Bradley impact next season?
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I feel like (hope) we are due for a freshman to come in and overachieve his age, and of all the guys next year, I'd most like it to be Bradley. I trust Meeks to get 14/7 pretty consistently with a few positive and negative outliers, but will be most productive at 22-25 minutes a game. I also trust that Hicks will be a stud on offense and improved defensively, but will not get totally past his fouling issues. So, obviously, Bradley needs to step up. I have a feeling he will end up playing about 22-25 mpg also, and will average close to 12/6. I know that's optimistic, but again, we're due for a freshman to come in and step up right away.
My guess is those numbers are a bit light. I think over 20 min per & 11/7/2 at a minimum.
I think they'll have to be at some point, unless Hicks can play 30-35 minutes a game and Maye plays the other 5-10.
I guess it could happen if there is foul trouble as usual with Hicks, but if Bradley Meeks and Maye are ever in at the same time thats a record for the lowest vertical between 3 guys in the history of Basketball lol...
We need to replace about 35 front line minutes per game with the departure of Brice and JoelJ.
Kennedy averaged 20.6 and Isaiah averaged 18.1. So they need to step up. For Kennedy stamina could be a problem and for Isaiah fouling could be a problem. But let's assume they can each average about 28 minutes a game, which is what Brice did.
That leaves 24 minutes that have to be covered.
If Justin returns, he can pick up a token amount at the 4 - say 4 minutes. Leaving 20 for Tony and Luke to split. Luke played 5.4 as a frosh. Didn't do too badly, despite being undersized. I imagine he'll be better next season. But will that translate into more minutes? If he plays 6-8 minutes, that leaves 12-14 for Tony to handle.
12-14 minutes for a freshman front line player not named Hansbrough sounds about right in Roy's general scheme of things. Kennedy played 16 as an overweight but otherwise healthy freshman. Brice played about 11, mainly because he was too scrawny to handle more late in the season. So 12-14 isn't out of reason.
If Justin leaves, things tighten up a bit. If stamina or fouls hamper Kennedy or Isaiah, things get even tighter. Tony might have to play 20 minutes some games.
I know some say Theo could play at the 4, but I don't see it, except maybe against really short teams. I know Roy played Justin Watts at the 4 so he'll do it if he needs to, but I don't consider that optimal.
Kennedy averaged 20.6 and Isaiah averaged 18.1. So they need to step up. For Kennedy stamina could be a problem and for Isaiah fouling could be a problem. But let's assume they can each average about 28 minutes a game, which is what Brice did.
That leaves 24 minutes that have to be covered.
If Justin returns, he can pick up a token amount at the 4 - say 4 minutes. Leaving 20 for Tony and Luke to split. Luke played 5.4 as a frosh. Didn't do too badly, despite being undersized. I imagine he'll be better next season. But will that translate into more minutes? If he plays 6-8 minutes, that leaves 12-14 for Tony to handle.
12-14 minutes for a freshman front line player not named Hansbrough sounds about right in Roy's general scheme of things. Kennedy played 16 as an overweight but otherwise healthy freshman. Brice played about 11, mainly because he was too scrawny to handle more late in the season. So 12-14 isn't out of reason.
If Justin leaves, things tighten up a bit. If stamina or fouls hamper Kennedy or Isaiah, things get even tighter. Tony might have to play 20 minutes some games.
I know some say Theo could play at the 4, but I don't see it, except maybe against really short teams. I know Roy played Justin Watts at the 4 so he'll do it if he needs to, but I don't consider that optimal.
Hey wwdj, you are so WRONG about Theo (Not) playing the Four Position. He has ALREADY played the Four this season MANY, MANY TIMES. Pay Attention maybe?.!
When we went small in the last few games of the regular season as well as in the post season it most often was Theo on the floor with Justin and Theo was playing the 4. So not only can Theo play the 4, he did and did so really well. To my view that was our most effective line up in the post season. IDK if Justin does leave if that same small ball would work as well with say Theo and Brob in together but Theo can darn sure handle minutes at the 4 when we play teams that use either a wing at the 4 or a stretch 4.
Sorry. Just because he's on the floor when we don't have 2 of our bigs in the game doesn't mean he's playing the 4.
And you should talk about paying attention. I already said that Roy has been known to do this. But, in my opinion, it's not optimal to play Theo there. We aren't desperate (which is why Justin Watts was sometimes in that position) and Theo isn't David Noel.
What is it with you? Constantly attacking. If I offended you in the past, please accept my apology.
I would love to see numbers on that because I don't believe that happened much and never for long. Does anyone post such numbers online?
There are times when the other team's lineup and the state of the game may dictate an unusual lineup but even if/when it happened surely it was a sign of necessity, not preference. I'm a big fan and am glued to the screen during games. I can't remember ever thinking to myself "oh look, there's Justin and Theo in together with NO bigs." Not saying it never happened, but I never noticed.
To be honest, when we are throwing away a game, I sometimes can't look. So maybe it happened more than I think because it was something Roy resorted to during such stretches.
Yeah, when we had Theo and Justin on the floor together with only 1 true big man it most often was Theo checking the 4 and Justin remained more on the wing, I should say I am talking in terms of defensive end. In that same look Theo was more a passer on the offensive end so you could say Theo was more of a wing on the offensive end but he was much more the 4 on the defensive end.
Huge reason we were so effective in that look was Justin & Theo's ability to switch off defensive assignments to neutralize the high screens. Roy has gone with a small 4 before, most recently was PJ as a starter in his last playing season with us.
At 6'6" for Theo and 6'8" for Justin, those two caused some kids headaches on the opposition, we were quicker and defended better at times and in certain matchups.
The only knock I had this past season was Theo shooting a 3 at the short end of the clock. Not our best option.
The only knock I had this past season was Theo shooting a 3 at the short end of the clock. Not our best option.
So even though you admit that Roy Williams played Theo at the Four, it does not agree with your own thinking (thus, you choose NOT to call Theo's position the "Four Position"...)? Again, I need to pay attention...?? Rather, I think that you need to learn the minor points of the game of basketball at this time. ...
WoW, kinda hard on the guy aren't ya? The value of them both being in was it allowed for a lot of switching between them so in truth they both found a lot of 4 time. Lot of people would assume that Justin would have been more the 4 because he is a inch or so taller than Theo. People can easy think 6'8" and not the 6'6" guy but IMO Theo is closer to 6'7" than 6'6" and Justin is really not noticable taller than Theo IMO.
Opinions boys/girls, we all got em. Don't make a mtn out of mole hill. We all Tar Heel Brothers/Sisters.
OK, thanks for that clarification.
I think of PJ as the exception, forced by necessity when freshman Brice really couldn't keep up after looking promising earlier in the season. By then it was clear that Mac was not suited to play the post, but Roy was out of options. So Mac moved to the middle and PJ, who was physically stronger and more aggressive than Reggie played the 4. Guys like Des Hubert, Jackson Simmons and Joel James were lucky to see 4 minutes down the stretch that year (2012-13).
But we shouldn't have that problem this coming season. Even if Tony isn't quite ready - which, let's face it, is the norm for the bigs that pick us - he'll still get good PT. That's how Roy rolls and, personally, I'm a big fan of that facet of Roy's style.
Isaiah will be able to play either position. Kennedy may be able to play either position. So Tony can probably play whichever position is most comfortable for him. Plus Luke can fill in. I for one will be very interested to see how much Luke advances over the summer. I don't know what to expect but if he has one of those big jumps between frosh and soph years, he could be a pleasant surprise - and would take pressure off up front.
OK, that's enough.
I didn't think I'd ever feel the need to use the ignore button on a non-political board, but your childish, nit-picking attacks have earned you that honor.
I actually think Tony may be more ready than most frosh we have got recently, not saying Hansbourgh like ready but I do think he will play a lot this season and get progressively better. He does need to spend some time in the weight room, I can see him getting pushed around a little bit. But bottom line is Tony can play, I am thinking he gets around 22-24 minutes a game and more in some games and looking for 12-7 from him with a block here and there.
I think we should be able to expect 12/7 from Meeks and if Hicks can stay on the floor 15/8 is well within his reach, that is 39/22 from our front court and with our back court we should be able to at least match that scoring ( I personally am expecting double digit scoring from Joel/Kenny/Justin (assuming Justin is back but even if not between Theo and BRob I think we can count on double digit scoring from our wing position). Toss in Nate and 7th Woods, Luke for gravy points and we should be able to score with most teams.
Marvin Williams played 22mpg and fell short of 12/7. Tim Duncan played 30mpg as a frosh and was just under 10/10. I'm thinking 12-7 may be expecting a bit much from Bradley.
Meeks was almost 12/7 as a soph so he can certainly do 12/7.
The skys the limit on Hicks if he can get the fouls fixed.
Kenny with 10ppg? I like what I saw in limited action but do you think he will make that much of a leap?
CC
Marvin was kinda more a outside in guy than a guy that would benefit from our focus to pound the rock inside. While Tony can step out to, I see his role being more the classic back to the basket guy, I think folks may lay off him a bit focusing more on Issiah. I actually think the rebounds are the harder thing for him to get, I feel really good about him getting in to that 12pt range. As for Duncan as a frosh, don't recall exactly but I suspect that was not a great cast he had around him.
I think our back court, including our wings are more passing orientated, they will look first to get the ball inside to a big in position to finish, not what we saw a ton from McCants when marvin played for us and the priority getting the ball inside was ALWAYS to Sean May. In addition, in sets where Meeks and Tony are our front court unless meeks learns to finish down low better the first option big to get the ball and finish IMO may be Tony. I suspect Tony will be solid from the free throw line and will get the ball inside a lot, means lots of trips to the free throw line.
Keep in mind with Duncan, he had not played a ton of basketball before getting to Wake, he was a swimmer and soccer player that picked up the sport late so early that frosh season was a steeper learning experience than what Tony's back ground would have. And maybe I am expecting a lil to much but I think I am close.
Kenny, I understand, what we saw this season does not compute out to double digits this season. But from what I hear about him in practice is what set my expectations more. Kenny just was in the tuff position of playing behind 2 highly experienced guys and one of them being named Marcus Paige. Telling ya right now, throw out worries that the kid is over rated as a shooter, I can assure you he is much better than what we saw him in game action this past season produce. He will be an excellent defender and I think he will be a Wayne Ellington level jump shooter, my opinion but lets see how accurate I am on this.
Trust me, Bradley will be a stud by year's end. He understands how to play the game and he has the "want to". Roy may bring him along slowly depending on who returns. Check out his minutes played and numbers over the last 15-20 game to get a true gauge of how good he is. In a year or two he will have the green light to shoot the 3. I love his game.
