Couple of positions I am really interested in watching the first week or so with Pullin and Shimmy out. One: Pullin is obviously going to be our primary point guard once he gets back, but this is a big opportunity for Denzel. Probably gets 20+ minutes at the spot the first three games. Supposedly had a good summer and obviously has great length and hops and can defend multiple positions. Has a real chance to earn his spot in that perimeter rotation if he shows command of the offense and an ability to make baskets. Also intrigued to see how Clayton plays at the one. He was dynamite off the ball at Iona, but the staff Golden has raved about him on the ball, too. Four: Conservatively, I expect Samuel and Handlogten to split about 45 minutes per game at the 4/5, which leaves a good 35 minutes or so for Condon and Haugh. Curious to see how they defend and what they bring to the table offensively. Their rebounding and energy have been commented on repeatedly. Also, wonder if we play Richard any at the four in small ball lineups now that Rishwain is healthy.
I can't argue with any of that. Denzel has his chance to make a statement, but I hope he doesn't feel like he needs to score in bunches to make that statement. Let ballhandling, distribution, and defense make the statement. And score when the opportunity arises. I've heard that insiders were impressed with Shimmy in the offseason. He showed a few glimpses when he came in after Colin went down, but the glimpses were offset by disappearance. But he showed a good 3-point shot, and I suspect he can become an effective low-post scorer, what with strong body, wide shoulders, and long arms. But even when he's healthy and back, minutes may be in short supply. I've seen and read enough about Samuel's play in the Big East to know that he will get the job done. I'm more curious to see what Handlogten can do. He was his league's freshman of the year, getting close to 10 rebounds. He's now stronger and has a year under his belt, and has been practicing against Samuel. If he can develop some nifty low-post scoring, he's going to be a good one at the SEC level. And everyone's saying that CTG got two guys better than anyone anticipated in Haugh and Condon. Everyone figured they were 2- or 3-year projects. Should be a lot of fun watching them.
Completely agree on Handlogten, Planet. I've seen way too many pundits claiming the leap to SEC play will be too much, he isn't ready for the speed and physicality, he won't be able to log the minutes or stay out of foul trouble. I'm less bullish on him being a low post scoring threat offensively as I am him being an elite pick and roll finisher (one of the best in the country last year, IIRC). Will help space the floor and create driving lanes. His rebounding rate at both ends was great, too, and you can't help but protect the rim with that length. Kinda had pegged for 15-20 minutes with Jarvis in the fold initially. Now I wonder if we run more of the double big looks with him and Samuel.
Colin was a great rim protector, one of the best in the league, and a pretty good passer and scorer. But he was never particularly great as a rebounder, in my view. Maybe a little above average for a guy that tall. I don't expect Handlogten to be CC's equal this season at defense and scoring, but I'm expecting to be a better rebounder, and maybe as good a passer. Roll the film on Horford firing that inside-out pass to the 3-point gunners. That was textbook stuff.
Glad to see some talk in this thread about defense. I'm eager to watching the season start whether defense has come together as a unit, as well as some individual. I remember being fascinated by Wilbekin as a lock-down PG, "I'm shutting down your best player."
Yeah, you could see it even when he was a freshman. BD would send him in just to shut down the guy that was hurting us. He turned a Tennessee game around for us.
Tyrese was smooth with his efforts under the boards. He is strong and when he goes after a close in shot or an offensive/defensive rebounds He moves quickly with his strength and usually got it done last night. Good hands and a pretty good shooter inside but surprising outside. Seems like a smart, experience young man and a good teammate. We are lucky to have a good, tough inside guy. Handlogten and Codon both surprised me with shooting outside. Did Colin ever do this no, so a great way to send a message to other teams, you can’t lay off these guys. Their teammates were getting a number of rebounds do to them shooting outside and bringing bigs with them. I can only imagine when Shimmey gets back we will have three bigs that can light it up from outside and another physical body to give rest to other bigs. I don’t want to leave out Haugh, Coach is moving him around to the four where I fill his best position is the three. But, at 6’9” he seems willing to provide good size to the four, active on defense, sharing the ball and scoring. As he develops physically, which he has done a good bit over last year and gets used to banging with good or great PFs, his upside is going to be exciting to watch over the next two or three years. When Pullen gets back, Coach will be able to take out other pg’s to rest and teach ways to be a better teammate and help the team. I like the height, physical skills with the ball and getting inside and finishing. I believe he is a true scorer given what the defense gives you from what the exhibitions have shown. He is a key player to raise the level of skill, poise and experience, to be a great point guard. Rserina thinks he will be our primary pg, I agree, but this doesn’t mean I am giving up on Clayton, he has skills and it will take time for him to find his strengths to the position of point. He is a scorer and a tough hombre, I like that. It will be a tough preseason as we play some tough opposition quickly which I hope he doesn’t get down on this new position and keeps pushing to be a great teammate and helps the team become a tough defense to go along with all the scoring this team has. last night, first game, it seemed like auditions for the NBA were evident, not good defense right before half and some in the second half. This reminds me of Kentucky teams over the last decade, plenty of talent and as the season gets into the SEC teams start getting their defense to come around and jell with their teammates. Enjoy the ride as we will get humbled at times but we will hang in every game.
In the last decade, we had a couple of fool's-gold team, where I got excited. Then we played grown ass men and got bullied, making me wonder how I fell for it again. I worry that, and of next week, I'll feel the same way. This time though, the players that worry me about physicality are mostly off-the-bench. Handlogten is my big worry...admittedly, I worried about Castleton getting pushed around at first.
Well, we're going to have our struggles and our losses. But after watching last night's game, I'm confident that we have two things; talent and depth and versatility. Okay three things. Talent and depth and versatility. And athleticism. Four. Four things.
I agree. The SEC has some monsters inside. Our bigs will compete, just hoping they don’t get hurt. Our scoring is going to be a strength so if the other team cant stay with our bigs then we will be alright.
I guess I don't see our bigs as being undersized or lacking physicality. Samuel is a five-year guy from the Big East who is listed at 240. Condon is a 6'11" and 230 former rugby player. Haugh looks a lot bigger and more muscular than his listed 210. Handlogten is a string bean, but even he looks far more muscular than 235 on that 7'1" frame. More importantly, their style of play looks to be immensely more physical than comparably sized--or bigger--post players from the last few years.
The stats and looks of our bigs are reassuring, but Dike pushed them around at will last night and he's only a mid-major grown-ass-man. Shimmy may bring enough beef to hold up against SEC GAM, but he didn't show a lot of foot quickness last season.... There's a lot to like and a lot of growth can be achieved (looking at you TG), but this is the one area of unfixable concern I have after the ridiculously small, single data point vs and over matched opponent.
I hate the way the game is called nowadays. Dike kept pushing, pushing, and pushing his way into the paint. In days of old, that was an offensive foul. Now, get off my lawn!
I'm with you. I really don't get the logic. The ball-handler can bump, bump, bump and the defender has to give way. Then they are right under the basket, and if all they do is put their arms up straight....blocking foul.
