MVRT13
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Mention of Obekpa in article. http://espn.go.com/ncb/notebook/_/p...04/back-basket-weekly-look-college-basketball
Caught in the web of freshmen hysteria.
- Thread starter MVRT13
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STJClass_2013
Member
You have a negative outlook on this team so it is really no surprise you think that. If they can pull together they have a shot. And they are knocking on the door so let's knock off a few more ranked teams and build up some steam going into the Big East Tourney.
Not negative...guarded and realistic. I've always been more of a straight shooter. You don't think I don't fantasize about this team being a top 15 squad and routinely being relevant again? Of course I do. But at this stage in the game I just don't think we have enough fire power. We need 1 more guy who can shoot as well as Bourgault, yet has the athleticism of Jakarr (I think that was Lawrence but we missed him). We also need a solid inside scorer. We need our Tyson Chandler to keep defenses honest. Too many times we have guys like Jakarr (love Jakarr) settling for 15 footers instead of driving to the hoop using the glass or dunking it. Jakarr can make that shot some games, and go cold others. That's the problem with not having a post player...it makes you rely on streaky 10-15 foot shots instead of almost guaranteeing 2 points by laying it up or dunking (also better chance for and 1's and fouls).
Winning the Big East tourney requires consistency and that's something we haven't really demonstrated yet except for teams like DePaul and Seton Hall. If we can knock off Cuse or L'Ville I will be a believer. Sure nothing is impossible, but if you really think we have a real shot of winning the Big East tourney I would say you are a major optimist.
STJClass_2013
Member
I think all we need to do is move more. D'lo and Marco running the baseline at the same time would be something I would like to see. This group has slashers that can make it to the rim on from the wings and the baseline. This team needs a kick in their ass, but if they can get to the rim I think Obekpa, Sampson, Amir, and Dom can get some easy second chance points. This teams whole problem is not playing their game, we need to create turnovers, that's where these guys are at their best. If Marco and D'lo are on the floor at the same time I think we will get better open looks for both of them, but I think we are really close and if this team can turn the corner they are gonna take off but we have two players that will fit that roll in Hopper, and Gift. And I think Gift will be better at the 4 anyway.
I have thought this team has the ability to win the Big East Tourney since the start of the season. The question is can they come together and play their best basketball the last five games of the season before the Tourney. Game by game and who knows. We look good when we are playing at our best.
Scott, agree with most of what you said but I dont see Gift being able to play the four alongside obekpa. Imagine the clock we would run with that group.
If one of them were to ever become a capable offensive option, even an aaron spears type of offensive game, than we would be sooo a better team.
STJClass_2013
Member
Gift will only get better with Obekpa in practice and vice versa. Gift is the bigger offensive threat but, Hooper is a machine...I was watching his twitter after he signed he had nights he shot 90% shooting 500 shots all from 3...you gotta love any open looks this kid gets.
tom in salem
Well-known member
Obekpa and Gift split 40 minutes at the center position.
Jakarr should be a 35 mpg man at the PF.
Class of 72
Active member
+1
....and you are also correct in using the "singular" in category.
Class of 72
Active member
That was THE plan on October 15th with the exception of Karr. He is a small forward and always will be. The PF was supposed to be Sanchez. With that lineup, the Big East title was more likely than with the current lineup of 3 guards and 2 small forwards starting against more traditional lineups.
I would like to think Hooper can help us also....but reality is he couldn't crack Harvard's rotation as a freshmen. has anyone seen this kid play in person aside from highlight videos? This 90%, is this him just putting up shots in a gym? cool stat, if true, but making shots unguarded is a whole lot different than having a Big East wing suffocate him.
I am more excited to have Gift return to the lineup, brings a brute force that we badly need, and with close to two years between games played, hopefully his game will have improved. I know there is nothing like in game experience but the kid is practicing against the best shot blocker in the nation day in day out. Overall would look for Gift to produce more than Hooper, with Hooper starting to give value his junior and senior year.
Sampson is a beast. He is more than fine at the PF, the problem is he doesn't have another legit big man next to him. I've come away very impressed with Sampson's rebounding. He is far and away our best rebounder and it's not even close. Put 15 pounds on him this offseason and let him develop 2-3 low-post moves, and he could be a top 10 PF in the country. Obekpa needs to hit he glass with the same ferocity as Sampson.
STJClass_2013
Member
The 90% is in the gym but he has a quick release and doesn't need too much space to get his shot off.
Class of 72
Active member
There are shooting guards that are great rebounders. That would not project them as power forwards. When coach Lavin announced his recruits last May at the press conference he was introduced as a "small forward". He introduced Orlando Sanchez as a "power forward".
"He could be a top 10 PF in the country"??? Apparently only you and your buddy in Salem think so.
Not one scouting report classifies him as a power forward, especially at 6'8, 205 lbs. He is built more like the late Malik Sealy (Happy Birthday) than Ricardo Gathers (the other power forward Lav originally signed).
Karr is a good rebounder because he can jump through the roof but he regularly gets body slammed in the paint and is no match for most elite power forwards in college ball. On the NBA level, the PF position would be out of the question-----and that is what Karr is working hard for----a spot on an NBA team.
FYI from NBADraft.net:
14 - JaKarr SampsonSt. Johns
Birthday: 3/20/93
NBA Position: Small Forward
Class: Freshman
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 205
Hometown: Akron, OH
tom in salem
Well-known member
No scouting report projected Harkless as a center, but that's what he played for us last season.
Sampson will be next years PF, plain and simple.
Class of 72
Active member
Tom, apples and oranges! I am talking NBA scouting reports and you are talking about a position, or lack thereof, on Karr's college team.
Yes, Moe played "some" center last year....but I watched every game and other than jumping at center at the start of the halves, Moe rarely ventured inside the paint. in fact, one of the criticisms was he avoided contact.
Karr "may play" some PF next year out of necessity but anyone vaguely familiar with this team knows Lav recruited Karr to play SF and Ricardo Gathers to play PF. THAT was the plan! Chris will develop nicely as our shot-blocking center as he is very young and some say, still growing. It is only a matter of time before his offense comes around.
Had the above trio materialized, we would have been one of the better rebounding teams in the conference.
Our history of bad luck has always been that we lacked or missed out on one key player. This year, and now next, it will be the PF position.
During Norm's tenure, he missed out on evey elite guard to come out of the tri-state area.