0% chance that happens. We don't have the depth of proven players. We may need him to chew up some minutes. The good news about our bigs is they don't need to be superstars. Play productive defense and don't hurt the team with bonehead plays. Easier said than done, I know.
Not sure what you are envisioning as Thiam and Eugene are not playing center. I would be shocked if one of Doorson, Johnson, Doucoure, or Carter is not on the floor at the 5 position at almost all times in almost every game. Eugene will be at 25+ mpg at the 4, so that leaves around 15 mpg to play Thiam or Harper as stretch 4s if he wants to. Behind Eugene, Pikiell will either utilize a stretch 4, or play Carter at the 4 if Carter’s play or the matchup warrants it.
I think he’s a lock for 25+ as captain and emotional leader, and I think if he is listed at 6’7” that is stretching it. He looks shorter than Ron Harper in team photos. He really has the height of a 3 not a 4, but his game is suited to power forward. No way he anchors in the paint as a center or defends opposing centers in the B1G, there’s just no reason to do that. You could play Thiam there if you were desperate and had only 1 scholarship center, but we have 3 or 4 centers.
I like EO a lot, too. But except for very rare situations can I see him at the 5.
Last year though you had 2 scholarship centers, one not in peak form in Doorson and one a 6’9” true freshman who was a foul machine. Night and day to this year.
Yeah, I agree. But I think the reasoning was probably having 5 scorers on the floor. Obviously with Gettys year 1, Pike likes a big man when he can pass and score.
I could see a few minutes at a time in very specific situations. But that's about it.
I just hope he doesnt get discouraged. Whenever anyone says roster turnover is inevitable he's one of the guys I get concerned about.
I'm getting the impression that Pike is expecting a lot out of Kiss. Like, better as a starter at the 2 than Geo was last year, while also expecting Geo to match Corey's production in a less explosive but more consistent manner.
Just bc you have good form and rotation does not make you a good shooter. Good form and rotation are however typically signs of better and more consistent shooters. It's a sign that shows he may improve in those areas. I always heard how raw he was offensively so I was expecting worse honestly.
I agree with you there. Where I diverge is that I think his form and rotation have looked good in shoot around, and we’ve seen plenty of players like this (bigs and guards) over time that can never do it in a game. Having a smooth jumper when wide open with no pressure isn’t all that hard. Ask Issa Thiam. Being able to do it consistently in a game is different. What I’ve been pointing out is that based on his feel for the game, I don’t see him ever making a big enough leap in feel to be considered “wildly skilled.”
He's a freshman big man who skipped his senior year of HS. Can't imagine what you must have thought about Eugene after his freshman season then. I saw massive potential there. Not saying doucoure will be wildly skilled. I said his jumper had better form and rotation than I expected after reports about how raw he was offensively. I agree he does seem to lack a feel for the game but as a true freshman big it's early to write him off for that. He has strength quickness and isn't afraid of contact. It's typical to see young bigs have foul trouble issues. Honestly it seems like he may be behind EO the Shaqs and Myles right now from what I've heard but to me that is more a sign of the depth we have finally.
All my comments have stemmed from a poster calling him wildly skilled and me asking where that comes from- take a look.
