How awesome is Baye?

[Flacusian]

Even though he had limited playing time in yesterdays exhibition game, for the short time he was out there I couldn't help but think what an asset he has been to the program since he first set foot on the floor. I have grown to really appreciate the "program" type players. Although they are not prone to put up gaudy numbers or take over a game, the things they bring to the program are invaluable. I recall a time when he had injured his hand and how he fought through the pain and difficulty of that injury and was unjustly criticized by some people for having his handle. There have been times when his defensive presence have been directly responsible for us winning some games.

Several years ago when I first got on facebook I sent Baye a friend request. He was quick to accept and although I have not made a pest of myself by contacting him, the few times that I have he has always responded and been very gracious. I think he is going to make significant contributions to this years team both in terms of providing leadership and stability and setting the standard for the bigs on our team as to how they dedicate themselves to the team. Players like Baye make it really easy to be proud of our program.

 

[Marsh01]

Hes our best center and has been the past 2 seasons

 

[iommi]

I wish he had better hands but no one has a better heart. Kid gives everything he has. Every game.

 

[PeteCalvin]

He's so awesome that his smile can **blank** from a thousand miles away.

Ok, this is Match Game. Who can match what I wrote down on my card? I bet Charles Nelson Riley could.

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

Even though he had limited playing time in yesterdays exhibition game, for the short time he was out there I couldn't help but thinking what an asset he has been to the program since he first set foot on the floor. I have grown to really appreciate the "program" type players. Although they are not prone to put up gaudy numbers or take over a game, the things they bring to the program are invaluable. I recall a time when he had injured his hand and how he fought through the pain and difficulty of that injury and was unjustly criticized by some people for having his handle. There have been times when his defensive presence have been directly responsible for us winning some games.

Several years ago when I first got on facebook I sent Baye a friend request. He was quick to accept and although I have not made a pest of myself by contacting him, the few times that I have he has always responded and been very gracious. I think he is going to make significant contributions to this years team both in terms of providing leadership and stability and setting the standard for the bigs our team as to how they dedicate themselves to the team. Players like Baye make it really easy to be proud of our program.

Classic glue guy. The Moose Man is rock solid.

 

[DNABB5]

I wish he had better hands but no one has a better heart. Kid gives everything he has. Every game.

100% effort all the time. The game we upset UConn in their house their last Champ year...most beastly 4 point game ever. 11 boards and 6 steals in 22 minutes? That is awesome. Plus if I recall he had one go in that slipped out of his hands and went about 20 feet up and down and through.

 

[iommi]

100% effort all the time. The game we upset UConn in their house their last Champ year...most beastly 4 point game ever. 11 boards and 6 steals in 22 minutes? That is awesome. Plus if I recall he had one go in that slipped out of his hands and went about 20 feet up and down and through.

Yeah, I remember that play. Very fortuitous.

 

[baggerbob]

The thing about Baye is, when we get into the ACC, and our other 2 centers have one of their bad days, you know he'll come through.

 

[TBCuse11]

GREAT POST. The more i think about it, he is probably me 2nd favorite player on this year's squad... and top 10 ever.

 

[pearl31]

Awesome?
The same player that many of the basketball gurus on this board informed us as recently as last February is a bum and has no place on a D1 roster?
Yep, awesome!

 

[STEVEHOLT]

BMK is what college sports should be all about.

 

[MSOrange]

One of my pet peeves is athletes who blow great opportunities that I would kill for by causing a bunch of drama off the field.

I love that we have someone like Baye that represents himself, the team and the university in a first class manner.

 

[310Pigpen]

Baye has been my favorite player since his freshman season, and I like him more and more as I learn more about him. He's a good player on the court but a great person off. Nobody gets back on defense like Baye.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

He's a hall of fame level 4 year contributing big man.

 

[two3zone]

Sucks I'm going to be the only guys who is going to be negative in this post, but here it goes.

First off, I like Baye. I think he plays with a ton of hustle and is a solid guy to have playing the middle in the zone. He also keeps his nose clean, doesn't get into trouble and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. All very commendable things and I'll give him credit for all of that.

That said. He is beyond useless on offense and I'd put him at average at best on defense (don't give me his rebound numbers these past exhibition games, he is supposed to have that many rebounds with his size). I root for him every second he comes onto the court and I hope he does great every time, but he really isn't that good of a player. Just because he was the underdog his freshman year (Fab big time recruit, BMK virtually unknown) and put up numbers comparable to Fab you would have thought that BMK was averaging a double double a game. I'm willing to bet any one of you that during his second year when Fab exploded you would have chose Fab over BMK if you had to choose one of them missing the tournament due to suspension, injury, whatever.

I'd rather see Rak at the 5 any day over BMK.

 

[jdubs30]

Sucks I'm going to be the only guys who is going to be negative in this post, but here it goes.

First off, I like Baye. I think he plays with a ton of hustle and is a solid guy to have playing the middle in the zone. He also keeps his nose clean, doesn't get into trouble and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. All very commendable things and I'll give him credit for all of that.

That said. He is beyond useless on offense and I'd put him at average at best on defense (don't give me his rebound numbers these past exhibition games, he is supposed to have that many rebounds with his size). I root for him every second he comes onto the court and I hope he does great every time, but he really isn't that good of a player. Just because he was the underdog his freshman year (Fab big time recruit, BMK virtually unknown) and put up numbers comparable to Fab you would have thought that BMK was averaging a double double a game. I'm willing to bet any one of you that during his second year when Fab exploded you would have chose Fab over BMK if you had to choose one of them missing the tournament due to suspension, injury, whatever.

I'd rather see Rak at the 5 any day over BMK.

I don't think anyone here is claiming he's an All-American. They're just saying they appreciate his hustle and what he's brought to the program the past 4 years. He's all heart all the time and seems like the ultimate teammate; that's all anyone is saying. No one is saying he's more talented than Rak or Fab or even DC2.

Although I think he's good on defense

 

[two3zone]

I don't think anyone here is claiming he's an All-American. They're just saying they appreciate his hustle and what he's brought to the program the past 4 years. He's all heart all the time and seems like the ultimate teammate; that's all anyone is saying. No one is saying he's more talented than Rak or Fab or even DC2.

Although I think he's good on defense

I'd take him over DC2 right now.

 

[jimsonjunction]

Baye has been my favorite player since his freshman season, and I like him more and more as I learn more about him. He's a good player on the court but a great person off. Nobody gets back on defense like Baye.

 

[SUskibum]

Future big man coach fixing our only coaching hole?

 

[tee1222]

Future defensive big man coach fixing our only coaching hole?

Fixed. Slightly.

 

[tee1222]

Sucks I'm going to be the only guys who is going to be negative in this post, but here it goes.

First off, I like Baye. I think he plays with a ton of hustle and is a solid guy to have playing the middle in the zone. He also keeps his nose clean, doesn't get into trouble and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. All very commendable things and I'll give him credit for all of that.

That said. He is beyond useless on offense and I'd put him at average at best on defense (don't give me his rebound numbers these past exhibition games, he is supposed to have that many rebounds with his size). I root for him every second he comes onto the court and I hope he does great every time, but he really isn't that good of a player. Just because he was the underdog his freshman year (Fab big time recruit, BMK virtually unknown) and put up numbers comparable to Fab you would have thought that BMK was averaging a double double a game. I'm willing to bet any one of you that during his second year when Fab exploded you would have chose Fab over BMK if you had to choose one of them missing the tournament due to suspension, injury, whatever.

I'd rather see Rak at the 5 any day over BMK.

I really wanted to give you a like for your new avatar, but you know I disagree with you on this one. I give you that he's not an offensive player, probably never will be, but this is not usually what we care about since this position is first and foremost the anchor of our defense. But I think he's a tremendous defensive player. He is an above average shot blocker, but his biggest strength is in his positioning. The hustle is great to have, but how he forces opponents who are very low in the blocks to throw up bad shots, this is everything to me. The hustle alone gets us one or two more possessions a game (when he's logging decent minutes), but opponents shooting percentages were horrid thanks to this guy. These bad shooting nights were in critical tourney games no less.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I don't really think any other 5 we have had (etan, fab, Arinze included) has anchored the zone quite as good as baye. Yeah many players have had more rebounds, blocks, or steals from the 5, but nobody has ever been as good with their positioning like he has. Go ask Cody zeller what he thinks of baye.

 

[tee1222]

I don't really think any other 5 we have had (etan, fab, Arinze included) has anchored the zone quite as good as baye. Yeah many players have had more rebounds, blocks, or steals from the 5, but nobody has ever been as good with their positioning like he has. Go ask Cody zeller what he thinks of baye.

The "love" button needs to be created just for this post.

 

[LGO85]

The gazelle! I was and still am amazed he caught him. Lots of respect for bmk.

 

[PeteCalvin]

He's so awesome that his smile can **blank** from a thousand miles away.

Ok, this is Match Game. Who can match what I wrote down on my card? I bet Charles Nelson Riley could.

Ok, my card said "cure disease". Thanks for playing ya lazy schmucks.

The judges would also have accepted:

Melt glass
Burn ants
Blind Hoyas

Block Shots
Inspire world peace
Get babes