Our centers: Horses for Courses

[JOC44]

I don't think all the minutes Rak played yesterday are a sign that he is going to become our primary center over Keita, nor did I think the opposite when Keita played 27 minutes against BC or 26 minutes against Virginia Tech. He centers' minutes will vary depending on who is playing well, but even more on what we are trying to take away on defense.

Against Pitt, we had pretty clearly decided to give them the foul line jumper because of our concerns with their interior passing. Zanna flashed there several times, but no one came out in him because we didn't want to give up the interior pass. Most of the time he didn't shoot even though we were conceding the shot. Same thing when Robinson penetrated to the foul line. When we play defense like that, Christmas is the more effective defender because he is a better rebounder and better at challenging shots underneath. When we want a more mobile center to get out on the foul line player, Keita is going to get the minutes because he is more mobile and recognizes the situation faster and better.

Given our rebounding woes last night, Coleman actually might have been a good fit if he was fully healthy. Coleman's issue is he is a fouling machine because he is slow to rotate, but we weren't really asking our centers to rotate much last night.

 

[Orangejet]

Time for Coleman to see some playing time and kid will be hungry when he does...

 

[Gabjon]

The problem with Coleman on defense is he is not fast in rotation AND he is not a shot blocker/shot changer. Getting players to change their shot is just as important as blocking a shot. You can't rebound a made shot...

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Time for Coleman to see some playing time and kid will be hungry when he does...

This is a totally different team without DC2 playing. JAB is not going to change anything now.

 

[OrangeYaGladi]

The longer Coleman sits, the less likely he gets any significant minutes down the stretch this year. JMHO

 

[Cuse315Pat]

Regardless, we will probably need his size eventually. Even if he doesn't rebound the ball well, he sure could box out with his wide frame and help others get the boards. We could also use those extra fouls. I'd rather have him than not have him at this point. You can't teach size.

 

[hoopsupstate]

The one thing I've noticed about playing Coleman is that Cooney seemed to get better looks. He's a big boy and when he set a screen, he set a screen. It's ironic that Cooney's shooting percentage has dropped about the same time that Coleman stopped playing.

 

[longislandcuse]

He really doesn't have any minutes to be had unless we get into foul trouble.

Rak is becoming a very good player on both sides of the ball.

Keita is a senior and while he is unbelievably frustrating at times to watch, he does make clutch defensive plays.

Grant is wayyyyyyyy too good to be taken off the floor aside from a breather here and there.

Roberson has NBA talent and fits in better with the flow of this team if we do need minutes in the front line aside from Fair, Grant, Rak and Keita. My best guess is DC2 could take away spot minutes from Roberson if rotations call for it.

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

The one thing I've noticed about playing Coleman is that Cooney seemed to get better looks. He's a big boy and when he set a screen, he set a screen. It's ironic that Cooney's shooting percentage has dropped about the same time that Coleman stopped playing.

I think it is probably correlated more to the start of conference play. Hopefully Cooney can continue to up his game and at least "progress" to the mean.

 

[pearl31]

The longer Coleman sits, the less likely he gets any significant minutes down the stretch this year. JMHO

I'm afraid you're right.

 

[spillway]

I'm afraid you're right.

Is there any way Coleman could qualify for a redshirt is we have long runs in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments? is there a certain number of games we could attain that would allow for that?