Ogbole being coached up
- Thread starter knight82
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He looks good in the clips. The most important thing for him this season will be rebounding, rim protection, and hitting FTs at a decent percentage. His scoring will be a bonus.
Impressive how high he gets above the rim at his size. May be more of a shot blocker this season instead of just a hold your position and don’t allow guys to bully you defender. Rebounding should only improve and on a per minute basis he was solid last season.
His athleticism looks really good. I think his footwork needs to slow down a bit as it looks like a lot of his moves could/would be called for traveling.
Love everything you said here
Except, obviously having Cliff on the team,
We are better without him his skillset doesn’t fit this team and he would have had a hard time accepting his role/ place on this roster.
We have some All American bitches. Sadly I have a whole group sitting behind me at the games.
I think it all would have depended on whether accepted his role on this team.
If he insisted on being a focus - playing with his back to the basket, etc then you’d be right . But I HIGHLY doubt he wouldn’t have accepted his role.
he would have accepted what his role would have been - defensive, rim protection, put backs, being set up for massive dunks. In that role he would have absolutely SHINED and been a perfect fit for this team. In fact Cliff is EXACTLY what this team needs at the 5
Do you really think Cliff expects anything different at Alabama? Do you think he expects to have their guards to feed him the ball on the blocks so their offense can come to a halt?!? Puhleaze. Thats the exact opposite of how Bamas offense runs. He’s gonna be getting put backs on rebounds and alley-oops.
Which is exactly what he excels at and would have gotten a heavy dose of next year had he stayed
Oh well. I can blame the kid. Gave us 4 years and now he’s cashing in. Good for him
But if you don’t think he would have absolutely killed it for us next year then sorry , you just don’t know what you’re talking about .
I definitely wanted Cliff back, but what this team needs is a big that can hit the three and spread the floor on offense. Cliff can’t which is why he really isn’t a great NBA prospect. Lathan hit the 3 in high school at 39%. I saw him play and watched him hit 3s with players trying to guard him outside. How he plays defense and rebounds in college are big questions, I don’t think teams will be able to leave him open, which will make it harder for teams to defend Dylan and Ace. Cliff’s defense and rebuilding will be missed and Dylan would probably have set him up for a lot of monster dunks. Without him we will likely need to settle for Ace’s monster dunks.
He had 1 game where it looked like someone put numbing cream on his hands. Other than that 1 absolutely brutal game, I liked what I saw from him.
I do wonder what the players work on during the off season and how much guidance the staff provides (of what they want them working on). Not one of his shots next year should be outside of 3 feet (really 1 foot). Dunks and layups.
I do wonder what the players work on during the off season and how much guidance the staff provides (of what they want them working on). Not one of his shots next year should be outside of 3 feet (really 1 foot). Dunks and layups.
I don’t know Cliff so I can’t comment on whether he would accept his role on this team. Expectations are justifiably high with both Ace and Dylan projected to be top ten NBA picks. Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten, think about how many other Big Ten teams had two top 10 NBA picks in a single year. This season should be special, if it is, it will likely be because we spread the floor, force defensive centers to defend the three and let Dylan and Ace operate in space.
I love a good defensive team, we will have some players that can defend. Cliff was an elite defender and that will be missed.
You really think we need a center that can hit 3s?
I don’t agree at all.
We got 3 point shooters now and other offensive options to keep defenses honest
What we need D, rebounds, rim protection
. On offense - what Cliff provides (the option for a dish/dunk) would have been great to keep defenses honest as well - ie they would have been hesitant to crash/ double on Dylan/ ace cuase that would leave Cliff open for a monster dunk
I don’t agree at all.
We got 3 point shooters now and other offensive options to keep defenses honest
What we need D, rebounds, rim protection
. On offense - what Cliff provides (the option for a dish/dunk) would have been great to keep defenses honest as well - ie they would have been hesitant to crash/ double on Dylan/ ace cuase that would leave Cliff open for a monster dunk
I guess we disagree on 2 of your points
Cliff is an athletic specimen, that’s where the excelling ends.
You seem pretty knowledgeable, so I guessing you can figure the second point we disagree on.
I’m guessing you don’t think Cliff was good on D / rim protection .
If that’s your point - I’ll say i understand why you might think that. I think the blocks makes him look better than he was. So I get that . He was a good defender when he wanted to be. Not great .
But I think if he was on next years team his athleticism really being a benefit on the defensive end
He is a very good help defender, he is a pretty poor post defender, lots of opposing centers have had their way with him over the years. It is one of the biggest reasons he has had so little interest in the NBA. Jumping out to defend guards is not highly valued. Being able to guard your opposing Center is, especially when some of them are the most elite scorers in the league.
I think blocking shots, and this rim protecting term are overrated.
Unless a blocked shot results in a change of possession ala Bill Walton, where he would block the shot gain possession and flip it down court for a fast break.
Cliff’s blocks the ball out of bounds or back to the opponent sometimes for 3 opportunities.
Cliff can’t defend the opposing 5 and clogs the lane on offense.
This team will benefit from spacing and open lanes as well as pulling the defending 5 away from the basket.
You may disagree with me that’s fine this is a discussion board, but I do know what I am talking about. Which was the second point I was referring to that we disagree on.
I think it comes down to - you don’t think Cliff will accept a modified role. Whereas I think he would have - just as he will have to at bama. That’s the bottom line difference in our opinions
If you think he will “clog the lane” then you must think he will sit in the post waiting for an entry pass (as he has WAY to much the last few seasons) so he can make his nonexistent post moves too far from the basket.
There’s no way he would have been allowed to do that next season just as he won’t be permitted at bama
I also think youre way over blowing the need for a 3 point shooting 5 - as if the threat of a 3 from the 5 is so critical in keeping defenders honest. But we are going to have a LOT MORE offensive threats this year to do that (3 point sharpshooters and others who can score) - defenders are going to have to keep tabs on far more than just ace and Dylan.
We don’t need a 3 point shooting 5. On offense I think a 5 that can pass is actually more important for this team. And before you say it -no Cliff was not a great passer.
But honestly I don’t know what you expect to get. Cliff was clearly regarded as one of the top 5s out there (look what he was offered!).
But again, I think what we really need at the position for this team is defense, rebounds, put backs and dunks. I think it’s far more likely for RU to get a serviceable 5 who can do those things than one who can shoot 3s at a great %. $$$
Lastly if we had a choice between some 3 point shooting 5 but who was soft on defense/ rebounding VS a hard-nosed 5 who can defend, rebound and get the occasional put-back or dunk-off-a-dish (but who doesn’t take a 3 all season). I would take the latter in a heart beat!!!
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I don’t want our 5s shooting 3s at all next season regardless.
The other 4 choices on the court to shoot them will always be better unless Davis is in the game. In that case, there will be 3 better options. Last year, nobody could shoot so maybe it would’ve been a different story.
The other 4 choices on the court to shoot them will always be better unless Davis is in the game. In that case, there will be 3 better options. Last year, nobody could shoot so maybe it would’ve been a different story.
To all those that think we're better off without Cliff:
Alabama NIL just paid him $1.4M to be on their team. Some say he had an offer of $2M from another team. Think about that. Regardless of what you think about role or fit, he would have been at least the 3rd best player on our team. It's a big loss.
Given the NIL budget RU has left to work with, it seems we're not going to be able to improve the 5 position. Since we do have one more scholarship, we should add someone at least the caliber of Woolfork for an extra serviceable body. But it's looking less and less likely that's going to happen.
Alabama NIL just paid him $1.4M to be on their team. Some say he had an offer of $2M from another team. Think about that. Regardless of what you think about role or fit, he would have been at least the 3rd best player on our team. It's a big loss.
Given the NIL budget RU has left to work with, it seems we're not going to be able to improve the 5 position. Since we do have one more scholarship, we should add someone at least the caliber of Woolfork for an extra serviceable body. But it's looking less and less likely that's going to happen.
I’m not intending to rag on Wolf but he could not help the 2024-25 team at all. His D just isn’t good enough. Anyone thinking this way should watch some film of Princeton. The third option at center must offer more on D than Martini and Wolf doesn’t. Not close. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying Martini is an ideal 5 (not close), but he plays smart and physically down low in the post. Wolf doesn’t and that’s why he’s not here anymore. He couldn’t help. Recruiting someone who is a project on D doesn’t make sense.
I don't disagree with anything you say here. My point is I'd rather add a serviceable big man than reward a walk-on with the open scholly.
When Cliff gets in the lane he stays there, he has no basketball IQ
He doesn’t move around. He has no feel for the game.
portal rankings are a joke Cam was Ranked in the 40’s. He was by far the MVPT
Most valuable portal transfer.
Cliff is ranked a lot higher than Pringle that’s a joke.
Watch Pringles Highlights Cliff can’t do 10% of what Pringle can.
It’s easier to accept a role at a new school as opposed to someplace you failed at being the man, the year before with 3 freshman coming in who are much better bball players than you.
We need a 5 that stays out of the way on O and crashes the boards instinctually when needed. We don’t need a 3 point shooting 5 just someone who is an offensive threat away from the basket and knows spacing and complementary basketball.
the great thing is I don’t have to watch Cliff be a non bball player next year.
I believe we already have what we need for this team at the 5 with Lathan, O, and the kid from Princeton.
The great thing is we will find out time will tell.
We mostly agree, on our points.
Go RU
Ahhhhh man in his peak…that man was amazing to watch on the court. Velvety smooth and that fade away was a thing of beauty.
I don’t see how we “need” something that most top teams in college don’t have. Maybe I’ve watched too many Big Ten games? But realistically, what top college teams relied on a stretch 5 as a major part of the O scheme?
Off the top of my head, I would note that Michigan did back when they had Mo Wagner, Illinois did last year with Coleman Hawkins and Princeton did last year with Zach Martini. The Princeton game was interesting because l thought Cliff would dominate it. He played fairly well finishing with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. However, Zach Martini hit a couple of early 3s forcing Cliff to come out and guard him, which pulled our best rebounder away from the basket. We gave up 15 offensive rebounds to Princeton and were out scored on second chance points 14 to 11.
Cliff is a really good college center and I would love to see him come back. I truly believe he was an elite defender and shot blocker and that part of his game will be missed. However, we have what we have and I think the outside shooting skills that Lathan and Zach bring can negate some of the shot blocking and rebounding that other team’s centers bring. Having a big that can shoot the 3 really well is uncommon, but that makes it more of an asset when you have one that can, not less. It doesn’t always work, as what UConn did to Illinois in the NCAAs clearly demonstrates.
Agree with all of this. We have what we have and depending on who is in the game and who we are playing we may use the 5 spot to pull bigs out and open the lane for Harper, Ace and J Will.
just the threat to hit a 3 and the defense has to come out at least a little bit so they can close out.
Yes 100%. What I’m saying though is based on where we are at, a prerequisite to meet the definition of being a servicable Big Man on our roster is being able to defend the post at least as well as Martini would if we had to shift him there for stretches. Anyone who falls materially short of this requirement probably can’t help us. We’re not going to run offense through the 5 so the concept of making up for bad D on the other end isn’t all that likely this season.
We have fans who talk about trading D for O but folks need to understand that while Dylan and Ace will hold their own on D, it’s unlikely they will be able, as frosh, to make up for major shortcomings of other guys playing with them the way Caleb and Cliff did for guys like Paul. And our newcomers will be less major conference tested than Paul was. Lacking a rim protector in combination with regularly playing a perimeter player who struggles to defend in iso could be a major problem for us even if we put up a lot of points. We don’t need to be great on D - but there’s some minimum level we’re going to need to maintain.
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