Gesell really stepped up today

[Foval21]

gesell takes care of the ball and has been better at finding people the last few games, but he's still getting through the learning curve. he's tentative and doesn't make good decisions on the break, and isn't getting the team into the half court offense fluidly.

his a/to rate is spectacular and his d is a lot better than people give him credit for.

how he plays over the second half of the B1G is crucial for his development -- he needs to be the guy who makes the team click next year.

actually his decisions on the break are the best of the three that play pg.

marble dribbles too much in the break.

clemmons dribbles too much and is out of control in the break.

gesell would lead the country (overstatement but I think it would be close) if stats were kept on the assist to the assist. He gets the ball on the outlet and after 1 or 2 or zero dribbles the ball is passed half court in one of the streakers hands (white, marble, etc.). This is a part to the fast break most don't understand. They look for end line to end Lin speed with the ball when really it is faster with the pass and gesell is great at that. Then if you look at woody you would see the best outlet passer on the team. We get lots of fast break points from woody rebound outlet to gesell and pass up the sideline. That is why woody is trailing on the majority of fast breaks. Gesell is a floor general that gets everyone in the best position to score.

Some say that marble getting the assists he is shows he is a better pg but really as I watch I see him getting most of his assists on the break as a two after getting a pass from gesell. Also he gets them from the wing as he is one of our best wing entry passers.

I have been the least impressed by clemmons as he is playing worse than last yr and gesell is the better defender even though that was supposed to be clemmons calling card. In fact in close big 10 games Fran doesn't use him over 5 min. Hopefully he figures it out to be a solid back up next yr or gesell will have to play 35 min.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Remember when he got blocked and missed a couple layups against Wisconsin and people actually suggested he stop attacking the basket....that was beyond stupid.

I don't know what others think but this is half right for me. I thought (and still think) he has to kick it out or pull it out if there's a 7 footer looking him right in the eyes and waiting for him. That's what happened against Wisconsin. I love Gesell taking it hard to the basket...think I recall he penetrated and made a great pass to a teammate for an easy layup on the opposite side of the basket yesterday.

 

[seepig]

I thought he made a couple of bad decisions in the 1st half on the offensive end but that's not a big deal. He was great on offense in the 2nd half especially and his defense was outstanding all day. He's turning into a very good defender...by moving his feet not mugging like Craft and others.

Wow dude you're awfully picky. LIke DeCourcy said on BTN he is the one indispensible piece on this team. Marble can spell at PG but can't excel there.

 

[RocknRollface]

I think most people said he needed to pick his spots better, which he's definitely done lately. He isn't forcing shots.

Because shots arent rolling out?

Any time you can get the ball on the rim from a foot in its always a good shot.

Only difference is they rolled out against Wisconsin.

 

[RocknRollface]

I don't know what others think but this is half right for me. I thought (and still think) he has to kick it out or pull it out if there's a 7 footer looking him right in the eyes and waiting for him. That's what happened against Wisconsin. I love Gesell taking it hard to the basket...think I recall he penetrated and made a great pass to a teammate for an easy layup on the opposite side of the basket yesterday.

Sometimes its best to pull up sure, but most of the shots at wisky were on the rim, people just completely overreacted to the 2 blocks. He got blocked twice against NW too but he made the rest of them.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Sometimes its best to pull up sure, but most of the shots at wisky were on the rim, people just completely overreacted to the 2 blocks. He got blocked twice against NW too but he made the rest of them.

I'm not arguing with you. I did overreact. He needs to keep driving. In my defense Marble was having a huge game against Wisconsin and didn't even touch the ball on a couple of those drives. That factors into my reaction during/after that particular game. Hot hand has to get the ball in a close game.

I also think Marble should not have taken the 3 against Michigan when we were down 4. White was there for the lob and had the hot hand. Of course I'm thrilled if the 3 falls but getting the ball to White was the play IMO. Everyone makes mistakes and I'm not intending to be critical...just observations.

 

[DDThompson]

I don't know what others think but this is half right for me. I thought (and still think) he has to kick it out or pull it out if there's a 7 footer looking him right in the eyes and waiting for him. That's what happened against Wisconsin. I love Gesell taking it hard to the basket...think I recall he penetrated and made a great pass to a teammate for an easy layup on the opposite side of the basket yesterday.

Yeah, this.

Of course, some people are going to stop reading the end of the sentence after the second "out". They won't even read the "I love Gesell taking..."

It'll just be that you're trashing Gesell.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Wow dude you're awfully picky. LIke DeCourcy said on BTN he is the one indispensible piece on this team. Marble can spell at PG but can't excel there.

Which part was picky? When I said not a big deal... That post was complimentary of Gesell and his overall game.

 

[WindsorHawk]

marble dribbles too much in the break...Fran doesn't use him (Clemmons) over 5 min. Hopefully he figures it out to be a solid back up next yr or gesell will have to play 35 min.

I would love to know how many Marble to White passes/lobs for dunks there have been on fast breaks over the last 3+ seasons. The number is huge and Marble sometimes doesn't even take a dribble.

I expect Clemmons to regain his mojo next year. Even if he doesn't Gesell will not be playing 35 minutes a game. He can't with our style of play and maintain his high level of play. Marble leads the team in MPG at 27.2 and White is 2nd at 25.8. Gesell is 3rd at 22.5. I don't know that anyone is going to play even 30 minutes per game average under Fran.

 

[Foval21]

I would love to know how many Marble to White passes/lobs for dunks there have been on fast breaks over the last 3+ seasons. The number is huge and Marble sometimes doesn't even take a dribble.

I expect Clemmons to regain his mojo next year. Even if he doesn't Gesell will not be playing 35 minutes a game. He can't with our style of play and maintain his high level of play. Marble leads the team in MPG at 27.2 and White is 2nd at 25.8. Gesell is 3rd at 22.5. I don't know that anyone is going to play even 30 minutes per game average under Fran.

Over the last two yrs most of those assists from marble to white we're off of passes from gesell to marble. Marble dribbles too much in the break when he leads it as the pg...when he is streaking as the 2 he does great. Hence my assist of the assist comment and that I believe marble increasing assists were because he plays better as a two.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Over the last two yrs most of those assists from marble to white we're off of passes from gesell to marble. Marble dribbles too much in the break when he leads it as the pg...when he is streaking as the 2 he does great. Hence my assist of the assist comment and that I believe marble increasing assists were because he plays better as a two.

Got it.

 

[Foval21]

Gesell is averaging 26 min in big 10 play.

Clemmons is averaging 8.5 min in big 10 play.

Marble is averaging 29.5 min in big 10 play. That is with 20 min against nw just last game so really over 30 min.

White is averaging 30 min in big 10 play.

Oglesby is averaging 16.5 min in big 10 play.

Jok is averaging 4.5 min in big 10 play in 4 games.

Next yr we have gesell and clemmons at pg, jok and oglesby at the 2. We divvy up the marble 30 min and I don't see clemmons having more than jok or oglesby next yr as he isn't a 2 and the offense and defense are obviously better with gesell than clemmons I see gesell as a 30 min guy and jok and oglesby sharing 40 based off who has the hot hand. That leaves 10 min for clemmons. He just isn't at gesell's level like some thought.

 

[PalmettoHawkFan]

actually his decisions on the break are the best of the three that play pg.

.

never questioned that

I'm measuring gesell against the other top 100pgs we've had going back to b.j.

bj
andre
deano
horner

he's behind bj, andre, and deano at this point -- but in everything but scoring, ahead of horner

strong finish this year and he's ready to be the leader next year. yeah, whitey will be the senior stud, but the pg makes the team go.

clemmons was a little ahead of him last year, arguably by virtue of having played against better competition in hs. but there's a reason for those top 100 rankings in hs, and talent shows through. gesell is just acouple of steps short of being a stud.

 

[Foval21]

never questioned that

I'm measuring gesell against the other top 100pgs we've had going back to b.j.

bj
andre
deano
horner

he's behind bj, andre, and deano at this point -- but in everything but scoring, ahead of horner

strong finish this year and he's ready to be the leader next year. yeah, whitey will be the senior stud, but the pg makes the team go.

clemmons was a little ahead of him last year, arguably by virtue of having played against better competition in hs. but there's a reason for those top 100 rankings in hs, and talent shows through. gesell is just acouple of steps short of being a stud.

Actually you never said who you were comparing him to. He is the best pg on the team. Period. End of story.

To compare him against the 4 best pgs ever at Iowa before his career is over is just a no win situation for him.

 

[PalmettoHawkFan]

I know I never said that -- that was clarification, not correction

comparing gesell right now to those pgs is not a no-win -- if you confine it to looking at how they all were midway through their soph seasons.

considering his ranking as a hs senior, it is perfectly reasonable to look at his progress compared to other players of similar promise -- as long as the comparison is limited to where they were at similar stages.

 

[RocknRollface]

I would take Mike over Horner from day one.

I think he can become a better player than Dean Oliver. Dean was the better player through 2 years but never really got a whole lot better than where he started.

Mike has a great looking shot if he can start knocking it down more often that could take his whole game up another level.

 

[Foval21]

never questioned that

I'm measuring gesell against the other top 100pgs we've had going back to b.j.

bj
andre
deano
horner

he's behind bj, andre, and deano at this point -- but in everything but scoring, ahead of horner

strong finish this year and he's ready to be the leader next year. yeah, whitey will be the senior stud, but the pg makes the team go.

clemmons was a little ahead of him last year, arguably by virtue of having played against better competition in hs. but there's a reason for those top 100 rankings in hs, and talent shows through. gesell is just acouple of steps short of being a stud.

Maybe it is just the fact that it has been awhile but to say he doesn't make as good of decisions in the break or as fluid in the offense as those four is probably wrong if looking at them for two yrs into their college careers.

how many of those four played on a team as a soph where they were asked to do as much as him on a team playing at the pace we are. Only bj played as fast as gesell. Woolridge didn't even play his second year as he was under transfer rules. And Oliver and Horner were in my opinion more polished scorers when the came but neither had the upside of gesell and neither had to play at the speed gesell does.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Gesell is averaging 26 min in big 10 play.

Clemmons is averaging 8.5 min in big 10 play.

Marble is averaging 29.5 min in big 10 play. That is with 20 min against nw just last game so really over 30 min.

White is averaging 30 min in big 10 play.

Oglesby is averaging 16.5 min in big 10 play.

Jok is averaging 4.5 min in big 10 play in 4 games.

Next yr we have gesell and clemmons at pg, jok and oglesby at the 2. We divvy up the marble 30 min and I don't see clemmons having more than jok or oglesby next yr as he isn't a 2 and the offense and defense are obviously better with gesell than clemmons I see gesell as a 30 min guy and jok and oglesby sharing 40 based off who has the hot hand. That leaves 10 min for clemmons. He just isn't at gesell's level like some thought.

I predict Clemmons will play 15 to 20 minutes a game next year. He and Gesell will be on the floor together at times.