I was sitting across the isle from his parents as well as all the OSU family members on Friday. They were is amazement with what the refs let ISU players get away with and how we were not getting called for fouls every time down the floor. I just bit my tongue and tried to cheer us to victory.
Just what if
- Thread starter Knownothing
- Start date
I was sitting across the isle from his parents as well as all the OSU family members on Friday. They were is amazement with what the refs let ISU players get away with and how we were not getting called for fouls every time down the floor. I just bit my tongue and tried to cheer us to victory.
Watching that block made me realize that Solo might have the best side to side foot work of our big men. Being able to come out to the three point line, drop step, and keep position on that guy all the way to the rim is huge. To many times we would get beat on that resulting in either lack of help or trying to commence the block from the side or behind resulting in a foul.
He was very difficult to watch at times this season, even when he was making shots. There were many 3's he took that I thought, "omg, bad shot" and some of them went in.
At the same time, I thought he looked the best when he was being aggressive and driving the basketball. There were times he would take his guy off the dribble, get to the basket, and sometimes miss the layup, but I would think keep doing that, they'll start to drop.
There's no doubt Prohm and the staff were telling him the same thing. That he is better being aggressive with the ball, rather than settling for difficult outside shots. The question is, can he listen and learn in the offseason, and improve for next season.
I compare his style very much to that of Burton. Burton as a JR was very similar to FR THT, and hopefully THT SO can be closer to Burton as a SR.
My best guess is-
Prohm stays
Lindell stays
Lard stays
THT leaves (this will be very interesting to monitor as scouts are able to see him more, especially his recent games)
Lewis leaves
Griffin leaves
This leaves a rotation of-
Wigginton
Halliburton
Jacobsen
Lard
Young
Nixon
Conditt
The key with this group would be Jacobsen's ability to space the floor and shoot a few threes each game and make around 35%. Nixon and Halliburton would also need to be able to break down defenses off the dribble so Wigginton doesn't have to do that all himself. A grad transfer bigger guard would be ideal so we can still toggle between 4 guards and 2 bigs more effectively.
Prohm stays
Lindell stays
Lard stays
THT leaves (this will be very interesting to monitor as scouts are able to see him more, especially his recent games)
Lewis leaves
Griffin leaves
This leaves a rotation of-
Wigginton
Halliburton
Jacobsen
Lard
Young
Nixon
Conditt
The key with this group would be Jacobsen's ability to space the floor and shoot a few threes each game and make around 35%. Nixon and Halliburton would also need to be able to break down defenses off the dribble so Wigginton doesn't have to do that all himself. A grad transfer bigger guard would be ideal so we can still toggle between 4 guards and 2 bigs more effectively.
Plus he brings some hair attitude. With him not playing this year and Wigginton going with a rather pedestrian cut it fell to Conditt to carry the hair style mantel. That's a lot to put on a freshman.
I hope THT get's some NBA feedback about his shot selection and defense and decides to come back with the intention of cleaning these things up. You are right about the Burton comparison and I could see him refining his game and being a less athletic version of Deonte for the next year or two for us.
If he get's feedback that he's a first round pick though I don't see why he would return.
Sky is the limit. Question is, how much can Prohm make that work? He will have a lot of people watching this next season. Maybe Prohm is more of an offseason coach and in the game, he lets the players work out the struggles rather than spearhead the adjustments himself or maybe this year in particular was an anomaly regarding personnel. If he can make this team develop an identity beyond fast break/hero ball, I think next years team has a real chance at something special even without Shayok.
Having a guy that did not move when Wesson put his shoulder into him would have been nice. Solomon might never average 15+ minutes per game the rest of his career, but there are going to be certain match-ups where having his size and strength is critical. The bar fight they called a basketball game in Tulsa was the perfect moment for him.
Plus, and while I love our other guys, I think a few of them were nervous to be playing in their first NCAA tournament game. Solomon has already started in two.
The lights are bright in March, but he had at least seen them before.
Correct. Soloman would have helped a ton defensively and on the boards and I often had to remind myself how big of a loss he really was. It was especially clear against Ohio State.
Griffons not leaving.
We would need another guard in that rotation. Somebody would not be leaving in that scenario.
The only one I could see leaving would be Lewis.
I think Zion needed a year to get better and think he has some great upside. 6'6 guy who can shoot outside fairly well. Room for him to grow this summer.
I do think Lewis could be that 3 pt threat but inconsistency hurts him, especially on the defensive side.
It would be great to get everyone back except the seniors.
I think Zion needed a year to get better and think he has some great upside. 6'6 guy who can shoot outside fairly well. Room for him to grow this summer.
I do think Lewis could be that 3 pt threat but inconsistency hurts him, especially on the defensive side.
It would be great to get everyone back except the seniors.
So much this. SY is immovable in the post. Then when the offensive player tries to spin right, Young is there. Spin right, Young is already there as well. That is why he was able to shut down Tyler Cook and every other inside player he faced.
I also noticed a big difference when he guards big players as compared to our current posts. He dies not lean his arm and put his weight on the player to hold his ground. Solomon uses a wide stance and puts his chest to the back of the posting player.
I can see your point. I do think THT is a classic freshman who was too used to being the most physically gifted player in HS. I think he'll know better what to work on this offseason.
I think ISU will be in really good shape if either THT or Wiggs stays. If they both stay, I think there's more risk of two high volume guys that like to have the ball in their hands stagnating the offense. But the ceiling is obviously higher. Kind of a bigger risk, bigger possible reward situation.
Why do people act like THT is the finished product or should be the finished product? He’s going to be an 18 year old sophomore he will only get better and better with time and experience.
I'm confused by the Griffin leaving comments. He's a freshman. There's no reason to think he won't be back.
Lewis? I can see him moving on, but hope he doesn't. I like the kid.
Lewis? I can see him moving on, but hope he doesn't. I like the kid.
I want to see Talen back. Extremely talented. I’m confident he can improve on playing under control more as a sophomore.
I agree, I am excited for the potential of THT being back. Yes, THT had some bad/hero ball type of games. However, we do need to remember how young he is and how much room for growth he has this off-season. His ceiling is crazy high if he focus on the right things this off-season.
