McCaffery, Moss Excited for Future of Talented Wing Man
- Thread starter RobHowe
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SteveGarvey1
Well-Known Member
Expectations aren't that high for next year but for some reason I'm looking more forward to the next season more than I did for this last one.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
I can help out with this one.
Watching Tyler Cook & Ahmad Wagner trying to dunk on someone and two 6'6 athletes from Chicago playing in transition is a lot more exciting then watching the same kid drive right and get stuffed for four years and the tallest guy on the floor struggle mightily around the bucket. That's not a bash, I think MG and AW were solid defenders and brought other things to the table. (I apologize, let's not make this another MG or AW thread).
I hope he does well.. He was kinda the 3rd wheel on his HS team so he didn't get to shine really. He's pretty athletic and can put the ball in the basket. That's a good place to start. Sounds like he had the right attitude towards redshirting. Next year will be borderline rebuilding with lots of PT available. Outside of Jok, Uhl, Wagner and Baer there's just a ton of unknown mins to be divided up. My guess is Cook might start at the 5. That's an interesting front line if that's the route they go... But to do that we'll need a sturdy PG cause Jok isn't exactly a ball handler.. I'd trust Uhls handle over Joks at this point...
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
You bring up an interesting point about ball handling. One of the things that stuck out to me in Baer's presser was when the reporter asked him what he needed to improve on one of the first things he mentioned was ball handling. Even if we can land Vital or a PG I think Uhl, Baer, Moss, and even Jok will have to improve their handle to help others relieve some of the pressure we will ultimately see.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
Baer needs to improve his handles because he is going to be a wing player, in some way shape or form. If he can knock down the jumper, consistently, he'll need the handles to pump fake and drive by. Along with helping to break the press.
SteveGarvey1
Well-Known Member
Yeah, you nailed it. Loved what MG and AW did but it's gonna be interesting to see what the new, more athletic guys can do.
Yeah to me ball handling will be the #1 thing that will be addressed in practice for them. #2 just roles of the players. Who's going to be putting the ball in the hole. Jok will be option A B and C if we let him be but really after that what's the pecking order going to be? I hope that Bohannan has a basketball in his hands every where he goes. His best chance of making a big impact early will be if he's got a great handle and can run the offense. It looks like he can shoot the ball so it'll be the other things that get him on the floor more. (not to mention defense)
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
I don't know that this team will have a true #2 scorer per say, but I do think Uhl, Cook, Moss, and Williams all have the ability to average 10-12 points under the right circumstances. Obviously they all won't but if a couple can I think we will be in good shape.
I agree I bet it'll vary night to night based on who's got the best matchups and who's hot. I think it'll be between Uhl and Cook that will be #2. I think Cook will be given lots of touches and opportunities anyway. But I'm sure he'll have his ups and downs. Uhl is probably the safer guess. I'm just afraid it'll take a large chunk of the season for them to play out what roles each other will have and get in a rythem. The faster they do that the more success they'll have. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they are dancing next year.
NikeHawk21
Well-Known Member
I agree I think Cook will be one of those guys who gets 4-5 layups/ dunks off of put backs and lobs, a garbage guy if you will, at least while he's still developing a low post and/ or a mid range game, to me that's not a negative thing either.
As for Uhl, if he ends up shooting 3-4 3s a game and can shoot anywhere as well as he did last year, I'd have to think he could average 10 points with more minutes.
Side note, I really hope we bring back the Aaron White lob play next year, whether it be Cook, Uhl, Wagner, Baer, or maybe Moss. I think last year really showed the importance of having someone who can throw that pass. In years past that was usually Marble or JO throwing it. That always seemed to be a big momentum play for us, prior to last year.
Yeah those 'garbage' baskets really add up and I think the same thing you do about Cook. Yeah I think we just didn't have anyone to go up and catch those lobs this year. White was pretty awesome at it. That's not something Uthoff was all that great at he may have had a couple all season long.. Uhl I hope can do that he's so long I look forward to him getting more mins. Him and Wagner both.
QChawkness
Well-Known Member
I was a bit shocked to see Moss get redshirted this past year. I thought he could help out alot sooner than Flemming or Ellingson even. Sounds like he's a better 3pt shooter than I thought too so I cant wait to see him get some playing time.
I don't think Moss was redshirted because he was lacking in ability, but he needed a year on the weights. In the interview I saw, he said it was hard because he thought he could have helped the team at times. He said he was going to work on his game and try to get stronger for next year. The college game is pretty physical. It should be fun watching Williams and Moss next year. He sounded like a guy that would put the team first. Replacing two six footers with guys six ft. five and six ft. six should make the team look a lot different next year. I can see the team having the potential to be better defensively, and more explosive offensively as the year goes on.
docholihawk
Well-Known Member
We're going to have a totally different looking team next year. I'm grateful for all the wins the last four years and the guys that graduated were great representatives of the university. I'm looking forward to next year. I think we are going to run and run. We have great athletes and I think the fast breaks we've run the past 4 years are nothing compared to what's coming.
hawkjunkie
Well-Known Member
I am definitely looking forward to next season. And probably the same as you, more so than last. That is because it will be a completely different type of team. Maybe not a total washing, but the type of players & team that Fran has been wanting to build his style of ball club around. Less the PG he has always wanted. Not that I think we will be severely deficient at PG, or in overall ball handling, they are just not the Marcus Paige/Tyler Ulis/Charlie Moore types that Fran has tried to pull in.
These guys are long, athletic, decent ball handlers who can run and most can shoot well. Especially for their sizes. We will be at a length advantage or equivalent in all positions, except for the 5 on occasion. And even then we will probably have the quickness and/or outside shooting ability to more than neutralize any height deficiencies.
It should be fun to see, and we should improve throughout the season (knock on wood). Either way, guaranteed to not be dull. Color me excited.
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