It would be tough to envision 6'4'' 260, if accurate, as an optimal playing weight for anyone. I'll see it with my own eyes in a few days.
Observations from Practice
- Thread starter ouchmyknee
- Start date
FB is what it is at this time and is winding down.Albeit I have not had the interest in following RU BB since the Billet Days,I am going to give it a shot this season.It should be interesting to see how Coach P. and staff transforms this group of players into a team that may become competitive in the B1G.
Rashod Kent was listed 6'6" 265lbs. Anyone who stood near him knew that he was closer to 6'4 than 6'6". I have no idea what his actual weight was.
Beg to differ as an RC alum the kid is a baller and has never had any conditioning issue at all and has played at that weight I have seen him play many games
I can't say anything about Bullock since I've never seen him play. But based on reports we've heard about other players on the team, I suspect that Bullock will be no more than a minor role player this year anyway.
At guard, you've got Sanders, Johnson and Williams ahead of him, and at SF, you've got Laurent and probably Thiam ahead of him. That's FIVE guys for 120 minutes, SEVEN guys if you include Bullock and Omoruyi (who was being touted by Pike as a tough all-around type of player, which suggests to me that he could get minutes at SF if he defends and rebounds). You know Sanders and Johnson will be playing 30 minutes apiece, so that leaves no more than 60 minutes combined for the other five guys. But Laurent and Williams will probably get AT LEAST 20-22 minutes apiece, leaving just 18-20 minutes TOTAL for Thiam, Omoruyi, and Bullock.
With Freeman, Sa, Gettys, Doorson, and Diallo getting all 80 minutes at PF and C, that leaves 20 minutes total for Thiam, Omoruyi, and Bullock, which means Bullock could play 0 or he could play 15, depending on the night. Of course, we all know that most coaches like to narrow things down to a 9 man rotation, which I suspect will (by the B1G schedule) look something like this (on average):
PG -- Sanders (30), Johnson (10)
SG -- Johnson (20), Williams (20)
SF -- Laurent (22), Thiam (15), Bullock/Omoruyi (3)
PF -- Freeman (28), Sa (12), Diallo (?)
C -- Gettys (20), Doorson (12), Sa (8), Diallo (?)
So I see Bullock, Omoruyi, and Diallo as the "deep bench" behind the other 9 guys. Which means that nobody needs to worry about Bullock's weight this year.
Of course, this is all pure guesswork until the games are played. And we have heard that Bullock can shoot the rock -- a skill sorely lacking on this team -- so who knows, maybe his toughness and shooting acumen will get him on the court.
At guard, you've got Sanders, Johnson and Williams ahead of him, and at SF, you've got Laurent and probably Thiam ahead of him. That's FIVE guys for 120 minutes, SEVEN guys if you include Bullock and Omoruyi (who was being touted by Pike as a tough all-around type of player, which suggests to me that he could get minutes at SF if he defends and rebounds). You know Sanders and Johnson will be playing 30 minutes apiece, so that leaves no more than 60 minutes combined for the other five guys. But Laurent and Williams will probably get AT LEAST 20-22 minutes apiece, leaving just 18-20 minutes TOTAL for Thiam, Omoruyi, and Bullock.
With Freeman, Sa, Gettys, Doorson, and Diallo getting all 80 minutes at PF and C, that leaves 20 minutes total for Thiam, Omoruyi, and Bullock, which means Bullock could play 0 or he could play 15, depending on the night. Of course, we all know that most coaches like to narrow things down to a 9 man rotation, which I suspect will (by the B1G schedule) look something like this (on average):
PG -- Sanders (30), Johnson (10)
SG -- Johnson (20), Williams (20)
SF -- Laurent (22), Thiam (15), Bullock/Omoruyi (3)
PF -- Freeman (28), Sa (12), Diallo (?)
C -- Gettys (20), Doorson (12), Sa (8), Diallo (?)
So I see Bullock, Omoruyi, and Diallo as the "deep bench" behind the other 9 guys. Which means that nobody needs to worry about Bullock's weight this year.
Of course, this is all pure guesswork until the games are played. And we have heard that Bullock can shoot the rock -- a skill sorely lacking on this team -- so who knows, maybe his toughness and shooting acumen will get him on the court.
Haven't seen the newcomers (always has to be a caveat!).....I believe Laurent and maybe Thiam could slide down and be a "4". Or said in a different way, be on the court with 3 guards/swings.
I think you find a way to get your most skilled players on the court as possible, especially in OOC games. Again I haven't seen the newcomers, but I'd suspect Sanders+Johnson+Williams+Laurent+Thiam > 120 minutes
33+33+25+25+15=131....getting this out of thin air.
Leading Niagara 65-56 with 4 minutes left couldn't you see a lineup of Sanders Johnson Williams Laurent Freeman?
I think you find a way to get your most skilled players on the court as possible, especially in OOC games. Again I haven't seen the newcomers, but I'd suspect Sanders+Johnson+Williams+Laurent+Thiam > 120 minutes
33+33+25+25+15=131....getting this out of thin air.
Leading Niagara 65-56 with 4 minutes left couldn't you see a lineup of Sanders Johnson Williams Laurent Freeman?
I loved Kent. He was so underrated. I remember him giving Troy Murphy fits and battling with Sweetney from GU.
I think Rashod came to RU listed at 300, but by junior year he was quite fit. I think the WVU crowd showered him with chants of "Fairmont Fatty".
Always one of my favorite players too and if Bullock turned into the same type player, everyone here would be ecstatic.
Hope Rashod has straightened himself out as well. He certainly has a story to tell the kids.
Always one of my favorite players too and if Bullock turned into the same type player, everyone here would be ecstatic.
Hope Rashod has straightened himself out as well. He certainly has a story to tell the kids.
FIG - he moves incredibly well for a kid who is carrying that weight around.
Unless I'm mistaken, don't think Omoruyi was at the open practice. Anyone know the deal? From the preseason reports sounded like he was a physical 6-6 guy. Was looking forward to seeing how he might fit in.
Can't see Thiam as a 4 candidate from what I saw. Very thin and it's clear Pikiell is hoping to groom him as a key perimeter threat not as interior guy. In his adhoc scouting report / intro to the Court Clubbers Thiam was the first guy Pikiell pointed out.
Sa is an intriguing guy. I guess by default he'll have to back up Freeman if we start a true center but he doesn't seem like a banger. Appears to be a guy able to shoot from the three but his shot blocking stats seem to indicate he's comfortable in the paint too. Want to see what he can do. Not sure how much production we're going to get from our center and I think Sa could give the offense a different look.
Can't see Thiam as a 4 candidate from what I saw. Very thin and it's clear Pikiell is hoping to groom him as a key perimeter threat not as interior guy. In his adhoc scouting report / intro to the Court Clubbers Thiam was the first guy Pikiell pointed out.
Sa is an intriguing guy. I guess by default he'll have to back up Freeman if we start a true center but he doesn't seem like a banger. Appears to be a guy able to shoot from the three but his shot blocking stats seem to indicate he's comfortable in the paint too. Want to see what he can do. Not sure how much production we're going to get from our center and I think Sa could give the offense a different look.
Last edited:
he was definitely there, but he wasn't in the a majority of the drills where they competed as 5 person units. I was hoping to see more of him also
judging from the ancillary reports, sounds like he will be a factor this year. so I am not worried.
No Eugene was not there. I spoke with coach about his not being there after the practice. He said Eugene had some sort of commitment but that he wasn't hurt or anything and is doing well.
Colonel....when u see rosters of teams we will play at home in November and December you can see a smaller lineup will still be bigger than our opponents.
I'm pretty sure thar we see this big ten rotation by the time we are in the heart of league play
Sanders 30
Johnson 30
Freeman 26
Laurent 24
Tham 23
Sa 22
Williams 20
Getty 17
Doorson 8
Sanders 30
Johnson 30
Freeman 26
Laurent 24
Tham 23
Sa 22
Williams 20
Getty 17
Doorson 8
OK, I'll still play along/ How about LLoyd Moore?
Minutes for Williams way too low and too high for Sa and Thiam. Also too low for Doorson.
We don't even know how Pikiell is going to run his offense so it's really difficult to predict minutes by player....Let's reconvene after some OCC games are played.....at least 1 or 2.
Last edited:
How would you know? You weren't there, dude. Give it a rest. I gave my observation for those that couldn't be there - you're welcome.
Last edited:
I hope Bullock turns out to be one of those guys who can just make plays. He may not have a traditional set position, but with so many rotations and zone defenses maybe he finds his niche. Massively productive and winning HS player, hopefully it translates to the college level. Isn't he the strongest kid on the team, by quite a bit.
Don't take it personal, but, if 10 people give an observation and only 1 guy says a player practiced and looked like he was way of shape I'll go with the other 9. No one else is saying he practiced like he was out of shape.....was he panting on the court, doubled over with his hands on his knees, laboring to get up and down the court or lagging behind in the drills?
Last edited:
I was at the practice. Bullock will definitely not log major minutes until he transforms his body. While being skinny or hefty does not necessarily dictate what type of shape you are in, there is a correlation. He is definitely not in optimal shape. For instance, he is able to dunk, but he struggles to do so. Why struggle when it will be easier if you shed a few pounds?
LOL. LOL. I'm honestly not a Bullock shill, but c'mon! The guy has no trouble dunking at all. These boards are hilarious sometimes.
I mean, I watched him do it. He barely got to the rim. My point, which is not arguable, is that getting in better shape will be a good thing for him.
All good. Of course it's not arguable that getting in better shape helps. I was just keying on that the statement that he struggles to dunk. Multiple people on this board have seen the kid play, including myself. Trust me, dunking is not a problem. He's probably in the best shape he's been in years. You can probably YouTube his multiple highlight slams against St Patrick's at Kean last year, in crunch time, against a bigger front line than most colleges have. Don't know how many minutes he'll get this year, but no doubt, the kid is a baller.
Absolutely, if anything you'd like him to solidify his frame, not lose it. Doesn't need to be at 2% body fat, but needs to turn some of it into muscle, which he will.
We might all be splitting hairs. If he can give us 5 to 6 a night, and be productive, it just lengthens the bench. If he is guard/small forward, he can give Sanders/Johnson/Williams a breather and same for Laurent/Thiam. I'm excited to see him play, first NJ guy in way too long.
Every year there iAds teams that are preseason highly ranked that fizzle and become big disappointments and teams no one predicts anything about come from no where and surprise. Wouldn't it be great if RU is this years big surprise. Based on preseason rankings if RU finishes over 500 or makes the NIT they will be a huge surprise. This thread seems to think we are a lot better than most people think. Let's hope.
Similar threads
