Bennerman has a better shot of backing up Ciaravino than Page. He’s not a center. Kropp and Ghai are the post players. And people complaining about Kropp will wrong when it’s all said and done. He’ll end up like Brody Deren in his Creighton days (for all you older guys) and I’ll take 9/5 from him all day.
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I’m not sure he’s that much worse than some others performed last Friday, but he does struggle with athleticism. Kinda a mid major body.
I'd give it at least until 1/1/2026 to give these guys a chance to sort it out. Nov/Dec is really like their first "season" - with 2 Big Ten games thrown in. DePaul was their first real test and let's see how they respond to the next 5 games of tests. Virginia/SC/Okla State is coming at a great time for our guys.
It’s all about who can guard the other team’s center, rim protection and rebounding. Not whether he has a post-up game. Matt had no post up game and he was a pretty good center for us. Kropp is about the same size as Martinelli. Why do we think he can be a B1G center? Seems like he is a 4.
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At NU Athletics website Kropp is listed as 6'9" 230. (FWIW, Nick is 6'7, 225). He's a frosh, so he's gotta put on muscle. By the time he's a junior, I could envision him as 6'9" 250 - which would put him in the mix with other B1G centers like:
Morez Johnson, 6'9", 250 - Michigan
- Jacob Cofie, 6'10", 230 - USC
- Sam Alexis, 6'9", 240 / Reed Bailey 6'10", 230 - Indiana
- Jaxon Kohler, 6'9", 245 - MSU
- Pharrell Payne, 6'9, 250 - Maryland
- Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, 6'8" 240 - Minnesota
- Alvaro Folgueiras, 6'10", 230 - Iowa
- Rienk Mast, 6'10" 250 - Nebraska
I was going by the eye test seeing him stand next to Nick, Gelo and Singleton. And he was listed as 6’7” by the recruiting services. Maybe he grew. If he is a legitimate 6’9”, I agree he can spot you some minutes at center.
Ryan Young is listed at 6’10” and 238. Young just looked a lot taller and wider to me than Kropp. It may just be me. They both play under the rim. If Kropp can come anywhere close to being the offensive rebounder and post player that Young was, that would be really helpful, understanding Kropp can also stretch defenses. I am guessing he will offer similar rim protection to Young (almost none).
Can we give Kropp more than a 4 game career before we start writing him off as a decent big man? If anyone called Big Matt turning out how he did after 4 games, I’d call BS.
At what point did I say he can’t be a decent big man? I see him much more as a 4 than a 5 but if he is really 6’9”, then I think he can provide some minutes at the 5. I compared his game to Young (because they are both under the rim players) and said I hope he can be as effective. I think he is quicker than Young so hopefully he can be more effective on switches. I am not writing him off at all. And Young redshirted so not really fair to compare their first seasons.
Nobody is writing him off, we're discussing his future positon.
FWIW he's described as a forward on the NU website and was a power forward in recruiting rankings. His postiion as our backup center THIS SEASON is... a stretch
Well, to be fair, Page is also listed as a Forward, so Kropp is a back-up Forward. NU doesn't have a Center on its roster.
And I was also responding to the post that suggested that that our 7 foot freshman who can touch the top of the backboard can’t be a center because he doesn’t have a post game but Kropp can be. I wasn’t following that.
Yes! The rush to crush certain people……recall that Barnhizer played about 80 minutes his entire first year. These guys need time. However somehow clayton somehow gets a free pass, still needs time to work on his offensive game?
Love the long term potential for Kropp. Tough spot for him as a true frosh though. I blame the coaches for that…
Again, was not crushing. Asking why he is viewed as a center. Sounds like he is taller than I thought and we apparently have no other options. And Clayton is not a favorite of this board at all as best I can tell. He played better than expected when called upon last year. So good for him.
A bunch of my posts through the years were preaching patience with Law, Nance and Bouie so I’m not rushing to judgment. Ultimately, if he is going to have success I think it will be at the 4. As I assume you do.
What kid who has played at such a high level already would see this as a “tough spot”? (He always has played near the basket). I imagine he is very excited at the chance, knowing it will be challenging. The prior backups were not making much of a difference. The downside difference in that difference using Kopp is likely immaterial.
Clayton gets a free pass? Clayton catches more shots on this board than the rest of the team combined.
That's probably because he hasn't made a field goal this season.
He may be excited but it’s already challenging enough playing as a freshman in the B1G, without having to play out of position. Lots of bigs red shirt as you know. It’s easy to lose your confidence, which is not helpful in development.
Playing as a true freshman is what most players dream of. Kropp played the entire U20 FIBA tournament as a center, and he did well to say the least. I don't think he's complaining about being the backup center to AP. It's just not ideal, that's all.
Off high school tape alone:
Kropp profiles more as an undersized post. He won with strength, footwork, and touch, not burst or perimeter creation. Most of his scoring comes from the block or short corners and he rebounded like a true interior piece. The fundamentals are good, but his game is built for the paint. Also flashed some ability to stretch the floor but isn’t a true threat off the bounce.
Cade is almost the opposite. His tape shows a very raw long-term player who fits more as a wing right now than a post. He is fluid in space, more comfortable facing up and has a lot more athletic upside, but he is nowhere near strong enough to anchor the paint. The feel, timing, and physicality around the rim need a lot of development before he can hold down post minutes.
Yes, Kropp is over matched physically and feel wise right now. He was/is noticeably ahead of Cade strength wise imo.
Didn’t say he was complaining. Just suggested that being thrown in the deep end isn’t always the best development path for young players. He is undersized for a center and not an explosive athlete. Do you disagree with that? So throwing him in as backup center may prove very difficult for him as a freshman. Ryan Young redshirted and he is bigger than Kropp.
Unfortunately, we don't have much choice this year.
The idea that anybody is “crushing” Kropp just because he, at 6-9 and 18 years old, looks woefully underprepared to play meaningful minutes against the cavalcade of 20-23 year old 7 ft+ bigs that is the Big Ten is silly. It’s just as silly as thinking he’d be a day one Big Ten impact because of some overseas U20 tournament. Kid undoubtedly has a lot of potential, but he’s not a center from a size standpoint in the Big Ten, if gonna have to get THICK to EVER really be a true center, and is getting bullied right now as he tries to adjust to the college game and develop into the player he can be. It’s a shame we didn’t enter the season with a better plan.
Don’t think he saw the floor. West played really well I thought.
West is going to be an exceptional player in a few years.