Zona
- Thread starter zebnatto
- Start date
We had a thread about him.
https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/t...g-picks-up-rutgers-offer.145845/#post-3415165
https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/t...g-picks-up-rutgers-offer.145845/#post-3415165
For fear of sounding like a broken record, I would really like a Stretch 4 like Matt Zona on the Rutgers team.
Good post moves and he can step out to hit 3's.
IMO, this New Jersey player should be prioritized as much as Mulcahy was this year.
Good post moves and he can step out to hit 3's.
IMO, this New Jersey player should be prioritized as much as Mulcahy was this year.
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Is he athletic enough to guard and recover out to the three point line?
That is the question. Fundamentals are needed, but there has to be a certain amount of athleticism as well.
I don't think Zona is a top focus right now. He could be used if main recruits are not gotten later.
That is the question. Fundamentals are needed, but there has to be a certain amount of athleticism as well.
I don't think Zona is a top focus right now. He could be used if main recruits are not gotten later.
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Not totally sold here. Seems a little slow and plays a little smaller than he is.
I think we need him. The kid can shoot and he bangs inside. He really did outstanding against Ranney.
Can you please clarify what you mean with your first statement?
What recovery to the 3 point line are you referring to if he is guarding another PF or maybe even a Center in a smaller lineup?
He may not be a good matchup for a team like Illinois or Indiana on the defensive end because they play a smaller lineup.
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I think there are few kids coming here whom we’d be totally sold on. I’m looking for kids who are ballers, coachable and have attitude: aka Ron Harper.
I'm looking for recruits that can make the 3 point shot on a consistent basis and create and make shots off the dribble.My wish list is rarely seen on the current team.
While Zona checks the boxes of a stretch 4, shooting threat, i am a little concerned about the overall athletic ability of the bulk of the roster up front. We have Doucoure and Myles Johnson down the road and we need a bouncy defensive eraser more than the stretch 4 shooter, who isn't going to impact teams on defense.
Rattling off Jordan Murphy, Izzy B and Teske at Michigan, Tillman at MSU, Pharms at Purdue, Smith at Maryland, the incoming recruits at Ohio State, Pardon types at Norrhwestern, Tyler Cook at Iowa, etc
I don't see a path to slow down an opponent's PF, stretch PF or mobile bigs without a shot blocking threat.
As much as the offense is focused on by fans here, we give up more than we can hope to score with a Zona type, spotting up and shooting.
This roster needs mobile size in the paint...or a better Shaq Doorson, who improved a great amount this year. Another version, with a quicker amount of footspeed and length probably cuts the points down, vs asking RU to just outscore the opponents.
Rattling off Jordan Murphy, Izzy B and Teske at Michigan, Tillman at MSU, Pharms at Purdue, Smith at Maryland, the incoming recruits at Ohio State, Pardon types at Norrhwestern, Tyler Cook at Iowa, etc
I don't see a path to slow down an opponent's PF, stretch PF or mobile bigs without a shot blocking threat.
As much as the offense is focused on by fans here, we give up more than we can hope to score with a Zona type, spotting up and shooting.
This roster needs mobile size in the paint...or a better Shaq Doorson, who improved a great amount this year. Another version, with a quicker amount of footspeed and length probably cuts the points down, vs asking RU to just outscore the opponents.
Pike missed on Souf. Outside of that he's shown a good eye for talent. More than that - with Mathis and Mulcahy specifically - he has shown a good understanding of focusing on BIG level talent very early in the process that was ultimately willing to come here over "bigger" offers.
Believe Pike offered Zona the first day he could.
It’s clear that we need three of the next four to be “low post guys”
Think those three need to be
1.) a center that can block shots and develop an offensive game
2.) a combo power forward -center (think Shaq Carter type)
3.) a stretch four
Zone is one of those pieces ...and fits nicely with Onamuryi if we can get him
IMO, building a roster is about pieces, not trying to find a player that can do every possible thing that a PF does (low post threat and step out shooter).
If you have two PF's on a roster...One can be a Eugene type that can be a workhorse in the post on both offense and defense. The backup can be a Stretch 4 like Zona. Neither is perfect but as a tandem they give a Coach options to play different styles based on the competition or game situation.
If you have two PF's on a roster...One can be a Eugene type that can be a workhorse in the post on both offense and defense. The backup can be a Stretch 4 like Zona. Neither is perfect but as a tandem they give a Coach options to play different styles based on the competition or game situation.
Yep, roster building is about finding pieces and players that have different strengths.
Can he run out to the 3pt line to close out a shot fake, and then be able to defend as the opponent drive as the opponent decides to take it inside.
I don't think this kid is athletic enough. At this point, Rutgers has started to go after other people as well. I think he is a backup.
Ok, respect the opinion, but that seems like a rare scenario for a PF. Closing out on an opposing PF and that PF driving right past him after a ball fake.
Over the years, the rosters at places like Iowa, Wisconsin, etc. have had many guys that were routinely dismissed as not athletic enough.....they just got it done in games on the offensive and defensive end.
Over the years, the rosters at places like Iowa, Wisconsin, etc. have had many guys that were routinely dismissed as not athletic enough.....they just got it done in games on the offensive and defensive end.
With the amount of stretch fours now playing, you need to be able to have that kind of athleticism.
You would really have to assess the players defensive skills. First question is who can they guard? After that, you can find out if they can play at this level or not.
Looking at who the staff has been on, I don't see Zona as a first priority anymore.