RECRUITING: Cyclones land Washington State transfer
- Thread starter JStanz51
- Start date
It amazing how much the same all sports fans are. It could be that board or this board or any board. Given any situation the posts would be nearly identical.
At least there was some "high basketball IQ" and "was balling" quotes in there. Hard worker and great teammate with a decent skillset is welcome here. Maybe its time we have more improving 'basketball players' than high-end athletes not getting the job done.
Thanks for sharing. I always like get a good feel from the response of the WSU fans to losing him and what to expect.
Most if not all responses were sorry to see him go and saw him as a top 8 rotation with spot start potential. As long as ISU fans expect the same, which I think most responses show, Kunc will be a solid get for TJ.
I just like what I'm hearing about this kids work ethic. Part of building a new culture is establishing the right attitude within the team. Can't hurt to have an upperclassman that's willing to set a tone and work hard.
I get the fan thing. Hell most of us thought losing Taggert was not that big of a deal and he played significant minutes in a National Championship game on a STACKED team led by DRose.
Johnson is a work-in-progress, but his dribbling is a weakness of his game. He is OK in open space and coming in from the wing, but when Steve Prohm played him as a primary ballhandler- that was a bad fit.
My assumption is CSP tried to develop Johnson's ballhandling with Tyrese in mind. But Johnson's best position is WF- mainly as spot up 3 point shooter and drive to basket from wing.
I agree that TJ's offense will probably be a better fit for a guy like Johnson. In watching UNLV last season that had decent spacing, but there was more ball/player movement and less dribbling.
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
It seems to my untrained eye that Conditt was being told to stay with his man until it was clear that the ball handler was not going to pass it, and then would rotate over at the very last moment when it was too late to do anything but foul. He does still draw some ticky tack fouls though.
This is where lack of depth snowballed on Prohm. I have no doubt he wanted to hold people accountable. But when you want to give Johnson the hook but have to look down the bench we had, it becomes alot harder to hold someone accountable.
I think it is fascinating that this kid from a no-name basketball school was the first TJ signed and that it happened so quickly. This tells me that TJ has probably had his eye on him for awhile, really thinks he has a ton of upside, and was high on his list of targets. I trust TJ's eye for recruiting, so I'm more than intrigued to see what a 6'8 stretch forward with range can do in his system.
Sports can be cyclical. While traditional 5 skills have been devalued over the last 10 years, I can see them making a comeback. In watching games this season, teams that played a back-to-basket post player gave teams issues. Guys coming to mind are McCormick, Culver, Garza, Brodie (Drake), Krutwig (Loyola), Dickinson (Mich), Cockburn (IL), Wahab (G-town) and Queta (U-State).
IMO if TJ could bring in a good low post player, that would compliment Foster and Kunc. Having a solid low post player can only help spacing, especially if he has low post moves and teams have to double down on him. Leaves on open jump shooter.
Looking at the game log for Kunc last year looks promising to me that this is a good get.
The last 10 games, when he began to get real minutes, he shot 36% from 3 pointers on almost 4 attempts per game, averaged over 6 rebounds, and had 5 total turnovers.
Hell, his last 4 games he had 38 rebounds. We didn't have anyone sniff that amount over 4 games this year.
The last 10 games, when he began to get real minutes, he shot 36% from 3 pointers on almost 4 attempts per game, averaged over 6 rebounds, and had 5 total turnovers.
Hell, his last 4 games he had 38 rebounds. We didn't have anyone sniff that amount over 4 games this year.
Conditt was 10x better defender than Solo on the PNR. Conditt was pretty solid in hedging out on ball screens. I agree CSP's defense typically put Solo and Conditt in tough situations. Guarding smaller players on the switch or having to scramble back to be a post defender.
My biggest issue with CSP's defense was he loved to switch ball screens. To develop defensive toughness, I would love for TJ to focus on guards learning to fight through ball screens, especially when the screen is being set by an opposing post player.
Most fans have three reactions when a player leaves on message boards (Ranked most likely to least):
1) Player X won't be missed and is wished the best in the future (basically happy to have the additional scholly)
2) Player X was pretty good and would have been a key piece next year. However, because of fan bias. They immediately de-value their contributions as a way to deal with the player leaving. Some/minimal posters are sad to see them leave
3) Player X was great and posters are sad
Jaz definitely falls into the second category. Wazzu has a newer coach and brought in a pretty good class for 2020. I'm guessing the "He wouldn't start crowd" is basing that off of those freshman overtaking him. He would have been their #4 returning scorer and #2 rebounder
Regardless. This is at worst, a P5 player who averaged starter minutes, 9 pts and 7.5 rebounds a game in the final two months of this past season. If he doesn't get any better from this year to next. He's still to likely be either the #1 or #2 rebounder on the team and speaks to the type of player COTZ is going to bring in
1) Player X won't be missed and is wished the best in the future (basically happy to have the additional scholly)
2) Player X was pretty good and would have been a key piece next year. However, because of fan bias. They immediately de-value their contributions as a way to deal with the player leaving. Some/minimal posters are sad to see them leave
3) Player X was great and posters are sad
Jaz definitely falls into the second category. Wazzu has a newer coach and brought in a pretty good class for 2020. I'm guessing the "He wouldn't start crowd" is basing that off of those freshman overtaking him. He would have been their #4 returning scorer and #2 rebounder
Regardless. This is at worst, a P5 player who averaged starter minutes, 9 pts and 7.5 rebounds a game in the final two months of this past season. If he doesn't get any better from this year to next. He's still to likely be either the #1 or #2 rebounder on the team and speaks to the type of player COTZ is going to bring in
This...First, Kunc dealt with some injuries which hampered him last 2 years..He was starting for WASU for a bit. Second, 247 site has a really good article and interview with a WASU expert and what Kunc brings. Exactly what this team needs..A wing who can hit 3's and will work is butt off for rebounds and is a solid defender. I'll take it all day.
Big 10 style of play (slow and in the half court) really benefits a traditional 5. I agree there. But of the guys listed. Only two remain in the tournament.
Krutwig is far more skilled than a "traditional 5". He's really a point forward as Raft says in this clip. Hardly any of his scoring is back to the basket
Dickinson is a throwback traditional big for sure. I would take a 7'1" top 50 recruit if TJ can go get one of those
I think Foster is a 4/5 on offense and a 5 on defense based on last season. I am sure his foot injury impacted his lateral quickness quite a bit. If a healthy Foster can defend the 4, he gives ISU a lot of post flexibility on defense. aka Condit, Foster & Hinson/Johnson on the back line of a zone defense. Having a 7' player closing out on 3 point shooters can be a weapon.
Since Foster can be a 4 on offense & 5 on defense, it gives TJ the flexibility to look for a shorter post who can be a 5 on offense & 4 on defense,
Yup. Key piece is to keep Hunter committed. With him, you get a primary ball handler who wants to attack the basket. Secondary ball handler, Bolton can both shoot and attack the hoop. In the COTZ (Hoiball) pick and roll game. You want to surround Hunter with as many shooters as possible. That either clears the lane for a layup/dunk or forces help in which you kick out to a shooter
