Lard looks good
- Thread starter FinalFourCy
- Start date
Athletic? Yes. Basketball? Not so much. Not a great basketball IQ. Hopefully the staff can fix that though.
That's my guess as well.
Again, it's going to take Kasongo being good and a great spring for Lard to not play next year. I think it's most likely Lard will play and that on his best days Kasongo will be Edozie.
Absolutely, but that role isn't scholarship worthy. And are we not forgetting his suspension?
Truly believe Kasango can be serviceable as a 3rd option at the 5. Remains to be seen if he would accept that roll.
Strike 1 for sure. And if he's not holding up his end of the bargain (in any aspect) I would agree a conversation should take place about the best place for his continued development.
Just Make the dance next year, I don't care if it is the play in game. It is going to be a down year with all the seniors gone, but just crawl your way into the NCAA tournament.
Agree. His spot is locked this March regardless, and it's great he's doing what he can to make a positive impact in that time. Much better than pouting or creating a divide and distraction.
Hogue like shooting would be great, just needs a toothpick.
I thought that when DJ won the 3 pt shoot out at Hilton Magic preseason thing at the beginning of the season. and he is just stone cold during the game.
A combination of my hopes/expectations for the current players on the roster for next year...
Link to my version of the scholarship chart at the bottom of the post, for reference, and assuming no turnover on current players nor anything about the three remaining open scholarships we have to give. We could use an outside shooter and proven post player, obviously.
Jackson... needs to be the alpha dog, something between Morris and Mitrou-Long in a much expanded role and minutes next year, pushing for some all-conference honors
Weiler-Babb... same thing, needs to be our best and most versatile defender and to work on his outside shot, given teams negating his athleticism by sagging off him right now, needs to take the flashes he has shown in limited minutes and add consistency over greatly expanded PT next year
Carter... not expecting much at this point, if he could not find time this year with our deplorable front line most of the season, I just doubt he is ever going to by this point
Kasongo... same deal, did not show much at previous stops, no whispers about him being competitive in practice (such as NWB was last year), so not betting on much
Long... not sure what to expect here, given he ranked highly out of high school, but looking like Naz as a bench role player as a sophomore (more defense, less shooting) would be nice to have
Young... time to turn the kid loose, considering his progress this year and that he will be our only returning starter, I would hope he continues to man up on interior defense and the boards and the offense orients towards giving him some post looks and even some Stretch-4 time, still hoping/planning that he turns into a diamond-in-the-rough who is one of the best posts in the conference before we know it and this being "his team" by the end
Wigginton... needs to make an immediate impact as at least a second point guard or, ideally, a Day 1 starter who can push for 30+ productive minutes per night by the end of the season, I really hope that we are saying that DJax and Wiggi were a ton of fun to watch together by the end of the year
McNeill... not sure what to expect here, too, imagining that Long and he will compete for the last guard spot in the rotation right now depending on who is more ready to go
Lewis... on many teams, might have more Wiggi expectations of him, but you need more guards than wings to play Hoiball/Prohmball offense, though I am hoping that he pushes NWB for playing time on the wing or even as a Stretch-4, come on and make Steve play you, Terrence
Lard... I am hoping for something like what happened to Solomon this year with early growing pains but PT forced upon him by our lack of other options in the post, followed by a maturation process into him being a productive "trash man" by the end of the season
Jackson
Wigginton
Weiler-Babb
Young
Lard
---
McNeill
Long
Lewis
Design a rotation where Young and Lard do not often share the floor with NWB and Lewis at the 4 and always having one of Jackson and Wigginton on the court.
Of course, this all could change depending on how JUCO and grad transfer season ends up, but would not shock me to see 1-2 sit-out transfers or banking a scholarship for a mid-year.
Link to my version of the scholarship chart at the bottom of the post, for reference, and assuming no turnover on current players nor anything about the three remaining open scholarships we have to give. We could use an outside shooter and proven post player, obviously.
Jackson... needs to be the alpha dog, something between Morris and Mitrou-Long in a much expanded role and minutes next year, pushing for some all-conference honors
Weiler-Babb... same thing, needs to be our best and most versatile defender and to work on his outside shot, given teams negating his athleticism by sagging off him right now, needs to take the flashes he has shown in limited minutes and add consistency over greatly expanded PT next year
Carter... not expecting much at this point, if he could not find time this year with our deplorable front line most of the season, I just doubt he is ever going to by this point
Kasongo... same deal, did not show much at previous stops, no whispers about him being competitive in practice (such as NWB was last year), so not betting on much
Long... not sure what to expect here, given he ranked highly out of high school, but looking like Naz as a bench role player as a sophomore (more defense, less shooting) would be nice to have
Young... time to turn the kid loose, considering his progress this year and that he will be our only returning starter, I would hope he continues to man up on interior defense and the boards and the offense orients towards giving him some post looks and even some Stretch-4 time, still hoping/planning that he turns into a diamond-in-the-rough who is one of the best posts in the conference before we know it and this being "his team" by the end
Wigginton... needs to make an immediate impact as at least a second point guard or, ideally, a Day 1 starter who can push for 30+ productive minutes per night by the end of the season, I really hope that we are saying that DJax and Wiggi were a ton of fun to watch together by the end of the year
McNeill... not sure what to expect here, too, imagining that Long and he will compete for the last guard spot in the rotation right now depending on who is more ready to go
Lewis... on many teams, might have more Wiggi expectations of him, but you need more guards than wings to play Hoiball/Prohmball offense, though I am hoping that he pushes NWB for playing time on the wing or even as a Stretch-4, come on and make Steve play you, Terrence
Lard... I am hoping for something like what happened to Solomon this year with early growing pains but PT forced upon him by our lack of other options in the post, followed by a maturation process into him being a productive "trash man" by the end of the season
Jackson
Wigginton
Weiler-Babb
Young
Lard
---
McNeill
Long
Lewis
Design a rotation where Young and Lard do not often share the floor with NWB and Lewis at the 4 and always having one of Jackson and Wigginton on the court.
Of course, this all could change depending on how JUCO and grad transfer season ends up, but would not shock me to see 1-2 sit-out transfers or banking a scholarship for a mid-year.
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I know very little about big man post play, but the problem with Carter is as horrible as post play was at the beginning of the season, he still couldn't get on the floor. To me that says a lot.
Lard looks like the real deal. I know it is just practice, but it is pretty obvious he is the skilled, athletic post we were hoping he was. It is reassuring given the lack of HS video on him. It will be fun watching him and Young on the court the next few years.
As for Long, I'm not worried about his shot. He proved to be a capable shooter in high school. He has the physical size to get to the rim, so he doesn't have to only rely on his outside shot. I think being left handed also makes his form look worse. Jackson has proven to be a really good shooter, but I wouldn't say his form is picture perfect.
As for Long, I'm not worried about his shot. He proved to be a capable shooter in high school. He has the physical size to get to the rim, so he doesn't have to only rely on his outside shot. I think being left handed also makes his form look worse. Jackson has proven to be a really good shooter, but I wouldn't say his form is picture perfect.
Go look at the HS scouting report on Lard...He's an around the rim type of player but is capable of stepping out and hitting a 10-15 foot jumper occasionally..He's an intense rebounder, finishes well around the rim and has endless energy running the court and blocking shots. Now forward 2 years as that was 2 years ago..he's going to be a true freshman. He's long and athletic and what separates his game from say McKay is he will have 4 years to develop at P5 and according to the scouting report is a tenacious rebounder for his build.
I hope so on Long! He has the size to be a very tough guard. I'm a little surprised he didn't get more garbage minutes.
Great! ....isn't he going to be a redshirt freshman? Regards, it's going to be fun to watch him improve. Hopefully he has a great spring, summer, and fall!
Yeah I don't expect him to ever really see the floor since he couldn't get in at some pretty desperate points early in the year. I don't exactly expect him to even be here next year although he does really seem to enjoy being here.
