We’re a Good Team

I'm not unhappy with Chinyelu. So far, he's been as advertised, a hard-playing dude who is unpolished and will need time to get polished. I'm actually surprised that he has better open-court skills than expected. He can get up and down the court, even handling the ball, in a hurry.
But to your point, right now, we seem better with Condo plus Haugh or Alexis. More skills, more polish. However, I'm good with Chinyelu in the starting role and letting him grow into it, because it doesn't matter who gets the most minutes. His ceiling may be the highest on the team.
As to rebounding, I don't think we're at the same level yet as last season. HOWEVER... looking at SEC individual stats so far this season, the Gators have 6 players in the top 40 in rebounding in the conference, led by Martin. No other team is close to that. Now, speed of play has a lot to do with stats, and a team that plays fast, like us, will tend to have lots of rebounds. But it's a good place to be.

 

All good points and think we both see the potential. I agree as well and I also am not unhappy with Chinyelu, just pontificating at our possibilities of improvements and in the NCAAT. It becomes all about the matchups and guard play. If we go up against a good guard team with a dominant center, we might be in trouble. That said, Chin as 3 months to find his place. I'm looking at these next 5 games as a precursor to our future.

 

Rebounding by committee means that you cannot rebound and start a fast break. I was hoping that with our size we could leak guards out but maybe we cannot.

 

True, but I think that’s one reason he emphasizes early offense as much, if not more, than transition. It’s all about attacking before the defense gets set (SSOL!) and less getting numbers on the break. The good thing about guards rebounding, ofc, is that they can push the ball themselves, and that automatically gets you into offense quicker.

 

That's not actually a law of physics. Of course you can.

 

I could see Condo, Chin, and Martin covering the rebound, with an outlet to Clayton, and ahead to Richard for the layup dunk. Sure its less likely with only two running it but we have seen Richard getting some easy dunks late in games so far this season.

 

31-8 stretch today

 

Up to #12 in KenPom.

 

Against Wake Forest, our bigs rebounded like you want. Chins had 9, Condo, had 8, and Haugh had 8. WF's 7-footer, Reid, had 3. I'll take that any day.

 

I keep reading that Wake Forest hasn't done anything this season, like their 6 victories are worthless. But they handed Michigan (#21 in KenPom) their only loss, and on a neutral court. And Michigan absolutely destroyed a good Xavier team this week.
Watching WF against us, it's easy to see why their margins of victory aren't big, even against lesser teams. They're big and physical and like to play ugly. Here's hoping they beat Minnesota today.

 

Let’s talk PG.

in October some were worried about the lack of a true PG, replacing Pullin. After 7 games, different styles, and especially yesterday…any thoughts? Are we good with a positionless PG by committee?