lillurk

Re the technical discussion, I think the point here is 1. What sort of actions deserve a tech but it has also become about 2. Whether those actions are obvious or less do. I don’t believe X or Malik deserved a tech, nor Freemantle, based on what we know. That is, they fail question 1 above. I.e. there should be no penalty for looking at the opposing bench, nor for barking “and 1” or whatever after you score. Given that, 2 is a moot point.

MSU looks better than I thought, although st this time of year Izzo is usually playing like ten guys or more significant minutes, and he’s a little tighter right now. They’ve got about 6 guys he trusts, two of whom — Hoggard and Sissoko — are also very up and down. Maybe Kohler comes around as #7, but they are not very deep. Fine unless they have injury issues.

Shout out to whoever made this comparison on here. I thought it was a little…bold at the time, but I stand corrected. I’m not old enough to remember Woody as a player.

People are laughing at this, and I know how it ended, but the team won the league and was a #1 seed. That’s success. The end wasn’t what we want, I’m not trying to rehash that. If you win the league and are a high seed often enough, you’ll play the first weekend of April eventually.

Hooting, hollering

Defense added a year, some physical specimens, offense is actually good…and swaggering for 40 minutes

I feel this, though based on what we’ve seen there may yet be one IMHO. It’s good to roster a development project though!

And yes — iffy guards plus no real wings, a bunch of 4s, and Edey seems teetering on shaky ground

I was shocked that last year they didn’t try more “Furst at the 5” lineups for defense. Yes, obviously, that would’ve meant no Trevion or Edey, but if you’re getting worked on the PNR and/or trying to protect a lead, or force TOs, can’t you exchange some offense for defense — or go to heavy spread ballscreen with your lottery pick and still be pretty good on that end? Painter’s a good coach, and maybe sitting 2 of your 3 best guys is too galaxy brained. But I remember St. Peter’s just absolutely giving it to them and thinking they should’ve tried something different to save their season. Furst/Gillis/Morton/Hunter/Ivey would’ve intrigued me.

Finished the game today and feel like there are lots of things I’m convinced of from one exhibition. Part of that is that you learn a little more with two surefire rotation pieces out, the other thing is that of course the first time you see the team you glean a lot. Posting as much so I can look back and evaluate later as I am for engagement, but that’s all welcome too. -Reneau and JHS are as advertised. They’re starting-caliber right now. -Race will hit 34% or better from 3. -if 3Pt shooting is a problem, the problem will be not taking enough of them. May not shoot like Crean’s conf champ teams, but they’ll be fine. -Gunn is going to be a contributor quickly. He may just get spot chances this year, and he needs to add weight. But he’s competitive and engaged, the shot and athleticism will play, he’s bought in on defense, and the awareness was strong for a frosh. Even thought his handle and passing were ahead of what I expected. -Duncomb might not get much opportunity, as he’s behind about 4 guys at the 4/5. But he seems more ready to help when necessary than Durr was last year.

I hope to do a full 14 ranking before next week but just to get some cards on the table in case I stay busy: -I don’t think IU’s some perfect team but the consensus of all the media orgs is rarely so clear. It’s a combination of IU’s strengths and “high floor” and the rest of the conference’s weakness / unknowns. I’d pick IU. -I hesitate to use the word “overrated” for Illinois, but I’m surprised by the general optimism. I’m bearish. Big time downside risk with defense, no Kofi, PG play. Probably still a tournament team. -I consider UM & PU similarly: potential all-American 5, a couple other dependable pieces, potentially a spot or two they don’t figure out before their season is over. -if you told me Iowa would have a top 75 defense, I would consider them a B1G title contender. I think they’re sneakily pretty good? -UW: has there ever been a better likelihood of a team winning at least 9 and no more than 11? -MSU: I know post-‘22 recruiting looks good but like Illinois…worried about downside risk. -RU: Pikiell is really good. Not a contender but tourney. -OSU: I feel nothing. First round exit. -PSU, Minn, and Maryland: better than the real cellar dwellers but not actually good. -nw and Nebraska: racing to get their coaches fired.

Roster construction probably makes it easier to put JG at the 3 some on this squad. The guards who figure to get the bulk of the minutes are average-or-better handlers for their position, and some of the other forwards are pretty good too. So you can put him out there, say, with the starters, in Kopp’s spot. He can catch-and-shoot, run the baseline for dunks and Orebs, rebound on D…doesn’t have to be a playmaker.

Have not watched but this tracks with the twitter reaction too. Seems he’s a little “light in the butt,” as CMW said about Bates last year, and will benefit from a full year of college S&C (plus some high calorie off-season meal plans). I have a soft spot for a long-limbed shooter at 2/3. It’s funny that Archie’s last recruit is the sort of player he never had enough of.

How is it even possible the best defender in HS regardless of class is a guard? High praise

Not visiting Kansas with that offer list is… i n t e r e s t i n g

This certainly makes sense but as a playmaker for others, Scoop showed almost nothing last year; his assist rate was under 8, which is Kopp/Geronimo territory. By contrast Phinisee and Galloway were more than double that, and X was at a whopping 36%.

I made the lineup fit case earlier but I would also say bringing Bates off the bench fits when you start the two guys you plan to play 100% of the PG minutes. I’d expect one of the PGs to see early rest so their minutes can be more easily staggered. Having Bates as a 6th man who spells, say, JHS say the 16 minute mark allows JHS to give X a breather at 12, rather than both of them sitting at the same time. You could manage that if you start Bates, though not in such a straightforward fashion, unless at 16 you rest both Bates AND a PG.

Yes, when he was healthy last year that lineup (w/Phin in the JHS spot) closed leads. Extra ball-handler, good decision-maker, maybe your best wing defender (JHS and/or Geronimo have a chance to pass him on the last point).

Need more Pro Day intel leaks, Goodman’s tweet is not enough

This probably came up in the hysteria thread but the starters were also the starters Friday night. I think this makes sense — Kopp fits with the starters as a catch-and-shoot guy who plays good team defense. On a second unit his limitations would be more glaring. Sometimes fit matters more than strictly five best, and other guys might close.

Oh the shot’s coming around??

Seems like a nice guy, like you’d be happy to have your son play for him, and they’ve been good enough that OSU’s football fans aren’t crowing about him. But I agree, he’s at a weird time in his tenure there to suddenly stack top classes. Three ways to do that: 1. be very good — on court, or specifically at the task of recruiting. 2. Be new. 3. Pay up. Seems likely this is a situation where #3 explains most of things.

Lol reminded me of the same. I think Clark can at least shoot it a bit.

Maybe I’m not the only one bearish on Illinois! They might be good but Kofi and Frazier were the sun moon and stars. Like some of the pieces, not sure I like the team.

Check the note at the end here re: Bidunga/Cincy/Adams. If that’s the word, I wonder if IU’s recent push is related to fending off a quick move.