Richard Pitino Blog No. 1 - Gopher Basketball Update

[Blackhammer]

I don't see how anyone can say Oto is the clear option to start at PF while also saying Buggs has no shot at starting. First, Oto has been one of the worst players on the team since his arrival. Second, no one has seen Buggs play a meaningful minute.

+2 If Oto starts because he's the best we got. We will be lucky to make the NIT. The parent of a player must be Oto's here on a visit or AJ Barker's mother. He can't play and how anyone could watch him and think otherwise is beyond me.

 

[howieramone]

Guys, Costa Rican Gopher is the of the sharper posters on this board IMO. He believes if Buckles does not come, our only 2 PF options are Oto and King. He believes Buggs is a SF only. I tend to agree with him, but won't know until they roll out the balls. I'm very curious what those who have actually seen him play think. I never have, but believe he will be one of our top players.

 

[From the Barn]

I wouldn't let Oto's misplaced play as something akin to a shooting guard cloud our judgement of him as a power forward.

 

[GoldyForLife]

I wouldn't let Oto's misplaced play as something akin to a shooting guard cloud our judgement of him as a power forward.

+1. We mostly bash him based on his shooting abilities. If he was playing out of position the last couple years and is better suited as a PF to utilize his strengths that were previously missed, maybe he has a shot. Give him a chance

 

[Bad Gopher]

Guys, Costa Rican Gopher is the of the sharper posters on this board IMO. He believes if Buckles does not come, our only 2 PF options are Oto and King. He believes Buggs is a SF only. I tend to agree with him, but won't know until they roll out the balls. I'm very curious what those who have actually seen him play think. I never have.

We have been talking since late last year about how Oto was a possible or probable starter in 13/14 because of the graduations, and the PF position is something that hasn't been completely solidified in Pitino's signings so far. That's part of why Buckles shapes up as a key piece of the puzzle. Without him, there may end up being a healthy competition between Oto and King for a starting spot. At the least, they may do a lot of sharing of minutes. Alternatively, Rich may be forced to go with a small lineup to get our strengths out on the court. I recognize this might not fit into Pitino's tactical approach, but is a double-post lineup (EE and Mo) a possibility?

 

[SelectionSunday]

I wouldn't let Oto's misplaced play as something akin to a shooting guard cloud our judgement of him as a power forward.

Agree. With a new staff, I'm gonna' look at every returning player with a clean slate next season. Maybe Pitino will get significantly more out of some of these guys, maybe he won't. In my mind everyone's reasonably in play for improvement & PT next season except the walk-on(s).

 

[golfing18now]

I don't think we can rule anything out. This team might not have a player with the skill set you would like to see of a Big Ten PF. But sometimes we get too fixated on slotting players into a specific category, in my opinion. Last I checked you could start whoever you want, regardless of whether or not a player has the skill set of a prototypical position. I just think it is way too early to say things like "not in the conversation" to be a starter, whatever. Fun to speculate, but that's all it is at this point.

 

[Dr.Don]

I don't think we can rule anything out. This team might not have a player with the skill set you would like to see of a Big Ten PF. But sometimes we get too fixated on slotting players into a specific category, in my opinion. Last I checked you could start whoever you want, regardless of whether or not a player has the skill set of a prototypical position. I just think it is way too early to say things like "not in the conversation" to be a starter, whatever. Fun to speculate, but that's all it is at this point.

golfing, imo it is more fun to read the speculations and develop concussion after concussion after concussion from extreme head shaking.