(03-29-2020 06:51 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(03-28-2020 11:47 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(03-28-2020 08:30 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-28-2020 07:19 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Thanks pointing that out. As Wooden suggested, not what we needed but strong numbers.

I am dismayed to also learn Jalen King will be missing. I thought he came on strong towards the end of the season. Center position is going to be a even more desperate need. Wondering if Murphy has the inside track on someone (or two) which prompted King to want to leave.

Riley, Thompson and Toure have manned the middle throughout Murphy's tenure. We have always had solid post presence with less than thrilling results. That said, could the zone work with Binelli in the middle? He has the size and wingspan. I realize that physically he has none of the talents of our aforementioned centers but is shot blocking or defending a tall center that critical to our defense? Our Achilles heal on defense has always been the high post feed defended by our center followed by the low post pass to the cutter off the wing, something our tall centers can do little about.

Rebounding? The zone reduces personal block outs so we ALWAYS allow the most offensive rebounds in the conference. The zone also encourages three point shots which produce LONG rebounds often procured by the more athletic players instead of those taller players.

Just an idea. I would love a great center but a three point shooter in Binelli in the post with GREAT athletes like Groce and Dillard on the wings does not frighten me.

If I recall correctly, Binelli was used in the middle for short spurts and Sam thought it did not work well. He had previously had a similar thought as you. But perhaps if it was implemented on a more consistent basis rather than temporary and adhoc, Binelli might developer in that role. My concern would be his strength and vertical might allow teams with a larger/stronger center to just keep dumping it down low. It might work during MAC season, but might get killed when playing a power 5 school.

It didn’t work well at all. He was slow to react and didn’t seem to know his responsibilities. Since Murphy is all about drilling in the assignments of the 2-3, my guess is Binelli hadn’t practiced much at the 5. Perhaps with an offseason of knowing he’ll be in the middle will help him, but I still have my doubts.

You hit the nail on the head with his deficiencies, which is why I still think he should only be a 10-15 minute-a-game player, unless he gets hot from three. I still hope Murphy uses the remaining two scholarships on big men, but if he only uses one then that might be a hint that Binelli will be changing positions. At the very least, it likely means more minutes for Dillard, which makes me happy.

I see Binelli more like Max Hooper was at Oakland.

A 6th man off the bench who came in and hopefully got hot from behind the arc.