Somebody is beyond excited about Ash. Compulsively obsessed might be a better description.
But, yeah. That’s a nice bench.
2018 Recruits
- Thread starter NJCat
- Start date
But, yeah. That’s a nice bench.
I think, at this point in basketball, in a lot of cases the 2-3-4 can become almost interchangeable, at least on defense if you have the right personnel. Lathon seems quite likely to start at the 1, Pardon a lock at the 5 if healthy. And then across 2-3-4 in some order I might guess Kopp - Law - Turner. That lineup could potentially switch a lot of screens on defense, almost everything. I guess the question is whether they are talented enough individually and cohesive enough as a team to make it work on D. And whether there is enough scoring among that group.
You never saw FloridAlum play. He went on to star for an international league team in Britain.
Those five could be the starters but still feel that Falzon will start, if healthy.
Turner is a 2 or 3, not a 4 - unless you are running small. Though that second lineup is pretty small...
haywood - any word on the street of the futures of Brown and RI?
I note both conspicuously absent from your lineup and sub predictions.
If he knows something for certain, I don't think it's his place to share it on this board with the season still ongoing. They're on the team now and I'm going to continue to hope they play well for NU in the future.
That said, read what you will into "also wouldn't be surprised to see a 5th year or two" considering NU has no scholarships to give for 2018.
i would not get excited about Rap. he struggled to find his place early in his career and has not played basketball for almost 2 full seasons.
i don't think Turner starts - more likley will be a great bench player. but the option there is for him to play the 3 and law to play the 4. he is not a player who will guard the 4 - so a 4 man of nance, gaines, falzon, or law is more likely at the 4. i think NU will also avoid all freshmen off the bench some older players will not start
i would not plan for Rap. he has not played competitive basketball in 2 years and struggled early on at NU. from what i have heard he has not impressed those within the program while he has been out.
i also think that as the NU roster is filled with more competitive athletes Falzon will see less and less time. unless he can really perfect the art of knockdown down coldblooded shooter. if he is not doing that, as he has not done this year - he will get passed up for a more athletic younger player with potential
A couple points...
Regarding Rap, he's got four years left if he's able to put it together. What I heard from a Lithuanian friend/fellow NU grad is that Rap's family is education first, and they know what they have with the NU degree. I heard zip about basketball. He either figures it out in the next six months and gets his master degree paid for, or he sits another two years as a practice player. He looked big and mobile to me...that's something.
Falzon all year runs like he's protecting himself. Short, careful strides. He needs his legs and hips to be right to be a steely-eyed shooter. If he's not health it'll be more of this year.
Regarding Rap, he's got four years left if he's able to put it together. What I heard from a Lithuanian friend/fellow NU grad is that Rap's family is education first, and they know what they have with the NU degree. I heard zip about basketball. He either figures it out in the next six months and gets his master degree paid for, or he sits another two years as a practice player. He looked big and mobile to me...that's something.
Falzon all year runs like he's protecting himself. Short, careful strides. He needs his legs and hips to be right to be a steely-eyed shooter. If he's not health it'll be more of this year.
I took a lot of grief on this board when my scouting report at the beginning of the year said essentially the same thing.
GOUNUII
I think Gaines has played himself into a starting position for next year. I would not be surprised to see a lineup of Lathon-Gaines-Law-Falzon-Pardon at the beginning of the season, with Turner, Kopp, Ash, Benson the next wave off the bench. If Falzon continues to struggle -- his defense was liability this year and his shooting did not come close to compensating for it -- then I see Kopp taking a lot of his minutes even though he isn't really a stretch 4.
Gaines has to take thousands and thousands and thousands of shots this offseason. Under the watchful eye of a coach who really knows the finer mechanics of shooting. What's wrong with his shot is fixable.
He also has to develop a pull-up, mid range jumper.
Finally, he needs a big poster on his dorm room that has a photo of Barrett Benson's foot on one side, Benson's hand on the other, and a "not equal" sign in between.
He's going to be good but he has a ton of work to do.
Lots of potential for Gaines! Great defense and gets to the rim and also gets rebounds!
I agree with the first half of your post (Gaines needs to work on his shot) but disagree with the latter part. He was probably the 2nd best defender on the team and a really good rebounder. He showed some decent post up moves as well.
To me, Gaines showed that he is BIG ready. Way way more than Falzon or Brown or Bemson or anyone else off the bench. If Gaines isn’t in the starting lineup next year I will be ecstatic because that means the freshmen coming in are more talented. That would be awesome but unlikely.
Unlikely? Two top 75 players not more talented than Gaines who doesn't have an outside shot?
Hardly.
I love the potential Anthony has shown, but to be polite his offensive game needs work, both shooting and ball handling. Kopp looks like a much more polished offensive player, and NU will need scoring to replace Scottie next year.
Freshmen who aren't point guards play when they can adequately defend at a B1G level. That will be what decides whether or not Kopp and/or Nance get a lot of starter run. I'll be surprised if they supplant Gaines.
Agreed, Collins clearly places a high regard on defense. Gaines is a really good defender. Maybe I’m too high on him but I think Gaines could be special
Gaines could be special. But he will have to continue improving his game for the next three years. He's already shown he can improve, because he was pretty bad at the start, so I'm very hopeful for him. But it won't just happen without hard work on his part.
He showed improvement as the season progressed. Still don't feel he can play in the backcourt because his ball handling is just plain bad.
Not a guy anyone wants to guard, though, so that helps. When he plays pick-up, no one says, "I got Gaines."
I think Gaines' offense improved over the course of the season. If you look at his last two games he showed he can take it to the hole with power and hit some jumpers. His defense is what we need in the lineup. I draw parallels to Lumpkin but Gaines is further along as a freshman.
I agree that Gaines all around game improved over the season, and that’s why I have high hopes that he will continue working on his game and improving from this good start.
Gaines shot better than Falzon tonight. Not saying much but his shot can become decent in the next couple of years. Would like to see Pardon add a mid-range jumper to his game.
Gaines looks much better from the field the last few games. And Dererk did take one jumper from above the foul line and nailed it.
I think he's got it already. See also: NU-Purdue, December.
If Benson earns more minutes alongside 'rerk next year, we'll see it more. I'd love to Pardon get to 14 ppg next year - he was at 11 in a supporting role this season, and he's really skilled.
I’m concerned about Falzon and hopeful that this year has been about him hampered by his injury, but he just can’t seem to get open against moderate competition. Even if he were the best three in the league unguarded, it wouldn’t matter this year. Gaines has the ability to develop a nice step back jumper and again I have hope for him.
Also, didn’t Pardon actually make two or three ten footers last night? I was quite excited by that.
Benson looked awful good yesterday! We will be fine next year. Hope Lathon can play.
Gaines shot 79% from the FT line. His shot will be fine with practice. I don't see any way he doesn't start next year. If you have good touch and form, your shot will come along. You can't teach the athleticism that he has.
I've also seen flashes of his jumper. But it's been missing from his game, for whatever reason. If he can add it to his arsenal next season so that defenders have to respect it, then it'll help open things inside too.
Would like to see Pardon score more next year too. Top scorers this season:
1. Lindsey 15.2 (39.9% FG, 36.2% 3PT)
2. Law 12.0 (41.8%, 38.3%)
3. McIntosh 11.8 (38.8%, 33.3%)
4. Pardon 11.3 (61.9%, 0-1 3PT)
5. Skelly 6.1 (44.0%, 41.4%)
6. Falzon 5.5 (34.9%, 37.5%)
7. Gaines 4.0 (37.5%, 24.2%)
We were a pretty terrible 3-point shooting team this year. Next season, don't know who will lead the team in scoring - could be Pardon or Law, but also could be Kopp or Lathon. Falzon has to shoot better, even in a specialist role like Taphorn last year.
Evan Eschmeyer remains the top rated recruit ever (Top 50), so Mystic actually has a point.
The sky must be falling.