Next year's scholarships

[howeda7]

I guess it just depends on if this might be an ongoing issue with Omot or not. We know little about what is actually going on. I think he's too talented to not try to get him back (if they think he will get back to 100%).

If he comes back for the last 10 games or so, he can probably still get a medical redshirt for this year. I don't think it matters if you play the first few games or the last few. He only played 2 games last year IIRC. 12 games over two years would likely get him granted both of them.

 

[matt]

I'm cool with keeping all the injured guys around, but I'd hope they'd be willing to take a pay cut, especially if their NIL hinders us from adding more 'sure-fire' quality players that fit Niko's system.

Niko is maxing out his talent this year. Everybody in the CBB landscape sees this.

I really think what he did with Cade Tyson could open up the floodgates this transfer period.

My order of priority for the injured guys:

1. Vaihola: Greater screener, rebounder, and above-average post passer. Seemed to be a solid system guy.
2. Omot: Hard to gauge, but probably benefits by not seeing him play much. Should be versatile, especially defensively, and still has two years (I think?).
3. Willis: Didn't seem to gel in the system; doesn't help our shooting woes; turnover-prone. I also don't know if his injury was impacting him before the Stanford game; it could have been.
4. Stephens: I know nothing about him. Could be a sharp shooter off the bench?

Agree with 1-3, but I think Stephens could be a good, end of the bench guy. He is a 3 pt specialist, he’s a guard, and I think he was cheap. We need all of those things this year, and I assume we’ll need them next year. I don’t think he’ll be an impact player, but he’s cheap and we could sure use some shooters on the roster.

 

[Tucker32]

I'd much rather have him than Willis. But you can't have too many guards.

Willis, in his short time, demonstrated that is much stronger physically than Evans, has a much stronger defensive game, and brings the ability to handle the ball, push the ball, etc. Plus, he scored a ton his previous years. Just showed a real strong lead guard game.

Evans is not showing much at UNC at all... his limitations at the higher level game in and game out are showing. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want him here, but I don't think he would start ahead of Willis.

 

[howeda7]

Willis, in his short time, demonstrated that is much stronger physically than Evans, has a much stronger defensive game, and brings the ability to handle the ball, push the ball, etc. Plus, he scored a ton his previous years. Just showed a real strong lead guard game.

Evans is not showing much at UNC at all... his limitations at the higher level game in and game out are showing. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want him here, but I don't think he would start ahead of Willis.

Admittedly, I haven't watched Evans at UNC nor Willis last year. But Evans was much more impressive at CSU than Willis was here IMO. To be fair, Willis was dealing with the injury for at least a couple of the games he did play, so we didn't get much sample size.

I don't really view it as an either/or choice. You could easily start Willis, Evans and Asuma together.

 

[Tucker32]

Admittedly, I haven't watched Evans at UNC nor Willis last year. But Evans was much more impressive at CSU than Willis was here IMO. To be fair, Willis was dealing with the injury for at least a couple of the games he did play, so we didn't get much sample size.

I don't really view it as an either/or choice. You could easily start Willis, Evans and Asuma together.

I couldn't have been more impressed by Willis while we had him. He is a really strong lead guard. Evans is just more of a wing/perimeter player than lead guard, who can do well in Niko's offense. That's what I like about Niko - he is going to find a spot for guys, and doesn't restrict people to traditional spots. You see that with Tyson this year compared to at UNC, and maybe the same thing could happen for Evans.

Whatever our roster looks like, I am excited about Niko. He has shown he can coach, and if he had just one of Willis, Omot, or Vaihola healthy I think we win the last two games. In both of those games, as well as Iowa, we just had a lull in second half on both ends of floor where guys were tired. Then adrenaline kicked in down stretch. Our 6th and 7th players doing better than I thought they would, but they should be 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 right now. Thus, Niko's playing them limited minutes. If we had just one solid guy to play more minutes it would make such a difference. However, Niko still putting guys in position to win.

 

[topos]

Agree with 1-3, but I think Stephens could be a good, end of the bench guy. He is a 3 pt specialist, he’s a guard, and I think he was cheap. We need all of those things this year, and I assume we’ll need them next year. I don’t think he’ll be an impact player, but he’s cheap and we could sure use some shooters on the roster.

Sold. Lol

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

In both of those games, as well as Iowa, we just had a lull in second half on both ends of floor where guys were tired. Then adrenaline kicked in down stretch. Our 6th and 7th players doing better than I thought they would

Far be from me to question Niko, but here goes haha.

Shinholster barely played in the 2nd half on Tuesday. I get that it was a very tight and important game, but we need to find a way to at least get him a 5-6 minute stretch in each half and give the guards a quick blow.

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

Far be from me to question Niko, but here goes haha.

Shinholster barely played in the 2nd half on Tuesday. I get that it was a very tight and important game, but we need to find a way to at least get him a 5-6 minute stretch in each half and give the guards a quick blow.

In fairness, he's played 73 minutes in the 6 conference games, scored a total of 7 points, and is 3 for 11 from the field with no free throw attempts in those games. We lose a lot on offence when he's come into the games lately. He seems like he's afraid to shoot or drive to the bucket. He's a decent free throw shooter so I thought he might be a good person to come in later in the halves but it's not like he's shown a penchant for getting to the line.

In contrast, Grove has played 92 minutes in the 6 conference games, has scored 26 points in that time, and shot 11-16 from the field. He's also had 5 steals and 6 blocks in those games.

Neither one was particularly highly recruited but Grove has shown that he is a better prospect than anticipated and we don't lose as much when he subs.

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

In fairness, he's played 73 minutes in the 6 conference games, scored a total of 7 points, and is 3 for 11 from the field with no free throw attempts in those games. We lose a lot on offence when he's come into the games lately. He seems like he's afraid to shoot or drive to the bucket. He's a decent free throw shooter so I thought he might be a good person to come in later in the halves but it's not like he's shown a penchant for getting to the line.

In contrast, Grove has played 92 minutes in the 6 conference games, has scored 26 points in that time, and shot 11-16 from the field. He's also had 5 steals and 6 blocks in those games.

Neither one was particularly highly recruited but Grove has shown that he is a better prospect than anticipated and we don't lose as much when he subs.

Yep all fair. He's not much of an offensive threat right now, but Kai also has played decent defense and is solid with the ball/hasn't really turned it over. Just would like to see him get a consistent 10-12 mpg.

 

[Duker]

In fairness, he's played 73 minutes in the 6 conference games, scored a total of 7 points, and is 3 for 11 from the field with no free throw attempts in those games. We lose a lot on offence when he's come into the games lately. He seems like he's afraid to shoot or drive to the bucket. He's a decent free throw shooter so I thought he might be a good person to come in later in the halves but it's not like he's shown a penchant for getting to the line.

In contrast, Grove has played 92 minutes in the 6 conference games, has scored 26 points in that time, and shot 11-16 from the field. He's also had 5 steals and 6 blocks in those games.

Neither one was particularly highly recruited but Grove has shown that he is a better prospect than anticipated and we don't lose as much when he subs.

On the occasions Kai has penetrated into the lane, he always looks to kick it back out, I would like to see him go up for a 12-15ft shot. If he and Grove are in the game together, our offense is really limited. That being said, I’m impressed with how both of them have handled the extra playing injuries have brought about.