Can a guy play more minutes and contribute less offensively? I see zero improvement. It’s like you’re out there 4 on 5 when you have the ball because he’s not scoring.
35
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He was a bit tentative tonight
But when will our dense fans learn...he is a true soph. Stop giving up on our players so dang early. He is contributing and developing
Let me guess...you probably wanted to get rid of Eugene last year. How's that working out?
"hi is a true soph." When will our fans stop using this as the constant excuse, for lack of ability. Is he a Div. I basketball player on scholarship, or isn't he?
We just had our lunch handed to us by a "Freshman."
Expect more, no Demand more, and you just might be surprised at the increased motivation.
He hit a clutch 3 and caused the eruption of the RAC that brought the energy down the stretch. Played good D too
Atleast he isn't a junior point driving into traffic 5 seconds into the shot clock and falling down or getting your shot blocked
Couldn’t get his shot off last season, has not improved. Couldn’t go to the basket to score last season, no improvement this season. Played a lot of minutes last season and contributed a minimal amount, same this year.
I just don’t see the improvement.
As for EO, I didn’t have a strong opinion last season either way but obviously loved how he played tonight. Hopefully close to that level of production can continue with a bump in the road here and there.
With 35, true Soph or not I don’t think he deserves he minutes he’s getting. Would rather see us go big with more Sa or Doorson or swap him out for more Williams.
No difference between Thiam this year and last year. Would at least like to see progress. I would rather see Eugene start over him. Contributes more and hustles his brains out.
Wow this is just dumb. He didn’t contribute on offense but didn’t hurt it either. He’s more of a spot up shooter at this point and the guards werent penetrating and kicking out much today. He played pretty well on D and only had one turnover. Had a big 3 and if Williams hits the 3 that went in and out we may have had a different result.
Thiam wasn’t a blue chip 5 or 4 star recruit. He’s a 4 year player with potential. He’s going to get better but you need to slow down and be patient. He’s gonna light it up some games and then have games like tonight. Expected for a true sophomore.
The bball iq in this thread is not inspiring
lol he had 1 "big 3" hold the presses. But, I will give you this, has improved on D and around the basket. But, he will never be an off guard.
The true sophomore excuse only goes so far. He may be eventually, but he's simply not starter material in this league--yet. He is WAY too tentative against better opponents; feels like he has some confidence issues. I'd like him as a 6th or 7th man type this year, with the goal of becoming a valuable starter in 2018. His career 3 point percentage is pretty dreadful right now, that has got to improve.
I thought Issa looked very tentative. Almost like he got a case of the yips. Several times he pump faked and then almost walked. It seemed maybe the length and athleticism of the defenders got in his head and thought he was going to be blocked. Hopefully not something to worry about going forward.
I think Thiam has potential but right now is too tentative when he gets the ball.He is playing a lot of minutes and needs to take more than 2-3 shots per game and expand his offense by taking the ball to the basket or post up smaller defenders.
Rutgers biggest weakness on offense is three point shooting .Thiam,Williams and Baker must show better consistency if Rutgers expects to upset some B1G opponents which will be a determining factor in achieving a winning season.
Rutgers biggest weakness on offense is three point shooting .Thiam,Williams and Baker must show better consistency if Rutgers expects to upset some B1G opponents which will be a determining factor in achieving a winning season.
I thought I saw him pump fake a defender into jumping at him behind the arc. It was a clear chance to draw the foul and at least get three FTs but instead he passed off. Hopefully the aggressiveness ramps up on a play like that in future games.
Zero improvement? From Jerry Carino tonight:
“4. Mann down: On paper, it looked like Rutgers would be challenged to contain 6-foot-6 junior wing Terance Mann (17.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, .685 field-goal percentage). But the combination of sophomores Issa Thiam and Omoruyi did the job. Mann scored just seven and picked up his fourth foul early in the second half.”
And other FSU guard, MJ Walker, who Carino said had 13 NBA scouts on hand tonight to evaluate him, was held scoreless 0-3). A 6-6 freshman, he was 11-22 from 3 before tonight’s game.
Eugene is good energy off the bench. Thiam coming off the bench doesn’t spark the team nearly as much. We have a good rotation going
Exactly! His primary role now is to use his 6’10 body and defend the other 2 guard or wing. If before tonight someone would’ve said, “Hey, Thiam will only make one 3 but his length will help us limit Terrance Mann to only 7 points and MJ Walker scoreless. “. Everyone would’ve been like......
When he scores in double digits, we will be winning a lot of those games. When he doesn't shoot, the other team will slack off him, putting more pressure on the other players. I would rather having him launch up some threes early and get in a rhythm. His overall game must be improving or he wouldn't have got the minutes he got tonight. We really need him to score. $$$$
Thiam did not have his best game on offense but he only took 2 shots and hit one which was a three. He also only had one turnover. He averaged 3.9 ppg last year. This year he is averaging 8.7 ppg. He is definitely much improved. His rebounds are way up as well. Some of our fans are just so critical. Issa played outstanding on defense tonight as well. Some people really don't know all the parts of a basketball game.
Personally, I think Williams should have taken his minutes. He’s experienced, and although he didn’t have a good game either, at least he isn’t hesitant or afraid to shoot.
We had Sanders, Thiam, and Baker al lot of the time passing the ball around the perimeter. Thiam and Baker played scared tonight and Sanders can’t shoot.
No one mentioned it but we are not a good passing team. I’m not talking about the spectacular pass. I’m talking about making a simple pass or even a skip pass to the shooter’s chest so they can shoot quickly. Thiam needs more time than a lot of players.. his release is not quick. Often the passes are slightly off center, too low, etc. and the opportunity is lost. Next thing you know the shot clock is a 10 and we are forced into a bad shot.
Sure the Defense was there but he also offered one rebound... and two shot attempts. he had more passed up shots than anyone, we need him to shoot confidently.... if he shot the ball from 3 on a few of those open hesitated looks and made it, that could’ve been difference in game. Can’t play scared
Wow, some of y'all are just slow.
True sophomores that aren't 4-5* talent aren't going to be lights out every night. And even those aren't going to be every night. People expecting true sophomores to be constant offensive threats are clearly new to the sport. Welcome - watch a few games, learn a few things, and you won't sound so out of touch.
To those who want Williams to take Thiam's minutes... again, complete fantasy land. Williams had 4 fouls tonight in 15 minutes... how many more minutes were you going to give him? We have basically four guys to rotate across the three guard spots. Williams will get plenty of time because Mensah isn't ready to play at this level. He can't be the 3rd guard *and* the wing.
Jaysus.
True sophomores that aren't 4-5* talent aren't going to be lights out every night. And even those aren't going to be every night. People expecting true sophomores to be constant offensive threats are clearly new to the sport. Welcome - watch a few games, learn a few things, and you won't sound so out of touch.
To those who want Williams to take Thiam's minutes... again, complete fantasy land. Williams had 4 fouls tonight in 15 minutes... how many more minutes were you going to give him? We have basically four guys to rotate across the three guard spots. Williams will get plenty of time because Mensah isn't ready to play at this level. He can't be the 3rd guard *and* the wing.
Jaysus.
Thiam WAS tentative on offense this game.
He ALSO played outstanding defense. He covered #11, Angola, quite a bit. Angola came into the game averaging 12.5 points, shooting 55% from the field, including 13-28 (46%) from 3. Against RU, and matched against Thiam mostly, Angola went 1-7 FG, including 0-4 from 3, with just 6 points (made 4 FT) and 5 turnovers. Thiam was excellent, actually - though yes, RU will need him to be more aggressive on offense and hit some shots.
I had thought Williams only had 3 fouls when he disappeared for a long stretch. That’s explains some of it. I couldn’t for the life of me understand why he was leaving Thiam in when he could get his shot off against the zone.
Have 1/2 of you guys watched more than this game? Florida state is long and they came in with a game plan not to let Issa shoot from outside. When you have shot blockers on the inside, your wing players can stay out and guard.
If anything, he was much more patient on his shot tonight. Even though he wasn't open, he didn't force it. There were a couple times where he could have turned and shot, but he kept the play moving looking for a better shot.
I would actually like to see him on some pick and pops with the option to roll. Work on getting him the ball up high on the pass so he doesn't bring it down before shooting.
If anything, he was much more patient on his shot tonight. Even though he wasn't open, he didn't force it. There were a couple times where he could have turned and shot, but he kept the play moving looking for a better shot.
I would actually like to see him on some pick and pops with the option to roll. Work on getting him the ball up high on the pass so he doesn't bring it down before shooting.
35 plays very good fundamental man to man defense and can guard smaller guys effectively. While he uses his length well on the defensive end he plays smaller than his size on offense. Pike values defense and particularly last night needed 35 to play those minutes especially with Baker and Williams being in foul trouble and mensah continuing to struggle. He needs an inordinate amount of time to get his shot off and until that changes or he develops the ability to drive to the basket 35 will not be the offensive threat this team desperately needs.
The entire team plays good defense, so when 35 plays a bunch of minutes and barely shoots let alone scores we turn to “well, he played good defense!”? Cmon guys he needs to put the ball in the basket playing the 3 and getting the minutes he does. 3 points on 2 shots is not enough given the minutes he’s playing. Bottom line.
