The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(04-20-2017 11:54 AM)757ODU Wrote:  

(04-20-2017 11:33 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(04-20-2017 10:24 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  So you believe Miller is lying and McClinton is going to primarily play the 3?

The 2/3 spots will be spread out between Hueitt, Godwin, Stith, Green, and Haynes. There is not going to be guys designated as only a "2" or only a "3."

I am actually with Giles on this one. McClinton was brought in to play the 4. Ed flat out said it. It was also said that he will be a Denzel type of player.

There was zero reason to sign him if he is a 3. We had Talley, BJ, and all of the freshmen to play the Guard/wing spots. Adding to that log jam would have made no sense. The 4 spot, on the other hand, is a massive weak spot. JJ seems unwilling to play Porter and Stith together, so assume they are both 5s and we are left with Carver who, in my opinion, cannot be a starter and Kah who JJ seems unwilling to play.

Thank you!!!! Jones will play him where he is needed.

I totally agree that ODU needs help at the 4. Jones should probably have recruited a 4 to play there instead of getting a 3 in McClinton's case if that is what he is planning to do. I don't blame Jones for getting McClinton for one year. He was highly regarded as a 3 coming out of high school, played in the ACC, and if nothing else should provide solid depth off the bench even if he ended up playing the 3 at ODU.

Unless Jones plays Porter and Brandan together, I believe that Kah is the best hope for us if we are going to do well with that position. The key word there is 'hope'. My hope is that he has improved in the areas that he needed to show improvement by the time next season rolls around. I spoke with him at one of the September football games last year and when I asked him what position he would be playing he told me that he was a power forward. At 6'-9" with a bigger body and someone that can stretch the floor offensively at power forward that would be a big deal for ODU over having to go with a lightweight 6'-7" guy. Even Carver looked undersized at the position many times last season when filling in for Denzel.

I saw Mark West go from 195 pounds at the end of his sophomore season to 230 pounds at the beginning of his junior season so anything is possible. Mark was such a skinny 6'-10" his first two seasons but came back for his junior year looking like a transformed man. His game transformed with his increased power too. He was still the same shot blocker, but offensively was able to bang inside much more effectively.

To me, Brandan, Kah, and Vassor are the best suited size wise to play power forward. Skill set is a whole different matter though. Guys like Talley, McClinton and Carver may have the defensive technique and quickness (skill set) to play the position, but are hurt by their size. Denzel was exceptional with the skill set and had better size than any of those three yet at times even he had defensive issues with a bigger player that was offensively skilled. WKU, UAB, MTSU, UTEP, and LA Tech from year to year have among the bigger bodied front lines in the league. Coincidentally, those are the teams that traditionally compete for the league title, and are the ones that we have to beat to get back to the NCAA Tournament. I think it would be a good idea to at least be able to match up with them size wise.