MAMADOU DOUCOURE

[superfan01]

What do people make of Doucoures play this year? Is it just freshman growing pains for a big man or something more? What specifically is causing him to struggle so much and what does he need to work on?

Is this something that can be turned around for next season or are we looking at a guy who is more of a project and really won’t contribute at the level we need until year 3 or 4.

Really expected more from him this year based on his rating and offers.

 

[LOU-RU85]

The guy is a tremendous talent. He is only a true Frosh. In time, he will be a difference maker in his later years.

 

[RUJMM78]

Over hyped to make a immediate impact.I can't even understand why Freeman does the opening game jump balls instead of the tallest player.

 

[rufeelinit]

I have seen flashes of potential particularly on the offensive end. Needs to be nurtured and developed. I sometimes wonder how long he and Issa have been playing because they seem to make some really obvious poor decisions. They need to learn from those and stop repeating them game after game.

 

[S_Janowski]

Over hyped to make a immediate impact.

This is the case for almost all incoming freshman. Every year we hype up incoming players and once they play freshman year people move on to the the next round of incoming freshman.

Over the next year Doucoure needs to learn how to not get two fouls within the first 6 minutes of every game. Hard to make a big impact when you are in foul trouble everytime you step on the court.

 

[RUChoppin]

His biggest issues, in my mind, are body control/footwork, positioning, and speed of the game. All of things things should improve year by year as he gets more experience and S&C.

He often finds himself out of position on defense, which is frequently because his footwork isn't there to stay in front of his man - and his man's first step is faster than what he was used to in HS. When he's out of position, he ends up fouling - which is partly due to position, and partly due to body control (not keeping his arms straight up, or trying to block and hitting an arm).

He also finds himself out of position on offense at times, too far away from the basket to make post moves and not in the right spot to provide good screens. Again, this is partly footwork, too. On screens, he needs better body control not to foul. He also isn't used to defenders being so much faster/better than at the HS level.

All of this will improve. He's got a decent touch on a 10 footer, has some decent post moves when he's in the right position, and can rebound when he's in the right position. More reps will help with positioning, body control and speed of the game... and more S&C will help with body control, too.

I expect more from him as a sophomore, but he might not blossom until his junior year.

 

[MadRU]

Doucoure was a late addition due to reclassifying. He did not get the extra off season coaching. Eugene was similar last year after being a late addition. Eugene improved a lot before his second year, I expect similar from Doucoure with a similar off-season with coach Young

 

[goru7]

What do people make of Doucoures play this year? Is it just freshman growing pains for a big man or something more? What specifically is causing him to struggle so much and what does he need to work on?

Is this something that can be turned around for next season or are we looking at a guy who is more of a project and really won’t contribute at the level we need until year 3 or 4.

Really expected more from him this year based on his rating and offers.

Well, I will take a crack at it. Coach wanted him to start right away despite knowing as early as the St. John’s exhibition game that he was foul prone and committing fouls at a rapid rate. He has had the opportunity to bring him off the bench after 4-5 minutes to let him watch the other bigs defend and to watch how the refs are calling the game. Coach did not think Shaquille stamina wise could start or Sa was not an option I guess. The fouls ruin the potential we do see. Second, There are not enough if any direct plays for Duke to get the ball on the block or below the elbow. He is better shooter and has not developed his offensive moves around the basket. I think that is a big issue with the offense in general. We do not play through our bigs enough and I am not talking Deshawn. I am talking Duke, Sa, and Shaquille, who are more willing passers and would result in playing inside / out where Issa, Geo, MIKE, AND Corey would be able to catch and shoot or catch and penetrate. Duke in the Minnesota game early showed he was a capable guy to knock down a 10 footer or even a foul line jumper. Unfortunately, we have not attempted that offense again which is one of the major reasons we are struggling so bad in our half court offense. I am not even sure what offense we were running at all last night, because everything was not structured, spacing was terrible , and it looked all free lance to me. Duke has to shoot 4-8 times a game. Coach’s job is to incorporate that into the offense thru the end of the season, especially with Eugene likely out for the year.

 

[goru7]

Over hyped to make a immediate impact.I can't even understand why Freeman does the opening game jump balls instead of the tallest player.

If you watched an opening tip, Duke never won one. He doesn’t leap up high at all from a standstill position. Deshawn has won 3-4 tips and can get up from a standstill position

 

[Russ Wood]

What do people make of Doucoures play this year? Is it just freshman growing pains for a big man or something more? What specifically is causing him to struggle so much and what does he need to work on?

Is this something that can be turned around for next season or are we looking at a guy who is more of a project and really won’t contribute at the level we need until year 3 or 4.

Really expected more from him this year based on his rating and offers.

No need to worry about Doucoure at this point in time.

An evaluation of Doucoure was posted on this board back in July and said that he will struggle with athletic big men and that Doucoure looked like "the type of big who will provide depth as a freshman and may have a good game or two in OOC play. His sophomore year could be where he makes a big jump." He had nice games against Bryant, Cleveland State and even gave a glimpse of what he could turn into against Minnesota. So that eval was pretty accurate. No need to worry about Doucoure now.

Full evaluation LINK.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

No need to worry about Doucoure at this point in time.

An evaluation of Doucoure was posted on this board back in July and said that he will struggle with athletic big men and that Doucoure looked like "the type of big who will provide depth as a freshman and may have a good game or two in OOC play. His sophomore year could be where he makes a big jump." He had nice games against Bryant, Cleveland State and even gave a glimpse of what he could turn into against Minnesota. So that eval was pretty accurate. No need to worry about Doucoure now.

Full evaluation LINK.

I guess the RU fanbase is looking for a savior status when they call players that don't come in and dominate, as being overhyped etc....Doucoure is the best big recruited since Kadeem Jack, Derrick Randall and Greg Lewis...Jack took two years and we heard all of the same things then...Jack turned into a serviceable albeit a perimeter offensive player.

Doucoure makes some shots from outside the paint.

The one thing that bigs don't do anymore is post up UNLESS your big can make crisp passes to guards....and make passes when a double-team happens....There is no dump into the big man when no one respects the spacing of the other 4 players, where all 4 players can shoot/drive/pass.

Bigs are better when the perimeter players are better around them. The hope is by Duke's 3rd season and Baker's 3rd season, that Mathis, Kiss, Harper and Myles Johnson's 2nd season that Thiam and Eugene are strong and developed enough to provide leadership/depth.

 

[higgins3]

Why Doucoure still starts is becoming a head scratcher for me.

 

[bac2therac]

way overhyped because it is clear the coaching staff and some members of this board were expecting more from him. We certainly did not replace the loss of Gettys and that was going to be a key to whether RU was successful. Duke has potential but was thrust into a role he never should have been put in. Not ready and refined enough and does not have his bball iq skills up to the level where he can make this team better. In retrospect the reclassification was probably not the best thing for him. He needs to be brought along and nurtured and I think Pike and the staff generally did a poor job with this

He will be better next year for sure and I expect a very solid career here as a junior and senior at RU unlike alot of other guys who drifted aimlessly in their careers at center for RU.

 

[TDIrish27]

I think he has a chance----has a good frame and a decent shooting touch.

His problem is he only plays basketball from the waist up.

Has to learn to bend and move his feet defensively or he'll never be on the floor too long.

You're only as good as who you can guard.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Freshman growing pains. An overwhelming majority of "bigs" are not ready to contribute in their freshman years. Doucoure is no different, but he has shown flashes of his potential, to the point where I can certainly see him as a 12/9 guy in his junior and senior years.

 

[MADHAT1]

My opinion :
If he wasn't needed so badly he should have been redshirted to help him develop his skills rather than be forced into action.
As it is he's showing promise but also showing he is a project that will need a couple of years to bring out fully the talent he has .

 

[ColonelRutgers]

My opinion :
If he wasn't needed so badly he should have been redshirted to help him develop his skills rather than be forced into action.
As it is he's showing promise but also showing he is a project that will need a couple of years to bring out fully the talent he has .

If you redshirt a guy you’re automatically putting him on the path to leave as a grad transfer when he’s at his most valuable. I’d be hesitant to redshirt anyone for that reason alone unless they change the grad transfer rules. Have to admit I was expecting a lot more than what we’ve seen. He just can’t stay on the floor enough without fouling to contribute much at all. But you’re not going to get a ton of quality non-fouling minutes out of Shaq or Sa so who starts doesn’t mean much.

 

[RUChoppin]

Have to admit I was expecting a lot more than what we’ve seen. He just can’t stay on the floor enough without fouling to contribute much at all. But you’re not going to get a ton of quality non-fouling minutes out of Shaq or Sa so who starts doesn’t mean much.

Most non-five-star bigs are going to have foul trouble as a freshman.

Doucoure is playing 14.1 min with 2.8 pf (about a foul every 5.0 min of game time)

I took a look at the centers in the Rivals Top 150 from 2017 who have played this year, and other than the guys in the Top 12, the rest average 16 min and 2.4 pf, or a foul about every 6.7 min of game time. Doucoure's not really out of line with that.

3 - Ayton (32.3 min, 2.4 pf... 13.5 min/foul)
4 - Bamba (30.3 min, 2.8 pf... 10.8)
7 - Carter Jr (26.2 min, 2.8 pf... 9.4)
12 - McCoy (27.5 min, 2.6 pf... 10.6)

17- Richards (17.0 min, 2.3 pf... 7.4)
31 - Gafford (22.0 min, 3.5 pf... 6.3)
45 - Tilmon (18.7 min, 3.5 pf... 5.3)
57 - Fernando (20.3 min, 2.8 pf... 7.4)
74 - Obiagu (11.7 min, 1.6 pf... 7.3)
79 - Epperson (9.0 min, 1.0 pf... 9.0)
84 - Cosby-Roundtree (13.0 min, 2.0 pf... 7.5)
87 - Wesson (21.4 min, 3.0 pf... 7.1)
111 - Garza (19.8 min, 2.3 pf... 8.6)
140 - Obinna (9.5 min, 2.0 pf... 4.3)
150 - Carlton (14.5 min, 2.3 pf... 6.3)

 

[mikefla]

He started vs Illinois & as usual can barely last 18min due to foul trouble
a 7 footer >>zero points , 3 rebs, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls

I fail to see these "flashes of brilliance" people mentioned above
I hope he improves next year

 

[RUChoppin]

He started vs Illinois & as usual can barely last 18min due to foul trouble
a 7 footer >>zero points , 3 rebs, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls

I fail to see these "flashes of brilliance" people mentioned above
I hope he improves next year

Again... he's 6-9, not 7-0.

He's a true freshman big - they have foul trouble and don't play a ton of minutes. That's not out of the ordinary.

 

[RutgersFbFan]

He started vs Illinois & as usual can barely last 18min due to foul trouble
a 7 footer >>zero points , 3 rebs, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls

I fail to see these "flashes of brilliance" people mentioned above
I hope he improves next year

Big men typically take longer to develop. What about the 13pts and 9 rebounds against a ranked Minnesota team?

Just for reference, Hamady N'Diaye averaged 13 minutes a game freshman year w/ 2.7pts, 2.9 rebounds and 2 fouls per game. In 14 minutes a game Mamadou is averaging 3.3pts, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 fouls per game.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

He's not James Bailey.

 

[shields]

I wanted to throw something at the tv last night when he went 1 on 2 and got the charge. Just a dumb play.

 

[gordel1]

Rutgers fans are so un-accustomed to having players with several other major offers that when RU reels one is the instant expectation is that he is going to be a difference maker on day one. Just the truth.

 

[hbbsm713]

Rutgers fans are so un-accustomed to having players with several other major offers that when RU reels one is the instant expectation is that he is going to be a difference maker on day one. Just the truth.

Yup. It’s drives me nuts. It’s the same for football too. Last year many thought Lewis would be the savior as a true freshman. He wasn’t, so now they’ve moved on to Sitkowski. Except Sitkowski is nowhere near ready, so he will be labeled a bust after next season.

If Doucoure was a 3 star, he wouldn’t be getting this much crap, but because he was a 4 star, our fans throw out unrealistic expectations. Yes he has struggled and he has a lot to work on, but he is still only a freshman.

 

[RUChoppin]

In the very first minute of the game he blindly saved a ball from going out of bounds under the Illinois basket right to an Illinois player for an uncontested layup. That’s basketball 101. Lots of potential but a long way to go. I believe he should have stayed in HS another year. He’s very young and I expect him to make big strides next year and be very valuable in his Junior year.

I don't know how young he is - he was originally Class of 17, then reclassified to 18, then back to 17. I'd imagine he'd be the age of other true freshmen around the country, no?

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Im not worrying about duke. He has some tools to work with. And if our staff could transform eugene is one year, im excited to see what they can do with duke

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Doucoure has the hands that your Can’t teach, a nice shooting touch and good balance

Lots of upside...sure he is raw

Thinking he can be A 6-7 ppg and 5 rpg next year in 20 mpg and more in 19-20 as a junior

 

[knight82]

Was supposed to be a freshman next year. Was thrown into the fire too soon and wasn't ready

 

[Russ Wood]

I don't know how young he is - he was originally Class of 17, then reclassified to 18, then back to 17. I'd imagine he'd be the age of other true freshmen around the country, no?

Maybe, but not necessarily.

One thing I've learned with African imports is that trying to get their true age/D.O.B. is not as easy as you think. Their handler/sponsor/etc almost always tells them a date to give reporters that is younger than their true age.

Maybe in Doucoure's case he is 18 or 19. Which would be a good thing.