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Baker next year

zappaa

zappaa

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I know I could have posted this in the 2020 starting rotation thread, but I thought Baker deserves his own thread.

Gio Baker is one of the most improved point guard/ball defenders in the Nation at this point.

I don’t know how good Young is, and he may be very able to spell Gio...but I see no way Mulcahy can possibly play with enough speed and defend the way Gio is right now.

At this point in Gio’s career, outside of Phil Sellers I’ve never been more comfortable with a guy with the ball on his hands.

Gio is our point guard next year, and I’m extatic to be able to watch him for two more years
 
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Geo***

Also couldn’t agree more. Kid is influencing the game outside scoring now. Plays excellent D, great stamina, can dish (9 assists vs Iowa!)

We are going to have serious depth and not just average depth, talented depth. Exciting times!
 
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I know i have mentioned how much I think Mulcahy needs to improve his shooting, but I think Mulcahy is the most game-ready freshman we could have asked for as a succession plan for Geo.

I am farily certain that even without an improved jumper, Mulcahy projects as the safest frosh we could have added outside of Mathis, who I felt was destined to impact RU in a lot of ways.

We are in the start of 4 more years of very good guard play on the banks....

Geo has hit the proverbial pedal to the medal that has eliminated a lot of unnecessary noise. And more importantly, he's playing better without having to score and allowing Mathia, Harper, Eugene and Caleb to thrive. The formula of Eugene and Geo leading this team is intact, but they're now doing it without having to be the leading scorers.
 
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NewJerseyHawk said:
I know i have mentioned how much I think Mulcahy needs to improve his shooting, but I think Mulcahy is the most game-ready freshman we could have asked for as a succession plan for Geo.

I am farily certain that even without an improved jumper, Mulcahy projects as the safest frosh we could have added outside of Mathis, who I felt was destined to impact RU in a lot of ways.

We are in the start of 4 more years of very good guard play on the banks....

Geo has hit the proverbial pedal to the medal that has eliminated a lot of unnecessary noise. And more importantly, he's playing better without having to score and allowing Mathia, Harper, Eugene and Caleb to thrive. The formula of Eugene and Geo leading this team is intact, but they're now doing it without having to be the leading scorers.
Click to expand...
Question Hawk..
Tell me about Mulcahy’s ability to play with speed, and run the fast break...and defend opposing point guards.
Is he B1G ready?

Forget about shooting for a second.
 
zappaa said:
Question Hawk..
Tell me about Mulcahy’s ability to play with speed, and run the fast break...and defend opposing point guards.
Is he B1G ready?

Forget about shooting for a second.
Click to expand...
Not Hawk, but Mulcahy is the most ready point guard that will distribute the ball as any freshman in the country next year. I am sure with his height and length Pike and Jay Young will get him to play defense and he will get better at it as the year goes along. But I think Paul will make everyone on the court better
 
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From what I have seen Mulcahy's strength is running the break. He is fast enough straight line and his court vision is great. Now vertical quickness will be tested, but he will run the break very well.
 
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MadRU said:
From what I have seen Mulcahy's strength is running the break. He is fast enough straight line and his court vision is great. Now vertical quickness will be tested, but he will run the break very well.
Click to expand...
Sounds exciting
 
Yeah, a funny thing happened on the way to Geo only keeping the PG position warm until the arrival of Mulcahy...

He has become a pretty darn good PG in his own right. A guy we can trust with the ball in his hands and the game on the line.

Mulcahy will have to fight like hell to become our starting PG next year.
 
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Zap, fast forward to around the 3:16 minute mark of video:



This video is against 2 of the best teams in the state and several top players. It shows Paul's touches in the games, not all great ones, but you can see is end to end speed, and his court vision. Head is always up looking.
 
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And the best part is that Paul will not have to come in and be "The Man". Over the years we have had freshman forced into action and sometimes even carry the team. Paul will be able to blend with some good talent around him. Lets him learn and ease into the rotation.
 
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I think Geo may start the next year bringing up the ball, but I won't be surprised t see him move over to the 2 guard and let Mulcahy and Young play at the point. Right now Eugene and Geo are the two that spark the team and the gifted freshmen.

With that said, it is Geo that makes this team go in terms of stability. He truly has become the leader on the floor without always having to be the big scorer. IMO, he has the best BB IQ on the team and it shows because I don't think I ever see this kid get rattled.
 
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RUtrumpet92 said:
His stat line yesterday was amazing. Nine dimes, a couple of big 3s, I think 6 boards, just whatever it takes to help us win. Plays with passion but rarely out of control.
Click to expand...

Love Geo's play, but didn't like the pass back to Carter on the breakaway yesterday. He should have taken it himself to get Bohannon a foul.
 
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Geo and others have to be more cognizant of the player and situation when alley ooping. What the heck was Geo doing giving one to Issa or a gobbled Eugene!

He is Gio when he does that.
 
zappaa said:
Yea the post really captures the intent of my OP celebrating Geo.
I apologize for spelling Geo’s name incorrectly... my bad!
Click to expand...

Haha no worries, I just found it to be a funny play on words. I know we're all used to typing Gio over on the football board.
 
kcg88 said:
Haha no worries, I just found it to be a funny play on words. I know we're all used to typing Gio over on the football board.
Click to expand...
That’s a good excuse for me right there...:D
Still should never spell a players name wrong
 
Apologies. I shouldn’t make light of a misspelled name. Our QB was a Gio. Totally understandable. I can’t spell Issa’s last name. I get i right half the time. Thiam or Thaim. I just call him Issa

Many have misspelled Mr. Baker’s name. No one misspells Ron at least.
 
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Pikiell is doing something very smart with Baker right now. Harper is handling the ball a lot more and this is saving any wear and tear on Baker over the course of a 40 minute game.

You will see some lineups next year where 3 different guys are bringing the ball up the court....whoever gets the ball first dribbles it up the court....Baker, McConnell, Young, Harper or Mulcahy.

No need to look for a primary ballhandler. Those days are coming to an end with so many teams using 3 guards and multiple ballhanders.
 
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I watch the games from the perspective of what gaps can be closed by a player vs what the player does well.

While the last 2 months have been with improved play, i count "empty possessions". Not necessarily turnovers but possessions where we don't get a decent look at the basket or don't force the defense to make a play to stop RU.

Mulcahy and Young are going to drastically reduce those possessions where we look scattered. In recent games, we are under 8 to 10 or so possessions where we don't get something decent. At times prior to the B1G tournament at MSG, we would have 8 to 9 of those a half.

Mulcahy and Young have the potential to not just turn those possessions into better shots for others but they should result in more shots and points. My own projections are Young and Mulcahy are worth 8 PPG more than where we are now.

I know the thread was about Geo and the question about Mulcahy, but the real addition is Young IMO. If you factor in Mulcahy and his ability to create in traffic, I don't see any downside. If he is even a reasonable threat from the perimeter, RU jumps up significantly on both ends of the court.

Geo will become more effective on defense, be able to jump passing lanes without having to conserve energy. He could have the same 13 to 17 PPG most nights in 26 to 28 minutes vs 33 to 34.
 
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Geo is the leader of our offense and sets the tone. He has the ability to drive, distribute and create his own shot. Some critiques of Geo’s play are he has a strong dribble but is not a “ball on a string” type dribbler that say Corey was or a dribbler the ilk of MSU point (Winston). Sometimes Geo dribbles a little high which makes him vulnerable to get his pocket picked when he’s tired and logging long minutes. One thing I could say about Corey’s play is that on a full court press he could get past an entire defense the length of court himself. Geo’s dribble is not at that level but he can definitely distribute the rock and have the defender respect his shot. One other thing I noticed about Geo is that he likes finishing on drives to the hoop with one hand/arm multiple steps before release which makes his layups more difficult than controlling ball with both hands. That being said I believe Geo’s instincts are more a scorer than a point guard which will allow Paul M to get quality minutes next year since his game is distributing and running the break. I think the point position will start out as a three headed monster next year between Geo, Young and Paul and then transition into the bulk of mins going to two players Geo or Young and Paul.

Will be fun to see it play out. Paul M Jr reminds me a lot of his dad who I competed against in basketball and football growing up in Bayonne. Great athlete and tough competitor but like 5 inches shorter than son.

The standards of the RU basketball program have definitely gone up. Exciting times.

GO RU
 
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NewJerseyHawk said:
I watch the games from the perspective of what gaps can be closed by a player vs what the player does well.

While the last 2 months have been with improved play, i count "empty possessions". Not necessarily turnovers but possessions where we don't get a decent look at the basket or don't force the defense to make a play to stop RU.

Mulcahy and Young are going to drastically reduce those possessions where we look scattered. In recent games, we are under 8 to 10 or so possessions where we don't get something decent. At times prior to the B1G tournament at MSG, we would have 8 to 9 of those a half.

Mulcahy and Young have the potential to not just turn those possessions into better shots for others but they should result in more shots and points. My own projections are Young and Mulcahy are worth 8 PPG more than where we are now.

I know the thread was about Geo and the question about Mulcahy, but the real addition is Young IMO. If you factor in Mulcahy and his ability to create in traffic, I don't see any downside. If he is even a reasonable threat from the perimeter, RU jumps up significantly on both ends of the court.

Geo will become more effective on defense, be able to jump passing lanes without having to conserve energy. He could have the same 13 to 17 PPG most nights in 26 to 28 minutes vs 33 to 34.
Click to expand...

This x1000

Really can see our offensive efficiency go way up next year with two more scoring options that can create their own and for others ...making us a five man team that must be guarded...plus experience helping players know where it needs to come from

Think we can move our offense up to 73 ish a game from 68.

If the defense reverts close to last years form next year ...we are going to be very good next year. VERY good
 
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At the beginning of the season it was all about Baker. Other coaches openly said that this was the guy they had to defend.
But, thanks to Gio showing it wasn't all about him we have seen a real team emerge that now is much harder to defend. I think we can all be grateful that he is a team player.
 
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zappaa said:
I know I could have posted this in the 2020 starting rotation thread, but I thought Baker deserves his own thread.

Gio Baker is one of the most improved point guard/ball defenders in the Nation at this point.

I don’t know how good Young is, and he may be very able to spell Gio...but I see no way Mulcahy can possibly play with enough speed and defend the way Gio is right now.

At this point in Gio’s career, outside of Phil Sellers I’ve never been more comfortable with a guy with the ball on his hands.

Gio is our point guard next year, and I’m extatic to be able to watch him for two more years
Click to expand...
ive been told when mulcahy is in the game he'll run the point BUT on defense he'll guard the 3
 
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dkostus said:
Baker already had a step back in high school.
Click to expand...
I have seen his high school highlights. It’s not even about the step back, it’s the breaking down of the defender. He does it so eloquently now compared to high school. He knows it’s going in.
 
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Improved a lot but still not a real PG at this level. Struggles covering opposing quick PG's and penetrating against them, plus big time college point guards don't get picked bringing the ball up court which happens to him 1-2 times a game. As a PG, Mulcahy might not be ready right away but he will pass Geo later next year or the following year. And to ever compare Geo to Phil Sellers is absurd. Sellers was a first team all american and far and away the best player to ever put on a uniform at RU.
 
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RUChow said:
Improved a lot but still not a real PG at this level. Struggles covering opposing quick PG's and penetrating against them, plus big time college point guards don't get picked bringing the ball up court which happens to him 1-2 times a game. As a PG, Mulcahy might not be ready right away but he will pass Geo later next year or the following year. And to ever compare Geo to Phil Sellers is absurd. Sellers was a first team all american and far and away the best player to ever put on a uniform at RU.
Click to expand...

1-2 times a game? Ha.
 
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zappaa said:
I know I could have posted this in the 2020 starting rotation thread, but I thought Baker deserves his own thread.

Gio Baker is one of the most improved point guard/ball defenders in the Nation at this point.

I don’t know how good Young is, and he may be very able to spell Gio...but I see no way Mulcahy can possibly play with enough speed and defend the way Gio is right now.

At this point in Gio’s career, outside of Phil Sellers I’ve never been more comfortable with a guy with the ball on his hands.

Gio is our point guard next year, and I’m extatic to be able to watch him for two more years
Click to expand...
I agree. Geo will most likely still guard the opposing point guard when Mulcahy is playing. I would expect Young to guard the point when he plays. There are a lot of good problems with all the guard depth they will have next year.
 
zappaa said:
I know I could have posted this in the 2020 starting rotation thread, but I thought Baker deserves his own thread.

Gio Baker is one of the most improved point guard/ball defenders in the Nation at this point.

I don’t know how good Young is, and he may be very able to spell Gio...but I see no way Mulcahy can possibly play with enough speed and defend the way Gio is right now.

At this point in Gio’s career, outside of Phil Sellers I’ve never been more comfortable with a guy with the ball on his hands.

Gio is our point guard next year, and I’m extatic to be able to watch him for two more years
Click to expand...

Wow zap I do not have as much confidence in him as you do. His play is spread out equally between being a Very good player at times, good player at times and average at times - Still making too many mistakes and putting himself in bad offensive positions for me to have ultimate confidence in him.
 
I think several replies to this thread are missing that Zappaa is talking about his development over the course of the year, not how he performed from day 1 this year. The past 2 games he's been a facilitator and picked his spots... if you dont see how his pg skills have developed, I dont think you're watching. Was there a lull earlier in the year? Yeah, I think that was part of development
 
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