Rak: Fouls and consistency.

[AccuRater]

Rak is capable of being as valuable as Fab. He has some post moves. Fab had none. Rebounding probably a bit better. Defense, not so much but still very good. The problem is fouls and consistency.
Any coach with an IQ over 60 will come at Rak. If Rak avoids fouls, he will need to show a lot more consistency. If Rak steps up, 2012 could be a memorable year.

 

[jordoo]

Rebounding is a lot better when he plays the 5 IMO. Position defense, reaction, drawing charges and defending a player with the ball in the post is where Fab is much better than Rak.

 

[Orangefan1]

Rak did get 9 rebounds and 3 blocks vs Cinncy. Although vs WV he was almost nonexistent. We shall see. I think he has potential to do really well.

 

[jordoo]

I think Rak will do well, and I'd bet JB puts some offense in for in round two that the other team is not expecting. The key for Rak is to be able to rebound agressively and stay out of foul trouble.

 

[Orangefan1]

He may be a better rebounder than fab. I think we will miss Fab the most with charges and blocks. Sigh. I can't believe this. :bang:

 

[OttoMets]

I think Rak will do well, and I'd bet JB puts some offense in for in round two that the other team is not expecting. The key for Rak is to be able to rebound agressively and stay out of foul trouble.

And he's got to use his fouls well - no charges, no moving screens, no silly over-the-backs. If he's going to pick up fouls, they have to count. Foul the guy who's got a sure dunk.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Rak is capable of being as valuable as Fab. He has some post moves. Fab had none. Rebounding probably a bit better. Defense, not so much but still very good. The problem is fouls and consistency.
Any coach with an IQ over 60 will come at Rak. If Rak avoids fouls, he will need to show a lot more consistency. If Rak steps up, 2012 could be a memorable year.

The biggest concern is that he doesn't know how to prevent an opposing center from getting really good low post position. He can rebound, he can even block some shots, although there are other centers out there who can simply overpower him.

If you watch Baye, he uses one leg forward into the opponents lower back to prevent the man from backing him down too low into the post. Rak runs back on defense and sets up too deep, almost under the basket, and he doesn't try to front or 3/4 defend the post, he stays behind the other player. You just can't do that at this level. You can't let a guy get you under the rim and then let him make the catch.

Maybe next year he'll be ready, but there is no way we are going to beat a team like Ohio State or Kentucky with Rak as the primary center. I'd almost rather start Keita and forget getting any offense out of the center position.

 

[Garbs]

He may be a better rebounder than fab. I think we will miss Fab the most with charges and blocks. Sigh. I can't believe this. :bang:

eh he had like 3 goal tends a game which pretty much negated his 7 ppg

 

[SoBristol]

Really comes down to Rak being 4 inches shorter and 35 lbs lighter than Fab. Rak can get pushed around by a stronger center.

But he reacts to the rebound better than Fab, and has some skills on offense. I keep saying to myself that we beat Cincy with Rak (when Kris played well), and lost to Cincy last week with Fab (when Kris provided little help). So, we need Kris (and BT) to be ready for big games.

 

[tbonezone]

there is also that slight difference in actual GAME EXPERIENCE!
16/3/2/2/4/1/4/1/8/3 = grand total 44 minutes. that's rak xmas' total PT over the last 10 games.
i'll grade JB a D+ in handling and prepping this kid this year. anyways here's hoping and praying that rak really steps it up big time for us and makes jimmy look foolish.

 

[Ghost]

there is also that slight difference in actual GAME EXPERIENCE!
16/3/2/2/4/1/4/1/8/3 = grand total 44 minutes. that's rak xmas' total PT over the last 10 games.
i'll grade JB a D+ in handling and prepping this kid this year. anyways here's hoping and praying that rak really steps it up big time for us and makes jimmy look foolish.

Yeah, I was giving JB a D+ on this issue all year. I'm lowering it to an now.