My starting five: PG Whipple SG Mitchell SF Hudson PF Bass C Davis I think Minor is a great burst of energy off the bench. Just because Whipple is starting doesn't mean he has to play most of the minutes. I think Whipple starts because if Minor Mitchell and Hudson are the 1 2 and 3 then that's a pretty small lineup defensively. Of course, if we're running the ball then that's not a huge problem. I don't think Neltner has the athleticism to be a real starter. He's the kind of guy that can shoot real well but can't hang defensively against athletic starters when they are fresh at the start of the game. He's a solid bench player though and there's nothing wrong with that. I hope in time he can develop into a Luke Walton type player. A guy that has good size, can shoot from outside and a great passer. All I know for sure is that I'm pumped about the start of the season.
Blah, ok. Just wondering what Neltner has shown you that leads you to believe he can become an effective offensive player? It just seemed like last year when he was in the game he was there just to set picks and make a few good passes. He has good size, but he doesn't really use it and I doubt that he knows what a drop step is.
Watching him play... He is a very aggresive and energetic player on the defensive end of the floor. This does not translate well on the offensive end of the floor though. He is aggresive to the point of frustration. He manages to get open but when he raises his hand for the ball to be passed, and it is not passed, he gets discouraged. After a couple times down the floor of this, his offensive efforts go down considerably. He needs to develop more patience and understand the game better on the offensive end of the floor. He did very well offensively in high school and it will carry over in time if he shows the dedication needed to improve at the college level. There were times last year where he came into the game and carried LSU late in close games - offensively - and he showed promise. He has a nice touch from 12 to 15 feet and needs to focus on that instead of trying to post up inside. If he can do this, and continue with his solid defensive play, he could very well work his way into the starting lineup. His likely spot would be to take the SF position, where there has not really been any consistency as of late due to other players at that position sharing similar problems.
I think Neltner will play a big role in the O this year. His knowledge of the game and smart play is why he'll see time. He, unlike our point guards at time, knows how to deliver the interior pass to BB. His outside game is pretty solid and will improve w/pt, as it did towards the end of last season. I've played w/Big Baby many times...let me tell you - this kid is for real. It's amazing for someone his size to be as quick and have the moves that he does. I agree w/Brady (oh my!) that the players will mature from their growing pains last year. Let's hope we see the Antonio Hudson that we saw as a freshman!
Hudson started to come on late in the season also. I think he just needs to be aggressive offensively and let it fly sometimes. I haven't seen much of Big Baby but I was impressed with one of those All-Star games on TV last year (McDonald's?) when he went out on the perimeter to D up Dwight Howard. He seemed to move his feet well and wanted the challenge. All of this weight loss can only help. I agree about the thoughts on Neltner. He seems to have a good feel for feeding the post and we'll need that to enhance Bass & Davis's game. He can also hit the 15 ft shot if his man sags down. The playing time he got late in the season will likely help him immensely for this year. Lazarre also. I have no problem with Whipple starting but want to see Minor get most of the PG minutes like someone mentioned. Whether Kounjia is starting or coming off the bench, I think he'll be vastly improved. It's still football season but there's enough room in my head to start getting excited about b-ball. The potential for this year is unlimited.
I'm really glad to see Davis slimming down. Last year when he chose basketball over football, I thought it was a big mistake. A 6-8, 350 pounder would be a prototype NFL offensive linemen. But I can't think of a 350 pound, 6-8 teenager who was ever a success in basketball. Not even Barkley or Shaq played that heavy. But if he can get under 300 pounds and get down the court, LSU could have a tremendous running game.
Your first paragraph were my thoughts a few months ago. That's just too much weight to be playing basketball. Something in the neighborhood of 300 lbs is totally different. While I think big men that can run obviously help the team's running game, I don't think it's a necessity. I think their ability to rebound and throw effective and aggressive outlets is a bigger part of a team's running success. Fast breaks are usually 2 on 1, 3 on 1, 3 on 2, etc. The majority of fast breaks don't include big men. I think we need to worry more about Big Baby's ability to consistently get back on D.
Davis was all-state in both sports, and even in his Rivals recruiting section for basketball he is sporting a football jersey (Think it's the Raiders). It's very important to realize one thing about this situation: that any kid who has the talent to play both football and basketball needs to go the basketball route for one reason and one reason only: GUARANTEED MONEY. NBA contracts are guaranteed. That is not to say that he is good enough at this point to definitely go to the NBA, but that is the number one reason to do it. NFL contracts are NOT guaranteed and you can be waived at any time for any reason. This is an issue that the Players Union inexplicably agreed to and probably needs to be changed. Wonder why Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward is playing basketball right now? Now you have the answer.
I'm a U-High grad living out of state. I kind of keep up with them since moving away. I remember reading an Advocate article a few years back about a true freshman, or perhaps sophmore, who was 6'6" and 300#, and the starting running back! I followed his career from afar, and I felt eventually his size would catch up with him and he would slow down, perhaps making a great lineman. I have been pleasantly mistaken. Everything I have read seems to indicate he's a good kid with a good head on his shoulders, and I truly wish hime the best of luck. U-High has had a few athletes who have gone on to contribute to major college and professional sports teams over the years, though the football team apparently hasn't been the same for a while (Willis retiring?). Even more have excelled at smaller schools. Off the top of my head Brian Kinchen Super Bowl winning snap, and a total badass while at LSU T3 Temple Oliver Brown GREAT LSU basketball memories Brad Banta Chad Loup Scott Wharton Total loss for his name, but played MLB for years as an outfielder. OK, not as impressive a list as it set out to be, but not bad for a school graduating 32 boys a year. . . Any others? Tried to find the MLB player on the MLB site and couldn't find it. Did notice that Lyle Mouton is still playing for the Indians. I remember when he made the switch from basketball to baseball at LSU. Seems to have worked out for him. Lafayette product.
Since we have an offense that is meant to be fast paced and getting quick baskets, I don't see Whipple starting over Minor. I also see Koundija breaking out this season and showing a lot of people what he can do. I think Hudson will have a fantastic senior year.
