I remember when we all thought Omaha was the second coming of Jesus.I remember thinking Eli King was going to be a baller for us.
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I remember when we all thought Omaha was the second coming of Jesus.I remember thinking Eli King was going to be a baller for us.
Jelani Hamilton (Georgia St): 14.7/2.7/2 40/35.7/95% 23mins/gameSome stats through 4 or 5 games:
Indrusaitis (Pitt): 8.8 / 3.6 / 1.6 on 44% (8-18) 3pt shooting; started 1 game
Jackson (Pitt): Has not played
Watson (N Tx): 3.6 / 4.6 / 1.0 plus 6 steals and 7 blocks. He's 2-12 from 3 and 2-6 on FTs; started all 4 games
Fish (Ball St): 4.8 / 1.3 / 0.3 started all 4 games
Rock (NM): 2.5 / 1.8 / 0 averaging 7.5 minutes per game
Paveletzke (Ohio): 20.5 / 1.3 / 4.0 on 54.5% (6-11) 3pt shooting; he's taken 28 FTs in 4 games too
Biliew (WF): 5.8 / 2.3 / 0.5 (3-12 from 3; 4-9 from 2) started all 4 games
Eli King (NDak): 10.2 / 4.4 / 1.6 (3-14 from 3 - shot 37.5% last year) has 16 steals in 5 games
6'3?
I wouldn’t trade the incoming freshman for any of them. The athleticism and overall talent is better. These are the type of players you need to stay competitive in the Big-12. Big props to the coaches! Solid.
This spurred my curiosity and inspired me to attempt a blind comparison. Not sure if the formatting will work. This is the first 4 games as a freshman for various highly rated Cyclone recruits from the last ~15 years:I wouldn't have minded keeping Nojus on potential but wouldn't trade Toure for him obviously. Batemon is a more ambiguous case right now, but I'd probably keep Batemon with the hope he has a Matt Thomas arc where the talent and ability was always there and he suddenly puts it all together.
Can you give us a pool of names so we can guess?This spurred my curiosity and inspired me to attempt a blind comparison. Not sure if the formatting will work. This is the first 4 games as a freshman for various highly rated Cyclone recruits from the last ~15 years:
Player A: 39, 5/14, 1/6, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 6, 16
Player B: 53, 7/21, 7/18, 5, 0, 2, 0, 0, 3, 26
Player C: 102, 15/32, 7/21, 16, 5, 2, 0, 5, 5, 39
Player D: 113, 20/36, 12/20, 16, 5, 3, 1, 2, 3, 59
Player E : 84, 6/18, 2/10, 12, 11, 4, 0, 6, 6, 25
Player F: 93, 20/29, 4/7, 28, 9, 6, 2, 6, 5, 57
(Minutes, FG/FGM, 3FG/3FGM, rbs, assists, steals, blocks, tos, fouls, points)
He looked pretty physical taking out that ref on the sideline in the one game!End of the day I think it boils down to Nojus not being the type of defender or physical player needed. He’ll probably end up a better offensive player than a guy like Nate but he wouldn’t be close to the defensive player, rebounder, etc
There's only so many 4 & 5 star recruits that played significant minutes at the beginning of the season... in fact I think there are only 9, unless I'm missing someone.Can you give us a pool of names so we can guess?
Are you saying Chatfield didn't work out here?Yeah, I think the narrative some people push that people who didn't work out at ISU just didn't want to work hard on defense is unfair. Some of these guys probably work plenty hard and would be solid in a more normal defensive scheme.
ISU just runs a system that requires a lot of awareness, anticipation and mental and physical speed, because it's constantly gambling for steals and any lag in rotation systemically breaks down the whole scheme. I think Jackson and Chatfield just didn't have the legs and the game maybe just never slowed down for Nojus.
However hard they might've worked, all 10 guys in this year's rotation fit the system much better
I liked Jackson and I really liked Chatfield. That said, for the defense Otz wants to run, they were a step slow. It's the biggest reason last years defense was the worst of the Otz era. I think it was a learning experience for the staff.Are you saying Chatfield didn't work out here?
I heard this is more of a mental illness than the heart issueHe has a genetic heart issue that I would not be surprised if it's related to that.
Three years after heart surgery, Dishon Jackson grateful to play in first NCAA Tournament game
Was disappointed to see Jackson transfer after 1 year but so far I think Buchanan looks like a much better fit for the style of play we run. More athletic and plays above the rim more too.
What have you seen from Mulder that makes you feel better about him so far?I liked Jackson and I really liked Chatfield. That said, for the defense Otz wants to run, they were a step slow. It's the biggest reason last years defense was the worst of the Otz era. I think it was a learning experience for the staff.
Our bigs have to be able to contain guards in ice coverage on ball screens at the perimeter and sprint back to the rim in rotation. If they're a step slow, you just can't put two guys on the ball in the same way.
If you can't recover, you can't gamble, and this system is built on gambling strategically
Even if you do know this for a fact, which you don't, what is the point of putting it out here? Spreading unsubstantiated rumors about a young man's medical situation isn't necessaryI heard this is more of a mental illness than the heart issue
What have you seen from Mulder that makes you feel better about him so far?
I think Mulder's ceiling is going to be foul sponge, which yeah, some nights we might need that against poor shooting 5'sThis issue is one of my few critiques of the current roster construction.
Buchanan certainly seems like he can fulfill the role in the defense as Big Rob and Hason. Good wingspan, reads things quickly, aggressive with his hands, and above all great lateral footspeed.
Not sold Pleta and Mulder have the same ability.
My only problem with Buchanan so far is we don't have two of him.
And he can't play 40 MPG with fatigue and fouls.
:/
Good points. It would be great to have a second Buchanan, but that isn't our reality. His blend of physicality when inside with footspeed to stay in front of a guard when switching on the perimeter is rare for a man of his size. I remember how much Homan grew, especially not fouling on D and being a go to scorer rather than just putbacks as he progressed from a freshman to a senior. Thus, I won't be too quick to judge Pleta's ability to develop into that has he matures past his freshman season. I have seen less from Mulder so far, but haven't seen enough against good competition to make that call. Pleta has gotten a minute more per game than Mulder, but clear we want Buchanan on the floor as much as possible, but he is on the floor just over half the game. I think we will see lots of times when we go smaller with Jefferson at the 5 until those two grow into their roles especially on D and rebounding.This issue is one of my few critiques of the current roster construction.
Buchanan certainly seems like he can fulfill the role in the defense as Big Rob and Hason. Good wingspan, reads things quickly, aggressive with his hands, and above all great lateral footspeed.
Not sold Pleta and Mulder have the same ability.
My only problem with Buchanan so far is we don't have two of him.
And he can't play 40 MPG with fatigue and fouls.
:/
I three big guys seems to understand the defense better than Jackson and Chatfield. I don't know if Jackson and Chatfield actually a big slower, or if they just appeared slower because it took them longer to process things. Regarding Mulder, I think my evaluation is this. Buchanon and Pleta have looked pretty good. Good enough to go with a 2 man rotation at the 5 spot. The fact that Mulder gets any minutes tells me that he understands the defense just as well as Buchanon and Pleta and has shown that in practice. He doesn't have the upside of the other 2, but TJ wouldn't play him unless he knew what he was doing both offensively and defensively.What have you seen from Mulder that makes you feel better about him so far?
Good points. It is early in the year and we have a limited body of work to have verdicts on Mulder and Pleta yet. I also agree that Chatfield didn't have the foot speed to keep from getting exposed on the perimeter that Buchanan seems to have. Having said that, if Chatfield were on this team, I wouldn't be surprised if he would be getting the 2nd most minutes at the 5, over both Pleta and Mulder as his physicality inside was so much better and he was such a great rebounder. I do like the early work I have seen from both Pleta and Mulder on the offensive glass, yet Chatfield was at a high level there.I three big guys seems to understand the defense better than Jackson and Chatfield. I don't know if Jackson and Chatfield actually a big slower, or if they just appeared slower because it took them longer to process things. Regarding Mulder, I think my evaluation is this. Buchanon and Pleta have looked pretty good. Good enough to go with a 2 man rotation at the 5 spot. The fact that Mulder gets any minutes tells me that he understands the defense just as well as Buchanon and Pleta and has shown that in practice. He doesn't have the upside of the other 2, but TJ wouldn't play him unless he knew what he was doing both offensively and defensively.
No doubt Chatfield was better in November than Pleta and Mulder, and most teams would be better off picking him for the season. Chatfield is a better overall player. ISU just runs a unique defense.Good points. It is early in the year and we have a limited body of work to have verdicts on Mulder and Pleta yet. I also agree that Chatfield didn't have the foot speed to keep from getting exposed on the perimeter that Buchanan seems to have. Having said that, if Chatfield were on this team, I wouldn't be surprised if he would be getting the 2nd most minutes at the 5, over both Pleta and Mulder as his physicality inside was so much better and he was such a great rebounder. I do like the early work I have seen from both Pleta and Mulder on the offensive glass, yet Chatfield was at a high level there.
This issue is one of my few critiques of the current roster construction.
Buchanan certainly seems like he can fulfill the role in the defense as Big Rob and Hason. Good wingspan, reads things quickly, aggressive with his hands, and above all great lateral footspeed.
Not sold Pleta and Mulder have the same ability.
My only problem with Buchanan so far is we don't have two of him.
And he can't play 40 MPG with fatigue and fouls.