Future of the center position

[OrangeTown]

Did Coleman get a medical red shirt this season? Did he even apply?

No - he had played too many games to qualify, even if we had gone to the championship games.

Many hope he will use a regular redshirt next year to make sure he's totally recovered, especially if his injury is more serious than initially thought, as has been posted here.

 

[Millhouse]

Rak was very good this year until Boeheim started showing him up. i'm sure some people think it's chicken and the egg but I think everyone would be better off if Boeheim didn't flip out on him all the time

 

[sufandu]

Rak, for his career, has increased his PPG from 2.8 to 5.8 over 3 seasons, despite his playing time increasing from 11.5 to 23.6 MPG. That trend does not inspire confidence that we will have a break out year next year. If confidence is a factor, look at Rak's HS stats. If I recall correctly, he only averaged something like 11 PPG in HS.

Rakeem Christmas Stat Summary:

SeasonGPMPGPPGFG%3FG%FT%APGRPGBPGSPG
2013-143423.65.861.30.072.60.75.11.90.5
2012-134021.05.153.00.057.40.24.61.80.5
2011-123711.52.857.30.057.10.22.90.80.3
Career11118.64.556.7063.80.44.21.50.4

For comparison, these are the career stats for Rick Jackson, who nearly tripled his PPG from freshman to jr years while playing similar minutes to Rak each season

Rick Jackson Stat Summary:

SeasonGPMPGPPGFG%3FG%FT%APGRPGBPGSPG
2010-113535.613.158.80.053.32.210.32.51.3
2009-103526.39.759.10.050.01.77.02.01.0
2008-093822.08.362.30.048.10.95.81.60.9
2007-083512.93.752.60.052.80.53.01.30.4
Career14324.28.759.10.051.21.36.51.80.9

I know this is a nitpick, but can we put some spaces in there, so I don't feel like I'm looking at computer screen from The Matrix.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I want 8/8 out of Rak. Him rebounding on the defensive boards is more important than hm scoring.

Agreed. I would like to see a little more offense though. He has to work and the team needs to be committed to giving him the ball. Look at Zanna's improvement. No reason why Rak can't so something similar.

 

[orangenirvana]

I say in a pinch at the 5 because he will be our starting 4.

Even if Grant stays? Gotta think Roberson is well ahead of McCullough.

 

[orangenirvana]

No - he had played too many games to qualify, even if we had gone to the championship games.

Many hope he will use a regular redshirt next year to make sure he's totally recovered, especially if his injury is more serious than initially thought, as has been posted here.

I think the NCAA would take the fact that he had both seasons cut short into account. I've seen it before where a player was injured during two seasons and exceeded the game threshold for each yet he was granted an extra year.

 

[OttoMets]

If we get 8/8 with 55% FG and 70% FT from Rak we will be pretty damn happy I'm thinking. All very, very realistic numbers.

I would be incredibly disappointed if Christmas shoots 55% from the field next season.

 

[OttoMets]

Coleman will be back in 2015. So you have Jr Coleman, So Chino, and then whatever Freshman you bring in that year, which could be Diagne and Bryant.

I don't really see a problem?

It's worth adding the disclaimer that I don't follow recruiting very closely. But those two kids are forwards, no?

Anyway, even if Coleman is healthy enough to play starter's minutes (actual starter, not token starter), I've yet to see anything that suggests he could contribute. He's got worse fundamentals than anyone this side Sean Williams. Could he improve? Of course. Can we depend on that? I wouldn't - between his skills and his health, Coleman's an insurance policy for Okoboh and whatever freshman center we bring in that season.

I look forward to Coleman proving me wrong, but it looks like that's where we stand for that season. Hopefully he heals and improves and Okoboh is a solid player.

 

[jekelish]

Even if Grant stays? Gotta think Roberson is well ahead of McCullough.

Personally, I think that Roberson takes over the sophomore Grant/Joseph/Fair role next year, being the versatile forward coming off the bench and possibly getting more minutes than McCullough...but I'll be a little shocked if McCullough doesn't start from day one.

 

[Col. Bleep]

I want someone who can put the ball in the basket while jumping. Simply put, a jumpshot.

I believe Elvir Ovcina has used up his eligibility.

We could have used him at the 2 spot this year.
Imagine those arms at the top of the zone.