armory
All American
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2011
- Messages
- 4,865
- Like
- 1,944
Easily one of my biggest complaints about SU teams over the years has been the consistently underachievement in the rebounding department. I always chalk it up to being just an inherent side-effect of The Zone & the run-n-gun style, but it also has seemed like rebounding talent has never been a priority for recruiting... and yes, I believe absolutely that rebounding is a distinct talent. It is also heavily dependent on having that 'rebounding mentality' that separates players regardless of height, weight, or athleticism.
Last year was clearly one of "those years" where rebounding became a serious issue, it became like a virus that spread to change the dynamic of the entire game. Teams slowed games to a crawl, dared us to beat them in the half court, then bet that they could get enough 2nd chances to force us to chuck 3s to compensate. It largely worked despite the fact that we found ways to grind out a win, but it was clear that poor rebounding directly led to a slower half-court game which is certainly not this program's forte.
So on to 2012-2013, here's my take on where I see the state of our rebounding woes:
Lose:
Scoop - Non-factor, remained the outlet, rarely ever ventured inside the arc.
Dion - Small loss. Dion has excellent talent and could have been a huge boost in the rebounding department... but he was probably the best transition player in the country, and like Scoop he would rarely help out on the glass.
Joseph - Average loss. You won't find a bigger critic of KJo's unwillingness to attack the boards than me... he could leap out of the Dome for a dunk but would rarely budge a Nike to get a rebound. He had decent talent for rebounding but absolutely no 'rebounding mentality'. The hard truth is that the loss of KJo will be likely be addition by subtraction in the rebounding department.
Melo - Above average loss. His physical gifts are undeniable, and while he didn't have the greatest positioning or timing, he had an excellent rebounding mentality to go after the ball ... Melo's #1 problem was his crippling addiction to blocking shots. Nothing puts a defender more out of position for a rebound than trying to block the shot; back to basket, momentum away from the hoop, and no balance. While he was being lauded as a defender, I was in the minority that believe his missed attempts to block shots gave up more 2nd chance pts than his actual blocks were worth. Will miss that massive 7 feet of manchild eating up the paint, but can't say I will miss his rebounding all that much.
Gain:
Cooney - Negligible addition expected, especially considering PT is TBD. However, since TC is not in the mold of the transition-happy guards I expect him to stick around to help on the glass more than last year's guards... and he is a beefier more athletic kid than he gets credit for.
Grant - As with Cooney, the PT will be the biggest factor, though I picture Grant being timid to bang with the thicker, older bodies in the paint ... at least until he fills out his frame after a year or two. From what I've seen of him he plays a more skilled game for a forward, not relying on power. This could be bad news for rebounding, hopeful but skeptic.
Coleman - Here is where a lot of the hope lies in the rebounding department. DC2 is one of those rare big men that has "it" when looking for a rebounder. Otis Hill is a common and appropriate comparison. Great footwork, uses his big body well, and just has that knack for timing/positioning ... not to mention sticky hands. Another thing I like about him that I noticed during the McD's AA game was his discipline to not over commit away from the basket (I had to be the only fan watching specifically if he would overcommit). I cant stand it when players leave their feet to contest a shot at the same time as the shooter, doing so commits you to the shot as much as the opponent, so if it is a fake then it becomes an instant 5v4... Melo did this ALL the time. I don't see DC2 doing this, primarily because he is not a big shot blocker.
also...
Rak - Love his new frame, but still curious where he will play in the zone. If under center, then he will have the same issues as Melo since Rak is a fantastic shot blocker... if on a wing then that muscle will definitely help crashing into the paint. On the topic of over-committing, this was a big weakness for Rak last year, he needs to practice a better defensive habit of committing after the shooter, not with the shooter... but he will surely be improved in that department being more comfortable in the zone. The big ? for Rak IMO is to unleash his aggression. He looked too much like a freshman last year, yet he clearly has that competitive anger that you need to be a great rebounder, he just needs to harness & use it.
Last year was clearly one of "those years" where rebounding became a serious issue, it became like a virus that spread to change the dynamic of the entire game. Teams slowed games to a crawl, dared us to beat them in the half court, then bet that they could get enough 2nd chances to force us to chuck 3s to compensate. It largely worked despite the fact that we found ways to grind out a win, but it was clear that poor rebounding directly led to a slower half-court game which is certainly not this program's forte.
So on to 2012-2013, here's my take on where I see the state of our rebounding woes:
Lose:
Scoop - Non-factor, remained the outlet, rarely ever ventured inside the arc.
Dion - Small loss. Dion has excellent talent and could have been a huge boost in the rebounding department... but he was probably the best transition player in the country, and like Scoop he would rarely help out on the glass.
Joseph - Average loss. You won't find a bigger critic of KJo's unwillingness to attack the boards than me... he could leap out of the Dome for a dunk but would rarely budge a Nike to get a rebound. He had decent talent for rebounding but absolutely no 'rebounding mentality'. The hard truth is that the loss of KJo will be likely be addition by subtraction in the rebounding department.
Melo - Above average loss. His physical gifts are undeniable, and while he didn't have the greatest positioning or timing, he had an excellent rebounding mentality to go after the ball ... Melo's #1 problem was his crippling addiction to blocking shots. Nothing puts a defender more out of position for a rebound than trying to block the shot; back to basket, momentum away from the hoop, and no balance. While he was being lauded as a defender, I was in the minority that believe his missed attempts to block shots gave up more 2nd chance pts than his actual blocks were worth. Will miss that massive 7 feet of manchild eating up the paint, but can't say I will miss his rebounding all that much.
Gain:
Cooney - Negligible addition expected, especially considering PT is TBD. However, since TC is not in the mold of the transition-happy guards I expect him to stick around to help on the glass more than last year's guards... and he is a beefier more athletic kid than he gets credit for.
Grant - As with Cooney, the PT will be the biggest factor, though I picture Grant being timid to bang with the thicker, older bodies in the paint ... at least until he fills out his frame after a year or two. From what I've seen of him he plays a more skilled game for a forward, not relying on power. This could be bad news for rebounding, hopeful but skeptic.
Coleman - Here is where a lot of the hope lies in the rebounding department. DC2 is one of those rare big men that has "it" when looking for a rebounder. Otis Hill is a common and appropriate comparison. Great footwork, uses his big body well, and just has that knack for timing/positioning ... not to mention sticky hands. Another thing I like about him that I noticed during the McD's AA game was his discipline to not over commit away from the basket (I had to be the only fan watching specifically if he would overcommit). I cant stand it when players leave their feet to contest a shot at the same time as the shooter, doing so commits you to the shot as much as the opponent, so if it is a fake then it becomes an instant 5v4... Melo did this ALL the time. I don't see DC2 doing this, primarily because he is not a big shot blocker.
also...
Rak - Love his new frame, but still curious where he will play in the zone. If under center, then he will have the same issues as Melo since Rak is a fantastic shot blocker... if on a wing then that muscle will definitely help crashing into the paint. On the topic of over-committing, this was a big weakness for Rak last year, he needs to practice a better defensive habit of committing after the shooter, not with the shooter... but he will surely be improved in that department being more comfortable in the zone. The big ? for Rak IMO is to unleash his aggression. He looked too much like a freshman last year, yet he clearly has that competitive anger that you need to be a great rebounder, he just needs to harness & use it.
