiss other than highlights, but if he can swing between the 2 and 3 then Isaa will only impact minutes from Kiss as a "3".

Considering the wing a guard spot - which is likely where Kiss will see time. Baker and Mathis will chew up most of the minutes at the SG spot, which means Kiss would see more time at the 3 than he would at the 2.

 

[RutgHoops]

Considering the wing a guard spot - which is likely where Kiss will see time. Baker and Mathis will chew up most of the minutes at the SG spot, which means Kiss would see more time at the 3 than he would at the 2.

I don't know if Kiss can handle the ball (I hope so), but we are again lacking guard depth. I assume Issa didn't play any "2" this past year due to his ball handling skills. Assuming Corey doesn't come back besides Baker and Mathis who do you see at guard? Souf?

 

[higgins3]

Thiam’s numbers didn’t change much in conference v. OOC. To me, that indicates a player who is improving. Should have redshirted his frosh year but we didn’t have that luxury. I thought he was a MUCH better player this year versus last. I think he could make a “Eugene-like” leap forward next season.

Thiam has never lacked heart. He has just had issues gaining weight. That hurts his confidence when getting to the basket, and going up with confidence.

 

[RUChoppin]

I don't know if Kiss can handle the ball (I hope so), but we are again lacking guard depth. I assume Issa didn't play any "2" this past year due to his ball handling skills. Assuming Corey doesn't come back besides Baker and Mathis who do you see at guard? Souf?

That's all assuming Sanders stays.

If Sanders goes, it's a different story. Without any replacement, it would shift Baker to the 1, and Mathis/Kiss would basically split time at the SG spot. Thiam would get the lion's share of minutes on the wing, with Harper in reserve. If we were to pick up Strickland, though, we'd need to see how much time he'd be able to give us at the 1, and Kiss would again be the 3rd option at the 2 and the 2nd option at the 3.

 

[higgins3]

Choppin,

The standard 1-5 is no more. You can have a guard at the wing, especially if they rebound. Plenty of teams play without a true "SF/Wing".

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

and got to the FT line more.

Matt Bullock took more B1G FTs than Issa. Not a joke. issa took 8 and Matt took 10.

True Issa did double his B1G FTA this year. Went from 4 to 8.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Matt Bullock took more B1G FTs than Issa. Not a joke. issa took 8 and Matt took 10.

True Issa did double his B1G FTA this year. Went from 4 to 8.

Wow.

 

[RUChoppin]

Matt Bullock took more B1G FTs than Issa. Not a joke. issa took 8 and Matt took 10.

True Issa did double his B1G FTA this year. Went from 4 to 8.

You do like to cherry pick your stats. Thiam was 17/24 FTs this year to 4/8 last year.

But, if you want to stick to conference stats....
He had 12.7 pts per 100 possessions vs. 7.5 last year.... but surely, that's no improvement.
He was 21/65 (.323) from range this year vs. 7/38 (.184) last year ... but surely, that's no improvement.

I definitely get that he's not the player you want him to be. Saying he showed "no offensive improvement", though, isn't accurate.

And for someone who seemingly places high value on three point shooters on the wing, I'm not sure why you'd expect he'll get fewer minutes than Kiss, who shot .277 from range at Quinnipiac (.261 in conference).

I'm expecting both to improve going into next year - but I think that Thiam keeps his starting job, and will see more overall minutes than Kiss unless there are injuries ahead of him at guard.

 

[RUChoppin]

Choppin,

The standard 1-5 is no more. You can have a guard at the wing, especially if they rebound. Plenty of teams play without a true "SF/Wing".

I know this. I consider the 1-3 "guards" and 4-5 "bigs" for the most part. Thiam/Kiss will see their time at the "third guard" spot on the wing. If Sanders returns, my guess is that the order of minutes at that position would be Thiam/Kiss/Mathis/Harper.... whereas the order of minutes at the second guard position would be Baker/Mathis/Kiss.

 

[DHajekRC84]

I don't know if Kiss can handle the ball (I hope so), but we are again lacking guard depth. I assume Issa didn't play any "2" this past year due to his ball handling skills. Assuming Corey doesn't come back besides Baker and Mathis who do you see at guard? Souf?

"No Souf for (R) you!"

(Sorry, poor guy...but I just had to)

 

[bethlehemfan]

Thiam obviously improved. Ridiculous comment.

 

[DHajekRC84]

The one offensive bright spot I saw in coach's work was getting Thiam more involved vs. Just threes. I would expect his drive and post up moves to further develop. A 6.10. Guard is tough to defend.

 

[soundcrib]

I’d be surprised if Kiss was a better defender and you have to play D to get minutes here. With that being said we are epicly bad offensively. They haven’t yet invented adjectives to describe it. 1 thru 5 we were most deficient at 3. You can’t compete with that.

Issa has a ton of improving, in my eyes, to play over what I think Kiss is

We were the most deficient at 1.