2023 SF/PF Mackenzie Mgbako to INDI-F’N-ANA

[RaceToTheTop 26,188]

6 hours ago, eddy4iu said:

I get your perspective but he’s a praying man so no such thing as random or minor. Glad he’s a Hoosier!!!

If it was that simple, there wouldn't have been a need to go on any visits.

[Demo 20,369]

 

[J34 1,490]

[Hovadipo 56,550]

25 minutes ago, J34 said:

If the skill ends up matching the NBA body, look out.

[Stuhoo 81,511]

5 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

If the skill ends up matching the NBA body, look out.

 

Just saying... skill and intuitive decision making have been the factors that make him a five star, not athleticism/strength.

And, in the Hoosier Hysterics podcast with Gabe Cupps, Gabe said that the surprising thing about Mack for him is that Mack can shoot the lights out as a wing.

So, yay us!

 

[sweetpain 538]

If the skill ends up matching the NBA body, look out.

Does not seem to be angle trick?

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[go iu bb 6,273]

17 minutes ago, sweetpain said:

Does not seem to be angle trick?

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
 

He's been on campus for like a month and a half. There might be some improvement in that time but nothing drastic. There are lots of tricks that can be used in photography to show results like that other than just angle. Some of them are on display here:

- Flexing

- Lighting

- Before vs after workout

- Sweat/oil or not

He's definitely ripped but he already was when he got to IU.

[Demo 20,369]

1 hour ago, Hovadipo said:

If the skill ends up matching the NBA body, look out.

Yeah, when I was in college nobody looked like that when they were 19. Cliff Marshall’s did not exist. 

[Hovadipo 56,550]

1 hour ago, sweetpain said:

Does not seem to be angle trick?

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
 

Not a huge fan of Clif's side-by-sides (it honestly looks like he horizontally shrunk the left photo lol), but Mack has always impressed physically. He's what a like to call a PTMF - a put-together MF.

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,547]

Wish our roster was garnering more critical acclaim but I’m optimistic.  Gonna have to be a ‘chip on your shoulder” type of season.  

[ledies22 60]

10 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Wish our roster was garnering more critical acclaim but I’m optimistic.  Gonna have to be a ‘chip on your shoulder” type of season.  

favorite type of seasons. High expectations usually result in disappointment. The under the radar season winning games you're not supposed to is the best. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,232]

https://www.insidethehall.com/2023/07/19/freshman-focus-mackenzie-mgbako/

[Stuhoo 81,511]

1 hour ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Wish our roster was garnering more critical acclaim but I’m optimistic.  Gonna have to be a ‘chip on your shoulder” type of season.  

Not to get too off-topic, but for me the major factor in whether we'll have a chance to be special is dependent on the development of Kel'el Ware. 

While he under-performed last year, uber-athletic stretch 7'1" five stars don't come around often. If he turns into a major factor we may be able to athletically dominate defensively. A starting guard line of X and Gallo is already a major defensive plus.

[go iu bb 6,273]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

Not to get too off-topic, but for me the major factor in whether we'll have a chance to be special is dependent on the development of Kel'el Ware. 

While he under-performed last year, uber-athletic stretch 7'1" five stars don't come around often. If he turns into a major factor we may be able to athletically dominate defensively. A starting guard line of X and Gallo is already a major defensive plus.

I've been thinking Ware is the X-factor that will determine how good IU is next year. If he makes the big jump that he's capable of, it would be the difference between a pretty decent to good team and a really good to great team.

This team has lots of question marks but tons of potential. As a freshman, Mgbako is one those questions but he's so good that I am not worried he'll produce.

[Stuhoo 81,511]

4 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

I've been thinking Ware is the X-factor that will determine how good IU is next year. If he makes the big jump that he's capable of, it would be the difference between a pretty decent to good team and a really good to great team.

This team has lots of question marks but tons of potential. As a freshman, Mgbako is one those questions but he's so good that I am not worried he'll produce.

There really aren't that many questions.

• The starting guard line of X and Gallo isn't dominant, but is as proven as it gets.
• Reneau has already shown he's good, has a knack for the ball finding him, and will likely be a steady, plus player.
• Mbako and Cupps have very low floors as freshmen.
• Sparks will bang around and set screens. Walker is a proven P5 athletic complimentary backup.

That leaves three questions with major upside:

1. Ware; first, foremost, and as discussed above.
2. CJ Gunn, who was not good last year, but has upside as a lanky shooter, and
3. Jakai Newton, who could be the surprise star of the freshman class if his health allows for it.

 

[ebridges24 2,446]

3 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

There really aren't that many questions.

• The starting guard line of X and Gallo isn't dominant, but is as proven as it gets.
• Reneau has already shown he's good, has a knack for the ball finding him, and will likely be a steady, plus player.
• Mbako and Cupps have very low floors as freshmen.
• Sparks will bang around and set screens. Walker is a proven P5 athletic complimentary backup.

That leaves three questions with major upside:

1. Ware; first, foremost, and as discussed above.
2. CJ Gunn, who was not good last year, but has upside as a lanky shooter, and
3. Jakai Newton, who could be the surprise star of the freshman class if his health allows for it.

 

Someone really needs to step up out of Gabe, Jakai and Gunn. We really need two to step up.

[Stuhoo 81,511]

7 minutes ago, ebridges24 said:

Someone really needs to step up out of Gabe, Jakai and Gunn. We really need two to step up.

If X stays healthy I'm 0% worried about Gabe Cupps' ability to be solid for 10-15 minutes per game.

We very much need one of CJ or Jakai to be a useful rotation player.

[go iu bb 6,273]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

There really aren't that many questions.

• The starting guard line of X and Gallo isn't dominant, but is as proven as it gets.
• Reneau has already shown he's good, has a knack for the ball finding him, and will likely be a steady, plus player.
• Mbako and Cupps have very low floors as freshmen.
• Sparks will bang around and set screens. Walker is a proven P5 athletic complimentary backup.

That leaves three questions with major upside:

1. Ware; first, foremost, and as discussed above.
2. CJ Gunn, who was not good last year, but has upside as a lanky shooter, and
3. Jakai Newton, who could be the surprise star of the freshman class if his health allows for it.

 

Effectiveness of freshmen is always a question mark before the season for me. I think they'll be good but you just don't know until the games start. I wouldn't have expected someone like Ware to have such mediocre numbers last season, for example. 

The improvement of Reneau will be a factor. Can he stay on the floor or will he continue to be prone to fouling? 

Will anyone make a jump in 3-point shooting? Can Galloway maintain close to that percentage from last year or increase his volume while still maintaining a decent percentage?

Lots of new faces on the team. How well will they mesh and how long will that take?

I think the floor is a decent to pretty good team with the potential to be a great team. Where on that spectrum they end up falling depends on the answer to these and your questions.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,232]

...Woodson commented on Mgbako’s work ethic on a podcast:  “He’s been on the floor.  I don’t see much of him off the floor.  He spends a lot of time in the gym.”

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/what-mackenzie-mgbakos-iu-basketball-teammates-have-said-about-him-this-summer/?fbclid=IwAR3Zvhs1tQMDFmsOXfbcUO4y3UUUH8vB6oWWXRuBKZHNd5X-k2d7WXliypI

[go iu bb 6,273]

2 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

...Woodson commented on Mgbako’s work ethic on a podcast:  “He’s been on the floor.  I don’t see much of him off the floor.  He spends a lot of time in the gym.”

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/what-mackenzie-mgbakos-iu-basketball-teammates-have-said-about-him-this-summer/?fbclid=IwAR3Zvhs1tQMDFmsOXfbcUO4y3UUUH8vB6oWWXRuBKZHNd5X-k2d7WXliypI

Sounds like JHS in that aspect as he was said to be a gym rat while at IU too. I think Cupps is the same from what I've read. That's the kind of culture that has been missing since Miller took over so I hope it rubs off and others become as dedicated to working on their games. Crean had many faults as a coach, but he did do a good job of bringing in gym rats and built that kind of culture.