who is your impact player and thoughts

[higgins3]

For me, I think Jonathan Laurent is an impact player this year. He is in that 3 spot where we are limited. Also, he can rebound and is a high energy player. I don't know who our best rebounder will be this season so I think he could help out. A 3 guard set would be nice against slower teams, but I don't expect to see it every game. Something like Sanders, Williams, Grier would be nice. Sanders will experience some woes as a freshman, but I am very confident he will be a good player by mid season. Grier and Williams would cut down on turnover. Which brings me to my next point.

The four pillars of basketball-shooting,turnovers, rebounding and foul shots. As for as turnovers go, one way we can experience less is to make sure the outlet pass always goes to Sanders or Williams. Too many times last season we had Jack trying to bring the ball up.Theres a reason guards handle the ball-smaller and less distance between hand and floor that the ball has to travel. Just a simple point that I will talk to someone about. Ball must always be in Sanders/Williams hands after the outlet pass. Daniels hopefully recognizes he can't over dribble off the rebound. Working on Turnovers and foul shots are two easy ways to get better. A lot of our turnovers stemed from the wrong person handling the ball last year.

What do you guys think?

 

[RutgHoops]

Sanders. Kid can play. Freeman. I had heard Jae Crowder comparisons when we were recruiting him.

 

[higgins3]

Sanders. Kid can play. Freeman. I had heard Jae Crowder comparisons when we were recruiting him.

Good stuff. What kind of numbers do you expect from Freeman?I hope he can bring it because without Etou we are lacking any proven junk yard dog rebounder.

 

[higgins3]

I think Lewiss can pull down 6 a game though which will be needed. I also see Foreman improving his boards this year. I look for foreman to be a 6 and 4 type of player.

 

[higgins3]

Or maybe 8 and 4.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

My impact player is the coaching staff, specificly
1. how much is defense stressed
2. rotations
3. how they deal with mistakes young players make

We are significantly improved on paper. Assuming that is correct coaching becomes very important. Xs and Os only a smart part.

 

[RutgHoops]

My impact player is the coaching staff, specificly
1. how much is defense stressed
2. rotations
3. how they deal with mistakes young players make

We are significantly improved on paper. Assuming that is correct coaching becomes very important. Xs and Os only a smart part.

+1

 

[4theknights]

That is really the key question... What type of impact will the 11 players have this year. I guess we wont start to know until practice is underway and coach begins assessing the team and more importantly how the team works together. Defense can be the great equalizer for us and I'm anxious to see how we defend the rim ( Diallo) and how well we defend the three & use D as a start to easier transition baskets. Offensively last year we seemed stagnant in running the rotation so I hope Sanders helps alot in this area.

 

[RUJMM78]

My definition of impact players are those who can put the ball in the basket on a consistent basis.Everybody else are complementary type players,ie,rebounders,ball handlers, etc.Rutgers has been mired in futility for decades because there simply weren't enough players on the court that were considered scoring threats which resulted in long scoring droughts and losses to teams like St.Peters and FDU.

 

[MADHAT1]

That is really the key question... What type of impact will the 11 players have this year. I guess we wont start to know until practice is underway and coach begins assessing the team and more importantly how the team works together. Defense can be the great equalizer for us and I'm anxious to see how we defend the rim ( Diallo) and how well we defend the three & use D as a start to easier transition baskets. Offensively last year we seemed stagnant in running the rotation so I hope Sanders helps alot in this area.

Having a true #1 will make RU better offensively in my opinion , even if that player is a freshman learning the college game.

 

[RU at the shore]

My definition of impact players are those who can put the ball in the basket on a consistent basis.Everybody else are complementary type players,ie,rebounders,ball handlers, etc.Rutgers has been mired in futility for decades because there simply weren't enough players on the court that were considered scoring threats which resulted in long scoring droughts and losses to teams like St.Peters and FDU.

This a great point. I am hoping that Freeman is that impact scoring threat and that Sanders will be a #2 scorer from the get go and that Daniels will also prove to be an impact scoring option this year.

Everyone else fits in as "complementary" role players - not a knock, in fact I like some a great deal (Lewis, Williams, Foreman), but cannot see any one of these players being a consistent plus scoring option this year .

To the extent Freeman, Sanders and Daniels are not impact scorers, we will continue to struggle.

 

[seels2662]

Seriously higgins, if Laurent ends up an impact player on this team, we are easily an NIT team. I have complete faith in Sanders and Freemen to do their things, but if we add a third player, we will win alot more games than previously thought.

 

[knights1212]

I think Grier will get about 8 points per game. He has started a few years at Bradley is a 5th year player and is a threat from three.

 

[Good-Knight]

Sad. On any other team an "impact" player has to score 15 to 20ppg. This discussion mentions guys who MIGHT score 6 or 8 points. I can see only two contenders for impact players: Sanders and Diallo.

 

[RutgHoops]

The B1G only had 11 guys total who averaged over 15 points per game and only 4 players averaged over 16.4 per game. Only Indiana, Nebraska and Maryland had TWO players who averaged over 14.5 ppg. Sam Dekker was certainly an impact player averaging 13.9ppg. Denzel Valentine averaged 14.5ppg.

12-14 ppg is an impact player (imo) in the college game.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

It all depends on how deep a team is and how many offensive weapons that can be put on the floor at a time. If we have a player this year scoring more than 15 PPG it probably means he is playing 35MPG and our typical 5 on the floor only has 3 players at a time capable of scoring.

 

[RutgersFbFan]

I think Grier will get about 8 points per game. He has started a few years at Bradley is a 5th year player and is a threat from three.

i'm going grier as well. Experience, scoring threat and much needed spot up shooter with sanders and daniels ability to get into the lane. i'm pegging him for double digit scoring..

 

[MadRU]

Impact is way more than scoring.

 

[RutgersFbFan]

Impact is way more than scoring.

i would consider a player that can knock down the corner 3 and spread the floor for our slashers to be an impact player. to be honest i don't know too much about him on D, but it can't hurt to have some added length at the 2, which we haven't had in some time

 

[MadRU]

Impact can be a defensive stopper, a banger underneath, a pure rebounder, someone that hustles and does all the little things, a quarterback that runs the show, and assist man...etc...

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Sanders/Freeman. They will need to step up and play large roles right away.

 

[RutgersFbFan]

Impact can be a defensive stopper, a banger underneath, a pure rebounder, someone that hustles and does all the little things, a quarterback that runs the show, and assist man...etc...

i'd add a scorer as an impact player, especially for a team that struggles to score, but to each their own

 

[RutgHoops]

Hardest thing to find in CBB is someone who can put the ball in the basket.

I do not diminish those who defend, rebound, run the floor, play a role....they matter. My post above showed the B1G had only 11 players average over 15ppg (Eleven!). Guys who can score have the BIGGEST impact in CBB.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Sad. On any other team an "impact" player has to score 15 to 20ppg. This discussion mentions guys who MIGHT score 6 or 8 points. I can see only two contenders for impact players: Sanders and Diallo.

Hardest thing to find in CBB is someone who can put the ball in the basket.

I do not diminish those who defend, rebound, run the floor, play a role....they matter. My post above showed the B1G had only 11 players average over 15ppg (Eleven!). Guys who can score have the BIGGEST impact in CBB.

7 foot shot blocker and a 6'2''+ pure PG that can shoot and defend are pretty tough to find.

Going to play devils advocate here...b1G probably averages 67 points per game. If the scoring distribution is equal it is 13.4 points per spot. If the average player plays 30 MPG it is down to 10. 15+ scorer scores 1.5X more than the average player B1G player

 

[knights1212]

I really think we just need all 11 scholarship players to play a roll. I think only 2 guys will score in double figures but if all contribute we can average 70 or a little more.

Sanders 12
Freeman 12
Daniels 9
Grier 7
Lewis 7
Williams 6
Foreman 5
Diallo 4
Laurent 4
Doorson 3
Goode 3

That totals 72 but everyone might not get to play every game so our PPG might be slightly less. Dadika & Hyde might score a
few points too but probably not even 1 ppg for the games they play.

 

[knights1212]

Thus I don't feel that a impact player has to score double figures in points to help our team if everyone contributes. I think quite a few guys will be getting at least 15 minutes per game.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

This sounds bad...maybe he was hurt...Grier played for a 9 win Bradley team and didn't get starter's minutes. He is wearing the uniform so obviously we want him to succeed and help RU. I wouldn't think it would be a good sign if he got enough minutes to score more than a basket or 2 per game.

 

[SkilletHead2]

Hey! A bball thread about bball. Cool.

 

[MADHAT1]

This will be a young team and Grier's experience might be one of the reasons to think of him as a plus tor the 2015-16 RU MBB team.
He might provide the locker-room leadership needed to help the younger players mature, basketball wise and be a calming influence on the court..
Sometimes a players role might be more than the points he can score, but how he helps the other players play better.

 

[higgins3]

I like laurent because i am not sure about our rebounders and three spot. I dont know if grier scores more than 6 pts a game. He seems to not turn the ball over which is a plus. Not sure what to expect from freeman with his juco- big ten transition.

 

[MadRU]

Higs, just to play devil's advocate, none of us are sure what to expect from the newbies until they prove themselves. We know the B1G is way different than a Juco, but also a kid coming from HS like Laurent has a BIG transition to the B1G.

Hopefully the new guys find their niche on the team quick and form a team that competes day in and day out. Looking forward to seeing this team and how coach puts them together.

 

[Good-Knight]

The only guy coming back from last year who even seemingly likes to fill the bucket is Daniels...and he is just okay at it. On other teams you might have to worry about coming in and taking shots away from productive players, but here the floor is wide open for someone to come in a jock it up. An impact player on this team has to light up the scoreboard like it's a damn pinball machine, because the returning vets can't even find a lane in a bowling alley. No number of solid picks, solid position defense or good chemistry sh!t is going to cover for that. In coaching this team, Eddie has to emphasize scoring. He needs to grab a guy like Lewis mike-rice-style and let him know if he isn't working the low post and scoring he's going to be watching the game from a seated position. Two things are precious: Minutes and Points. We've got to play guys that can use one to get the other.

 

[higgins3]

I think Grier will get about 8 points per game. He has started a few years at Bradley is a 5th year player and is a threat from three.

Hopefully. He has had an interesting career. Shot very well at hiss first school and then seemed to get injured. I hope he returns to form. He seems to handle the ball well, though, which is a plus.3nd pillar. To score the team must keep possession!

 

[higgins3]

The only guy coming back from last year who even seemingly likes to fill the bucket is Daniels...and he is just okay at it. On other teams you might have to worry about coming in and taking shots away from productive players, but here the floor is wide open for someone to come in a jock it up. An impact player on this team has to light up the scoreboard like it's a damn pinball machine, because the returning vets can't even find a lane in a bowling alley. No number of solid picks, solid position defense or good chemistry sh!t is going to cover for that. In coaching this team, Eddie has to emphasize scoring. He needs to grab a guy like Lewis mike-rice-style and let him know if he isn't working the low post and scoring he's going to be watching the game from a seated position. Two things are precious: Minutes and Points. We've got to play guys that can use one to get the other.

Daniels had trouble bringing up the ball last year and caused a ton of turnovers. If he can lessen those and play a little point, at 6 3 he could maybe get a summer league tryout. Has to learn how to use his fire in the right positions. I've said that a lot last year.Truly believe the kid has great skill, but has to use his energy in the right spots. It seemed to me last year like he knew where his shots would come from a little too well and would force them when he got to those positions on the floor.

 

[higgins3]

Higs, just to play devil's advocate, none of us are sure what to expect from the newbies until they prove themselves. We know the B1G is way different than a Juco, but also a kid coming from HS like Laurent has a BIG transition to the B1G.

Hopefully the new guys find their niche on the team quick and form a team that competes day in and day out. Looking forward to seeing this team and how coach puts them together.

Absolutely. To be honest, I hould have said suprise impact player, or even a player that will contribute that we didn't expect to. The three is thin, and I think Laurent will say 10-12 mpg. In those minutes, I could see him grabbing 3-4 boards and maybe 3 points. I like his potential a lot.

 

[higgins3]

This sounds bad...maybe he was hurt...Grier played for a 9 win Bradley team and didn't get starter's minutes. He is wearing the uniform so obviously we want him to succeed and help RU. I wouldn't think it would be a good sign if he got enough minutes to score more than a basket or 2 per game.

That is a realistic opinion I am not sure what to expect either.If he could play defense a bit, hit foul shots, and keep possession I would be happy.

 

[higgins3]

i'd add a scorer as an impact player, especially for a team that struggles to score, but to each their own

As noted, scoring is number 1 if you want to win basketball games.

 

[higgins3]

Seriously higgins, if Laurent ends up an impact player on this team, we are easily an NIT team. I have complete faith in Sanders and Freemen to do their things, but if we add a third player, we will win alot more games than previously thought.

I think Foreman and Williams can be that third player. A lot of us are just focusing on players from a scoring standpoint. If Williams plays great guard defense, we are a lot better team. If him and Sanders can do it together, we are a lot better team. I see the top three as being something like Daniels. Williams, Sanders.

As noted, I think Daniels is a great player if he can improve his handle. Williams a threat on both sides of the ball. I say those three players because we have seen them at this level, besides Sanders.

I don't know what we get from Freeman. Juco to Big leap is big. I am not comfortable putting 12-14 points next to him.

 

[higgins3]

That is really the key question... What type of impact will the 11 players have this year. I guess we wont start to know until practice is underway and coach begins assessing the team and more importantly how the team works together. Defense can be the great equalizer for us and I'm anxious to see how we defend the rim ( Diallo) and how well we defend the three & use D as a start to easier transition baskets. Offensively last year we seemed stagnant in running the rotation so I hope Sanders helps alot in this area.

I am hopeful for Diallo but EJ has said his hands are like stone, lol. That would hinder rebounding. Defense is huge, especially guard defense. I think Sanders and Williams could be big here.