JohnnyFan" post=426068 said:
Making Plays" post=426064 said:
Lredken" post=425879 said:
Don't like having an undersized backcourt when we have an undersized forecourt. If you don't think we need more size, not less, look at our last game.
Last game could have easily been won, even without our best big man playing, Champagnie had a shot to win the game on a wide open mid-range shot, you ask anybody and they'll take that situation 9 times out of 10. And we just beat that same team by 10 points a week ago. So, let's not act like just because we didn't have a 7 footer that's the reason we lost that game.
Also, that Louisville team I mentioned their starters height was 6'0, 6'0, 6'5, 6'6, and 6'10 and they won a national championship. Our current starting lineup is bigger than that. Everyone get stuck on "We need a 7 footer" and act like that's going to automatically make you a better team. Truth of the matter we just needed to play better in some of those games and they would have made the tournament, we didn't lose to DePaul because of lack of height in front court, Pauly Paulicap is their center and he's 6'8.
You're not wrong. However, the Louisville team was really an exception. When playing without an inside prescence you lower the team's margin for error and raise the degree of difficulty as you have to work to compensate for that void. I don't think anyone is saying we need a seven footer, but we despartely need to fill a painfully obvious need. To your point, Pauly Paulicap is not a exactly a premier center at 6'8". But, these type of average power fowards and centers often look like all-stars while destroying us on the boards and in the paint.
Coach Willard didn't have to study tape all night to come up with a game plan and DePaul
(because of their make-up) would probably have beat us again. We can't restart next year giving opponents that same advantage. I imagine the staff is well aware of this issue and is prioritizing a big man. The restlessness from our fan base is because this need is not new.
That Louisville team wasn't an exception, a lot of Pitino's teams look like that, he likes quick guards that can guard you 94 feet and athletic and quick big men. The starting center after that group was 6'7 Montrez Harrell, and I say that team with Harrell did pretty good as well.
Also, for those thinking CMA is going to go out and get a 7'0, traditional, pound it in the paint center like what Georgetown and Seton Hall has they are going to be extremely disappointed, I've never seen him have any of those type of centers. Daniel Gafford was the closets thing to that, but even he wasn't a back to the basket pound it in the paint center he was just an elite athlete that ran the floor extremely well. His game was actually very similar to Isiah Moore except he didn't shoot 3 pointers, and he was better on defense, and that's all CMA really needs. I thought Moore if he had his head on straight could have filled that role and helped them be a great team next year.
And don't take my word for it, go look at CMA's previous rosters and see what he prefers at the 5 spot. Guys like Moore and Nyiwe, those are the type of bigs he prefers in his system.... which is guys that are athletic, can run the floor in transition, guard multiple positions, and guys that can also space the floor with their shooting at the 5 spot. His elite 8 team (his best team ever) starting center was a 6'9 Leo Lyons.
