Hands

[RUBlackout]

If cliff can develop a few post moves like Harper..shot fake up and unders with his athletic ability he could be a major threat on offense

 

[zappaa]

If cliff can develop a few post moves like Harper..shot fake up and unders with his athletic ability he could be a major threat on offense

Since that’s not going to happen by Wednesday, let’s use the best substitution rotation we can to minimize minus minutes.
Especially after long TV time outs and multiple turnover stretches

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Against Minnesota, Omoruyi -5 and Johnson +9.

Caleb saved things from getting completely out of hand with Cliff on the floor. I know everyone wants to root for the kid (I do too), but if you rewatch the game I guarantee it would be impossible to point to anything positive from his minutes other than the 3 made free throws- and he’s lucky the whistle blew for those fouls - as he had no prayer at all of finishing on either of them. There’s no way to sugar coat how bad he was on the glass in the game.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

If our 3 sub tandem of Cliff, Tez and young could play at 0 plus, minus, we’d be golden.
Like 4th line in hockey, you don’t worry about scoring but you don’t let the other team score.
I love the Young substitution with Myles and Geo still in the game, Young is a different player with them on the floor with him

Like the hockey reference.. rest time very important there

 

[GORU2014]

Caleb saved things from getting completely out of hand with Cliff on the floor. I know everyone wants to root for the kid (I do too), but if you rewatch the game I guarantee it would be impossible to point to anything positive from his minutes other than the 3 made free throws- and he’s lucky the whistle blew for those fouls - as he had no prayer at all of finishing on either of them. There’s no way to sugar coat how bad he was on the glass in the game.

Freshman center in a shortened season who was also injured.

Everyone needs to chill, went through this with EO, Myles, Paul, Caleb, pretty much every player who’s ever been here and it’s generally going to be worse with bigs even in normal years. If we can play him and win by a few or play Doucoure and win by a few plus 1, it’s a pretty easy decision.

 

[IL Lusciato]

I agree cliff is better than Douc. But Douc could still get some minutes bc the poster above does have a point - Douc is better in the defensive boards right now.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Myles has soft hands, which along with good hand-eye coordination allow him to catch well, although they're not always strong, as he gets the ball knocked loose too often. To me I don't think one can improve the first part much, but the second part should be improved more easily. I can't quite tell if Cliff has bad hands or if some of it is bad court awareness, such that he's overthinking things and not anticipating well, which can make it look like bad hands, when it might not be. He has struggled the past few games, but Pike knows he's better than Douc and is wllling to let him grow and learn this year.

Myles - During the bad stretch he was getting blocked from behind way too often. It seems like he is corrected that.

Cliff - I recall correctly there was a thread about Johnson not having good hands when he was a freshman. Enough said.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Freshman center in a shortened season who was also injured.

Everyone needs to chill, went through this with EO, Myles, Paul, Caleb, pretty much every player who’s ever been here and it’s generally going to be worse with bigs even in normal years. If we can play him and win by a few or play Doucoure and win by a few plus 1, it’s a pretty easy decision.

In no way was this a sure win. If Caleb’s 3 rims out who knows what would have followed. I agree with this logic in terms of Cliff continuing to be the first big sub off the bench and I’m in no way suggesting him to be a bust recruit. But as you say he’s a frosh fighting his way back from injury and in a tight game in the second half where every point matters, perhaps after the 2nd or 3rd offensive board by Minny in the second half, Douc should’ve gotten a few minutes until MJ was ready to check back in. That’s not saying Douc is better, just that right now there are days where his typical effort would be significantly more reliable on the defensive glass than what Cliff brings. Minn was one of those games.