Does anybody still think Edwards...

[RF2044]

If you have a guy like Rak senior year, sure he's going to play most of the minutes and it's going to be challenging to justify playing basically anyone else at that position given the production the better player provides. But, we are not in the same stratosphere as that. We are talking about playing center, for maybe 25% of the game, over a non-center. It's simply illogical.

It's especially illogical when the coach continues to harp on guys not being ready [when he doesn't play them], and when we get annihilated inside on a game in, game out basis by opposing bigs -- when teams play dump and chase and pound it inside indiscriminately at the start of games to take it right to our undersized starter.

I don't know what Ajak is capable of, frankly. But I think both of these guys [Ajak and Jesse] have been mismanaged from the jump this year. I say that with full recognition that we aren't in a JB coached team going to play 3 centers, but I think that both of these guys are capable of contributing. And we wasted them all year.

 

[NineOneSeven]

If there were more non-conference games and the team didn’t have so much trouble padding leads early in other games, Jesse would have played more earlier in the season.

This is partially true, I do agree. On the other hand, we've been so relatively average (for our "standards"), we always go back to the "Well Boeheim will always play to win that game at the expense of ______". And I absolutely have no issues playing single games to win. But when you are nothing overly special as a team, you end up in more close games, and guys who might get more garbage time during the "easy" wins, don't. So it's a vicious circle, so to speak.

 

[Scooch]

It's especially illogical when the coach continues to harp on guys not being ready [when he doesn't play them], and when we get annihilated inside on a game in, game out basis by opposing bigs -- when teams play dump and chase and pound it inside indiscriminately at the start of games to take it right to our undersized starter.

I don't know what Ajak is capable of, frankly. But I think both of these guys [Ajak and Jesse] have been mismanaged from the jump this year. I say that with full recognition that we aren't in a JB coached team going to play 3 centers, but I think that both of these guys are capable of contributing. And we wasted them all year.

I wonder how many minutes Edwards would have gotten tonight if he wasn’t forced to play a bunch last game because of Marek’s early foul trouble?

 

[OttoinGrotto]

He had chances earlier in the year.

Yeah, he really didn't make the most of his 1 minute against Bryant, 1 minute against Niagara and 6 minutes against Rider.

Come on. He wasn't given a chance. And it doesn't make any sense because he not only played in more games and more minutes the previous season, he did that with a healthy Sidibe in front of him.

 

[Scooch]

This is partially true, I do agree. On the other hand, we've been so relatively average (for our "standards"), we always go back to the "Well Boeheim will always play to win that game at the expense of ______". And I absolutely have no issues playing single games to win. But when you are nothing overly special as a team, you end up in more close games, and guys who might get more garbage time during the "easy" wins, don't. So it's a vicious circle, so to speak.

It’s also entirely possible that it wouldn’t have mattered. Newton played great early in the season, and he’s been on the back of a milk carton ever since.

 

[OmahaCuse]

Confused on Woody. JB said I like everything he does?

 

[OttoinGrotto]

You have to think JB thought Sidibe was going to eventually come back. That might have effected his thinking.

Which is flawed thinking.

 

[ElwoodJBlues]

It’s also entirely possible that it wouldn’t have mattered. Newton played great early in the season, and he’s been on the back of a mill carton ever since.

I think both he and Frank got COVID which killed their chances of playing much in the new year.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I think both he and Frank got COVID which killed their chances of playing much in the new year.

That has to be it

 

[RF2044]

I think both he and Frank got COVID which killed their chances of playing much in the new year.

That's what I've heard, as well. And I've also heard that Frank is dealing with an injury that hasn't been made public.

But not sure why Woody didn't get worked back into the rotation after he recovered, when he got off to such an impressively hot start. Doesn't make a lot of sense in his case.

 

[Scooch]

I think both he and Frank got COVID which killed their chances of playing much in the new year.

Could be. Strange that Woody didn’t get eased back into minutes a few weeks ago.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I wonder how many minutes Edwards would have gotten tonight if he wasn’t forced to play a bunch last game because of Marek’s early foul trouble?

This is a legitimate concern.

Aside from Richmond and token forward minutes for Braswell now and Woody briefly because JB wants to yell at Griffin sometimes, JB isn't using his bench unless it's an "in case of emergency or foul trouble break glass" scenario. He's just not.

So it becomes a question of likelihood. Given that three times Edwards has gotten legitimate minutes, and made a quantitative contribution each time, did he have more performances like this in him that we ended up not being realized because he was parked on the bench? Or is it more likely that we wouldn't have even seen him do what he's done the past two games without Marek getting in foul trouble last game?

 

[CuseChat23]

Our big man development has not been very good since Bernie left. Kids not only need to practice to improve actual game experience is vital. I like when coaches go 9-10 deep as this helps to develop and improve these younger kids so they are ready when they need to play more than five minutes a game. Edwards played well tonight and we all know Richmonds needs to lay 30 minutes a game.

 

[HoustonCuse]

After seeing his lack of strength and awareness exploited so badly over the weekend, I was solidly in the not ready camp. I acknowledge he was very good today and made a huge difference. Great game.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

This is for those of us WHO KNEW JE should be playing, even based on the limited action we saw early in the season! Go ahead and double tap below. New band-wagoners welcome too, I guess

 

[OrangeinDC]

Is their anything to the idea that Jesse playing means one of the forwards has to actually sit?

It shouldn't. Griff should bump up to playing some minutes at the 2 if you ask me (5-10 mins).

 

[JrodCuse]

He might not be a great center yet, but he allows our players to play their proper positions which is just huge.

That alone is reason why he should be playing at least 10 minutes a game.

 

[721Comstock]

He might not be a great center yet, but he allows our players to play their proper positions which is just huge.

That alone is reason why he should be playing at least 10 minutes a game.

EXACTLY THIS.

Zero logical reason he can’t go 4-5 minutes in each half, and then maybe more if he’s effective and playing well.

Saves Marek that much wear and tear, and fouls too.

 

[007]

I don't know...to me, we just seem to play much better on D when Edwards is in the game.

 

[the villager]

I posted a while back JB needed to have a center on the floor other than marek to get experience every game. Seems like it’s working.

 

[SUfanNC]

I’m not disagreeing. I think he should have played around 5-7 mins a game, more if he was playing like he did tonight. However he did get chances earlier and really did nothing (up until miami) to distinguish himself apart from JBA. Ppl saying he should have been starting all year I just don’t agree with that.

I don't know if he should start but he has played single digit minutes all year. Miami gt and unc are the only games with significant minutes. I would say when given an opportunity he can and has been worth playing

 

[SUfanNC]

Definitely knew. Nope. Would have liked to see more of based on position and height and having seen MD play the 5 before. Yep

 

[StPeteOrang]

Just stop.

This board has an incredibly poor track record of gauging player's potential and where it is on their respective developmental curves, and posts like yours are no exception.

Nobody said "start." But in a year where we ***** lost our starting center 4 minutes into the season, and in a year where we're starting a 195 pound forward in the pivot, and get dominated repeatedly inside -- the notion that this kid couldn't have contributed doesn't just ring hollow, it is ASININE.

He's played significant minutes in three games this year. In all three, he's performed well. He jut had a major, major role in helping us defeat blue chip North Carolina today, a team that has consistently destroyed us inside, and he made a massive contribution to tonight's win.

Time for some to quit rationalizing. Nobody is saying he should start. But people also should quit buying into the coach's rhetoric. Is the player we've seen the last few games someone who isn't capable of contributing 6 - 8 minutes per game, in a RESERVE capacity?

C'mon.

Don’t tell me to stop just because my opinion doesn’t agree with yours and a select few others. This is a board for discussion. And as far as you grading that player vs me what makes you so much more qualified. And ppl above were saying he should have been a starter which i said I disagree with based off his past performance. He wasn’t very good earlier in the season nor last year and didn’t deserve those type of mins. That’s my opinion and sorry if you disagree but quite frankly tough s****.

I mentioned in a previous post he should have gotten 5-7 mins more often to prove himself and gain experience. Also the JE we saw out there tonight does deserve starter minutes but the problem is this is really the first time I’ve seen him play that well outside of a stretch vs Miami. In two years this was the best game he has played by far and I’ve given him praise. Why your jumping down my throat about this idk. If you want to anoint him the savior at the 5 that’s totally fine your entitled to your opinion but I won’t.

Lastly, I really hope he has turned a corner. If he has it is going to pay major dividends for us going forward. He seems like a good kid and I root for everyone on the team no matter what unlike some ppl on this board but just because I’m rooting for him doesn’t mean I won’t give my honest opinion of what I think of his game.

 

[StPeteOrang]

Complete and utter BS.

Nobody is saying he's perfect, that he's not physically undersized, that he's starting caliber, etc.

The threshold for backup center should be: requisite mobility, use the five fouls, rebound some, contest some shots. He isn't capable of doing those things? BS. He's been capable of that from the beginning, despite the limitations.

And the limitations have been overblown on this forum, including by you.

Guess what's he's dispelling? The notion that he can't rebound, the notion that he can't be a physical defensive presence because he's skinny, the notion that he doesn't keep rebounds up high, the notion that he can't finish with authority, the notion that he's just a warm body.

Anything else?

6 - 8 minutes per game. Maybe more, if he earns it any given night -- like he did against GT and like he did today. The notion that he isn't capable of delivering AT LEAST that in a backup capacity is, frankly, completley false.

And please note, I fully understand that he isn't a great player, that he doesn't have limitations, etc.

But then please note that we're starting a 195 SF in the pivot who can't stop ANYBODY inside.

A huge waste of time on this post. Again not sure why your attacking me when I mentioned in another post I agree he should of been getting 5-7 mins a game for experience and to see what he could contribute. I disagreed with ppl mentioning he should be getting starter minutes (not you so weird to choose my post for your tangent) but where I disagree is I think he had been playing weak all year up until the last few games. The notion that he couldn’t rebound wasn’t a notion. He was soft under the boards, got pushed around, wasn’t aggressive and would constantly get the ball poked out of his hands/ was weak with it. I call BS on your BS. You don’t agree with my opinion above I’d imagine which is fine. But I watched pretty much every second of every game outside of the GT game and this is really the first time I’ve come away being impressed with Edwards.

 

[StPeteOrang]

After seeing his lack of strength and awareness exploited so badly over the weekend, I was solidly in the not ready camp. I acknowledge he was very good today and made a huge difference. Great game.

I agree with this. He played great tonight. Really the first time I’ve seen this type of aggressiveness and tenacity on D out of him. Hopefully he can keep this up going forward because if he can he can really help this team.