The section of fans who think Maliq should start at the 4
Nah. See the center recruiting thread. People think we need a 4 lol.
I agree that Donnie can guard many positions. I just don't think it's ideal to have Donnie or Maliq guarding your typical ACC 3 all game long.
Yeah probably not, but in games we’re getting killed on the boards I think it would be a benefit to have the option of putting him at the 3. Would probably need to counter that with Choppa at the 2 for shooting purposes unless JJ can make another leap with the jumper.
It's all about building that roster to give us options. And, hopefully we are talented enough to force other teams to figure out how to beat us, not the other way around.
He loses focus and lets guys cut past him as most high schoolers do, but yeah, you simply don't see many people with his height and length that move as well as he does. Not only did he switch onto some guards, but he's able to hedge VERY hard deep beyond the 3 point line while still being athletic enough to get back to his man if he rolls to the hoop. It isn't consistent right now, but there's some seriously freakish flashes from him on both ends of the court.
I think I'd probably still run man in that situation personally. Maliq is pretty mobile for a big and Donnie is extremely mobile; would really like to see them in a system where they can switch on screens and utilize Maliq's ability to play passing lanes more than just sticking him in the corner in the zone. I think the offensive end is the bigger issue. Assuming whatever center we bring in is not a perimeter shooter, a lineup with Donnie, Maliq, Center, and Quadir at guard would probably have some serious issues shooting the basketball.
What's really not ideal is having Maliq bang with an ACC center all game every game. We need a big, or combination of bigs, next year that can get us 15/10. Beyond that it's immaterial whether you have Maliq at the 4 and Donnie at the 3 or the other way around. The players have different skills but the positions are interchangeable. Both of these guys are (will be) tremendous players ... as long as they're not (other than periods of small ball) trying to play the 5.
Bell has earned the spot. Then it will be Brown and Freeman. Mix and match up front comes after that.
To add, I highly doubt Bell sticks around to be demoted. Not with his shooting acumen. He will have options.
Chris got injured like 15 games in what are you talking about "work ethic?"
What does him playing in 15 games have to do with anything? He didn't strike me as someone that worked very hard on his game. He was very talented.
Freeman definitely looks like he is getting stronger in the upper body, but still has skinny legs.
How would we know how hard he worked? He came in August and was gone in December. I just think it dumb to make a statement about someone's work ethic when you had zero opportunity to actually analyze it.
My opinion is formed from a number of different things from his high school career to his time at Syracuse and beyond. It isn't based on nothing, you're right, that would be dumb. Just as it is dumb for someone to make the assumption that one's opinion is based on nothing.
