BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,867
- Reaction score
- 16,412
- Points
- 113
Sampson only scratching the surface
By Marcus Fuller on February 6, 2010
Gophers coach Tubby Smith said his big man Ralph Sampson III could have played even more aggressive than his 13-point, 10-rebound performance Saturday in a 66-64 win at Penn State.
Obviously, Smith would be very happy with Sampson just getting a double-double every night (he's only had two in his career). But Smith has a vision of how dominant the 6-foot-11, 240-pound sophomore can be. And Sampson is not there yet.
"That's what we expect from Ralph," Smith told team radio analyst Spencer Tollackson after the game. "That's what we expect him to do, to attack the basket. I thought even (Saturday) he wasn't as aggresive. He's still has to be more aggressive, because he's capable. To get a double-double was huge for us. We needed everybody to step up."
Since I was stuck in the Pittsburgh area near the airport after a snowstorm Friday night and Saturday morning, I didn't cover the game. But I was listening. And it was obvious that Sampson was more aggressive than usual.
It's always frustrating watching a 7-footer or near 7-footer not finish strong with a dunk at the rim. No matter how effective a big man is with his finesse game, being able to power the ball up is essential to making an impact offensively. That has been missing on a consistent basis from Sampson's game in his first two seasons. But he seems to be getting better at it.
Interestingly, Sampson has played more aggressively and had his two best Big Ten games on the road. He also had 17 points, five rebounds and two blocks in a 81-78 overtime loss at Indiana.
There were a couple moves in that Indiana game that shocked me, because they weren't typical Sampson. After receiving one post entry pass, he quickly spun and got fouled, but that didn't stop the play. He still went up and dunked right on Indiana's star freshman Christian Watford, even though it didn't count. Another play was on a dribble drive where he went baseline and finished with a reverse layup.
It's the combination of those moves with his 12-15 foot jumper and length on defense that makes Sampson an NBA prospect. But can he go up strong (doesn't always have to dunk) and look for his shot more often? Yes. That and attacking the offensive boards consistently is what is separating him from the other elite big guys in the Big Ten such as Jajuan Johnson from Purdue, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale from Illinois, Jon Leuer from Wisconsin and DeShawn Sims from Michigan.
What's interesting about Sampson's two best Big Ten games is that he only took a combined 11 shots in both games. Sampson had no offensive rebounds Saturday against the Nittany Lions, and he still finished with double digits in scoring. He also had just one offensive rebound in the Indiana game and made just 3 of 5 field goals to score his season high (he was 11 for 15 from the free throw line).
So, Smith was right. Sampson could get there, but he still has to be more aggressive to reach his potential.
-- It certainly was motivational for Sampson to have his former NBA and college star father there to watch him play against Penn State. Maybe, Ralph Sampson Jr. should try to also make it to his son's games against Wisconsin and Purdue at home and Northwestern and illinois on the road. The Gophers will really need the younger Sampson to play big in those games to win. Well, they need him to be a major factor the rest of the year. But those are must-win games to build the NCAA resume.
-- Is it out of the question to think Sampson can't improve enough by next season to be as productive as former Michigan center Ekpe Udoh? The 6-10, 240-pound junior is averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks a game at Baylor.
http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/02/sampson-only-scratching-the-su.html
Go Gophers!!
By Marcus Fuller on February 6, 2010
Gophers coach Tubby Smith said his big man Ralph Sampson III could have played even more aggressive than his 13-point, 10-rebound performance Saturday in a 66-64 win at Penn State.
Obviously, Smith would be very happy with Sampson just getting a double-double every night (he's only had two in his career). But Smith has a vision of how dominant the 6-foot-11, 240-pound sophomore can be. And Sampson is not there yet.
"That's what we expect from Ralph," Smith told team radio analyst Spencer Tollackson after the game. "That's what we expect him to do, to attack the basket. I thought even (Saturday) he wasn't as aggresive. He's still has to be more aggressive, because he's capable. To get a double-double was huge for us. We needed everybody to step up."
Since I was stuck in the Pittsburgh area near the airport after a snowstorm Friday night and Saturday morning, I didn't cover the game. But I was listening. And it was obvious that Sampson was more aggressive than usual.
It's always frustrating watching a 7-footer or near 7-footer not finish strong with a dunk at the rim. No matter how effective a big man is with his finesse game, being able to power the ball up is essential to making an impact offensively. That has been missing on a consistent basis from Sampson's game in his first two seasons. But he seems to be getting better at it.
Interestingly, Sampson has played more aggressively and had his two best Big Ten games on the road. He also had 17 points, five rebounds and two blocks in a 81-78 overtime loss at Indiana.
There were a couple moves in that Indiana game that shocked me, because they weren't typical Sampson. After receiving one post entry pass, he quickly spun and got fouled, but that didn't stop the play. He still went up and dunked right on Indiana's star freshman Christian Watford, even though it didn't count. Another play was on a dribble drive where he went baseline and finished with a reverse layup.
It's the combination of those moves with his 12-15 foot jumper and length on defense that makes Sampson an NBA prospect. But can he go up strong (doesn't always have to dunk) and look for his shot more often? Yes. That and attacking the offensive boards consistently is what is separating him from the other elite big guys in the Big Ten such as Jajuan Johnson from Purdue, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale from Illinois, Jon Leuer from Wisconsin and DeShawn Sims from Michigan.
What's interesting about Sampson's two best Big Ten games is that he only took a combined 11 shots in both games. Sampson had no offensive rebounds Saturday against the Nittany Lions, and he still finished with double digits in scoring. He also had just one offensive rebound in the Indiana game and made just 3 of 5 field goals to score his season high (he was 11 for 15 from the free throw line).
So, Smith was right. Sampson could get there, but he still has to be more aggressive to reach his potential.
-- It certainly was motivational for Sampson to have his former NBA and college star father there to watch him play against Penn State. Maybe, Ralph Sampson Jr. should try to also make it to his son's games against Wisconsin and Purdue at home and Northwestern and illinois on the road. The Gophers will really need the younger Sampson to play big in those games to win. Well, they need him to be a major factor the rest of the year. But those are must-win games to build the NCAA resume.
-- Is it out of the question to think Sampson can't improve enough by next season to be as productive as former Michigan center Ekpe Udoh? The 6-10, 240-pound junior is averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks a game at Baylor.
http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/02/sampson-only-scratching-the-su.html
Go Gophers!!