Gillon is a huge get

[Dave85]

Someone else said it well. He reminds me of those Louisville guards that always give us trouble. Also will be nice seeing a different type of player on the floor for us.

I agree. It will be nice to see a shorter guard who gets under his shots. What matters is he has to play well on both ends. It will be interesting to see if a shorter guy can play the top of the zone as well as a longer guard.

 

[721Comstock]

I agree. It will be nice to see a shorter guard who gets under his shots. What matters is he has to play well on both ends. It will be interesting to see if a shorter guy can play the top of the zone as well as a longer guard.

Granted we weren't "all zone, all the time" in '03-'06, or '07-'09, but we seemed to do OK with small guards like GMac and Jonny playing for us.

Gillion seems to have the quickness and athleticism to be a decent defender.
He's gotta be better than GMac in that regard.
Or Devo.
Or Kaleb.

I'm looking forward to actual PnR sets where the roll player actually gets the ball.
And in position to finish.

 

[tee1222]

Granted we weren't "all zone, all the time" in '03-'06, or '07-'09, but we seemed to do OK with small guards like GMac and Jonny playing for us.

Gillion seems to have the quickness and athleticism to be a decent defender.
He's gotta be better than GMac in that regard.
Or Devo.
Or Kaleb.

I'm looking forward to actual PnR sets where the roll player actually gets the ball.
And in position to finish.

Kaleb, man
Get those hands up! pearl31 another Seinfeld reference, my friend.

 

[RF2044]

Granted we weren't "all zone, all the time" in '03-'06, or '07-'09, but we seemed to do OK with small guards like GMac and Jonny playing for us.

Gillion seems to have the quickness and athleticism to be a decent defender.
He's gotta be better than GMac in that regard.
Or Devo.
Or Kaleb.

I'm looking forward to actual PnR sets where the roll player actually gets the ball.
And in position to finish.

...or where the point guard doesn't bounce outside and reset every time the big man covering the screener hedges outside feigning a switch.

When they try that on us this year, Gillon is going to split the defender and blow past them into the lane. Numerous examples of that in the highlight film posted above.

Effective dribble penetration has been absent from our offense for too long.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Well, this allays my concerns. He looks good. Plays with a sense of assurance, and 'smart aggressiveness' — pulls up nicely with/after contact. He's shifty and quick, like a squirt toward the hoop. Nice get.

No way he starts, though. Cannot see that. Hope he gets more than 10 minutes a game, though.

 

[orange2win]

Not sure why we preferred Mullins. This kid looks better.

Some reservations. He's from the 2012 class (unheralded), but still managed 12 starts with UALR in his freshman year. Transferred to Colorado State, so had to sit out the 2013 season. Was 6th man of the year in Mountain West with Colorado State in 2014. Now 2016 he's with us. That's a lot of hopping around. Also, seems to have grown 2-inches since 2012 (5-10 to 6-0), so taller than Bug Williams.

 

[reedny]

...or where the point guard doesn't bounce outside and reset every time the big man covering the screener hedges outside feigning a switch.

When they try that on us this year, Gillon is going to split the defender and blow past them into the lane. Numerous examples of that in the highlight film posted above.

Effective dribble penetration has been absent from our offense for too long.

We haven't had a guard do that consistently since Dion.

 

[reedny]

Well, this allays my concerns. He looks good. Plays with a sense of assurance, and 'smart aggressiveness' — pulls up nicely with/after contact. He's shifty and quick, like a squirt toward the hoop. Nice get.

No way he starts, though. Cannot see that. Hope he gets more than 10 minutes a game, though.

He's a heckuva good PG pickup for depth though. His outside shooting is good (if you go by last year) and excellent (going by his 1st two years). As Knicks points out, he draws fouls well above average -- likely do to the fact that defenders can't stay in front of him and he gets in the lane.

The concern on D is that he's not as long as a prototypical SU guard. However, if he's as quick as advertised, he'll be able to make up for some of that by getting up into taller shooters like Hernandez did to G when we played Miami.

 

[pearl31]

Kaleb, man
Get those hands up! pearl31 another Seinfeld reference, my friend.

 

[jordoo]

I am much more excited after doing some research and watching as many clips as I could find on Gillon.

 

[721Comstock]

He's a heckuva good PG pickup for depth though. His outside shooting is good (if you go by last year) and excellent (going by his 1st two years). As Knicks points out, he draws fouls well above average -- likely do to the fact that defenders can't stay in front of him and he gets in the lane.

The concern on D is that he's not as long as a prototypical SU guard. However, if he's as quick as advertised, he'll be able to make up for some of that by getting up into taller shooters like Hernandez did to G when we played Miami.

Agreed.
Llvll has played very effective D over the years, mostly zone, and generally had smaller guards for the most part.

He's very fast, reasonably athletic, and as long as he puts in the effort on D, he'll get run.
And if he doesn't, Frankie and/or Battle will take his minutes, and he'll get better acquainted with JB on the bench.

Having a guard who's a solid FT shooter is huge for end-game situations too.

 

[dasher]

Well, this allays my concerns. He looks good. Plays with a sense of assurance, and 'smart aggressiveness' — pulls up nicely with/after contact. He's shifty and quick, like a squirt toward the hoop. Nice get.

No way he starts, though. Cannot see that. Hope he gets more than 10 minutes a game, though.

He didn't come here to sit. I think he starts or at least plays starters minutes.

 

[HoustonCuse]

He didn't come here to sit. I think he starts or at least plays starters minutes.

Who did come here to sit? Frank Howard deserves the lions share of the minutes until/unless Gillon proves that wrong.

 

[dasher]

Who did come here to sit? Frank Howard deserves the lions share of the minutes until/unless Gillon proves that wrong.

Well, JB knew what he had in Howard and went out and really wanted Gillon (or the kid that went to Cal). He didn't really want them for 10 minutes a game.

 

[cuseguy]

Gillon's minutes are predicated on whether Malachi returns.

Right?

Our predictions seem to suggest Malachi isn't coming back.

Would seem that Battle and Richardson would average about 30-35 minutes a game apiece.

Just throwing this out there: Is Gillon waiting to see what Malachi does before signing?

 

[dasher]

Gillon's minutes are predicated on whether Malachi returns.

Right?

Our predictions seem to suggest Malachi isn't coming back.

Would seem that Battle and Richardson would average about 30-35 minutes a game apiece.

Just throwing this out there: Is Gillon waiting to see what Malachi does before signing?

Mali can also play the 3 for minutes. This kid started and played all the time. He didn't just think to himself, hey, I want to go to a place where I can get 10 minutes a game. We had to sell him on coming here. Did it go like this, hey kid, we like you as a scrub on our team.

 

[cuseguy]

Mali can also play the 3 for minutes. This kid started and played all the time. He didn't just think to himself, hey, I want to go to a place where I can get 10 minutes a game. We had to sell him on coming here. Did it go like this, hey kid, we like you as a scrub on our team.

Exactly. They had to promise him quality minutes.

So, yes, Malachi would have to shift to the 3 and either Howard or Battle would sit.

A lot of flexibility.

Just made me question things a bit when he decided to wait to sign.

 

[realorange]

Well, JB knew what he had in Howard and went out and really wanted Gillon (or the kid that went to Cal). He didn't really want them for 10 minutes a game.

Maybe so, but I think he was more worried about a solid backup than a starter. He may well get starter minutes, but I think Frank will start.

 

[Briancuse]

Gillon's minutes are predicated on whether Malachi returns.

Right?

Our predictions seem to suggest Malachi isn't coming back.

Would seem that Battle and Richardson would average about 30-35 minutes a game apiece.

Just throwing this out there: Is Gillon waiting to see what Malachi does before signing?

I don't think he would have committed if he was worried about Malachi coming back. If Malachi comes back, which we all hope he does, I think Frank's minutes will go down.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I don't think he would have committed if he was worried about Malachi coming back. If Malachi comes back, which we all hope he does, I think Frank's minutes will go down.

Yeah I agree with this. I think a lot depends on whether or not Frank can improve his offense and defense when practices start. Frank is an advanced passer but his defense and offense is bad. I almost think getting Gillon is a brilliant insurance policy in case there is a injury or if Frank doesn't get better on offense/defense. Frank is a four-year player anyways. I just like having this competition now in practice. We haven't had this kind of talent/competition in the backcourt together since Dion/MCW/Triche. It should make everyone better. I am really excited to see Battle especially. He will want the ball and the team will need the ball in his hands often, imo.

 

[iommi]

Good post, SoBeCuse . I'm mourning the loss of your Spiccoli avatar.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Good post, SoBeCuse I'm mourning the loss of your Spiccoli avatar.

I was planning on bringing him back soon, regardless! All is good.

 

[iommi]

He didn't come here to sit. I think he starts or at least plays starters minutes.

Dillon was told he will play a lot and will do so. I think there's a pretty good chance that Frank The Tank starts just because he has chemistry with his teammates and knows the zone. But then again, as we know with JB, who starts is basically irrelevant. All of our guards will get good minutes.

 

[orangenirvana]

Perfect player to bring off the bench when Howard and/or Battle needs a breather. I'm a little concerned about his lack of elevation on his three-point shots, especially considering he's only 6-0. Not to mention that doesn't bode well up top in the zone. But I like his penetration and passing skills. He's a solid addition after Richardson's departure.

 

[pearl31]

after Richardson's departure.