SJU Power Forward Portal Targets

Marillac2 said:
He's getting over 80% of his time at the 5.
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You know I’ve been driving this train for a while. Don’t see any of the 3 prime bigs as being best suited to be a 4 and really, besides Prey, don’t think the other ones are even debatable between best fit at 5 or 4. But, maybe Rick does love his bigs a bit more than us and will try to play 2 of them together more than I would have imagined. I don’t see it, especially with our talent at guard and wing, but I also didn’t foresee Zuby and Traore playing as a 5/4 tandem going into last year. Just another thing that is hard to fully predict without seeing the total group together.
 
Amaseinyourface said:
You know I’ve been driving this train for a while. Don’t see any of the 3 prime bigs as being best suited to be a 4 and really, besides Prey, don’t think the other ones are even debatable between best fit at 5 or 4. But, maybe Rick does love his bigs a bit more than us and will try to play 2 of them together more than I would have imagined. I don’t see it, especially with our talent at guard and wing, but I also didn’t foresee Zuby and Traore playing as a 5/4 tandem going into last year. Just another thing that is hard to fully predict without seeing the total group together.
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I am assuming you mean none of the 3 prime bigs are suited to be a "stretch" 4. All of them are perfectly suited to play a traditional "PF" 4 role.
 
Anthony Mattia said:
I am assuming you mean none of the 3 prime bigs are suited to be a "stretch" 4. All of them are perfectly suited to play a traditional "PF" 4 role.
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Can't imagine that Vince is suited to play a college or even pro position other than the 5. Haven't seen Prey so won't venture a guess asto his position. Agree that Zuby can be an old school Charles Oakley type 4 and he'll likely play some of that with Vince at the 5 but not sure Rick will want him to play too much there. I really see Scott & Luis playing a lot at the 4 with the three guard offense or Dunlap at the 3 but what do I know. Really just guessing.
 
Amaseinyourface said:
You know I’ve been driving this train for a while. Don’t see any of the 3 prime bigs as being best suited to be a 4 and really, besides Prey, don’t think the other ones are even debatable between best fit at 5 or 4. But, maybe Rick does love his bigs a bit more than us and will try to play 2 of them together more than I would have imagined. I don’t see it, especially with our talent at guard and wing, but I also didn’t foresee Zuby and Traore playing as a 5/4 tandem going into last year. Just another thing that is hard to fully predict without seeing the total group together.
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His complete refusal to play Zuby at the 4 last year says a lot to me.

Not one minute? Just to see?!

Any time Zuby sees at the 4 this year will be purely to keep him happy I feel.

Prey can play the 4 on offense 100%. Matchups will determine if he can play there on defense. I think he might be able to hang with a stretch 4 like Karaban.

Still think Vince will get the short straw here.
 
I think Zuby will see some time at the 4. He’s working really hard and that’s his natural position. Unfortunately I believe most of his time will be at the 5.
 
Demo said:
I think Zuby will see some time at the 4. He’s working really hard and that’s his natural position. Unfortunately I believe most of his time will be at the 5.
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Ejofor is a natural power forward in a 1990s basketball sense. Unfortunately for him, that isn't the way the game is played today - now most teams (and definitely Pitino) want one mobile big man (preferably one who can shoot) to defend the rim and run the floor, a PG, and three interchangeable parts who can score and defend.

Unless Ejofor shows up with a three that is good about a third of the time, his role in a Pitino offense is at the 5. Same with Iwuchukwu. If Prey can shoot and Pitino wanted to go with a big lineup, then I can see Prey at the 4 with Ejofor or Iwuchukwu at the 5.

But if you look at the roster Richmond, Smith, Scott and Luis are all likely to be higher-production players than Ejofor, Iwuchukwu, and Prey. And Wilcher and Dunlap are going to get time, very possibly Glover and Liotopoulos also.

So I don't think there will be very many minutes where Pitino goes with a two-big lineup given the other pieces he has and the way he wants to play the game.
 
lawmanfan said:
Ejofor is a natural power forward in a 1990s basketball sense. Unfortunately for him, that isn't the way the game is played today - now most teams (and definitely Pitino) want one mobile big man (preferably one who can shoot) to defend the rim and run the floor, a PG, and three interchangeable parts who can score and defend.

Unless Ejofor shows up with a three that is good about a third of the time, his role in a Pitino offense is at the 5. Same with Iwuchukwu. If Prey can shoot and Pitino wanted to go with a big lineup, then I can see Prey at the 4 with Ejofor or Iwuchukwu at the 5.

But if you look at the roster Richmond, Smith, Scott and Luis are all likely to be higher-production players than Ejofor, Iwuchukwu, and Prey. And Wilcher and Dunlap are going to get time, very possibly Glover and Liotopoulos also.

So I don't think there will be very many minutes where Pitino goes with a two-big lineup given the other pieces he has and the way he wants to play the game.
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Agree with a lot of you analysis. A lot has to do with how Ejofor has developed and how they progress of the next 5 months. I imagine (hopeful) that Ejofor has developed a 10-15 jump shot and low post moves. He's a big body in the mold you described from the old traditional play for a 4. I okay weather he does that a as 4 or 5, just love his work ethic.
 
lawmanfan said:
Ejofor is a natural power forward in a 1990s basketball sense. Unfortunately for him, that isn't the way the game is played today - now most teams (and definitely Pitino) want one mobile big man (preferably one who can shoot) to defend the rim and run the floor, a PG, and three interchangeable parts who can score and defend.

Unless Ejofor shows up with a three that is good about a third of the time, his role in a Pitino offense is at the 5. Same with Iwuchukwu. If Prey can shoot and Pitino wanted to go with a big lineup, then I can see Prey at the 4 with Ejofor or Iwuchukwu at the 5.

But if you look at the roster Richmond, Smith, Scott and Luis are all likely to be higher-production players than Ejofor, Iwuchukwu, and Prey. And Wilcher and Dunlap are going to get time, very possibly Glover and Liotopoulos also.

So I don't think there will be very many minutes where Pitino goes with a two-big lineup given the other pieces he has and the way he wants to play the game.
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Well said. He'd probably be a first round pick 30 years ago, but now 4's have to be more versatile. He's got the raw tools to defend all forwards, but the skills and awareness have to catch up.

Just look at the discrepancy between his offensive rebounding -- which is mostly raw ability and will v. his defensive rebounding -- which is mostly skill and mental.

He's a kid who could absolutely blow up this year. I think there will be 5-10 minute stretches where he looks like best big man in the country.
 
Demo said:
Agree with a lot of you analysis. A lot has to do with how Ejofor has developed and how they progress of the next 5 months. I imagine (hopeful) that Ejofor has developed a 10-15 jump shot and low post moves. He's a big body in the mold you described from the old traditional play for a 4. I okay weather he does that a as 4 or 5, just love his work ethic.
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My monthly reminder that Zuby shot 60% from 3 this year (2024). ;)
 
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