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(04-30-2019 10:37 PM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  

(04-30-2019 11:35 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(04-30-2019 10:20 AM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  

(04-30-2019 05:36 AM)ODU True Blue Wrote:  While he might be a good get, wouldn’t we prefer someone who is eligible immediately?

I agree. I believe that Jeff needs to get a transfer center that can hold his ground in the post defensively similar to how Robinson was able to do this past season. Barring that, they should get a freshman that can at least man up in the position even if they don't have the experience (like Ezikpe did). They are currently too thin at center with just Dickins and Ezikpe. They are an injury, foul trouble, ejection, illness, death in the family absence, etc. away from having no reasonable backup.

I think Ezikpe can be that guy. Give him an offseason to strengthen up and he may be our best forward since Dahi. That said, we likely wouldnt have gone to the tournament without Robinson. His play in the CUSA final was his finest game as a Monarch, and maybe as a college athlete.

Ezikpe can maybe do well at holding his position down low, but he still gives up a lot of size (height) to some of the bigger centers that ODU will certainly encounter. I certainly have more confidence in him bodying up to a guy like Bassey and keeping him from routinely getting anywhere he wants to post up than I do with Dickins.

Also - and mainly what I was saying - is that if either Ezikpe or Dickins is not available for any reason at all, ODU has no reasonable backup to insert for the one that is remaining and starting unless they recruit someone to replace Robinson. As it stands now, ODU is an injury away from having to play someone like Carver (for example) significant minutes at center in just about every game unless our available center is going to pull a Caver and play 38+ minutes a game - which is highly unlikely.

There is a noticeable absence of Joe Reece in this discussion. He seemed to have.some potential in his limited time last season. Any word on how he is progressing?