Theory on Oto's Improved Play

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Moses87

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I really think Ellenson's decision to play has helped Pressure Oto into playing better. I think Oto now realizes that his minutes will evaporate if he doesn't start playing to his ability. Somehow the pressure has helped him play freer. I think sitting on the bench for the last year and a half, really hurt his confidence, both as a player and a shooter.

Who knows, maybe he will get his confidence back and wind up being the shooter we've been waiting for? How huge would that be for this team come March?
 

Moses87 said:
I really think Ellenson's decision to play has helped Pressure Oto into playing better. I think Oto now realizes that his minutes will evaporate if he doesn't start playing to his ability. Somehow the pressure has helped him play freer. I think sitting on the bench for the last year and a half, really hurt his confidence, both as a player and a shooter.

Who knows, maybe he will get his confidence back and wind up being the shooter we've been waiting for? How huge would that be for this team come March?
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Nonsense. It is the hair. He is on the Samson strength program and growing his hair out is unleashing his inner basketball skills. He has had that awful buzz cut and now it is growing and look what happens!
 

him not standing at the 3pt line and actually driving and realizing that he does't only have to shoot 3s is what is helping him
 

I think he took notice of how well the foreigners are playing for the t-wolves.
 

Several posts (Tubby comments) indicated Oto changed his shot mechanics over the summer. It takes time to get the feel / confidence / muscle memory with the new motion. He is getting there. He needs to keep playing to keep improving. Trevor and Oto look for each other, they both set up the other for easy baskets. Also, the recent matchups may have been better with slower bigs to guard in the last few games.

IMO, don't think Wally had anything to do with it, Wally is competing with Joe / Austin / Julian for minutes (not Oto). Hopefully Wally gets some minutes against NW.
 



I agree! Actually, I know for a fact that Oto is playing better b/c he knows Wally can out dunk him.
 

Holy Man said:
Nonsense. It is the hair. He is on the Samson strength program and growing his hair out is unleashing his inner basketball skills. He has had that awful buzz cut and now it is growing and look what happens!
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Agreed Holy Man.

Have any/all the correlations been exhausted between the Gophers improved play and the unwieldy bristle on Tubby's upper lip?
 




Did he get..........

Married? It did wonders for Ponder.
 

He's probably playing better because Tubby is looser this year and not killing his confidence.
 

I'm partial to the hair theory.

Tubby's 'stache reaching Mark Twain proportions would just about coincide with the national title game. Just saying.
 

Gopher in Texas said:
Several posts (Tubby comments) indicated Oto changed his shot mechanics over the summer. It takes time to get the feel / confidence / muscle memory with the new motion.
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OK, I'm glad he's trying to fix it, but what was the reason he couldn't shoot last year with the same motion that got him recruited as "a shooter"?
 




He's never been just a shooter. He's got a solid all-round game which is what kept him on the court while his shot wasn't falling. What helped him come out of his funk? Tubby allowing him top play through it despite protests from fans on internet posting sites :) He played very physical against OSU last year (only one on the team who did, btw) & all through the NIT. I've been saying it since last year & no one wants to hear it but Oto's your starting PF next year unless we can bring in a ready-to-play Juco. Not saying he's great, just saying he's not nearly as bad as most here seem to think he is.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
He's never been just a shooter. He's got a solid all-round game which is what kept him on the court while his shot wasn't falling. What helped him come out of his funk? Tubby allowing him top play through it despite protests from fans on internet posting sites :) He played very physical against OSU last year (only one on the team who did, btw) & all through the NIT. I've been saying it since last year & no one wants to hear it but Oto's your starting PF next year unless we can bring in a ready-to-play Juco. Not saying he's great, just saying he's not nearly as bad as most here seem to think he is.
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I wonder if Buggs or the new recruit from Chicago have a chance to step in at the 4? Would love to see a slimmed down and more agile Mo Walker and Eliason play together a little....You may be right...Oto could take the 4 gig while the Freshmen get experience.
 

Moses87 said:
I wonder if Buggs or the new recruit from Chicago have a chance to step in at the 4? Would love to see a slimmed down and more agile Mo Walker and Eliason play together a little....You may be right...Oto could take the 4 gig while the Freshmen get experience.
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Buggs is a combo forward, but really more of a 3. He likes to dunk in transition, block shots & shoot 3's. He's not a guy who could bang down low with Nix & Pryor from MSU. Mo will never be quick enough to hang with athletic 4's like Trevor or Rodney, he's a 5. I'd like to see us bring in a bruising, rebounding type Juco. Otherwise the Freshman big (Foster?) will likely see a lot of action.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
Buggs is a combo forward, but really more of a 3. He likes to dunk in transition, block shots & shoot 3's. He's not a guy who could bang down low with Nix & Pryor from MSU. Mo will never be quick enough to hang with athletic 4's like Trevor or Rodney, he's a 5. I'd like to see us bring in a bruising, rebounding type Juco. Otherwise the Freshman big (Foster?) will likely see a lot of action.
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Completely agree with you except I believe Huge Mo will get minutes at the 4. EE always was and is a true center. Can't believe Tubby recruited two 5's in one class. IMO the 5 sophomores still have a great deal of upside.
 

Big slow guys playing the 4.

howieramone said:
Completely agree with you except I believe Huge Mo will get minutes at the 4. EE always was and is a true center. Can't believe Tubby recruited two 5's in one class. IMO the 5 sophomores still have a great deal of upside.
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Payne and Nix rarely play together, in fact, they tried it and didn't like it. I will keep repeating this. The new trend even in the physical big ten is a face up and movile 4: D. Thomas, Dawson, Robinson, Evans-Wisc, White-Iowa etc. The days of playing two big plodding players are done. Tell me Mo is going to guard someone like this?

Otto will start at the 4, with Buggs and the freshmen battling for time. Walker is too slow to guard 5's right now, non-the-less mobile 4's.
 


march madness said:
Payne and Nix rarely play together, in fact, they tried it and didn't like it. I will keep repeating this. The new trend even in the physical big ten is a face up and movile 4: D. Thomas, Dawson, Robinson, Evans-Wisc, White-Iowa etc. The days of playing two big plodding players are done. Tell me Mo is going to guard someone like this?

Otto will start at the 4, with Buggs and the freshmen battling for time. Walker is too slow to guard 5's right now, non-the-less mobile 4's.
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That's the way I see it.
 

Moses87 said:
I really think Ellenson's decision to play has helped Pressure Oto into playing better. I think Oto now realizes that his minutes will evaporate if he doesn't start playing to his ability. Somehow the pressure has helped him play freer. I think sitting on the bench for the last year and a half, really hurt his confidence, both as a player and a shooter.

Who knows, maybe he will get his confidence back and wind up being the shooter we've been waiting for? How huge would that be for this team come March?
Click to expand...

Shooters going through shooting slumps do NOT start shooting better under pressure. He's always been a hustling player. His shots started falling because he gained some confidence. The rest of his game is quality like it was previously.
 

He seems to play better against the more physical teams, he can score with his back to the basket, a team like Illinois that is guard heavy and forces you to play in the open court might cause him problems.
 

Oto had a pretty good game if memory serves me right when the Illini came to the barn last year. As for bigmen I'd imagine if we land Schilling he could get minutes at the four. A JUCO would give us six players in that class.
 

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