Olaseni Wants To "Blow Up" This Year
- Thread starter SheagleHawk
- Start date
If he can have a Doug Thomas type impact that'd be great. I wonder what McCaffery thinks his ceiling is. He'll of course say it's through the roof if publicly asked. But I'd like to know what he really thinks of how he'd like to use him. I can't see him starting just with the current group of players ahead of him. But if he's improved a ton and demands playing time that'd be great as opposed to playing out of necessity due to foul trouble. He's looked great in the PTL so far hope he keeps it up
BasketballMan
Banned
It will never happen, but, Gabe should start in place of Woodbury. He's twice as athletic as Woodbury and would compliment our style of play (i.e. fast / running) vs the slower, 1/2 game presence of Woodbury.
If Woodbury doesn't improve his game conditioning and strength wise and staying out of foul trouble he's not going to play much more then 18-20 mins anyway. Weather it's mostly at the start of each half isn't a big deal. He will have to improve is free throw shooting if he wants to be on the court late in games regardless of all that too. Gabe might see alot more crunch time mins
PalmettoHawkFan
Well-Known Member
Woody is a better post up defender. Gabe is a better shot blocker.
Woody is a better defender.
It won't matter who starts at center if Marble doesn't stop hogging the ball so much. Am I right, b-ballman?
sportstalent
Well-Known Member
You continue to make me laugh, thanks for the entertainment.
I think Gabe is more athletic but doesn't the basketball IQ that Woodbury does. As for who has the higher ceiling, well that remains to be unseen yet. Recruiting rankings aren't everything, besides Gabe only played a couple years of organized basketball before coming to the US.
Don't take that the wrong way, I think Woody is the better basketball player but Gabe isn't a bad player. Although I don't think the players care who starts, they are all going to get minutes.
sportstalent
Well-Known Member
Woodbury will be a major contributor in his career. No offense to Gabe, but he is going to be a shot blocker and a guy that can run the floor well and will be a fun guy to watch in the spot minutes, but major minutes if Woodbury gets in foul trouble.
I get the the whole "he has played 6 or 7 years of basketball" argument, but at some point that argument doesn't hold water if Gabe doesn't improve and begin to make major strides. I think of Gabe as being comparable to Kurt Looby and that is not a bad thing.
Woodbury will be a major contributor in his next three years, Gabe on the other hand seems to be getting better but like you said he is a shot blocker and a fun guy to watch. I hope Gabe has a big year and he and Woodbury can split minutes at Center, that would be great for the team to help keep Woodbury fresh and hopefully healthy for most of his career.
Stanzi
Well-Known Member
This is NOT good. Someone needs to talk to Olaseni ASAP. Look, we can have guys get public intox or assault, but we can't have a guy go all suicide bomber this season. That would really be bad press. Plus no one can pronounce his name so that makes it look even worse. Hopefully Fran has him in counseling.
Section136
Well-Known Member
Woodbury is a much better defender than Gabe, but Gabe has so much more talent than Kurt Looby. That comparison is ridiculous.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
This. Gabe has the higher ceiling of the two based on his athleticism. Woody is probably more likely to reach his ceiling on the basis of his more polished game. But I do think Gabe will be a major contributor as a senior.
ibahawkeye
Well-Known Member
Agreed Woody is a better defender.
Where I disagree is that the Looby comparison is ridiculous. In fact I think it is a really good comparison. Both came in with little basketball experience, tall and lenghty and known for shot blocking.
Looby's Sr. year (07-08) 18.3 MPG, 3.6 PPG, 66.7 FG %, 4.6 RPG, .5 APG, 1.3 BPG
Olaseni last year (12-13) 10.7 MPG, 2.7 PPG, 52.1 FG %, 2.6 RPG, .2 APG, 1 BPG
I believe Olaseni's numbers will end up better but thus far, they aren't.
Section136
Well-Known Member
Gabe has about half the MPG that Looby did and Gabe is playing on much better teams than Looby did.
sportstalent
Well-Known Member
My point with Looby is the same with Gabe and its not a bad thing...all the athleticism in the world doesn't give a player a higher ceiling than another. It still comes down to knowing how to play. I think Gabe will be a solid contributor and made strides last season, but Woodbury is just better and will continue to improve at a higher pace than Gabe because of his total abilities.
BasketballMan
Banned
"but Woodbury is just better". Not so sure I agree. Let's debate:
Offensive Skills:
- passing - Woodbury
- scoring close to basket - tie or slight edge to Gabe
- scoring outside 10 ft - Gabe
- free throws - Gabe
- ball handling in general / hands - tie
- moving without ball - Gabe (due to quickness)
- positioning - Woodbury
- offensive bball IQ - Woodbury
- running the floor on the break - Gabe by a mile
- offensive rebounding - tie or slight edge to Gabe due to athleticism
Defensive Skills:
- shot blocking - Gabe (not even close)
- off-ball defense - Gabe
- on-ball defense - Woodbury
- quickness - Gabe
- positioning - Woodbury
- defensive bball IQ - Woodbury
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If you take talent level aside here. I would say Woody is a Tim Duncan type player and Gabe is more of a Blake Griffin type player from an athletic standpoint. Woody doesn't overly wow you but he is fairly sound in what he does. Gabe on the other hand is more of a high flying guy he makes better highlight reels than putting points and stats in the box score.
