Every team needs a star and perhaps just as important is the X-factor player. The guy who doesn't always produce the most impressive stats in every column, but does the type of work that turns a potential loss into a win. Many times the X-factor is the first man off the bench who supplies tough defense, a steady hand, and killer instinct.
Last season, C.J. Wilcox and Desmond Simmons often appeared to be the X-factor as both supplied their own unique brand of basketball support. Wilcox was an efficient scorer and solid defense player as well as shot blocker, while Simmons was more known for his rebounding and sheer tenacity in getting down and dirty after loose balls.
This season presents a more interesting challenge in identifying who will step his game up in a special way to supply the team with that extra oomph that is needed to keep the scoring margin in our favor. With our best talent now in the NBA there is plenty of room for players to step up and become the stars of the hardwood. In turn, this leaves room for players to become the new X-factor, but exactly who is tough to nail down after experiencing such a shallow bench this past year.
Desmond Simmons is an easy early pick as next season's X-Factor. While Simmons' production on the glass slowed during conference play, the potential and talent was clearly displayed in the non-conference games and will most certainly be improved upon by the start of 2012's non-conference schedule. Simmons reminds me a lot of Jon Brockman, an undersized power forward with great strength and hustle. Simmons knows how to use his body to gain position and snatch rebounds up left and right and is more than willing to sacrifice his body diving on the floor and fighting for every ball out there. Simmons showed signs of an excellent mid range to long range shot in early season games, but strayed away from shooting the ball as the year went on. With the departure of Darnell Gant, the team could really use a consistent touch between 10 and 15 feet and Simmons may be just the guy to do it. What makes me believe in Simmons as the X-factor next season is his motor and drive. Not many players work as hard as he does day in and day out. Add in his extra experience due to his redshirt season and Simmons has all the makings of a game changer.
Aziz N'Diaye should also be considered in this discussion due to the offensive upside that remains on his side. N'Diaye will (more than likely) be a three year starter for the Dawgs, all without having much of a developed offensive game. Everyone knows the type of contribution N'Diaye makes on the defensive end with his massive body sucking up the paint and his rebounding efforts make him a very valuable force in the middle. N'Diaye can become an X-factor by turning his inability to shoot free throws into a passable aspect of his game. With N'Diaye standing taller and stronger than a majority of his opposition, playing above and through contact should not and has not been too much of a problem. What has been a problem is his production at the foul line following the contact. With a career average just over 40%, N'Diaye has missed, quite literally, over 100 free opportunities at easy points. I expect no player to be perfect at the line, but as Gilles Dierickx has shown, big men can shoot the ball well from the foul line if they are willing to work at it. Averaging 4 foul attempts per game this past year, N'Diaye is missing 2 to 3 points per game. Perfecting his shot suddenly jumps N'Diaye's 8 point average right into the double digit range and gives him a chance to put up a double-double in every game. A summer's worth of work should be enough to get him near the 75% any player should consider the minimum, it only comes down to whether N'Diaye is willing to put in the work necessary to fix his shot. UW has been well known for its string of proficient outside shooters and wings. If N'Diaye can become an offensive force in the paint, his presence can be a deterrent to defenses wishing to cheat outside. However, this will only work well if N'Diaye proves he can hit the free ones. Should N'Diaye continue to miss his foul shots, the opposition should have no problem instituting a "Hack-a-Shaq" policy and the defense will be freer to spread the floor and prevent the deep shots.
Mark McLaughlin is another intriguing choice, though for different reasons than the two mentioned above. McLaughlin was a dominating scorer at the junior college level averaging nearly 30 points per game. The biggest question surrounding McLaughlin is "Can he produce at such high levels against Division 1 defense?" The likely answer is that McLaughlin will continue to score in droves, though his possession numbers will not be high enough to rack up 30 points a night. Personally, McLaughlin strikes me as a guy who will produce much like Wilcox has these past two years. McLaughlin sizes up well next to Scott Suggs and Wilcox and could very well be the 6th man of this team and the first sub off the bench. What made the 2010-2011 Huskies so dangerous was the bench depth and scoring potential of so many players. That season featured a rotation of nearly 10 guys, all of whom could have started for any team in the Pac-10. They all could score and as such, substitutions did not mean a dip in scoring. McLaughlin should be a big help in that same vein. When Suggs or Wilcox need a breather, McLaughlin could offer up a third deadly hand to maintain a high team scoring average. McLaughlin needs to establish himself early in the preseason games in Europe and Africa to gain the confidence of his coaches and teammates.
A fourth choice is Jernard Jarreau, the 6-10 forward with point guard skill. Featuring a 7-7 wingspan, Jarreau is a lanky guy with huge potential to disrupt on the defensive end and play above the rim on both sides of the court. A comparison to Anthony Davis is likely farfetched, but Jarreau strikes me as a similar player due to their build and back stories. With N'Diaye beside Jarreau with a 7-6 wing span, the duo more than covers the 12 foot paint and take up 30% of the court's width. That type of length is tough to beat and will certainly help ail some of the defensive issues that plagued the Dawgs off and on last season. Jarreau must do more than play tough, preventative defense. Jarreau must also supply some sort of scoring potential, preferably from the high post where he can see above the defense to create plays through himself or with a pass to an open teammate. Jarreau could be the first man off the bench for the Husky frontcourt to provide Simmons with a breather. Jarreau's thin frame prevents him from subbing for N'Diaye, but that is where Shawn Kemp Jr. comes into play.
Go Dawgs!
Showing posts with label Desmond Simmons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Desmond Simmons. Show all posts
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
2012-2013: Who can take over in the frontcourt?
Quick recruiting update: Nigel Williams-Goss, a 6-3 point guard out of Oregon, has verbally committed to the Huskies for the 2013 recruiting class. NWG is a stereotypical Romar player: smart (4.0 GPA in high school), focused on the defensive end, and the completely opposite of a drama-hog. Instead of the "traditional" method of declaring a commitment via selecting a hat off a table, NWG opted to write a blog post about his decision. NWG is a great pick-up would should help replace Abdul Gaddy following his senior season.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
I mentioned briefly in my early season preview that one of the Huskies biggest issues moving into the '12-'13 season is filling the power forward position Darnell Gant had been the center of the past two years. Desmond Simmons provided solid relief in the non-conference season, but struggled to have a strong impact in conference play. Outside of Simmons, the Huskies had little bench support to speak of at the 4 (and 5 slot for that matter).
If the Huskies want to compete for a 5th straight Pac-10/12 title, the Dawgs will need to find an answer to the question "Who can take over in the frontcourt?" While a definitive answer is far from complete at this point in the year, the Dawgs do possess a number of candidates who could make enough of an impact to take scoring and defensive pressure off the backcourt.
The only certainty in the frontcourt is Aziz N'Diaye who will undoubtedly remain in the starting line-up as our go-to center for the third straight season. N'Diaye improved his offensive game greatly this past year as well as his ability to play suffocating defensive without drawing a foul every few plays. This has allowed N'Diaye the opportunity to play more minutes, leading to more scoring and game play experience. N'Diaye's hands softened up and the big man was able to add some nice drop step maneuvers to his post game skill set. N'Diaye continued to struggle mightily at the foul line, but another summer could prove to be invaluable for his work at the charity stripe. Oftentimes N'Diaye's shots would fall short or long of their mark, but remain dead on target in terms of hitting the center of the rim. If the 7 footer can bring his foul shot percentage up to 75% from his career average of 40.4%, N'Diaye will see his scoring average raise at least 1 points per game (a number more significant than it may seem). This number increases even more if N'Diaye can play more into contact to draw a greater number of fouls. During the 2011-2012 season, N'Diaye averaged just under 4 foul shot attempts per game. With the Pac-12 featuring some powerful frontcourts next year in UCLA and USC, the Dawgs desperately need players to step up inside the paint and draw fouls on the opposition. While I do not expect N'Diaye to pull a Derrick Williams and average over 8 foul attempts per game, seeing N'Diaye raise his average from 4 to 6 would be fantastic for the Huskies.
I wish N'Diaye could play the full 40 minutes, but N'Diaye is not I.T. and those type of minutes will wear on any players as the season progresses. With that in mind it is critical that the Dawgs find a strong relief player who can fill the paint and provide solid play on both sides of the court. The loss of Darnell Gant is felt even more when considering this problem. While Gant may not have been the strongest player at the 5, his length and speed made him dangerous as a defender and his mid-range game made Gant a tough cover for bigger centers like Josh Smith.
Maybe the most obvious man for the job is Shawn Kemp Jr. Kemp comes in at 6-9 and a very solid 265lbs. Kemp may have averaged only 7 minutes and 2 points per game last season, but Kemp did something our other frontcourt players seemed scared to do: go hard to the rim and dunk the ball. Too often for my taste, N'Diaye would lay the ball in rather than going up for the jam. I know N'Diaye can dunk, I just don't know why he seems so scared to do just that. N'Diaye's length is unbelievable and very few players can get their hands up near his on the block. Kemp understands that a dunk is more than just two points. A dunk can change the momentum of a game by charging up the home crowd or silencing a hostile environment. Players rally around guys playing a tough, physical game and a center that can throw down next to the rim is an immense tool. I believe Kemp can be that tough player. I believe Kemp can be that guy to come in and bang in the paint, drawing a few fouls while delivering a few of his own. Kemp certainly has the genetics for highlight plays and showed flashes of his abilities during his limited play time. When considering Kemp as N'Diaye's backup you have to remember that Kemp had spent two season away from competitive basketball while improving his academic standing and his conditioning and skills suffered as a result. Now that Kemp is able to refocus his efforts in basketball, expect an immediate rise in his abilities.
We now arrive at the biggest unknown of next season: the 4. If I had to place a bet now, I would lay my money on Desmond Simmons starting at the 4 slot. Simmons proved he is the rough and tumble energy guy Romar professed him to be. Simmons was aggressive on both ends of the glass and supplied reasonably solid defense through the game. Some may argue that Simmons is a tad undersized for the 4 at only 6-7, but at 220lbs Simmons has the strength to battle with players bigger than himself. It is truly his motor that carries him forward and allows him to find success. Where Simmons needs to improve is his mid-range shot. The Dawgs need Simmons to nail down that 12 to 15 footer that Gant was known for. It is an especially dangerous shot when used on the high post screen/pick-and-roll, a play Romar neglects to use way too often. I believe this is a simple fix for Simmons due to the fact that he started the year hitting exactly that type of shot. I'm not sure what changed between November and January, but the Freshman Wall almost always rears its head and Simmons encountered his late in the year. I doubt any Husky fan is expecting our 4 to average double digit points, but I think it is more than fair to want our starting forward to bring 7 to 8 points a game with him.
After Simmons, the experience level drops off pretty significantly. The Huskies have 2 players off the bench to provide some length and minutes.
I expect Martin Breunig to be a big part of the bench next season. I love this kid's attitude and the way he plays. Defensively, Breunig had troubles picking up Romar's style of play, which ultimately led to his limited minutes during conference play. That being said, Breunig is aggressive on offense and seems to possess solid court vision. After the Huskies ended their post season, Romar talked about how the defensive issues would be cleared up immediately and that the Husky fan base should expect a return to the hustle and grind that teams in the Romar era have been known for. Breunig has great athleticism and the will to do whatever is necessary to get the W. After a year of the learning a brand new system in a brand new country, Breunig is primed for an off season of training that is made even more valuable when considering the multi-week trip to Europe and Africa that will give The Dawgs an additional 10 practices before non-conference play. With a defensively improved Breunig, the forward slot issues could be much more easily and readily addressed.
A potential X-Factor for the '12-'13 season is 6-10 forward Jernard Jerreau. When Jerreau first arrived at campus he had to run circles in the shower to get wet. A full year of weight lifting during his redshirt season has led to at least 15lbs of muscle being added to his lengthy frame since high school. That additional muscle puts Jerreau at a much better 205lbs with another four and a half months to go before the games begin. Jerreau has skills that many others his size do not after growing 7 inches between his freshman year of high school and his senior year. Jerreau can handle the ball with somewhat surprising grace that combined with his 91 inch wingspan allows the New Orleans native to make plays above and around others with much greater ease. The key to Jerreau's career moving forward is continuing his weight lifting regiment to gain the strength necessary to play through contact and battle more stout players. Jerreau will not be able to compete in the center against guys like Josh Smith or the Wear twins due to his thin frame, but he could do a lot of good against the many 6-8 and 6-9 players at the forward position where his speed and length will be much tougher to stop. I, for one, am very excited to see Jerreau step on the court and see what all he has to offer. With a great shot and decent rebounding, Jerreau could make his way into the starting 5 due to his size (Imagine a starting 5 of 6-3, 6-6, 6-6, 6-10, 7-0, I'm drooling already).
Two other players have uncertain futures with the Huskies: Austin Sefarian-Jenkins and Perris Blackwell.
Perris Blackwell is a transfer player from USF who stands at 6-9 240lbs. What is holding Blackwell back are the NCAA transfer rules and his current standing as a student. If Blackwell could somehow complete 2 quarters worth of schooling over the summer, Blackwell could apply to the UW as a graduate student allowing him to immediately join and play for the Huskies. This scenario is highly unlikely and as a result, Blackwell will need to sit out the 2012-2013 season as a redshirt per NCAA regulations meaning Dawg fans will have to wait to see Blackwell donning the purple and gold.
Austin Sefarian-Jenkins is a potential All-American football player who may wish to sit out the basketball season to avoid injuries that could end his football playing career. Though ASJ loved and grew from his time on the hardwood, his future lies on the gridiron and risking injury as a walk-on to a sport that will not pay his bills is not a wise course of action. At 6-6 and 260lbs, ASJ was great for about 5 minutes of play and 5 hard fouls, which is exactly what I would expect him to bring to the floor should he put on a basketball uniform for another season. What Husky fans need to keep in mind is that even if ASJ decides to play basketball once more, we will not be able to count on him until conference play as the football season extends into late December and, hopefully, very early January.
What next year's frontcourt comes down to is 5 guys playing a total of 80 minutes, of whom only two have any reasonable amount of experience on the court in a college atmosphere. N'Diaye should continue to pick up his 25 minutes a game and Simmons will likely add a few more to his responsibility in order to fill in the gap left by Gant's departure. This leaves 30-35 minutes amongst 3 players, all of whom could easily contribute the 10-12 minute average that would be asked of them. The most likely scenario is that Kemp Jr. picks up 15 minutes to fill in for N'Diaye, while Breunig and Jerreau split the remaining 15-20 minutes at the 4. With a stellar backcourt once again, this Husky frontcourt should not have too much scoring pressure on their shoulders and much of the frontcourt's responsibilities will come on the defensive end and both sides of the glass. Last season, the frontcourt accounted for 30% of the team scoring and I would imagine next season's team to average the same.
So who can take over in the frontcourt? The answer is pretty much anyone. N'Diaye and Simmons have shown they can play, but there is a lot of room for improvement and opportunity that several players could seize. Romar has always been big on players earning their starting position, stating that no one is ever guaranteed a starting spot when practice begins. While I think most fans would agree that N'Diaye will be in the starting 5, an argument can clearly be made for a number of players to start at the forward position, depending on the off-season progress made by each individual.
The conclusion is that Husky fans should not be terribly worried about our frontcourt. Our team will be much more experienced next season and the tools exist for our frontcourt to have a successful year. I've always been a firm believer that basketball is an inside-out game, meaning that a strong (or at least reliable) frontcourt will open the floor for a talented backcourt to take over. This group of guys can get that job done. Now we just have to wait to see if they can execute and utilize the talent on their team effectively.
Go Dawgs!
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
I mentioned briefly in my early season preview that one of the Huskies biggest issues moving into the '12-'13 season is filling the power forward position Darnell Gant had been the center of the past two years. Desmond Simmons provided solid relief in the non-conference season, but struggled to have a strong impact in conference play. Outside of Simmons, the Huskies had little bench support to speak of at the 4 (and 5 slot for that matter).
If the Huskies want to compete for a 5th straight Pac-10/12 title, the Dawgs will need to find an answer to the question "Who can take over in the frontcourt?" While a definitive answer is far from complete at this point in the year, the Dawgs do possess a number of candidates who could make enough of an impact to take scoring and defensive pressure off the backcourt.
The only certainty in the frontcourt is Aziz N'Diaye who will undoubtedly remain in the starting line-up as our go-to center for the third straight season. N'Diaye improved his offensive game greatly this past year as well as his ability to play suffocating defensive without drawing a foul every few plays. This has allowed N'Diaye the opportunity to play more minutes, leading to more scoring and game play experience. N'Diaye's hands softened up and the big man was able to add some nice drop step maneuvers to his post game skill set. N'Diaye continued to struggle mightily at the foul line, but another summer could prove to be invaluable for his work at the charity stripe. Oftentimes N'Diaye's shots would fall short or long of their mark, but remain dead on target in terms of hitting the center of the rim. If the 7 footer can bring his foul shot percentage up to 75% from his career average of 40.4%, N'Diaye will see his scoring average raise at least 1 points per game (a number more significant than it may seem). This number increases even more if N'Diaye can play more into contact to draw a greater number of fouls. During the 2011-2012 season, N'Diaye averaged just under 4 foul shot attempts per game. With the Pac-12 featuring some powerful frontcourts next year in UCLA and USC, the Dawgs desperately need players to step up inside the paint and draw fouls on the opposition. While I do not expect N'Diaye to pull a Derrick Williams and average over 8 foul attempts per game, seeing N'Diaye raise his average from 4 to 6 would be fantastic for the Huskies.
I wish N'Diaye could play the full 40 minutes, but N'Diaye is not I.T. and those type of minutes will wear on any players as the season progresses. With that in mind it is critical that the Dawgs find a strong relief player who can fill the paint and provide solid play on both sides of the court. The loss of Darnell Gant is felt even more when considering this problem. While Gant may not have been the strongest player at the 5, his length and speed made him dangerous as a defender and his mid-range game made Gant a tough cover for bigger centers like Josh Smith.
Maybe the most obvious man for the job is Shawn Kemp Jr. Kemp comes in at 6-9 and a very solid 265lbs. Kemp may have averaged only 7 minutes and 2 points per game last season, but Kemp did something our other frontcourt players seemed scared to do: go hard to the rim and dunk the ball. Too often for my taste, N'Diaye would lay the ball in rather than going up for the jam. I know N'Diaye can dunk, I just don't know why he seems so scared to do just that. N'Diaye's length is unbelievable and very few players can get their hands up near his on the block. Kemp understands that a dunk is more than just two points. A dunk can change the momentum of a game by charging up the home crowd or silencing a hostile environment. Players rally around guys playing a tough, physical game and a center that can throw down next to the rim is an immense tool. I believe Kemp can be that tough player. I believe Kemp can be that guy to come in and bang in the paint, drawing a few fouls while delivering a few of his own. Kemp certainly has the genetics for highlight plays and showed flashes of his abilities during his limited play time. When considering Kemp as N'Diaye's backup you have to remember that Kemp had spent two season away from competitive basketball while improving his academic standing and his conditioning and skills suffered as a result. Now that Kemp is able to refocus his efforts in basketball, expect an immediate rise in his abilities.
We now arrive at the biggest unknown of next season: the 4. If I had to place a bet now, I would lay my money on Desmond Simmons starting at the 4 slot. Simmons proved he is the rough and tumble energy guy Romar professed him to be. Simmons was aggressive on both ends of the glass and supplied reasonably solid defense through the game. Some may argue that Simmons is a tad undersized for the 4 at only 6-7, but at 220lbs Simmons has the strength to battle with players bigger than himself. It is truly his motor that carries him forward and allows him to find success. Where Simmons needs to improve is his mid-range shot. The Dawgs need Simmons to nail down that 12 to 15 footer that Gant was known for. It is an especially dangerous shot when used on the high post screen/pick-and-roll, a play Romar neglects to use way too often. I believe this is a simple fix for Simmons due to the fact that he started the year hitting exactly that type of shot. I'm not sure what changed between November and January, but the Freshman Wall almost always rears its head and Simmons encountered his late in the year. I doubt any Husky fan is expecting our 4 to average double digit points, but I think it is more than fair to want our starting forward to bring 7 to 8 points a game with him.
After Simmons, the experience level drops off pretty significantly. The Huskies have 2 players off the bench to provide some length and minutes.
I expect Martin Breunig to be a big part of the bench next season. I love this kid's attitude and the way he plays. Defensively, Breunig had troubles picking up Romar's style of play, which ultimately led to his limited minutes during conference play. That being said, Breunig is aggressive on offense and seems to possess solid court vision. After the Huskies ended their post season, Romar talked about how the defensive issues would be cleared up immediately and that the Husky fan base should expect a return to the hustle and grind that teams in the Romar era have been known for. Breunig has great athleticism and the will to do whatever is necessary to get the W. After a year of the learning a brand new system in a brand new country, Breunig is primed for an off season of training that is made even more valuable when considering the multi-week trip to Europe and Africa that will give The Dawgs an additional 10 practices before non-conference play. With a defensively improved Breunig, the forward slot issues could be much more easily and readily addressed.
A potential X-Factor for the '12-'13 season is 6-10 forward Jernard Jerreau. When Jerreau first arrived at campus he had to run circles in the shower to get wet. A full year of weight lifting during his redshirt season has led to at least 15lbs of muscle being added to his lengthy frame since high school. That additional muscle puts Jerreau at a much better 205lbs with another four and a half months to go before the games begin. Jerreau has skills that many others his size do not after growing 7 inches between his freshman year of high school and his senior year. Jerreau can handle the ball with somewhat surprising grace that combined with his 91 inch wingspan allows the New Orleans native to make plays above and around others with much greater ease. The key to Jerreau's career moving forward is continuing his weight lifting regiment to gain the strength necessary to play through contact and battle more stout players. Jerreau will not be able to compete in the center against guys like Josh Smith or the Wear twins due to his thin frame, but he could do a lot of good against the many 6-8 and 6-9 players at the forward position where his speed and length will be much tougher to stop. I, for one, am very excited to see Jerreau step on the court and see what all he has to offer. With a great shot and decent rebounding, Jerreau could make his way into the starting 5 due to his size (Imagine a starting 5 of 6-3, 6-6, 6-6, 6-10, 7-0, I'm drooling already).
Two other players have uncertain futures with the Huskies: Austin Sefarian-Jenkins and Perris Blackwell.
Perris Blackwell is a transfer player from USF who stands at 6-9 240lbs. What is holding Blackwell back are the NCAA transfer rules and his current standing as a student. If Blackwell could somehow complete 2 quarters worth of schooling over the summer, Blackwell could apply to the UW as a graduate student allowing him to immediately join and play for the Huskies. This scenario is highly unlikely and as a result, Blackwell will need to sit out the 2012-2013 season as a redshirt per NCAA regulations meaning Dawg fans will have to wait to see Blackwell donning the purple and gold.
Austin Sefarian-Jenkins is a potential All-American football player who may wish to sit out the basketball season to avoid injuries that could end his football playing career. Though ASJ loved and grew from his time on the hardwood, his future lies on the gridiron and risking injury as a walk-on to a sport that will not pay his bills is not a wise course of action. At 6-6 and 260lbs, ASJ was great for about 5 minutes of play and 5 hard fouls, which is exactly what I would expect him to bring to the floor should he put on a basketball uniform for another season. What Husky fans need to keep in mind is that even if ASJ decides to play basketball once more, we will not be able to count on him until conference play as the football season extends into late December and, hopefully, very early January.
What next year's frontcourt comes down to is 5 guys playing a total of 80 minutes, of whom only two have any reasonable amount of experience on the court in a college atmosphere. N'Diaye should continue to pick up his 25 minutes a game and Simmons will likely add a few more to his responsibility in order to fill in the gap left by Gant's departure. This leaves 30-35 minutes amongst 3 players, all of whom could easily contribute the 10-12 minute average that would be asked of them. The most likely scenario is that Kemp Jr. picks up 15 minutes to fill in for N'Diaye, while Breunig and Jerreau split the remaining 15-20 minutes at the 4. With a stellar backcourt once again, this Husky frontcourt should not have too much scoring pressure on their shoulders and much of the frontcourt's responsibilities will come on the defensive end and both sides of the glass. Last season, the frontcourt accounted for 30% of the team scoring and I would imagine next season's team to average the same.
So who can take over in the frontcourt? The answer is pretty much anyone. N'Diaye and Simmons have shown they can play, but there is a lot of room for improvement and opportunity that several players could seize. Romar has always been big on players earning their starting position, stating that no one is ever guaranteed a starting spot when practice begins. While I think most fans would agree that N'Diaye will be in the starting 5, an argument can clearly be made for a number of players to start at the forward position, depending on the off-season progress made by each individual.
The conclusion is that Husky fans should not be terribly worried about our frontcourt. Our team will be much more experienced next season and the tools exist for our frontcourt to have a successful year. I've always been a firm believer that basketball is an inside-out game, meaning that a strong (or at least reliable) frontcourt will open the floor for a talented backcourt to take over. This group of guys can get that job done. Now we just have to wait to see if they can execute and utilize the talent on their team effectively.
Go Dawgs!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Cal State Northridge Game Preview
Sorry for a lack of game review following the humiliating and embarrassing loss to SDST, but I just couldn't bring myself to relieve that experience. Arguably one of, if not thee, worst loss in the last 10 years and possibly in program history. The only players I thought played a truly complete and solid game were Desmond Simmons and Darnell Gant. Simmons is a workhorse who's attitude the entire team should emulate. Simmons had 11 boards, 7 offensive, and scored 8 points. Gant put up 10 rebounds, 5 offensive, and dropped 15. Outside of them, it was a lot of bad basketball and underachieving play.
On to Cal State.
Cal State is 3-6 on the year coming off two straight wins against Pepperdine and Pacifica (who the beat by 41). In each of their wins they have scored at least 73 points, with two games in the 90's. Their losses have featured scores of 67 or less with a low of 49. On the year the Matadors are averaging just under 70 points and 37 boards per game. The are shooting 37% from the field as well.
The Matadors receive solid contributions from a number of players and are led in scoring by Stephan Hicks, a 6-5 190lb guard, who is averaging over 17 points per game and a team high 8.7 rebounds per game. He is a do-it-all, hard working player that is an extreme threat in all aspects of the game. Hicks is a fantastic free throw shooting who drains nearly 90% of his attempts from the line. What I wouldn't do to have him coach Ton Wroten....
Five other players average over 8 points per game, with three of those players scoring double digit averages. Michael Lizarraga is third in scoring with 10 points per night and second in rebounding with 7 boards on average. Lizarraga stands at 6-7 240lb and is a very strong inside threat. Hopefully Aziz N'Diaye will be returning tomorrow as the game against SDST showed a glaring weakness in post defense without him on the court. Lizarraga is 0-3 from the FT line and 0-1 from outside. He does most of his work next to the rim and can be contained by keeping his touches outside the paint. Lizarraga has played in only one game this season so while his stats seem impressive, its hard to judge his abilities from a single outing.
Josh Greene leads the team in assists with 3.6 per game and is second in scoring, averaging 10.6 per outing. Greene is a 6-0 180lb guard with a sweet, sweet FT touch shooting 90.5% on the season and some great defensive abilities as well, leading the Matadors in steals. His outside shot is still being developed and has only made 16 of his 59 attempts on the year. Greene is second only to Vinnie McGee who is 17 of 91 on the season. As a team the Matadors are shooting a bit over 26% from outside, but are 78% from the FT line. Clearly this is a team that thrives on their inside game and getting to the foul line, where they average 22 attempts per game.
Vinnie McGee is a 5-10 170lb guard with 9.7 ppg on the year. He is second in assists with 2.7 per game, but is also averaging 2 turnovers per game. He is a 75% free throw shooter and like the rest of his team does most of his work inside the paint. McGee does lead the team in 3-point makes, but with a 28% shooting average from deep, he is not a huge threat from outside.
Frankie Eteuati is their starting center and is build very similar to UW's own Jernard Jerreau. Eteuati stands 6-10, but weighs in at only 190lb. He is not a big contributor averaging only 1.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in his 8 games thus far. The Matadors do not possess a true big man threat, something the Huskies would be good to attack.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Cal State:
Vinnie McGee 5-10 170lb
Josh Greene 6-0 180lb
Aqeel Quinn 6-4 190lb
Stephan Hicks 6-5 190lb
Frankie Eteuati 6-10 190lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb (If N'Diaye is still out, I'd bet on Desmond Simmons starting)
Keys to the Game:
Attack the Rim:
Only Tony Wroten has been doing this as of late. While I commend him for this, he has no right hand and this often leads to terrible lay-ins that clunk off the rim. I appreciate him drawing fouls, but he is still a terrible foul shot. Ross and Wilcox need to get aggressive and start taking shots inside. Wilcox has been better than Ross at this, but he all to often draws up short of contact, missing out on easy free throws. With the Matadors lacking a strong inside presence, UW can really affect the game by getting in the paint and attack them at their weakness.
Defense:
This may seem vague, but after the horrendous defense UW put out against the Jackrabbits I feel like it has to be said. Too many players are not getting the lateral movement they need to stay in front of their man and in turn preventing them from driving the lanes. The Dawgs need to communicate better on defense to ensure rotations lead to tight man coverage rather than open shots.
Rebounding:
This is something the Huskies can do either very well or very poorly depending on the game. Recently its been on the up-and-up with Simmons and Ross leading the way behind the ever constant N'Diaye. It's all about controlling the offensive glass to give our shooters opportunities and maintaining the defensive glass to prevent second chance shots by the opposition. I think a big part of tomorrows game will be how well UW can use its superior size to eat up rebounds.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-85 CSN-70
I truly hope Romar watches the tape from our last game and begins to appreciate just what kind of work Simmons does for our team. He is one of the toughest, hardest working players I've seen since Jon Brockman was rocking the number 40 in Hec Ed. He needs more play time and a bigger role in the team's game plan. I also hope Romar begins to coach Wroten on how to use his right hand and begins to hold him more responsible for his wild plays and passes. He has to learn that this is college, not high school, and players are much more aware and capable of stopping his plays form happening. If Ross and Wilcox and finally begin to deliver inside and develop into the players they should be, this team will greatly benefit from it. At this point, UW needs to win the conference title with at least 14 wins to secure an at-large bid, but I will not feel comfortable unless we secure the Pac-12 auto bid by winning the conference tournament. I hope this team can turn things around because at this point the season has been a huge bust of wasted potential.
Go Dawgs!
On to Cal State.
Cal State is 3-6 on the year coming off two straight wins against Pepperdine and Pacifica (who the beat by 41). In each of their wins they have scored at least 73 points, with two games in the 90's. Their losses have featured scores of 67 or less with a low of 49. On the year the Matadors are averaging just under 70 points and 37 boards per game. The are shooting 37% from the field as well.
The Matadors receive solid contributions from a number of players and are led in scoring by Stephan Hicks, a 6-5 190lb guard, who is averaging over 17 points per game and a team high 8.7 rebounds per game. He is a do-it-all, hard working player that is an extreme threat in all aspects of the game. Hicks is a fantastic free throw shooting who drains nearly 90% of his attempts from the line. What I wouldn't do to have him coach Ton Wroten....
Five other players average over 8 points per game, with three of those players scoring double digit averages. Michael Lizarraga is third in scoring with 10 points per night and second in rebounding with 7 boards on average. Lizarraga stands at 6-7 240lb and is a very strong inside threat. Hopefully Aziz N'Diaye will be returning tomorrow as the game against SDST showed a glaring weakness in post defense without him on the court. Lizarraga is 0-3 from the FT line and 0-1 from outside. He does most of his work next to the rim and can be contained by keeping his touches outside the paint. Lizarraga has played in only one game this season so while his stats seem impressive, its hard to judge his abilities from a single outing.
Josh Greene leads the team in assists with 3.6 per game and is second in scoring, averaging 10.6 per outing. Greene is a 6-0 180lb guard with a sweet, sweet FT touch shooting 90.5% on the season and some great defensive abilities as well, leading the Matadors in steals. His outside shot is still being developed and has only made 16 of his 59 attempts on the year. Greene is second only to Vinnie McGee who is 17 of 91 on the season. As a team the Matadors are shooting a bit over 26% from outside, but are 78% from the FT line. Clearly this is a team that thrives on their inside game and getting to the foul line, where they average 22 attempts per game.
Vinnie McGee is a 5-10 170lb guard with 9.7 ppg on the year. He is second in assists with 2.7 per game, but is also averaging 2 turnovers per game. He is a 75% free throw shooter and like the rest of his team does most of his work inside the paint. McGee does lead the team in 3-point makes, but with a 28% shooting average from deep, he is not a huge threat from outside.
Frankie Eteuati is their starting center and is build very similar to UW's own Jernard Jerreau. Eteuati stands 6-10, but weighs in at only 190lb. He is not a big contributor averaging only 1.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in his 8 games thus far. The Matadors do not possess a true big man threat, something the Huskies would be good to attack.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Cal State:
Vinnie McGee 5-10 170lb
Josh Greene 6-0 180lb
Aqeel Quinn 6-4 190lb
Stephan Hicks 6-5 190lb
Frankie Eteuati 6-10 190lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb (If N'Diaye is still out, I'd bet on Desmond Simmons starting)
Keys to the Game:
Attack the Rim:
Only Tony Wroten has been doing this as of late. While I commend him for this, he has no right hand and this often leads to terrible lay-ins that clunk off the rim. I appreciate him drawing fouls, but he is still a terrible foul shot. Ross and Wilcox need to get aggressive and start taking shots inside. Wilcox has been better than Ross at this, but he all to often draws up short of contact, missing out on easy free throws. With the Matadors lacking a strong inside presence, UW can really affect the game by getting in the paint and attack them at their weakness.
Defense:
This may seem vague, but after the horrendous defense UW put out against the Jackrabbits I feel like it has to be said. Too many players are not getting the lateral movement they need to stay in front of their man and in turn preventing them from driving the lanes. The Dawgs need to communicate better on defense to ensure rotations lead to tight man coverage rather than open shots.
Rebounding:
This is something the Huskies can do either very well or very poorly depending on the game. Recently its been on the up-and-up with Simmons and Ross leading the way behind the ever constant N'Diaye. It's all about controlling the offensive glass to give our shooters opportunities and maintaining the defensive glass to prevent second chance shots by the opposition. I think a big part of tomorrows game will be how well UW can use its superior size to eat up rebounds.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-85 CSN-70
I truly hope Romar watches the tape from our last game and begins to appreciate just what kind of work Simmons does for our team. He is one of the toughest, hardest working players I've seen since Jon Brockman was rocking the number 40 in Hec Ed. He needs more play time and a bigger role in the team's game plan. I also hope Romar begins to coach Wroten on how to use his right hand and begins to hold him more responsible for his wild plays and passes. He has to learn that this is college, not high school, and players are much more aware and capable of stopping his plays form happening. If Ross and Wilcox and finally begin to deliver inside and develop into the players they should be, this team will greatly benefit from it. At this point, UW needs to win the conference title with at least 14 wins to secure an at-large bid, but I will not feel comfortable unless we secure the Pac-12 auto bid by winning the conference tournament. I hope this team can turn things around because at this point the season has been a huge bust of wasted potential.
Go Dawgs!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
University of California: Santa Barbara Game Preview
UCSB comes in with a 5-2 record, both losses coming in overtime. Their most recent game was a 65-61 win over USD. This game had a chance to turn into a loss when a few Santa Barbara fans threw tortillas on the court with .6 seconds remaining. Rather than assess the Gauchos with a technical, the refs opted to give the fans a formal warning and let play continue. A technical would have meant two free throws and possession of the ball. Making both free throws and sinking a quick shot could have given USD a 1 point win instead of a 4 point loss.
The Gauchos are a pretty solid offensive team averaging nearly 80 points and over 40 rebounds per game. They are also dishing out 16 assists per game and hitting around 46% from the field. Their defense is fairly proficient as well, allowing only 66 points and 33 boards per game. Santa Barbara is only forcing 12 turnovers per game, but are committing only 11 per game themselves. They have very solid point guards who know how to handle pressure situations and make the smart decision nearly every time. The Husky defense will need to bring the pressure hard to force the UCSB guards into uncomfortable situations.
Orlando Johnson is a superstar for the Gauchos. He leads the team in every major statistical category. He is averaging over 22 points, almost 7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and over a steal per game. Johnson has been absolutely stellar thus far and the Huskies will need to work their defensive magic to control his impact on the game. At 6-5 205lb, Johnson is a bit of a mismatch for both guards and forwards. I suspect C.J. Wilcox or Terrence Ross will draw this assignment as they have the length and athleticism to stay in his face and play more preventative defense.
James Nunnally is another strong player for Santa Barbara. At 6-7 205lb, Nunnally is a bit small for a forward, but taller than your average guard. He is averaging 18 points and nearly 6 boards per game. He is a fantastic free throw shooter with 31 makes on 38 attempts. He also has decent range with 11 makes on 33 attempts from deep. I suspect Desmond Simmons will draw this assignment should he take Aziz N'Diaye's starting position. Simmons has the speed, mobility, and tenacity to play tight D on Nunnally anywhere on the court.
Jamie Serna rounds out the tough UCSB back court. He is listed at 6-9 and 235lb. He is the only other double digit scorer with 11.6 points per game. He is also third in rebounding at 4.9 boards per game. Serna is not an outside shooter, but he does do a solid job of drawing fouls and has attempted 30 free throws on the year.
Santa Barbara also features 7-2 245lb Greg Somogyi from Hungary. Somogyi averages only 12 minutes, 3 points, and a bit under 4 rebounds per game.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Santa Barbara:
Nate Garth 6-2 180lb
Christian Peterson 6-3 219lb
Orlando Johnson 6-5 205lb
James Nunnally 6-7 205lb
Jamie Serna 6-9 235lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Desmond Simmons 6-7 220lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Keys to the Game:
Defensive Pressure:
With a strong UCSB frontcourt and the absence of N'Diaye for the next few games, the Huskies will have their work cutout when it comes to containing the oppositions scoring in the paint. Simmons and Gant will need to step up their games and the Husky bench will need to rise to the occasion. This means Shawn Kemp and Marin Breunig need to shake off the freshman jitters and establish themselves as contributing members of the team on a consistent basis.
Rebounding:
The Gauchos know how to rebound and so do the Dawgs. After watching Duke take apart the Huskies on long rebounds, it'll be interesting to see how UW bounces back and if they can bang down low with Nunnally and Johnson. The Husky backcourt needs to go back to what they were doing to start the year by collapsing on the boards and picking up the mid range stuff outside the grasp of our frontcourt.
Free Throws:
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Free throws win ball games, plain and simple. Ross and Wilcox are simply not doing enough to get to the line. So much so that Wilcox has not attempted a free throw in something like 5 games. Tony Wroten has more makes than anyone else on the team has attempted and his free throw shooting, while seemingly improving (thank god), is still terrible on the season. The UW backcourt, and even the frontcourt, can and need to do much more to draw shooting fouls. Play through the contact, go strong to the hoop, pull of some dribble moves to get the defender off balance and make it happen. Duke could have put us away if they had shot their free throws well and UW could have won at Nevada and Marquette if they had made their free throws. Maybe it's just me, but I feel as though this has been a problem throughout Romar's tenure. The Huskies have not been good free throw shooting teams, which to me reveals that Romar does not see the value of the free throw and does not devote nearly enough time to them in practice. The best drill a coach can implement to really enforce free throw ability is called "55-55" or some variation thereof. Simply put, this drill takes place at the end of practice. The team is split into two equal squads who then take turns attempted 1-and-1's until each player has shot. The losing team is the one with the lower score at the end and has to run a set of lines for each point they lost by. It simulates end game scenarios where players are exhausted, while also giving the players a bit of pressure and reason to perform extremely well. I'm glad to hear Wroten has been doing his part to improve his game, hopefully this will start to rub off on others and inspire them to put in a few extra hours dedicated to free throws and getting to the hoop.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-86 UCSB-76
This is the first of 5 straight home games for the Huskies who have sorely missed the confines of Hec-Ed. The terrible road woes continue to be an issue, but something that must be corrected immediately if they want to get back the NCAA. I think this is a winnable game for the Dawgs as they have a better backcourt and a decent enough frontcourt to content with the Gaucho big men. The key is playing a solid 40 minute rather than the 25 or 30 they have been the past few games. 4-4 is a bad place to be, especially considering they have lost the last 4 of 5. These guys know how to win, they just need to execute and not give up early. Wroten has been tough these past few games and is really proving how valuable he is to this team. Yes, the turnovers are maddening and against Duke he went from a point guard to a shooting guard since no one else was attacking the rim. He may very well continue to develop this role if Wilcox and Ross refuse to draw fouls. While I appreciate the nice inside shots Wilcox took and made against Duke, he stopped well short of contact that could have had minimal effect on his shot and drawn a foul as well. UW needs to do everything it can to get Johnson into foul trouble early. This means a fast, motion offense with plenty of screens and players running hard and tight off of those screens.
The Gauchos are a pretty solid offensive team averaging nearly 80 points and over 40 rebounds per game. They are also dishing out 16 assists per game and hitting around 46% from the field. Their defense is fairly proficient as well, allowing only 66 points and 33 boards per game. Santa Barbara is only forcing 12 turnovers per game, but are committing only 11 per game themselves. They have very solid point guards who know how to handle pressure situations and make the smart decision nearly every time. The Husky defense will need to bring the pressure hard to force the UCSB guards into uncomfortable situations.
Orlando Johnson is a superstar for the Gauchos. He leads the team in every major statistical category. He is averaging over 22 points, almost 7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and over a steal per game. Johnson has been absolutely stellar thus far and the Huskies will need to work their defensive magic to control his impact on the game. At 6-5 205lb, Johnson is a bit of a mismatch for both guards and forwards. I suspect C.J. Wilcox or Terrence Ross will draw this assignment as they have the length and athleticism to stay in his face and play more preventative defense.
James Nunnally is another strong player for Santa Barbara. At 6-7 205lb, Nunnally is a bit small for a forward, but taller than your average guard. He is averaging 18 points and nearly 6 boards per game. He is a fantastic free throw shooter with 31 makes on 38 attempts. He also has decent range with 11 makes on 33 attempts from deep. I suspect Desmond Simmons will draw this assignment should he take Aziz N'Diaye's starting position. Simmons has the speed, mobility, and tenacity to play tight D on Nunnally anywhere on the court.
Jamie Serna rounds out the tough UCSB back court. He is listed at 6-9 and 235lb. He is the only other double digit scorer with 11.6 points per game. He is also third in rebounding at 4.9 boards per game. Serna is not an outside shooter, but he does do a solid job of drawing fouls and has attempted 30 free throws on the year.
Santa Barbara also features 7-2 245lb Greg Somogyi from Hungary. Somogyi averages only 12 minutes, 3 points, and a bit under 4 rebounds per game.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Santa Barbara:
Nate Garth 6-2 180lb
Christian Peterson 6-3 219lb
Orlando Johnson 6-5 205lb
James Nunnally 6-7 205lb
Jamie Serna 6-9 235lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Desmond Simmons 6-7 220lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Keys to the Game:
Defensive Pressure:
With a strong UCSB frontcourt and the absence of N'Diaye for the next few games, the Huskies will have their work cutout when it comes to containing the oppositions scoring in the paint. Simmons and Gant will need to step up their games and the Husky bench will need to rise to the occasion. This means Shawn Kemp and Marin Breunig need to shake off the freshman jitters and establish themselves as contributing members of the team on a consistent basis.
Rebounding:
The Gauchos know how to rebound and so do the Dawgs. After watching Duke take apart the Huskies on long rebounds, it'll be interesting to see how UW bounces back and if they can bang down low with Nunnally and Johnson. The Husky backcourt needs to go back to what they were doing to start the year by collapsing on the boards and picking up the mid range stuff outside the grasp of our frontcourt.
Free Throws:
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Free throws win ball games, plain and simple. Ross and Wilcox are simply not doing enough to get to the line. So much so that Wilcox has not attempted a free throw in something like 5 games. Tony Wroten has more makes than anyone else on the team has attempted and his free throw shooting, while seemingly improving (thank god), is still terrible on the season. The UW backcourt, and even the frontcourt, can and need to do much more to draw shooting fouls. Play through the contact, go strong to the hoop, pull of some dribble moves to get the defender off balance and make it happen. Duke could have put us away if they had shot their free throws well and UW could have won at Nevada and Marquette if they had made their free throws. Maybe it's just me, but I feel as though this has been a problem throughout Romar's tenure. The Huskies have not been good free throw shooting teams, which to me reveals that Romar does not see the value of the free throw and does not devote nearly enough time to them in practice. The best drill a coach can implement to really enforce free throw ability is called "55-55" or some variation thereof. Simply put, this drill takes place at the end of practice. The team is split into two equal squads who then take turns attempted 1-and-1's until each player has shot. The losing team is the one with the lower score at the end and has to run a set of lines for each point they lost by. It simulates end game scenarios where players are exhausted, while also giving the players a bit of pressure and reason to perform extremely well. I'm glad to hear Wroten has been doing his part to improve his game, hopefully this will start to rub off on others and inspire them to put in a few extra hours dedicated to free throws and getting to the hoop.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-86 UCSB-76
This is the first of 5 straight home games for the Huskies who have sorely missed the confines of Hec-Ed. The terrible road woes continue to be an issue, but something that must be corrected immediately if they want to get back the NCAA. I think this is a winnable game for the Dawgs as they have a better backcourt and a decent enough frontcourt to content with the Gaucho big men. The key is playing a solid 40 minute rather than the 25 or 30 they have been the past few games. 4-4 is a bad place to be, especially considering they have lost the last 4 of 5. These guys know how to win, they just need to execute and not give up early. Wroten has been tough these past few games and is really proving how valuable he is to this team. Yes, the turnovers are maddening and against Duke he went from a point guard to a shooting guard since no one else was attacking the rim. He may very well continue to develop this role if Wilcox and Ross refuse to draw fouls. While I appreciate the nice inside shots Wilcox took and made against Duke, he stopped well short of contact that could have had minimal effect on his shot and drawn a foul as well. UW needs to do everything it can to get Johnson into foul trouble early. This means a fast, motion offense with plenty of screens and players running hard and tight off of those screens.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Washington Basketball Player by Player Preview-The Freshman
Freshman
C.J. Wilcox G 6-5 190lb
Just the Facts
Redshirted last year. Averaged 22.2 points his senior season of high school.
The Spin
Supposedly an amazing three point shooter. He is so good people are surprised and disappointed when he missed. If this is true, then we as fans are truly in for a treat. Not since Ryan Applebee and Tre Simmons has the UW had such a proficient 3 baller if all is as advertised. C.J. is another candidate for our fifth starter, though I feel he needs to prove his game on the court and show he can, not only shoot, but play some D as well. If we can get 4 to 6 points out of him a game I’ll be happy. I don’t expect him to get the minutes to score more unless he finds himself in a starting position or he takes Scott Sugg’s minutes because he is a better player, something I don’t think is likely. C.J.’s impact will come off the bench and in the long, hard games where having talented subs will mean there is little if any drop off from starter to sub. This deep bench will be a difference maker in the NCAA tourny where multiple games in a short amount of time mean tired players and sore bodies that will need to be relieved by the sixth men of the teams.
As for what will see. We will see a sophomore year Scott Suggs/Elston Turner, a bench player with talent to develop that will make big contributions in certains but whose overall role will be to give the starters some time to rest. 4 points and either a few assists, rebounds, etc should be considered a successful year, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he is given more time and scores upwards of 6 or 8 points a game. High score for the season will probably be 14 points against one of our non conference opponents or the oregon schools.
Terrence Ross G 6-6 190lb
Just the Facts
Highlight of the 2010 recruiting class. A 5 star recruit out of Oregon, who as a sophomore was awarded the 5A player of the year in Oregon, ahead of He-Who-Shall-Be-Booed. Ranked 30th overall in his class despite not playing basketball his senior year due to moving schools.
The Spin
Romar is quoted as saying Ross is arguably the most talented player on the team, he just needs to learn the system and figure things out. If he really is that good and can develop his game early against the weaker teams in our non conference schedule and has some sort of semblance come the maui tournament, we are going to be tough to beat. Ross is another player I could see starting. So long as his defense is sound and his shots are dropping I see no reason he can’t get major minutes, even 15 or 20 a game. He is quick, athletic, a good shot, and has something to prove. His recruitment was somewhat over shadowed by his former teammates fiasco. I’d like to see him put up 7 points a game, grab 3 rebounds, and toss around an assist or two. What he can achieve will depend on how many minutes he get, and that really comes down to how well Suggs plays. He may also serve as a sub to Holiday as they are similar in size and athleticism. Some have said he may Redshirt this season, to preserve his talent behind some many other capable players. I don’t see it happening. I think if he is good as Romar says we will find him in the starting 5 at the 4 while Holiday plays the 3 and MBA plays the 5. I’m hoping he has an I.T. esq. year and puts up 15 a game. The realist in me says this is unlikely to happen due to all the senior talent we have on our team this year.
Desmond Simmons F 6-7 215lb
Just the Facts
First commit of the 2010 class. Averaged 18.2 points and 14.2 rebounds a game his junior year of high school.
The Spin
This is my personal candidate for a redshirt season. His offensive game is the weakest of the incoming class and there is already a lot of competition at the forward and guard position. He isn’t big enough to play down low in the key so at best he could play the 4, realistically he’ll play the 3. While I understand the Huskies don’t have a ton of size, Simmons is not that much bigger than Holiday or Ross. Wasting a year of eligibility on a few garbage minutes a game seems a waste. I’m on a wait and see with Desmond. If he plays look for a 2 to 3 point average, with a rebound or two tossed in for fun. I’m sure a decision will be made shortly as to what will be done about redshirting and who if anyone that would be. My bets are on Desmond and I’d give it a 70% chance of happening. He is said to be a real nitty, gritty, defensive player, modeled after Holiday and Bobby Jones. That kind of tenacity on D is a skill not possessed by many and could be a trait we need down the line against some more potent offensives come tournament time.
Antoine Hosley G 5-11 185lb
Just the Facts
Our second walk on. Played along side current teammate Terrace Ross where he scored 15 points and 5 assists a game.
The Spin
Just like Brandon, expect his presence on the court to be late after the victory is already assured. His minutes will be sparse and he will not contribute much over all. I haven’t seen any footage of his game, so I don’t know how he will play if he does. Let’s just hope he sees time every game, I could go for some big time Pac-10 blows outs.
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