Mensah/Dadika
- Thread starter RUBigJ
- Start date
I mean, watching him play you can see he sometimes is favoring the other leg/hesitant about running full speed etc
No, I guess I should be clear about that. But his minutes are down and from the eye test he doesn't seem to be at 100%.
I’ve been quiet on Mensah. But I think it’s fair to say that Mensah is not a division 1 player let alone a Big 10 player. It’s not a knock on coach Pike. Sometimes you miss on recruits and he’s definitely a big miss. He looks like a D3 player..and that is not an exaggeration. I can’t imagine him ever seeing the court next season at all
I would like to see Dadika get a chance because Mensah is actually hurting the team while he’s out there
I would like to see Dadika get a chance because Mensah is actually hurting the team while he’s out there
There was one play in the first half in which his pocket was picked from behind. I couldn’t believe that he didn’t have the court sense to realize that the defender he just went past would chase and catch up to him. It should be innate that you need to protect the ball from chasing defenders, especially when you are slowing down. It was very D3 like
I love coach Pike, but Mensah is a knock on him and his staff. The kid had bad numbers in JUCO, was lightly recruited and his tape was not impressive. Many were questioning his signing at the time it was announced. It appears those questions were justified. Serviceable JUCO guards (as opposed to big men) are a dime a dozen. Central Connecticut State's leading scorer is a JUCO transfer from the same class and based on their game against us, he is worlds better than Souf. If CCSU can get one, we should have.
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Go to almost any schoolyard court in NJ, NY, and PA the courts are filled with better players. This is a real head scratcher to me, just don't understand what Pike was thinking.
I thought Mike got banged pretty good in the 1st half going for a defensive rebound. He collided with a teammate (forget who, but one of our bigs), went down, and held his head. Wonder if that had anything to do w/ his off night.
Dadika can't be much worse and might be an upgrade thats worth a try
Agreed. It's sad because he seems like a good guy. Can someone ask Pike about Mensah on a radio show (does he have one) or Court Club?
The answer is a healthy Mike Williams, because neither Jake nor Souf are going to be useful. But we only have who we have. I can't get mad at a kid for not being good enough if he's doing what he can, and I believe he is.
Coach missed, it seems, on this one. Everybody misses, it's just unfortunate that we're a little strapped for guard play right now.
Coach missed, it seems, on this one. Everybody misses, it's just unfortunate that we're a little strapped for guard play right now.
I posted this several games ago. I've yet to see Souf contribute and most often when he comes in; something goes wrong. A turnover, foul or missed free throw. Dadika at least understands the importance of ball security and guess who won the 3 point contest at MidKnight Madness. It's really okay to play Jake over a scholarship player. He's better.
Having suffered through knee injuries, I would doubt he is at 100%. With how quick he came back I'm guessing 75-80%.
I brought this up at the game last night. With Geo in foul trouble and Mike looking banged up, we needed to spell Corey. Souf is not the answer. I feel more comfortable with Jake. Not the best option but we are going to be in this position when we start banging in the B1G
Through the first 7 (8 including St Johns), I was keeping an open mind about Mensah. However, I'm now in the camp of preferring Dadika at this point. While Dadika most likely will not do anything extraordinary, he doesn't make mistakes which is probably more important for someone playing 6-10 minutes per game.
The minute Dadika comes in he'd face pressure like he has never seen before. Educated guess is he'd make mistakes.
Mensha has struggled, but, I'm still going with Pikiell on this one. We'll just have to wait and see if he comes along and can contribute. It's still only 50 minutes of playing time.
I understand the love for Dadika....it's Ricky's boy.
I understand the love for Dadika....it's Ricky's boy.
Agree with RUC-------coming from juco to this level is for many a huge adjustment.
I wouldn't bury the kid quite yet
I wouldn't bury the kid quite yet
"struggled" Camon Choppin, have you seen him "play?" It's not that Dadika is any better, but worse, I doubt it. Kid deserves at least equal playing time.
I feel like it was just a week ago I was saying Souf needs to be given more time by the fan base before he's run out of town. But geez, he's been more of a liability when he's out there than anything else so far. He doesn't need to score, just play a few minutes of some reasonable defense and avoid turnovers on offense. If he can't handle those two assignments for 6 minutes a game then there's no reason to bring him off the bench. We've seen Dadika do both.
Yes "struggled" , "played badly or poorly". My only point is, it's still only 52 minutes and if Pikiell thought Dadika was a better option he would play him. Maybe he will play him in the future....then we will all know, but, Five Threads asking for Dadika is not going to do it. It's not like Pikiell is taking Roster advice from this board....lol
As soon as Souf goes to the Table, Maybe someone should start a " We want Dadika " chant at the next game.
IMO, Pikiell is never going to play someone if there is a better option on the bench. That's stupid and that's how coaches get Fired.
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Ive seen Souf dribble up court after beating his man and get the ball popped out from behind not being aware too many times. We need someone to give Corey a break and Geo if in foul trouble a quick plug.
He hasnt proved it. I guess we will see in time.
He hasnt proved it. I guess we will see in time.
its happened 3 times already in his limited minutes. Likely why he didn't play much if at all afterwards last night. Taken right out afterwards. Jake is better...he values the ball.
A lot of passion here...someone needs to send Pikiell an email and ask for Dadika to get some minutes Sunday againat Minnesota.
Souf is proving that the recruiting services and other coaches were right with their evaluations of him. He is hurting us when he's out there. One of only a couple of wiffs by this staff.
Sad to say so far Mensah has gotten his pocket picked & doesnt pass very well.
By necessity Dadika got meaningful minutes last year and didnt hurt us at all
But this year stat-wise
Mensah is getting 7 minutes(some in prime time) with 1pt 1reb 1 assist
Dadika has gotten 6 minutes(all cupcake time) with .5 pts and .5 rebs
By necessity Dadika got meaningful minutes last year and didnt hurt us at all
But this year stat-wise
Mensah is getting 7 minutes(some in prime time) with 1pt 1reb 1 assist
Dadika has gotten 6 minutes(all cupcake time) with .5 pts and .5 rebs
I really haven't seen much in Mensah that has given me any confidence. Every time I saw him with the ball against FSU, I found myself saying "Please don't screw up, please don't screw up, please don't screw up" to myself.
He just doesn't seem to "get" what he's supposed to be doing out there. He doesn't seem to be very good bringing the ball up the court, he can't defend without fouling, he can't really shoot the ball unless he can dribble-penetrate, and if he's fouled he's only shooting 20% from the line.
The best I can hope for is that he's still a bit shocked by the speed of the Div-I game, and hasn't been able to acclimate yet. If he can catch up with the speed of the game, maybe he can become serviceable as a "spell the starters" guard. Right now, though, he's a liability.
That's not to say Dadika would be any better. At least he'd be a threat to shoot from the outside.
He just doesn't seem to "get" what he's supposed to be doing out there. He doesn't seem to be very good bringing the ball up the court, he can't defend without fouling, he can't really shoot the ball unless he can dribble-penetrate, and if he's fouled he's only shooting 20% from the line.
The best I can hope for is that he's still a bit shocked by the speed of the Div-I game, and hasn't been able to acclimate yet. If he can catch up with the speed of the game, maybe he can become serviceable as a "spell the starters" guard. Right now, though, he's a liability.
That's not to say Dadika would be any better. At least he'd be a threat to shoot from the outside.
Mike had his issues, but he was worlds better than Souf!
