Pope will be a huge test for our centers...

[Col. Bleep]

Huge talent? The guy took 40 shots a game, and didn't do much besides score. He was a nice player but not an NBA talent.

Obviously the NBA didn't think he had NBA talent.
But it's surprising that he can't seem to catch on anywhere.
There has to be a reason...and it has to be more than his love of shooting.

 

[Madbiker]

Who, Benedict? He's too old.
Yeah Herb might get 10 offensive boards himself. The rebounding stats could be ugly. We'll need to force more than 20 TO's to even it out.

 

[mark79]

Who, Benedict? He's too old.
Yeah Herb might get 10 offensive boards himself. The rebounding stats could be ugly. We'll need to force more than 20 TO's to even it out.

Maybe this will be Fab's coming out party. He outplayed Patric Young, why not Herb Pope. It'll take all of his skills and more. But a game is not won by one person. Our guards and bench should be able to outplay there's. And venture to say our defense is better. We are going to need our guards to help out with the boards.

 

[OrangeMuskyFish]

As long as Darius Lane doesn't find another year of eligibility under the ole Christmas Tree, we will be fine. Pope is good, but the second coming of Moses Malone, he ain't. In fact, I think if he played for us, you would see a mirror image of Ricky, circa '10-'11. Again, good, but not someone who will carry them against us if they can't soften up the outside of the zone. His final line will look good, but we win by 8, and at some point in the second half possess a 15 point lead.

 

[mark79]

That sounds about right to me

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

Obviously the NBA didn't think he had NBA talent.
But it's surprising that he can't seem to catch on anywhere.
There has to be a reason...and it has to be more than his love of shooting.

He actually agreed with Phoenix's affiliate in Bakersfield today and is headed to the D-League. We'll see if he can break into the League at some point. He can definitely score the basketball.

 

[mantonio]

As said by a few posters here, limit the entry passes & get our requisite steals, we should win this by a handful. I'll say 6 points.

 

[jdubs30]

Not even close

We at least know that Herb Pope is a little more intelligent than Patric Young. Takes a pretty smart dude to call another center "overrated and soft", then when you actually play him you get 6pts, 5rebs, 4fouls and lose.

 

[domedog]

Averaging 20 and 11 and just a really active player. Saw him live at Seton Hall last year and he was a beast. I think maybe this might be a three headed monster approach (try to wear him down with combo of Fab, Baye and Rak). But more than likely he will get his and we'll try and shut everyone else down...

This will be a great yardstick game for Melo. Sometimes it is better to play someone more challenging than some of the sapling "trees" thus far. Could be his making. Looking forward to seeing how he responds, but it could go either way. In any event, this will not determine the game's outcome.

 

[ImperialOrange]

So far Pope is the best big man in the Big East. Hopefully he gets into foul trouble because after him they really don't have much depth.