We have Geo and Caleb as our PG but we didn’t pick up a 5th yr grad transfer to handle the ball. The concern is if either PG tweaks an ankle or something we still need a ball handler and we want to ensure Geo has fresh legs with all his responsibilities this year especially on D. I do recall Pike saying he’d love to have 3 PG at a CC meeting. Does Mathis/Kiss fill this void?
Just wondering whose our 3rd PG
- Thread starter 4theknights
- Start date
Since we really don’t have even 1 real PG now, we’d just be putting the best ball handler left out there.
I think he’d trust Kiss enough...but it could even be Downes as well
I think he’d trust Kiss enough...but it could even be Downes as well
Kiss, Mathis, and Harper can all bring the ball up in an emergency. There will be very few minutes without Baker or McConnell on the floor though, I bet.
Pike will suit up if need be. He still has handles.
If Downes gets meaningful minutes...we'd be in dire straits
That said...JD runs the scout offense. He would be capable in a pinch.
Jake is still with the team BTW as a grad assistant. He is on the floor frequently at practice
Agreed. At best RU could try to sub Downes in during a dead ball close to a media timeout. That way whoever he subs in for gets a two minute breather + however long it takes to get to the media timeout.
Being a point guard is much more than just bringing the ball up court.
Always look forward to your comments BK but we really don’t have a PG? Pike thinks Geo could be one of the best PG in BIG ... I expect big things from Geo especially as a playmaker making guys around him better.
I love Geo...but he's a combo guard in truth, and that's ok. That's the norm around here.
It's been years since we've had a true playmaker out front. Geo is playing the part, and I'm sure he will do a great job. That said, Mulcahy is the future at the PG spot
Pike did that a lot to get Corey some 5 minute real time rests around the media timeouts and miss less than 2 minutes of game action
I see the PG more as the guy who runs the offense than who brings the ball up, receiving 5he first pass in a hold rather than dribbling position. Of course, ideally, b-ball is the ultimate ensemble game so much depends who else is on the floor.
Geo has said he's played PG his whole life until last year so I'm not as concerned as some about him switching to PG and feel he will be an upgrade in terms of being a distributor over Corey. He also has more talent around him than Corey did to be fair.
What about McConnell though? You don't consider him a PG either?
I would think Kiss would be the most likely guy to be lead guard if both Baker and McConnell couldn't play. Kiss is the most experienced guard on the team in terms of years, so I would trust him more than anyone else to fill the "third PG" role.
Season didn't even start yet and we are already bringing up injuries
lol
Legit concern. They can happen in bunches, even in the offseason.
I was at a team's practice today and here's what they're dealing with:
--A sophomore guard (who made all-freshman team last season) was practicing for the first time all week due to a back issue that "locked him up" over the weekend.
-- A sophomore forward who is back on the court after hyper-extending his elbow diving for a loose ball. Missed four weeks on court action.
-- A senior small forward jammed his foot into the heel of a teammate last week and is still not 100 percent due to lingering pain in one of his toes.
(All three of the above players are expected to be starters. Two of them are expected to be the teams top two scorers).
-- A sophomore forward is in the concussion protocol (fortunately he is a sit-out transfer).
--A freshman guard has been sidelined for six weeks with a fracture in his left foot. Hopes to be cleared for basketball activities when he gets examined on Monday.
Kind of sobering.
Love Geo and love Pikiell, but I can't help thinking that comment about Geo as a PG this season maybe a bit of an overhype.
I think having playmakers that can dribble, shoot and are willing to pass is the key. And the smarter the roster is, helps understand concepts.
If you want to be a defensive team first, you need quickness, arm length and wingspan to close out on shooters. There's going to be times when we are not in the right set and things break down where RU will just need a play to be made. The willingness of McConnell to be a passer and having shooting range and long arms, is why I'm willing to watch this team evolve.
Mulcahy also has length and will be strong enough to play some minutes next year. Young brings a scoring mentality as well as the ability off the bounce to get his own offense.
I wouldn't look at this year as a finished product...it's still being built.
If you want to be a defensive team first, you need quickness, arm length and wingspan to close out on shooters. There's going to be times when we are not in the right set and things break down where RU will just need a play to be made. The willingness of McConnell to be a passer and having shooting range and long arms, is why I'm willing to watch this team evolve.
Mulcahy also has length and will be strong enough to play some minutes next year. Young brings a scoring mentality as well as the ability off the bounce to get his own offense.
I wouldn't look at this year as a finished product...it's still being built.
Definitely a concern. Gonna be tough sledding but as long as they stay healthy Pike can make the proper combinations to make it work.
But to put it in perspective if Geo went down does this team even win more than one conference game? Do they even get one? So yeah depth is a concern but that can happen when guys leave early. That’s why it’s good to have guys with position versatility.
But to put it in perspective if Geo went down does this team even win more than one conference game? Do they even get one? So yeah depth is a concern but that can happen when guys leave early. That’s why it’s good to have guys with position versatility.
BK.
I know Young is not eligible this year but where will he fit in next year along with Mulcahy?
Young is more of a combo guard to me. I've watched a little bit of tape on him and the vibe I got was lefty Corey Sanders. He has slick handles and is really quick, but he's more of a scorer than a creator. But I think part of the reason he transferred is because he thought he was playing out of position, so maybe he sees himself as a PG.
Anyway, I'm a little more bullish on Geo as a point guard here than others because while he lacks elite quickness and needs to refine is ball-handling, I do see him as a gifted passer. Mulcahy will be the only pure PG on the roster so I'm sure he'll get some run off the bench.
We're almost certainly going to be playing "small-ball" type basketball in 2019-2020 with the number of guards we have, which doesn't necessarily mean bad defense. Texas Tech last year had the #4 defense in the country and their best lineup had one guy taller than 6'6".
I'm very excited to see what the offense looks like these next two seasons. Playing time always sorts itself out if the competition is good.
Anyway, I'm a little more bullish on Geo as a point guard here than others because while he lacks elite quickness and needs to refine is ball-handling, I do see him as a gifted passer. Mulcahy will be the only pure PG on the roster so I'm sure he'll get some run off the bench.
We're almost certainly going to be playing "small-ball" type basketball in 2019-2020 with the number of guards we have, which doesn't necessarily mean bad defense. Texas Tech last year had the #4 defense in the country and their best lineup had one guy taller than 6'6".
I'm very excited to see what the offense looks like these next two seasons. Playing time always sorts itself out if the competition is good.
At first the Young commit made me scratch my head a bit...
But having seen him play now in person, I get it.
He will be an instant offense, change of pace guy. He's confident in his shot and will demand to be on the floor when it matters late in games.
He's become a huge plus for the program already as he challenges our best with his play.
Yeah, no one complains that Carson Edwards isn't a pure pg. He only averaged 2.8 assists last year, while Geo averaged 2.6 in an offense that had A LOT less possessions per game.
Speaking of which, Geo and Carsen Edward's have REALLY similar freshman stat lines. If only Geo can make that leap...
Speaking of which, Geo and Carsen Edward's have REALLY similar freshman stat lines. If only Geo can make that leap...
Moving the ball up the court while being pressured is going to be a big test for our guards. Defenses are very quick so I hope guys like Mathis and McConnell have the ball handle and speed. I think Kiss will help with that. Then it comes down to being able to move the ball in the half court and creating screens to find the open guy. It’s about spacing and that was a big issue the last two seasons.
We definitely have more shooters but we also need more than one guy who can drive to hoop. Last year was really just Corey with a little bit of geo Baker. This year should be a lot of Baker, plus Mathis and Kiss. That leaves Thiam and Harper to benefit with open 3 pointers. I’m glad we didn’t waste next years open scholarship on a two year Juco or another guy we didn’t absolutely love. That extra spot for next year is going to be huge with the extra additions of Mulcahy and Young.
Can’t wait to start the season. Need to stay healthy,
We definitely have more shooters but we also need more than one guy who can drive to hoop. Last year was really just Corey with a little bit of geo Baker. This year should be a lot of Baker, plus Mathis and Kiss. That leaves Thiam and Harper to benefit with open 3 pointers. I’m glad we didn’t waste next years open scholarship on a two year Juco or another guy we didn’t absolutely love. That extra spot for next year is going to be huge with the extra additions of Mulcahy and Young.
Can’t wait to start the season. Need to stay healthy,
Again, pg/sg it doesn't matter. College and pros are transitioning to legit basketball players. Can a player pass, dribble, and shoot. We had no idea Geto would be the player he was last year. Geo is a basketball player. Caleb, Geo, Kiss, Young and maybe Mathis are all basketball players. McConnell and Geo has seen it all, zones, man, pressure, and have played against elite plays prior to college. .Now that their bigger, faster and stronger they're better and could be in that elite conversation especially Geo. No need to worry Caleb and Geo will be fine. Both of their IQs are off the charts.. RU will win this year. .
It depends on what kind of combo-guard they are.
Some combo guards are really shooting guards who happened to be short. They can handle the ball okay but you probably don't want the ball in their hands against a ball pressure defense because their decision-making might not be the best or their passing ability may not be a strength.
Other combo guards are really point guards who happened to be good shooters/scores. However, their biggest strength is ball handling, passing, leadership and running the offense.
When I evaluate HS kids who claim that they are point guards I look to see if he has the ability to lead the team on the court. Is he an extension of the coach? Do his teammates follow him? Does he show the ability and poise to lead the team when they are dealing with adversity?
If he doesn't do those things he isn't a HM point guard. He's a guard that happens to bring the ball up court.
Those last two are pretty big with me that's why I put them in bold letters.
No, a PG can most definitely do both. Not that he has to but definitely can. Sometimes another player has an easier matchup to bring up the ball but if you're PG can't bring up the ball against pressure than they either aren't a PG or they aren't a good one. Your PG is typically the best ball handler
Yeah, sure the pg is generally your best ball handler. I just,don’t think the game as played in 2018 has the pg typically bringing the ball up and initiatng and running the half court offense. You want the guy running the half court offense to get the ball in a catch, not dribble, position.
So you don't think Geo is going to bring the ball up the court? Or do you think he's not going to run the offense then?
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