LSU (R) Game Box Score Co-MVGs: Sophs Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh

19 pts, 13 Rebounds, 2 assists, two blocks, controlled LSU from getting inside, in just 25 minutes played, unbelievable Rueben!

 

Thomas Haugh is so much fun to watch. Guy is going to have a very long NBA career.

 

Haugh’s motor runs at a very high rpm. He’s always hustling and fun to watch.

 

If Chinyelu hit his shots right under the basket a little more consistently he would be tough to stop. Really needed him today. Highlights how we can get carried by the “smalls” one game and then the “bigs” the next. Really well rounded team.

 

Haugh is 8 of 16 from 3 in the last four games. I was expecting him to be an offensive weapon next year when they took the reigns off but with Condon out, his development has been greatly accelerated. He's no longer the guy that just catches the ball and quickly gets rid of it to set a screen. Now he's driving and dunking on people, dishing out assists around the basket and burying 3s. What an absolute stud he has become all around, including rebounding and defense. Crazy growth in one year.

 

Love our team!

 

I think after coaches in the SEC watch his LSU game film, they are all wishing they had him at Center, a physical warrior whose offensive game around the basket was a glimpse of how he has improved. He did this in only 25 minutes. The secret of Rueben Chinyelu is out. It is going to take two people at least to slow him down. He looks like he is having fun and enjoys Gator basketball. Another year at honing his offensive game, maybe even shooting from the top of the key, well, hopefully all the super sophs come back and each one improve, not only their game, but a higher status in the pros eyes. I dream of all three coming back and all three are first team All SEC and high votes on the All American team.

 

Ron Slay says he is the sixth man of the year.
He’s pumping Florida, and says we are as good a pick to win it all, as any team he has seen.

 

Our two national championship teams allowed opponents to pick their poison. Want to take away our perimeter shooters? Fine. Our bigs will just grab every rebound and jam it in the hole. Want to flood the lane and stifle our bigs? Fine. Our 3-shooters will rain buckets on you all day.
This year's team is becoming a lot like that. Pick your poison.

 

He's not wrong. Although he's not been the 6th man with Condon out. Just next man up.

 

injuries usually give the sixth man more minutes and starts. Do you think he would start over Condon, doubtful.

 

Golden will have a delightful dilemma next year deciding who starts

 

Chinyelu is a phenomenal athlete with tons of room to be better at basketball. He might stay for 2 more years, or he might be a draft pick next year. It’s up to him.

 

It is obviously out of necessity, but I'm not so sure he shouldn't start at the 3 over WR. When Condon comes back, I would love to see a lineup of Clayton, Martin, Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu at some point. I think CTG broke that lineup out for a few minutes against Vandy but not since, for obvious reasons. Imagine the rebounding advantage with that team on the floor. Maybe we can shock Alabama with that lineup if we need a boost at some point during that upcoming huge game.

 

I think Will has earned his spot in the starting lineup. That being said, I'd let the minutes be decided by who is producing. If Will is shooting lights out and doing everything else he normally does, I'm not taking many of his minutes away. If he's having one of those days where he can't hit the broad side of a barn, I don't mind Haugh taking some more time there. Good news is if both are hot, Haugh can take minutes at the 4 (and the five briefly and depending on who our opponent is), and WR can take minutes at the 4. We have lots of options and a bunch of guys who are extremely versatile. Ride the hot hands. Coach has played with a bunch of lineups. He has a pretty good idea of who he can have on the floor at the same time and keep the game moving in the right direction.

 

This is a good problem to have. Really can't go wrong. We are basically unbeatable if Will is on, but he runs hot and cold offensively. When he is off, though, he finds other ways to contribute.

 

He had 3 dunks in a span of what seemed like about 2-3 minutes...then steps out and calmly hits a 3. Motor, skillset, attitude, makes winning plays...everything NBA coaches look for

 

Richard deserves to start. Depending on the game is going, Haugh might get more minutes than Richard. Same with Aberdeen; if he’s playing well, he could get more minutes than Richard or Martin.

It probably comes down to a trust issue. Golden seems to trust the older, more experienced guys at crunch time. Although I think Haugh played the entire 2d half at LSU, so maybe he’s earned that trust.