Donnie Freeman McD AA Game Thread

[Cuse181]

Did you watch any of his tape from prep or just do your evals based on meaningless all star games?

Did you read the comment I was responding to or are we just going to ignore the context of my comment.

 

[two3zone]

Ugh, him and bell chilling on the perimeter is useless

As long as we have a point guard that can drive and dish it could be great, we have some beef in the middle who can score in traffic, should open stuff up and help Bell out tremendously.

 

[Orangezoo]

As long as we have a point guard that can drive and dish it could be great, we have some beef in the middle who can score in traffic, should open stuff up and help Bell out tremendously.

We would be extremely difficult to defend I will say that… as for the other end …

 

[Cusesky8214]

 

[grepal]

Ugh, him and bell chilling on the perimeter is useless

It is an All Star game, guts want to score and not get hurt.

 

[Brooky03]

Impossible, we were told he can’t play the 3 and thus it was brown or him getting the minutes at the 4.

It was going to be Donnie and Bell or Donnie and Brown. Either would have worked.

I don’t know who was saying he couldn’t play SF. That would be odd because he’s a notably good ballhandler.

 

[Newhouser]

Biggest takeaway for me re Donnie was his size. He legit has height and looks fluid.

I don’t take too much else from these games.

I thought the same - he was bigger than I thought. Obviously he needs to get stronger but he isn't a twig.

Looks like a good athlete but can't really tell much from these games especially in the effort/grunt areas.

 

[cuseallday]

Here's a box score from last night: Donnie with 6 pts, 1 board and 1 steal in just under 13 minutes.

 

[SP_Gilbs]

Here's a box score from last night: Donnie with 6 pts, 1 board and 1 steal in just under 13 minutes.

Highest +/- of anyone in the game

 

[Cusefan0307]

Here's a box score from last night: Donnie with 6 pts, 1 board and 1 steal in just under 13 minutes.

He had at least two rebounds. That box score is crap. No offense to you obviously.

 

[zilo]

Makes me wonder if Donnie at the 3, Brown at 4, Lampkin at the 5, and Bell 6th man off the bench would have been possible...

 

[cuseallday]

Makes me wonder if Donnie at the 3, Brown at 4, Lampkin at the 5, and Bell 6th man off the bench would have been possible...

I hear ya. I could have seen Donnie at the 3 some, given he has a solid 3-point shot and handle, but I doubt Bell would have stayed (assuming he does) if he went from starter to reserve for next season...but that would have been a fun 3-5!

 

[PeteCalvin]

When I first saw Donnie standing on the defensive end waiting for the East to bring the ball over half court, his stance and mannerism reminded me of DC when he was a young pup. He has the same lanky frame as DC when he was a HS senior. I think that bodes well. He just needs to develop that hunger for the boards that DC had. Hopefully he can add 10 lbs of muscle before next season.

 

[ssbriefcase]

He had at least two rebounds. That box score is crap. No offense to you obviously.

Just came to post the same. He definitely had 2 boards, do not short this man his 1 board! ha

 

[ACCobservor]

perhaps it’s for the best that DF was underwhelming last night. It would be good to temper expectations on a freshman who will be regularly covering 23-24 year olds. Ive said it before and will repeat that this fan base expects too much out of new players.
Unfortunately, Autry and staff need to improve development-retention of the guys who are already here

 

[Brooky03]

Here's a box score from last night: Donnie with 6 pts, 1 board and 1 steal in just under 13 minutes.

I swear I saw him grab 2 boards

 

[Cuse12]

Silky smooth stroke. Matchup problem at the 4. Can definitely play a big lineup with him at the 3 if needed.

 

[Brooky03]

perhaps it’s for the best that DF was underwhelming last night. It would be good to temper expectations on a freshman who will be regularly covering 23-24 year olds. Ive said it before and will repeat that this fan base expects too much out of new players.
Unfortunately, Autry and staff need to improve development-retention of the guys who are already here

I know Benny Williams went south, but Donnie looks the part. Nobody is expecting the next coming of Melo. Donnie has tools that those 22 and 23 year olds (24 is a stretch, not that it matters much either way) just don’t have.

Realistically, 12 and 6 would be very attainable for him and a good baseline target. Importantly, that would be a heckuva lot more than we got from the position this past season.

 

[MikeSU02]

When I first saw Donnie standing on the defensive end waiting for the East to bring the ball over half court, his stance and mannerism reminded me of DC when he was a young pup. He has the same lanky frame as DC when he was a HS senior. I think that bodes well. He just needs to develop that hunger for the boards that DC had. Hopefully he can add 10 lbs of muscle before next season.

I am begging everyone, do not do this. He is not DC. He won't be DC. Their freshman years won't be equivalent.

 

[anglerman]

I am begging everyone, do not do this. He is not DC. He won't be DC. Their freshman years won't be equivalent.

How do you know that ??

 

[MikeSU02]

How do you know that ??

You're right, there is a non-zero chance that I guess he could be as good as DC.

There is also a non-zero chance that my retirement can be funded by Power Ball.

 

[MadNY3]

I am begging everyone, do not do this. He is not DC. He won't be DC. Their freshman years won't be equivalent.

He will not be DC.

But I hope he is more DC than Dontae.

 

[Newhouser]

I think from the limited viewing of last night's game it's clear he could buy us some minutes at the 3, but along with a PG we need someone who can come off the bench and play both frontcourt spots. This is assuming we are set with the 3 centers we have.

 

[jordoo]

I have learned to temper expectations on recruits. I will say his shot looks better than I expected it to. I'm not looking for a Melo freshman season. I think Donnie can be a threat offensively, drag PF out to make space, and if motivated can be a plus defender and provide weak side rim protection. 25+ minutes 10-12pts, 5-7reb, 1-2blks. If he does that he will likely be a first round pick on potential. If he does more than that GREAT!

 

[Brooky03]

You're right, there is a non-zero chance that I guess he could be as good as DC.

There is also a non-zero chance that my retirement can be funded by Power Ball.

His play style will be different from DC but, stat-wise, the hardest one to hit will be 9 boards per game. I don’t see Freeman getting that many. However, DC’s 12 points is not at all a long shot and not unprecedented for other freshman at Cuse. 1.8 blocks isn’t at all a stretch. 1.2 assists is a low bar (and probably where Freeman makes up for the rebound deficit).

Edit: Naturally, this assumes the minutes (30) are there for him. If not, my tempered expectations still anticipate ‘per 40’ numbers near DC levels except in rebounding.