IndianaHawk
Well-Known Member
Two years removed from a meaningful game, will Uthoff shake the rust quickly?
Uthoff Rust
- Thread starter IndianaHawk
- Start date
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
What rust? He's never played in a college game and is better today, far better, than when he played HS ball
wundergrape
Well-Known Member
Is this a serious question? If you were a high school newspaper reporter, and had to take 2 years off from reporting actual events, would it be preposterous to think that you'd struggle to be Frank Deford from jump street? Also, how do you know he's far better than he was at Wash? Because he was mediocre at PTL? Because he was invisible in Estonia?
I think it's a valid question, and it has to do with his ability to establish a role on our team. As we all know, he has a bit of a clone in Aaron White, so creating a niche on floor (especially defensively) will be his challenge. Hopefully, we'll see the full arsenal by the middle of the Big Ten slate.
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Do I think he's far better than what he was as a skinny senior in high school after being taught by Bo Ryan and Fran McCaffery for two years?
Is this is a trick question?
And who is saying this guy is gonna be all that? HE"S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL
I was just on the radio this week saying people need to tap the breaks on their expectations for him. If he can average 7 or 8 and 4 that would be a great first year on a team that can go 11 deep.
wundergrape
Well-Known Member
Now you're just making things up. No one said that Uthoff was going to set the world on fire (at least in this thread). You, on the other hand, quantified his improvement by saying he is far better than he was in high school. How do you know that? Is Josh Oglesby far better than he was in high school?
You scoff at IndianaHawk for engaging reasonable speculation - the atrophy of skill after time away from activity - and then engage in speculation yourself. I'm not saying either of you are wrong, I just don't get the righteous indignation.
You scoff at IndianaHawk for engaging reasonable speculation - the atrophy of skill after time away from activity - and then engage in speculation yourself. I'm not saying either of you are wrong, I just don't get the righteous indignation.
Section136
Well-Known Member
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
Whatever rust there is should very easily be offset by body development. This has nothing to do with coaching. It has to do with being 2 years older which normally means more maturity and strength. It might be different if he was playing online video games for 2 years but he's been playing basketball against D1 players...albeit in practice rather than games.
Add in the fact that he's had 2 very good coaches working with him and the other variables associated with being on scholarship at a Big 10 level school and he should be fine. There's a reason we play nonconference games. It will be an adjustment playing D1 ball compared to high school basketball but he definitely should be far more ready for his 1st game now than as a true freshman coming out of high school. There also will be no pressure since we are 11 deep and he can ease into it.
Add in the fact that he's had 2 very good coaches working with him and the other variables associated with being on scholarship at a Big 10 level school and he should be fine. There's a reason we play nonconference games. It will be an adjustment playing D1 ball compared to high school basketball but he definitely should be far more ready for his 1st game now than as a true freshman coming out of high school. There also will be no pressure since we are 11 deep and he can ease into it.
Section136
Well-Known Member
The 2 year break for Uthoff is one of the reasons that the Europe trip was so big for this team, IMO.
IndianaHawk
Well-Known Member
I think Windsor hit it on the head stating no pressure running 11 deep. If he was asked to start and dependent on him for any team success, I think that would change things.
tksirius
HN's Love Doctor
I understand your point, but you have to admit that he probably does do this, right?
woodyk1
Well-Known Member
MisterLucky
Well-Known Member
I would hardly have called Uthoff's PTL season "mediocre." He averaged 22 points a game shooting 63% of his 2-pointers, 42% of his 3's and 96% of his FT's. He also averaged 9 boards a game. Also, I don't think his game is really all that similar to White's. He is much more of a three than White is, who I think optimizes his abilities more at the four spot.
Yes, absolutely. He's stronger, a much better defender and ball handler. If Uthoff hasn't improved since high school after spending a year at Wisconsin with Bo Ryan and a year with Fran, then he has some serious issues and has put in little to no effort for two years. To suggest that he has not improved at all after two years in two solid D-1 programs is ignorant at best.
Do I think he's far better than what he was as a skinny senior in high school after being taught by Bo Ryan and Fran McCaffery for two years?
Is this is a trick question?
And who is saying this guy is gonna be all that? HE"S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL
I was just on the radio this week saying people need to tap the breaks on their expectations for him. If he can average 7 or 8 and 4 that would be a great first year on a team that can go 11 deep.
Agreed Jon. After last season I was hoping Uthoff could be a 10-11 ppg guy for us, after the PTL league and Europe trip he doesn't seem to be a very aggressive offensive player, he seems to let the game come to him. I think if he can score 7 or 8 ppg like you said and add solid defense, and good rebounding on both ends he will be a very important cog on this team. Also, if he can hit 35-40% of his 3's he can help space the floor more than White does when he is playing the 4 with a smaller line up.
IndianaHawk
Well-Known Member
The fact that he left Bo's program already makes him a winner.
lightning1
Well-Known Member
If he isn't any better than he was in high school, I don't want him on the team.
Sometimes I wonder about you people.
Sometimes I wonder about you people.
Wassabbe
Well-Known Member
Wassabbe
Well-Known Member
Do you people really not get what the OP was asking? Do you guys expect Uthoff to play to his potential out of the gates? Of course not, he hasn't played competitve basketball in over 2 years. That's rust! It doesn't mean he isn't better now than he was in HS but he isn't going to be as good in the non conference as he will be down the road.
Just go look at most transfers around the country who have to sit out a year. It takes them a while to get going.
Go question OP. Fail by a lot of others.
Just go look at most transfers around the country who have to sit out a year. It takes them a while to get going.
Go question OP. Fail by a lot of others.
