We had many doubters on Geo before the season. Many in fact only thought he would get 10 minutes a game. The kid is good and seems to have a bright future here at RU. I see Mathis, Carter and Harper joining us next year. I think we are really beginning to turn the corner.I like our future.
Baker is leading our team in minutes.
- Thread starter knights1212
- Start date
^^^This. I think Peter Kiss will add a lot to the team next season once he gets the rust off. People should not forget about him. He will be another weapon.
Pike will need to find some minutes off the bench for Baker.
A 30 game college season is much different from a high school schedule.
It will show up late January and February with tired legs.
A 30 game college season is much different from a high school schedule.
It will show up late January and February with tired legs.
Getting Mike Williams back to 100% will help. Still I would expect him to play in the 27-28 minute range.
IMO, Probably the best new weapon next year until Mathis, Harper and Shaq adjust. Kiss will be rusty, but, he has some experience...some of it against good competition.
Yeah, with Mensah looking like a 4-8 mpg guy, rather than a 10-15 mpg guy, and with Pike seeming to want to play three guards much of the time, you're right that there will have to be a better distribution of "guard" minutes going forward. With Thiam probably tabbed for about 25 mpg, that leaves 95 minutes for the guards. I see this:
- Sanders - 30
- Williams - 30
- Baker - 28
- Mensah - 7
I do worry about Baker hitting the freshman wall in late January while playing these kinds of minutes. I'd like to see Baker's minutes average more in the 25 range than 28. But it will require Mensah to show alot more than he's shown thus far, to warrant 10-12 mpg from him.
What exactly is Williams injury?I have gotten a lot of different takes on it.
He did not need to play last night. I am just saying- many important games ahead. I am sure he is telling Coach he wants to play, but I hope he looks out for his future going forward. I would say he is playing at 65% right now. Time off will help, but time playing will not.
I believe (but do not know) that it's a sprained knee. Luckily, he can get plenty of rest between now and Sunday. We really need his energy, leadership, and instant offense.
Good bet. He does have a knee wrap on since the game. He really seems to be hurting on certain movements. Plus his run is not natural. Looking up on a site, it does not eem like it takes that long to heal. Still, Williams wants to play long term. I would skip the next two games as they should be able to play without him.
Who was the last player we had with the court awareness that Geo has? It's been a while!
Love the kids game. He is going to have some special games at the RAC.
Love the kids game. He is going to have some special games at the RAC.
Great to see Geo getting so many minutes early - the more game speed reps he gets, the better prepared he'll be for later in the season. Also great seeing Doucoure get 24 min last night. Reps, reps, reps.
Thiam is your 4th player in the backcourt, similar to what happened last year.....first, Thiam should capture minutes over Souf because he's a better shooter, better defender, longer arms and more difficult to shoot over.
All it takes is a slight increase in Thiam's minutes to help spell Baker for 4-5 minutes at guard, while he also plays on the wing....Thiam is a 20-24 minute a game player and if he's shooting the ball, those 20-24 minutes become more valuable.
Thiam spelling minutes in the backcourt, means a few more minutes at the SF or PF for Eugene with Freeman and/or Doucoure in a smaller more flexible lineup.
I think Baker's minutes will moderate and come down to a 26-28 minutes a night range. The 9 man rotation is Freeman, Doucoure, Eugene, Candido Sa, & Doorson, in the front court (with potential pinch of Luke Nathan and/or Myles Johnson) with Baker, Williams, Sanders & Thiam in the backcourt or swingman role, with Souf earning a few minutes a half in spots.
Peter Kiss is probably worth one or two more wins if on the playing roster this year....he will help soften the landing or workload for Mathis and Harper next season, so they are not asked to do too much as frosh..
All it takes is a slight increase in Thiam's minutes to help spell Baker for 4-5 minutes at guard, while he also plays on the wing....Thiam is a 20-24 minute a game player and if he's shooting the ball, those 20-24 minutes become more valuable.
Thiam spelling minutes in the backcourt, means a few more minutes at the SF or PF for Eugene with Freeman and/or Doucoure in a smaller more flexible lineup.
I think Baker's minutes will moderate and come down to a 26-28 minutes a night range. The 9 man rotation is Freeman, Doucoure, Eugene, Candido Sa, & Doorson, in the front court (with potential pinch of Luke Nathan and/or Myles Johnson) with Baker, Williams, Sanders & Thiam in the backcourt or swingman role, with Souf earning a few minutes a half in spots.
Peter Kiss is probably worth one or two more wins if on the playing roster this year....he will help soften the landing or workload for Mathis and Harper next season, so they are not asked to do too much as frosh..
I think any player sitting out a year,. even with practice, will have some Game Rust they will need to shake off.
yeah....especially with the step up in comp
But, to Doves' point, it's not like he's out with an injury...he is playing and competing. So that will make the integration smoother IMO
I'm not sure what this even means. Is it a shot at his work ethic? If it's just that he isn't a great passer/rebounder/defender right now, that's all very coachable and largely based on "want to".
Kiss will not be rusty. Perhaps a little “game rust” but he will be very active on the scout team. I’d be more worried about him jelling with the starters but that doesn’t take very long. This Almost deserves another thread, but I’m very excited about next year. Think about Kiss, Johnson, Mathis, Harper, and Carter. That’s almost a starting 5 right there, albeit very young...
He has a bruised tibia. It's not something that can get worse, it's just what he can deal with. He discussed this in public at some point this week.
Just asking, not challenging, but if it's a bruise, why does he wear a brace during games?
disagree with this coach from what I have seen. Harper has potential to be much more than a just a shooter. It will be up to Pike and staff to bring it out of him.
We need shooters but there's no way Pike takes a guy he can't coach up to rebound and defend.
I'm not sure, but I guess maybe there's some padding there to make contact hurt less? Really not sure but he definitely said it was a contusion, not a strain.
