Naz longs improvement

cyclones12321

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2009
8,258
1,772
113
38
Newton Ia
Its been crazy from freshman to sophomore year. I know the seasons still going on but just was curious how much everyone thought he would improve from his sophomore season to his junior?
 

State43

Well-Known Member
Nov 22, 2010
17,201
3,519
113
Omaha, NE
I have always heard his work ethic is 2nd to none so I am not surprised. I hope he is ready to step up in Niangs absence.
 

ExCyment

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2013
1,938
1,118
113
Crescent, IA
Last year he didn't even look like he belonged on the court, now he looks like he will be a solid upper classman. For all the criticism Matt has gotten, hopefully he improves equally next year. He'll be a really great sophomore if he does.
 

Wesley

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
70,923
546
113
Omaha
His defense is much better the last month. He was overrunning the player earlier in the season.
 

Luth4Cy

Well-Known Member
Sep 19, 2012
5,520
134
63
Ames, IA
Naz needs to improve offensively in terms of his ability to create. If he does that he will be an excellent basketball player. More shooting consistency wouldn't hurt either.
 

swarthmoreCY

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2008
16,374
736
83
Here nor there
Its been crazy from freshman to sophomore year. I know the seasons still going on but just was curious how much everyone thought he would improve from his sophomore season to his junior?
I agree he has improved, but how much has he improved, given he did not play last year? I think some were way too down on Naz after seeing him in very limited minutes out of position. In other words, I think had he played 20 minutes a game last year, he would have looked a lot closer to this year's Naz.

That said, he can get even better. He is a good-sized guard that is athletic and can shoot- that is a great starting point. With defense's respecting his shot, he has a good enough handle to at least be a proficient straight-line slasher/creator, and not be a liability in handling pressure. Last night's drive to the hoop is something I think we will see more of. He is also becoming a plus defender, and he could be a plus rebounder too.

It is clear why the staff has been high on him. He is a great leader and is a solid in the off-guard/third guard role. In hindsight, it would be great if he had redshirted with SDW last year.
 

BigLame

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2008
5,150
2,228
113
Western IA
Wasn't Naz a point guard in HS? Think his ceiling is pretty high & he is not close to touching it yet.
 

marothisu

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2009
7,174
641
113
NYC
His improvement has been incredible and I've noticed he's actually been taking it to the hoop sometimes in the last handful of games. He did it last night and pretty sure he's done it at least once in every other game in the last half of the Big 12.
 

bigdaddykane

Active Member
Mar 3, 2014
5,589
12
38
35
he needs to work on gettin to the hoop but other than that we has gotten a lot better
 

marothisu

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2009
7,174
641
113
NYC
he needs to work on gettin to the hoop but other than that we has gotten a lot better

Which he's been doing sometimes in the last handful of games. As far as non-3 point FGs he scored, he had 1 last night and 3 against KState in the Big 12 Tournament, and 2 in the OK State game to end the regular season.

He is a role player though in the end, so it's hard to say how well he can actually do it because he's probably told he doesn't need to very much.
 
Last edited:

Cycsk

Year-round tailgater
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 17, 2009
28,366
17,278
113
Naz is really smart on the court. I think his problems last year had to do with thinking too much while he was playing. This year, he has kept both in balance. I love the way he is playing instinctively, but also talking in detail during breaks with the other players. The BB IQs of Long and Morris are off the chart.
 

wcamnclone

Active Member
Oct 24, 2008
387
144
43
Fargo, ND
If he keeps improving like he has so far, the group of Naz, Georges, Monte, and Matt Thomas is going to be a pretty strong and experienced core 2 years from now.

But in the meantime, let's enjoy the ride we are currently on!
 

Bret44

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 8, 2009
17,296
7,852
113
Cedar River Valley
The way he has been slashing to the hoop since the middle of February has told me a lot. Teams have been slacking off or him and he has taken advantage. I think his ceiling is really high. I can't wait to see him out there tomorrow afternoon.
 

demoncore1031

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2008
14,544
7,683
113
Albuquerque,NM
theslaughterhouse.freeforums.net
Last year he didn't even look like he belonged on the court, now he looks like he will be a solid upper classman. For all the criticism Matt has gotten, hopefully he improves equally next year. He'll be a really great sophomore if he does.

Agreed. I think a lot of it with Matt is just mental. He has a great looking shot. He has improved on defense and at rebounding as the season has gone on. Same with Naz. They have both improved every aspect of their game as the season has went on, and they should both be even better next year.
 

cyrocksmypants

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2008
91,284
89,025
113
Washington DC
Don't they normally say the biggest improvement is often between a players freshman and sophomore year? Maybe not so much anymore with one and dones, but I know they USED to say that.
 

Frak

Well-Known Member
Apr 27, 2009
11,386
6,960
113
I think that Naz has gotten a lot better. Actually, Ejim has too. Niang is better than he was last year...I was hoping that he'd come in next year in better shape, hopefully the injury doesn't prevent that. Really, under GMac, we didn't see a lot of players get a whole lot better except for some of the bigs. Under FH, we've seen Ejim improve his handle, shot and hands. We've seen Naz improve his shooting and confidence. If Thomas, Naz and Morris continue the trend, they're going to be in good shape down the line. It's hard to imagine how good Monte Morris is going to be by the time he's a SR if he gets better every year.
 

madguy30

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 15, 2011
57,206
55,098
113
His comfort and court awareness has generally improved throughout the year. He's knocked down shots like the ones against OSU because he knows he can, because he believes he can.

And he believes he can, because his coach is a guy who guided Melvin Ejim to become B12 POY, amongst other things that only seem possible after he's done them (the transfer thing, Royce White, players like Kane, etc).

And while I'm hoping for this team to pull together for a win, I just realized that, no matter how much I've b*tched about this team, how much I'm not sure if I'll be able to watch if it all comes to an end tomorrow. What a group!
 

kingcy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 16, 2006
22,799
3,675
113
Menlo, Iowa
Go down the list of players on this team and they all have improved for the most part. This staff has done an amazing job at making players better. Even a guy like Kane has improved so much from last season to this season. Ejim had a lot of holes in his game as a Freshman and look at him now. Long was a PG out of HS and he have become a good shooter. Every time I watch Iowa play I wonder how much Fred could improve Marbles game.