I suppose with Ace's length he could be backup/emergency center
I am certain we will land a big man, but we need to create matchup problems for opponents, not the other way around.
Too often in the last 2 years, as soon as Iowa or Nebraska or anyone with a pulse that shoots the ball well, RU was in trouble before boarding the team plane.
We will have more options to matchup with the 4 to 5 versions of CBB.
A) Super small lineups where teams don't have a traditional 5 (like Alabama), we can easily matchup defensively and put Ace against the least effective offensive players the opponent has.
B) the traditional 4 & 5 man with an opponent, then we matchup with the length and athletes to rebound and defend the paint.
C) The 3 to 4 guard lineups (Illinois, Ohio State, Seton Hall), we have options to now spread the floor and allow driving lanes where Cliff isn't in the way, by being in the post.
D) the small mid major lineups, where RU would waste possessions trying to feed Cliff or the post, just because there was a size advantage. We need to just play 5 on 5 and not worry about who defends who......switch everything on defense, everyone crash the glass, get the rebound and push the tempo.
The key from what I can see, is everyone recruited can rebound and advance the ball on their own....we don't have to force an outlet pass to JWIll or Dylan..if Ace grabs the rebound, everyone takes off.....fill lanes, find open space on the 3 point lines and attack the basket, pass to open players, drive and kick.
The other missing element was that our defense was solid for most of the year, but we didn't get enough cheap baskets in transition off of steals, deflections or blocks. These players should all be able to get baskets or keep teams off the offensive glass.