Last time we had 4 bigs as good as this?

They do not seem at all hesitant under the rim, esp the frosh.

 

2014 did not have as much size but they were great.

 

Nice to have the luxury of 20 fouls per game at your 4 & 5. Thought we might go small for a longer period of time, but Golden doesn't want to use Richard there much if he can help it.

I am most concerned about Micah getting charged with cheap fouls, so I will be happy when Szymczyk returns adding to our froncourt depth.

Really impressed with our two freshman bigs, but they are very different and Golden will use them where they are needed.

 

I was excited to see so many of our players making contested layups. The last couple of years, only Castleton would consistently make contested layups. The rest just seemed to throw up a prayer that missed.

 

Haugh and Condon are such a huge luxury. I love this squad that Golden has assembled. We don’t want Micah to get in foul trouble, but it feels good to just be able to send wave after wave of reinforcements. EJ would have just made it unfair to our opponents. Really wish he hadn’t quit basketball.

 

Manage fouls better and hitting free throws will take them to next level. All of them look like their ceiling is higher which is fun.

Freshman bigs often fade against SEC competition but they seem to be ahead of typical freshman.

 

I think we have the low post horses to compete in the big bad SEC, UF was so dependent on Colin, looks like a different story this year.

 

We haven’t really needed it, because we have so many shooters, but it’s also nice that Micah can hit the three ball. As great as Colin was, that was a huge hole in his game that probably prevented him from being a lottery pick.

 

Yep. And Haugh and Condon are not yet even close to their ceilings.

 

Samuel is an absolute beast, built almost like Patric Young but with perhaps a bit more athleticism. He is going to the line 10-12 times a game so really hope he can shoot at least 70% from there, that would be huge. Haugh and Condon are certainly way more advanced than your typical freshman, but what I really love is how hard they play. They are absolutely ferocious at the rim, love to see that. And of course Handlogten is a game changer defensively and with rebounding. The future is bright!

 

The two national championship teams had Noah, Horford, Cliff Richardson, and Adrian Moss in 05-06, and Noah, Horford, Clint Rickleston, and Marreese Speights in 06-07. Some excellent front lines there, with two of those guys being lottery picks. This year's front is maybe not at that level yet, but not far off.

By the way, did everyone notice all the national championship rings in the house for FAMU? There's Taurean on the bench, Lee Humphrey at the microphone, and Chris Richard in the stands. Six. Six rings. And another Final Four ring with Mr. Craig Brown and one for FAMU coach McCullum, who was on the Lon Kruger staff at UF when Craig buried those 3s to get us to the Final Four.

 

That was the last time Florida had this type of depth. Of course those teams were rediculous. 3 lottery picks starting across the front court, and a couple guys that played in the NBA backing them up. Speights had a 10 year NBA career and as a frosh he was 4th in the rotation.

Not sure we have that type of NBA lottery talent. Although Condon could be special. I could see him being a Noah type riser in a year or two. Castleton is probably like “where was this when I was here!!?” lol. He never really had a great wingman at the 4 (although KJ was quite special playing small-ball 4), let alone any serious depth behind him at the 5.

 

This is exactly what Golden wanted. He fell in love with having two legit bigs together in SF. We’re immediately seeing the results in terms or massive rebounding margins, second chance points, points in the paint, 2pt defense, and ability to absorb foul trouble. The downside has been worse floor spacing with two bigs in the lane, lots of turnovers from those four, and some late rotations out to the arc. But the net gain is definitely positive.

 

I think the spacing has been solid actually. Can't compare it with having a stretch 4, of course, but their basketball IQ is high and Samuel is a crafty passer from the 4 spot.

Like you said, net gain is positive (and we can teach better timed rotations to the arc) for sure.

 

Samuel has a knack for driving right past you when you're thinking that's the last thing on his mind. If he could start hitting 75% of his free throws he might become the leading scorer on this team.

 

Spacing issues have mostly come with Samuel and Handlogten together. Not a lot of room in the paint for guys like Kugel and Clayton when they get down there, and also plenty of turnovers trying to make post entry passes or hit slipping screeners in the paint. That's just gonna happen more with that lineup. It's the price of dominating on the glass and protecting then rim.

 

He is WAY ahead of Noah comparing them as a frosh but Noah made the most ridiculous sophomore jump I have ever seen.

 

I think that’s mainly due to Kugels decision making though. Clayton hasn’t struggled with that - he knows how to pull up when needed.

But point taken, of course. Just saying that I think the spacing issues can and should improve.

 

That 2010-2011 squad that got robbed of a Final Four was the last team with four bigs as good as this team - Tyus (Sr.), Macklin (Sr.), Parsons (Sr.) and Murphy (So.). Also had freshmen Yeguete and Young, but I don't think they played much.