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Props to Beer man for saying Heide would enter, now let's seal the deal! Although he seems like a badger type... does he join McAndrews at Creighton? Either way let's make it happen Niko!
 

Spottedmuskie said:
Props to Beer man for saying Heide would enter, now let's seal the deal! Although he seems like a badger type... does he join McAndrews at Creighton? Either way let's make it happen Niko!
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Saw on Twitter or Reddit that his folks moved to Alabama. Maybe he will go there? No idea, I am just dreaming of having a competitive college basketball team.
 



TwistingMyMelon said:
So he already knows he's coming here? Just kidding. I wish though. I think this past season demonstrated that he was the biggest loss from the 2024 team.
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Hawkins was a far bigger loss than Payne.....but both were big losses.

A do not contact combined with a coaching change almost always seems to mean the player is following the coach so agree with those the expect Payne to be headed to Maryland.
 
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MNVCGUY said:
Hawkins was a far bigger loss than Payne.....but both were big losses.

A do not contact combined with a coaching change almost always seems to mean the player is following the coach so agree with those the expect him to be headed to Maryland.
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I assume that he will follow Buzz because Buzz was starting really get tuned in to feeding Payne towards the end of the year. However, there is that possibility that he gives his home town a look.
 


Looks
MaxyJR1 said:
4th on the team in minutes but not scrappy enough for Painter...?
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True but 6 guys shared two spots.. 6 guys were within 3 minutes of each other he lost his starting spot… Purdue legacy.. looks like the part.. doesn’t grind… there is a reason he is leaving.. he likes to float.. I said earlier Creighton would be a good spot…
 



MNVCGUY said:
Hawkins was a far bigger loss than Payne.....but both were big losses.
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As much as I liked Hawkins, I don't feel that way. I think the team adequately compensated for Hawkins' distribution abilities although that's not all he did. Payne was a true big man who could measure up to most of the centers in the league. Frank was a very good offensive rebounder and a pretty decent defender but he lacked Payne's length and he was short on big man skills due to his short history of playing the sport. Fox was just too soft this season undoubtedly due in part to physical health issues.
 


TwistingMyMelon said:
As much as I liked Hawkins, I don't feel that way. I think the team adequately compensated for Hawkins' distribution abilities although that's not all he did. Payne was a true big man who could measure up to most of the centers in the league. Frank was a very good offensive rebounder and a pretty decent defender but he lacked Payne's length and he was short on big man skills due to his short history of playing the sport. Fox was just too soft this season undoubtedly due in part to physical health issues.
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Don't get me wrong, a strong case could be made for both guys. I just feel like Hawkins speed and elite ability to set guys up would have gone a long way towards fixing many of the issues we had on offense this year.

Watching Hawkins in the tournament was a reminder of just how special he can be, granted he had a much stronger supporting cast there but he made that offense go. So often we got bogged down while guys like Patterson dribbled non-stop but with Hawkins that was rarely the case.
 




studentgopher94 said:
He's an incredibly skilled big, you're being ridiculous. If he wanted to come back he's a take 100 time out of 10.
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Yeah....he is almost certainly headed to Maryland but if he wanted to come back I would be shocked if Niko would turn him down.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Yeah....he is almost certainly headed to Maryland but if he wanted to come back I would be shocked if Niko would turn him down.
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Wouldn’t be mad at Payne coming back. But I want Niko to get a bunch of dudes between 6’7 and 6’9 with floor spacing ability.

Forwards who can shoot and D up are a cheat code.

Just add a 6’11 guy for boards who can kick it out to the open guy lol.
 

studentgopher94 said:
He's an incredibly skilled big, you're being ridiculous. If he wanted to come back he's a take 100 time out of 10.
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yeah I hate guys who average 25.5 ppg in the NCAA tournament off the bench. Although not sure he fits here and is even interested. He played fewer minutes this year but had better scoring stats than last year.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Yeah....he is almost certainly headed to Maryland but if he wanted to come back I would be shocked if Niko would turn him down.
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I think with PP he really needs to look at his end goals.

He never was on track for NBA.

His game was one of the most one dimensional I’ve seen. And that man boy routine doesn’t work at the next level.

If he wants more, he needs to be challenged in a system that adds levels to his skills.

He’d likely get that with Niko, but not look as good. Then finnish that development ultimately in the G League.

I thought Ben was doing this for him by constantly moving him outside his comfort zone. He didn’t really seem to be understanding that dire need to reach those goals.

If he stays on the current path, he will be great in college. Thats is all.

He needs Passing, strength, some minor handles, ft shooting, footwork, moves, BODY CONTROL, understanding where he is in space…. And so much more, for the next level. Too bad, he’s got the raw materials for sure.

It is a risk for sure, because great in college is life changing cash too. Just not millions and you gotta have your next steps or that cash will just get burned.
 

Never turn down a horse that show in races. They produce. Same with basketball players who win important games. If former Gophers want to return and have shown success, why turn your head on them? Makes no sense.
 






studentgopher94 said:
Just say you don't know ball, oh wait you already have.
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He's a good college player, and I'd take him back, but he's not a skilled player. He has no handle, face up game, and can't shoot. He's is very good at backing the defender down and either dunking or shooting a hook shot over his left shoulder.
 


Gophers7633 said:
He's a good college player, and I'd take him back, but he's not a skilled player. He has no handle, face up game, and can't shoot. He's is very good at backing the defender down and either dunking or shooting a hook shot over his left shoulder.
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He was taking a lot of opposing bigs off the bounce this year.
 

CentralGopher said:
Skilled at what? He can rebound and play defense and dunk. He can’t shoot free throws or outside of 5 feet. That’s exactly what he was 2 years ago. Hard pass.
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All that is true, but doesn't mean he couldn't be a valuable asset. Teams need bigs that can rebound and play D. The question is whether or not it fits a particular coaches system. If Niko wants 5 shooters on the floor, then he does not (similar to stinking Badgers where all bigs can shoot a bit from outside).
 

CentralGopher said:
Skilled at what? He can rebound and play defense and dunk. He can’t shoot free throws or outside of 5 feet. That’s exactly what he was 2 years ago. Hard pass.
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Payne is very athletic with quick hops. He can rebound and power his way to baskets. Skilled? I guess that depends on the skill we are specifically talking about. Three point shooting, dribbling, mid-range shooting? Not so skilled. Rebounding, defending, passing? Yes, he has some skills. Possessing all these skills? No. Like so many of Ben Johnson's recruits, he isn't multi-dimensional. That is why Pharyll came off the bench at A&M.
Would I be happy to see Pharyll playing for the Gophers again? Yes. What he can do is something we can use.
 



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