I have no idea what is possible, given RU's level of available $$. But, I will say that RU NEEDS to get 3 starters - at least.
1) One would be a rim-protecting center - a rebounder, and defender, not necessarily a high scorer ... not necessarily even a 10-12 ppg scorer ... but someone who can play 25 mpg, defend at a high level, maybe get 6-7 rpg, hopefully score 7-8 ppg.
2) MUST HAVE: ONE Wing or Guard who can score at all 3 levels (i.e. hit 3's at a minimum of 33% to 35%, drive and finish at the rim against Big 10 defenders, have some mid-range game ... who could be RU's top scorer - 14-15 ppg, for example (i.e. Ron Harper JR type - who as a SR averaged 16 ppg and was RU's leading scorer) ... AND can defend a bit - and be a willing defender effort-wise.
3) SHOULD HAVE: A Wing/Guard (if #2 is a Wing, then a guard, if #2 is a Guard, than a WF with length) who can start, score and shoot, and potentially average 11-12 ppg ... and defend.
All of the above need some length - a 6'0" guard, unless he is a lights-out quick defender, and/or a lights out scorer, is like Noah Fernandes redux.
I believe Grant, with the right players around him, and coaching up, plus development, could evolve into a double-digit scorer ... he DOES have to improve and be more consistent with his 3-pointer - key to unlocking his scoring potential .. and then could be fine as a stretch 4 - with development. If Grant could hit 1.5 made 3-pointers a game (even in 4.5 attempts - so just 33%), he could absolutely average 10 ppg. That is not even much of a stretch - maybe I am not giving him enough credit. I know you cannot just "multiply" numbers, but he averaged 6 ppg and 3.4 rpg in just 19 mpg. If he proves capable pf playing 27 mpg (50% more), even without improved efficiency from 3 or FT, he could average 9 ppg and 5 rpg. If he could improve offensively and efficiency-wise, 10-11 ppg and 6 rpg is not out of the question. CONSISTENCY will be important for RU from Grant next season.
And frankly, I think people are writing off Davis too soon - presuming he stays. Yeah, he still has a lot more improvement needed. BUT ... He DID improve in 3 rather significant areas:
1) 3-point FG%, from 22% to 33% (8-36, to 14-42)
2) FT%, from 52% to 65% (on fewer FT tries ... 36-69 as a frosh, 28-43 as a Soph) - he did have 5 fewer mpg as a Soph, because he backed up a better player in Harper.
3) Assist/Turnover ratio (ONE - not the sole - indication of improved decision-making), from 1.5 ass/TO (58 ass to 39 TO), to 3.4 ass/TO (55 ass to 16 TO).
He continued to drive into the teeth of bigger defenders too much - though he did improve that as the season went on. He has to stop that or make MUCH better decisions when to do so. He also struggled with his mid-range game - sometimes he did well, but too often he did not - and he HAS to improve that as well. Can he do so moving from SO year to JR year, or is he stuck? Some players keep improving even into JR and SR years, but others do not. AND he has got to bring his on-ball defense back to where it was in in freshman season.
FYI, in Davis' last 7 games - yes, a small sample size - he was 11-25 from 2-point range, 3-7 from 3-point range (14-32 overall) and 11-14 from the FT line ... and 9 assists and 3 TO ... in 110 minutes (16 mpg). I should note that Simpson and Griffiths both had strong finishes (in their FR seasons) that gave me false hope they could develop more.
1) One would be a rim-protecting center - a rebounder, and defender, not necessarily a high scorer ... not necessarily even a 10-12 ppg scorer ... but someone who can play 25 mpg, defend at a high level, maybe get 6-7 rpg, hopefully score 7-8 ppg.
2) MUST HAVE: ONE Wing or Guard who can score at all 3 levels (i.e. hit 3's at a minimum of 33% to 35%, drive and finish at the rim against Big 10 defenders, have some mid-range game ... who could be RU's top scorer - 14-15 ppg, for example (i.e. Ron Harper JR type - who as a SR averaged 16 ppg and was RU's leading scorer) ... AND can defend a bit - and be a willing defender effort-wise.
3) SHOULD HAVE: A Wing/Guard (if #2 is a Wing, then a guard, if #2 is a Guard, than a WF with length) who can start, score and shoot, and potentially average 11-12 ppg ... and defend.
All of the above need some length - a 6'0" guard, unless he is a lights-out quick defender, and/or a lights out scorer, is like Noah Fernandes redux.
I believe Grant, with the right players around him, and coaching up, plus development, could evolve into a double-digit scorer ... he DOES have to improve and be more consistent with his 3-pointer - key to unlocking his scoring potential .. and then could be fine as a stretch 4 - with development. If Grant could hit 1.5 made 3-pointers a game (even in 4.5 attempts - so just 33%), he could absolutely average 10 ppg. That is not even much of a stretch - maybe I am not giving him enough credit. I know you cannot just "multiply" numbers, but he averaged 6 ppg and 3.4 rpg in just 19 mpg. If he proves capable pf playing 27 mpg (50% more), even without improved efficiency from 3 or FT, he could average 9 ppg and 5 rpg. If he could improve offensively and efficiency-wise, 10-11 ppg and 6 rpg is not out of the question. CONSISTENCY will be important for RU from Grant next season.
And frankly, I think people are writing off Davis too soon - presuming he stays. Yeah, he still has a lot more improvement needed. BUT ... He DID improve in 3 rather significant areas:
1) 3-point FG%, from 22% to 33% (8-36, to 14-42)
2) FT%, from 52% to 65% (on fewer FT tries ... 36-69 as a frosh, 28-43 as a Soph) - he did have 5 fewer mpg as a Soph, because he backed up a better player in Harper.
3) Assist/Turnover ratio (ONE - not the sole - indication of improved decision-making), from 1.5 ass/TO (58 ass to 39 TO), to 3.4 ass/TO (55 ass to 16 TO).
He continued to drive into the teeth of bigger defenders too much - though he did improve that as the season went on. He has to stop that or make MUCH better decisions when to do so. He also struggled with his mid-range game - sometimes he did well, but too often he did not - and he HAS to improve that as well. Can he do so moving from SO year to JR year, or is he stuck? Some players keep improving even into JR and SR years, but others do not. AND he has got to bring his on-ball defense back to where it was in in freshman season.
FYI, in Davis' last 7 games - yes, a small sample size - he was 11-25 from 2-point range, 3-7 from 3-point range (14-32 overall) and 11-14 from the FT line ... and 9 assists and 3 TO ... in 110 minutes (16 mpg). I should note that Simpson and Griffiths both had strong finishes (in their FR seasons) that gave me false hope they could develop more.
