Freudenberg

paultzman

paultzman

Well-known member
2023 $upporter 2022 $upporter
Obviously RF showed nothing this year, was tentative & his reputed shooting skill did not materialize. That said, found this interesting



"STEP THREE: Hitting in Germany

Maybe the biggest key to Michigan’s run has been the emergence of Moritz Wagner. Michigan found him in Germany and fell in love with what he could be. He arrived skinny and a bit unsure of his game, but with added strength and confidence his skill and ability has shone through. With him playing at a high level the Wolverines have become quite dangerous."
 
Obviously RF showed nothing this year, was tentative & his reputed shooting skill did not materialize. That said, found this interesting



"STEP THREE: Hitting in Germany

Maybe the biggest key to Michigan’s run has been the emergence of Moritz Wagner. Michigan found him in Germany and fell in love with what he could be. He arrived skinny and a bit unsure of his game, but with added strength and confidence his skill and ability has shone through. With him playing at a high level the Wolverines have become quite dangerous."
Click to expand...


Nice reference, parallel...our young kid RF needs time and a reasonable chance...undergoing a significant cultural, college & basketball adjustment...not many can shine in the less than the year he's been on campus.
Let's go RF! A productive career for the Redmen!!
Let's go SJU!!!
 
Obviously RF showed nothing this year, was tentative & his reputed shooting skill did not materialize. That said, found this interesting

Click to expand...


I have faith and confidence that RF ends up being a contributor. He played like an awkward, lanky 18 year old Freshman, who relocated to a foreign country, taking classes in a language that he didn't grow up speaking, and adjusting to living in New York City. I think we got a little spoiled with other Freshmen on the team who played well above their age and experience level. I also think RF deserves to be cut a little more slack on this board.
 
The game was clearly moving "too fast" for RF. That could happen to anyone given the difference in the game and being a freshman. What is hard to understand is the inability to hit some wide open shots given that we were told that he was very good shooter. That skill should travel and it did not translate at all.

I hope RF finds some time to spend time in the States and work on his game here in the summer. This will take some commitment on his part being a young kid away from home already for so long. It would be nice to see the kid work to get better and become a contributor over time if that's what he wants to do.
 
Would be shocked if this works out. I have been shocked before but usually the wrong way when it comes to ST John's. David Cain and Pointer off top of head were the only real pleasant shockers I can think of. And it took both of them 4 years.
 
Would be shocked if this works out. I have been shocked before but usually the wrong way when it comes to ST John's. David Cain and Pointer off top of head were the only real pleasant shockers I can think of. And it took both of them 4 years.
Click to expand...

Respect that. Certainly not a lock he is a contributor down the road, especially if his shot does not improve.
 
Still hopeful on RF for reasons noted in link shared by Paultzman. Pretty much from the beginning and throughout the season with the exception of the Cuse game seemed hesitant and almost mechanical/aiming his shot. Unlikely to be successful that way.

If he can kick that and be a confident shot maker from 3 that has value in itself for this team. I think that's a relatively low bar and now knowing the speed at which he needs to be able to get his shot off + a summer of work with CM seems attainable. Not like he has to rely on getting his own shot, likely to get very good looks with all the attention guys like Lovett/Ponds draw. At his height and playing 3/4 having someone like him stretch the floor for even 10-15 minutes per game would be big.

If he can take it any further than that great. Think a lot of times when players like RF start making shots their game flows a bit more on both ends and confidence builds. To the "unsure" comparison in link, RF almost seemed at times like he expected to get his shot blocked, etc. and that can have downward spiral effect. Getting some time away, hitting reset and barreling through that mentally can pay big dividends.

See what happens especially given how little RF unfortunately showed this year, but hopefully the 3pt shooting component is a reasonable baseline. Really hope he plans on sticking around, still think he's a potential contributor and don't think we are anywhere near a position from a talent perspective to lose guys after disappointing freshman years before potentially getting the benefit of improvement/upside from there.
 
It's not out of the question

2.9 ppg in 8.6 mpg for Wagner as a freshman
1.3 ppg in 9.3 mpg for Richie

2-12 from 3 for Moritz as a freshman then 45-110 this year.
7-35 for Richie
 
It's not out of the question

2.9 ppg in 8.6 mpg for Wagner as a freshman
1.3 ppg in 9.3 mpg for Richie

2-12 from 3 for Moritz as a freshman then 45-110 this year.
7-35 for Richie
Click to expand...

Stats and Nationality are one thing. Did not see Wagner last year but hard to imagine he looked like RF this year. Plus that was a 23 win team that Wagner struggled to get mins on. Plus even in limited ins he still shot over 60% overall.
 
It's not out of the question

2.9 ppg in 8.6 mpg for Wagner as a freshman
1.3 ppg in 9.3 mpg for Richie

2-12 from 3 for Moritz as a freshman then 45-110 this year.
7-35 for Richie
Click to expand...

Stats and Nationality are one thing. Did not see Wagner last year but hard to imagine he looked like RF this year. Plus that was a 23 win team that Wagner struggled to get mins on. Plus even in limited ins he still shot over 60% overall.
Click to expand...

You did not see him! Just like I didn't!

The 60% shooting could have been layups for all we know. Especially considering he was bad from 3.

I think another factor might be that whole coaching thing but lets not bring that up ;)
 
It's not out of the question

2.9 ppg in 8.6 mpg for Wagner as a freshman
1.3 ppg in 9.3 mpg for Richie

2-12 from 3 for Moritz as a freshman then 45-110 this year.
7-35 for Richie
Click to expand...

Stats and Nationality are one thing. Did not see Wagner last year but hard to imagine he looked like RF this year. Plus that was a 23 win team that Wagner struggled to get mins on. Plus even in limited ins he still shot over 60% overall.
Click to expand...

You did not see him! Just like I didn't!

The 60% shooting could have been layups for all we know. Especially considering he was bad from 3.

I think another factor might be that whole coaching thing but lets not bring that up ;)
Click to expand...

Would you bet Casa de Moose that RF would make 6 out of 10 layups?
Beilein is awesome yes.
 
"Moritz, he averaged two points a game last year. He’s 19 years old. You got to watch this guy. D.J. averaged the same. There’s a process that people go through to develop their teams, and we had a lot of good seniors last year who graduated and a lot of guys waiting in the wings. It may have not showed in November, December. It’s showing in March."

Jim Beilein
 
Would be shocked if this works out. I have been shocked before but usually the wrong way when it comes to ST John's. David Cain and Pointer off top of head were the only real pleasant shockers I can think of. And it took both of them 4 years.
Click to expand...

I can relate to that feeling SJU.

I would add though that we need to get "lucky" or have things go the right way on some kids just like Freudenberg. By that, I mean we have been such a black hole as a Program for so long that SJU and CM need to show that we can develop some guys who don't come in as good as we thought or would have liked. We are not exactly the first choice destination of 4 and 5 stars.It might take some time and effort but wouldn't it really benefit us if RF turns out to be a better player in years 2, 3 and 4. He has the obvious height and the alleged shooting skills. If he doesn't improve it will be a real negative for this staff and the Program.
 
The game was clearly moving "too fast" for RF. That could happen to anyone given the difference in the game and being a freshman. What is hard to understand is the inability to hit some wide open shots given that we were told that he was very good shooter. That skill should travel and it did not translate at all.

I hope RF finds some time to spend time in the States and work on his game here in the summer. This will take some commitment on his part being a young kid away from home already for so long. It would be nice to see the kid work to get better and become a contributor over time if that's what he wants to do.
Click to expand...


SJC88
Nice reflections & yes I believe RF came w a rep as a shooter
I gringe to think of another chuckle sproiling from Colorado who was supposed to shoot well but from what I recall never played up to expectations
However
RF - as noted in prior posts - is young, has had major adjustments and didn't get that much game time this year...
There are parallels w the Michigan kid
We all hope it's the same path for our guy
And that
RF evolves into a fine player right here in NY!

I once read a worthwhile book entitled "Late Bloomers" the relevant gist is that each person in any field grows, progresses or makes quantum leaps in his or her own way...own timetable.

Now that I think about it, did not Brooklyn's own Sandy Koufax sit on the pines a few years before his star took off...

all the best
 
Obviously RF showed nothing this year, was tentative & his reputed shooting skill did not materialize. That said, found this interesting



"STEP THREE: Hitting in Germany

Maybe the biggest key to Michigan’s run has been the emergence of Moritz Wagner. Michigan found him in Germany and fell in love with what he could be. He arrived skinny and a bit unsure of his game, but with added strength and confidence his skill and ability has shone through. With him playing at a high level the Wolverines have become quite dangerous."
Click to expand...

and we all know our strength and conditioning program is at least on par with Michigan's. :dry:
 
It's not out of the question

2.9 ppg in 8.6 mpg for Wagner as a freshman
1.3 ppg in 9.3 mpg for Richie

2-12 from 3 for Moritz as a freshman then 45-110 this year.
7-35 for Richie
Click to expand...

Stats and Nationality are one thing. Did not see Wagner last year but hard to imagine he looked like RF this year. Plus that was a 23 win team that Wagner struggled to get mins on. Plus even in limited ins he still shot over 60% overall.
Click to expand...

No doubt Moritz arrived with more of an interior game than RF but even his 61 total shots and 49 shots inside the arc as a frosh are a relatively small sample size. FWIW RF was 5 of 13, 38% from inside the arc this year with no inside game to speak of.
 
"Moritz, he averaged two points a game last year. He’s 19 years old. You got to watch this guy. D.J. averaged the same. There’s a process that people go through to develop their teams, and we had a lot of good seniors last year who graduated and a lot of guys waiting in the wings. It may have not showed in November, December. It’s showing in March."

Jim Beilein
Click to expand...

Where does he coach?
 
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