I realize that we are moving down a notch to a level where big men are even rarer than they were in the SBC, and I realize that there were several years back in the Shields years when our center was 6-8, and I realize that JJ was one of the best pure rebounders that I have ever seen.

BUT, if Nigel John gets hurt, our biggest players are a pair of 6-7 sorts, and one of them is a freshman. I hope we have a bunch of good 3-point shooters.

(08-18-2022 07:50 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  I realize that we are moving down a notch to a level where big men are even rarer than they were in the SBC, and I realize that there were several years back in the Shields years when our center was 6-8, and I realize that JJ was one of the best pure rebounders that I have ever seen.

BUT, if Nigel John gets hurt, our biggest players are a pair of 6-7 sorts, and one of them is a freshman. I hope we have a bunch of good 3-point shooters.

I am concerned about that as well. When we won the conference a few years ago we had massive size. 7’O, 6’11, 6’10, 6’10 and 6’8. 3 years later we have one 6’9. Why did we stop recruiting size? Maybe he is changing the offense to more movement but I love to watch old school bigs play and we are definitely short on that department

It does seem that while the inside is shorter, the guards have gotten taller. Hopefully that will mitigate things somewhat.

With the evolution of bball to more focus on space and shooting, height is not as important. Wingspan and lateral quickness is now more important. The days of the plodding bigs that can't shoot 5 feet from the goal is pretty much history. What is important nowadays is wings 6'5" and up with long arms, quickness, and can shoot. Post players/centers have to be quick now to be able to cover wings since there is alot of defensive switches due to well devised screening action. Well coached offensive teams know how to exploit slow bigs now. And on the flip side, bigs can't stay in the post long and wait on the ball. So the bigs have to at least have a midrange game and some quickness to even be valuable over the course of a game.

(08-20-2022 12:54 PM)LR Alum Wrote:  With the evolution of bball to more focus on space and shooting, height is not as important. Wingspan and lateral quickness is now more important. The days of the plodding bigs that can't shoot 5 feet from the goal is pretty much history. What is important nowadays is wings 6'5" and up with long arms, quickness, and can shoot. Post players/centers have to be quick now to be able to cover wings since there is alot of defensive switches due to well devised screening action. Well coached offensive teams know how to exploit slow bigs now. And on the flip side, bigs can't stay in the post long and wait on the ball. So the bigs have to at least have a midrange game and some quickness to even be valuable over the course of a game.

One of the best post defenders in the NBA over the last several years is 6'6" Draymond Green. He makes up for the so call height disadvantage because he has a 7'1" wingspan, quickness, and high bball IQ related to positioning. I don't follow college ball like I use to but I assume that most of the tall, quick, and good shooting post players are likely at the bigger schools. So unless we can get some like that I do not have an issue with having smaller height post players that are quick, long arms, and high bball IQ if that is what we are bringing in. We will see.