A different thought on the PG situation this year

[Unregistered User]

I have no idea on how Tubby or any other major college teams runs their practice, but how much of an impact did it have on the young PG's (+ Blake having to slide over) by not having PG's like Cobbs, 420, and Nolen (post injury) at practice all year?

Doesn't it make sense that the lack of adequate competition in practice would stunt the potential growth of Mav and Chip? Does the squad have enough practice players, with enough quickness to allow them to develop?

I'm not trying to make an excuse for Tubby, even though he is still "golden" in my eyes. I'm just searching for answers deeper than some glib comments about why this season played out like it did.

 

[EG#9]

Blake had to slide over because we had nobody else to play the position. I think a lot of the problem is the Gophers have not recruited a playmaking, ballhandling guard during Tubby's tenure. Al Nolen has been a pg for years, he's comfortable handling the ball against pressure, he knows how to get his teammates involved, and he was able to get all the way to the basket off the bounce. Devoe is a combo guard who knows how to get HIS shot, he's adequate handling the ball against pressure, but does not really run a team.

Chip is not a point guard, though I think I would have tried him out there (in hindsight). He's really left hand dominant, but his athleticism would have given him a chance. The one thing Chip brought to the table that nobody else post Nolen/Joseph did was the ability to get to the basket off the bounce. That element of penetration was sorely missing from the Gophers.

I will avoid saying much about Maverick, he tries his best, but he doesn't have a skill that makes him a high major guard. The comparisons to ARob are off base because ARob always had Big 10 quickness and that (combined with his small stature) made it fairly easy for him to handle the ball.

What I don't like about the nobody to practice against argument is look at Colton and Ralph. How many 7 footers have another 7 footer of some ability to go against their entire college career? Neither of these guys improved this year despite the opportunity to go up against taller, sometimes more experienced, opposition in practice than they faced in games.

 

[jovs]

With the trouble they have had recruiting a PG, why haven't they offered that kid from Hopkins for 2012. It sounds like they won't have a true point guard next year either. Why not get a kid that may not be a top player, but fills a position need.

I wonder if Tubby would have recruited Nolen had he been here.

 

[CollegeBBallFan]

Bad luck, bad timing, bad moves, bad choices created a perfect storm that left us with no one to really run the team on the floor. That includes, but not limited to, defense on the ball and leadership. Unfortunate, but stuff happens. Already looking forward to next year.

 

[Shielder]

Bad luck, bad timing, bad moves, bad choices created a perfect storm that left us with no one to really run the team on the floor. That includes, but not limited to, defense on the ball and leadership. Unfortunate, but stuff happens. Already looking forward to next year.

+1