When you're seven feet tall, people imagine this freakish combination of Shaq and Garnett and Unibrow - athleticism and versatility and power.
In reality, seven-footers are clumsy, injury-prone, and still growing into their bodies.
This is to say, it's tough to impress when you're a seven-footer.
And all NU's seven-footer is doing this year is averaging 12/7/1.5 with 2 blocks.
He's also, as seven footers do, continuing a year by year pattern of improvement, getting better at defending without fouling, improving his timing and confidence as a shot blocker, and adding the face-up and improved post moves to his game.
It's not a stretch - in fact, it could be anticipated - that he'll get to the 14/8 range next year, with 53 percent shooting. He makes his fouls shots. He leads the defense. He's got the ability to fire up the crowd.
If Olah were 6-9, he'd be the best center since Esch. Because he's 7-foot, he's still the best center since Esch... But there's this inkling of..."but what *could* he be?"
But, darn, he's good.
That performance Tuesday, particularly the first 12-15 minutes of the second half, was truly unlike anything we've seen at NU in 15 years. Feed the big guy and get the eff out of the way.
In reality, seven-footers are clumsy, injury-prone, and still growing into their bodies.
This is to say, it's tough to impress when you're a seven-footer.
And all NU's seven-footer is doing this year is averaging 12/7/1.5 with 2 blocks.
He's also, as seven footers do, continuing a year by year pattern of improvement, getting better at defending without fouling, improving his timing and confidence as a shot blocker, and adding the face-up and improved post moves to his game.
It's not a stretch - in fact, it could be anticipated - that he'll get to the 14/8 range next year, with 53 percent shooting. He makes his fouls shots. He leads the defense. He's got the ability to fire up the crowd.
If Olah were 6-9, he'd be the best center since Esch. Because he's 7-foot, he's still the best center since Esch... But there's this inkling of..."but what *could* he be?"
But, darn, he's good.
That performance Tuesday, particularly the first 12-15 minutes of the second half, was truly unlike anything we've seen at NU in 15 years. Feed the big guy and get the eff out of the way.