Now that we have seen a decent sample size heading to the the BIG10 what does everyone think from what they have seen?
Personally, I have seen a struggle to score due to many of the guards inabilities to create offense off the dribble as well as our two studs being complete no shows. Here is what I've seen from each player
Cooper - savvy, I actually think he as been our most consistent player from the first game until now. You sort of know what you will get from him and does a nice job TRYING To make the right play most of the time. He is not a good defender and is at this point, a liability at the free throw line
Henley - He just can't get out of his own way. Every time he makes a great move to the bucket, it's followed up by a bad decision, a missed shot, or a turnover. I see something there, but he just can't put anything together. He also at this point thinks he is a better shooter than what he appears to be. They need him to be a bigger factor since he is the only one that I've seen outside of Cooper who has some wiggle and can get into the lane
Battle - he has been brutal. Poor shot selection, not attacking the basket, not getting the ball into the spots that he had success with last year. Part of this is on the other players as well, we don't have the Bball IQ of last years experienced guards. He needs to paly like an ALL-BIG10 player for us to have ANY chance, and right now that's not happening.
Garcia - Has been IMO the biggest disappointment to this point. He isn't giving us much of anything. Struggling to finish inside, struggling to score from the outside, and also a liability on the glass and defending. I just haven't seen any sort of spark or positive impact on the game from him. If he doesn't really step up his game, we will REALLY be bad this year
Thompson - Meh.... not sure why he even starts to be honest, Payne laps him in production. HE has to find a way to have an impact other than making a 3 from time to time or he won't see the floor anymore.
Payne - Has been my biggest surprise. Yes he is raw, but he plays hard and is physical. He will be a great player in the big10 for years to come. Showed some shot blocking timing last night as well. Has quickly learned how to stay on the floor more as he was in foul trouble early and often the first few games. Looking forward to his development as his footwork isn't all that clean and doesn't know how to quite finish shots around the hoop with bigger body's around
Carrington - if he isn't hitting shots, he really isn't doing much for us. He isn't a great passer or ballhandler which means he better space the floor with his shot. Unfortunately he can't shoot from deep right now and is even worse at the FT line
Samuels - to no fault of his own, he is what he is.
Ola- Joseph - I've been pretty surprised with him. He is giving us more than I would have imagined at the start of the year. He plays under control for the most part, plays tough D, and is fairly physical. He should be taking Garcia's min in no time if he doesn't start playing better
Personally, I have seen a struggle to score due to many of the guards inabilities to create offense off the dribble as well as our two studs being complete no shows. Here is what I've seen from each player
Cooper - savvy, I actually think he as been our most consistent player from the first game until now. You sort of know what you will get from him and does a nice job TRYING To make the right play most of the time. He is not a good defender and is at this point, a liability at the free throw line
Henley - He just can't get out of his own way. Every time he makes a great move to the bucket, it's followed up by a bad decision, a missed shot, or a turnover. I see something there, but he just can't put anything together. He also at this point thinks he is a better shooter than what he appears to be. They need him to be a bigger factor since he is the only one that I've seen outside of Cooper who has some wiggle and can get into the lane
Battle - he has been brutal. Poor shot selection, not attacking the basket, not getting the ball into the spots that he had success with last year. Part of this is on the other players as well, we don't have the Bball IQ of last years experienced guards. He needs to paly like an ALL-BIG10 player for us to have ANY chance, and right now that's not happening.
Garcia - Has been IMO the biggest disappointment to this point. He isn't giving us much of anything. Struggling to finish inside, struggling to score from the outside, and also a liability on the glass and defending. I just haven't seen any sort of spark or positive impact on the game from him. If he doesn't really step up his game, we will REALLY be bad this year
Thompson - Meh.... not sure why he even starts to be honest, Payne laps him in production. HE has to find a way to have an impact other than making a 3 from time to time or he won't see the floor anymore.
Payne - Has been my biggest surprise. Yes he is raw, but he plays hard and is physical. He will be a great player in the big10 for years to come. Showed some shot blocking timing last night as well. Has quickly learned how to stay on the floor more as he was in foul trouble early and often the first few games. Looking forward to his development as his footwork isn't all that clean and doesn't know how to quite finish shots around the hoop with bigger body's around
Carrington - if he isn't hitting shots, he really isn't doing much for us. He isn't a great passer or ballhandler which means he better space the floor with his shot. Unfortunately he can't shoot from deep right now and is even worse at the FT line
Samuels - to no fault of his own, he is what he is.
Ola- Joseph - I've been pretty surprised with him. He is giving us more than I would have imagined at the start of the year. He plays under control for the most part, plays tough D, and is fairly physical. He should be taking Garcia's min in no time if he doesn't start playing better
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