Wally at the four?

[Blackhammer]

If Wally Ellerson is in the 6 foot-6 range could he see some minutes as the so called stretch four? Undersized but if he can shoot threes and he is athletic he could possibly give you a few minutes there. Looking at all the guards it seems like something to consider.

 

[MinneStoa]

I can't see that happening at all, especially in Big Ten play. There's just no way we can play in a big, physical league with 4 players being 6'6 or shorter.

Assuming Buckles is able to play for us, we'll have 2.5 serviceable PFs. I like Wally as a bench wing option, and I'm excited to see how he plays in a running game.

 

[joshvanklomp]

There's just no way we can play in a big, physical league with 4 players being 6'6 or shorter.

This is the biggest misconception I've read on this board. Two examples:

Michigan: 6'0", 6'6", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"
Wisconsin: 6'1", 6'2", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"

 

[Dr.Don]

This is the biggest misconception I've read on this board. Two examples:

Michigan: 6'0", 6'6", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"
Wisconsin: 6'1", 6'2", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"

And that is really saying a lot, to be the "biggest misconception".

 

[MinneStoa]

This is the biggest misconception I've read on this board. Two examples:

Michigan: 6'0", 6'6", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"
Wisconsin: 6'1", 6'2", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"

While that may be true, we don't quite have the luxury of Michigan's individual talents or Wisconsin's glacial (yet effective) pace of play. Both teams are able to combat their matchup issues effectively. I just don't think this current gopher squad would be able to do that.

 

[Tim1406]

Wait wally is 6-6? Almost everywhere I have looked(ESPN(college), gophers sports(college), Max sports(HS), BTN(college), a few other lesser known places) I have seen him listed as 6-4. Only places from his HS days is he listed above 6-4(rivals-6-6;scout hoops-6-5).

 

[jovs]

This is the biggest misconception I've read on this board. Two examples:

Michigan: 6'0", 6'6", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"
Wisconsin: 6'1", 6'2", 6'6", 6'6", 6'10"

your forgot Minnesota 6'0", 6'3", 6'4", 6'6", 6'8" last year.

With Michigan you are comparing Wally to Staukas who is a couple of inches taller and Robinson who is a bit more physical.

With Wisconsin you have Evans and Brusowitz, Brusowitz was a natural 4 to begin with, just not that big and Evans was more physical.

With time it could be a possibility, weights and bulking up maybe late in his Junior year or Senior year it might be feasible, next year no way can Wally play the 4.

 

[shickmyjanski]

Did anyone happen to watch Wally play defense last year? Whoever he was guarding either scored or went to the free throw line pretty consistently. That's why he played so little. He was too slow to guard anyone on the perimeter so a move to the post may be his only option to gain playing time. His size will be an issue if that happens. I got nothing against the kid, just my observation after watching him last year. Hopefully he improves.

 

[howieramone]

Did anyone happen to watch Wally play defense last year? Whoever he was guarding either scored or went to the free throw line pretty consistently. That's why he played so little. He was too slow to guard anyone on the perimeter so a move to the post may be his only option to gain playing time. His size will be an issue if that happens. I got nothing against the kid, just my observation after watching him last year. Hopefully he improves.

He played less than 50 minutes last year. Any way you can allow him time to adjust to the speed of the game?

 

[shickmyjanski]

He played less than 50 minutes last year. Any way you can allow him time to adjust to the speed of the game?

I hope he can. That's why I said hopefully he improves. Playing bad D is why he played less than 50 minutes last year.

 

[howieramone]

I hope he can. That's why I said hopefully he improves. Playing bad D is why he played less than 50 minutes last year.

You seem like a smart guy. Do you think it had anything to do with Wally being hurt most of the year?

 

[jovs]

Did anyone happen to watch Wally play defense last year? Whoever he was guarding either scored or went to the free throw line pretty consistently. That's why he played so little. He was too slow to guard anyone on the perimeter so a move to the post may be his only option to gain playing time. His size will be an issue if that happens. I got nothing against the kid, just my observation after watching him last year. Hopefully he improves.

Kind of reminded me of the other Wally playing defense, Szczerbiak, he'll get better, he must have played post in high school because he didn't have much in the way of perimeter defensive fundementals.

 

[shickmyjanski]

You seem like a smart guy. Do you think it had anything to do with Wally being hurt most of the year?

The word "most" would indicate he was hurt more than half of the season....? You seem like a smart guy too.

 

[XMan]

Kind of reminded me of the other Wally playing defense, Szczerbiak, he'll get better, he must have played post in high school because he didn't have much in the way of perimeter defensive fundementals.

Did not play the post in HS.

 

[StCroix]

Did anyone happen to watch Wally play defense last year? Whoever he was guarding either scored or went to the free throw line pretty consistently. That's why he played so little. He was too slow to guard anyone on the perimeter so a move to the post may be his only option to gain playing time. His size will be an issue if that happens. I got nothing against the kid, just my observation after watching him last year. Hopefully he improves.

Anyone that has seen Wally play in HS or AAU, knows his Achilles heel is defense. Which I think, will improve. I watched him multiple times and HS and saw kids with less than half his talent get him in trouble. He's a hard worker though and I expect he will get better. IF he can improve defensively, he will garner more minutes and offensively can be very effective in Pitnos offense.

 

[WILLBGOPHER]

If Wally Ellerson is in the 6 foot-6 range could he see some minutes as the so called stretch four? Undersized but if he can shoot threes and he is athletic he could possibly give you a few minutes there. Looking at all the guards it seems like something to consider.

To expect Wally to provide anything next year is a huge stretch. Not sure why so many people are high on him. Small contributions from the bench is the most we can expect. He couldn't even get any minutes last year with some very sub-standard bench players.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Wally needs to become a 3 point specialist play 10-12 minutes a game this year and look to get his shot off. He needs to become a 3 point threat. Every team has room for a guy who can hit 3's and be a tad bit suspect on D.

Wally is a good athlete I think down the road he could become a poor man's Lee Humphrey or Jon Diebler or even a Zach Novak/Stu Douglass type. For now I will take a Jason Bohannon.

Wally can be more than a catch and shoot 3 point guy. He comes off screens real nice squaring up to the basket. It is obvious pulling the trigger will not be a problem.

 

[GopherHomer]

Wally needs to become a 3 point specialist play 10-12 minutes a game this year and look to get his shot off. He needs to become a 3 point threat. Every team has room for a guy who can hit 3's and be a tad bit suspect on D.

Wally is a good athlete I think down the road he could become a poor man's Lee Humphrey or Jon Diebler or even a Zach Novak/Stu Douglass type. For now I will take a Jason Bohannon.

Wally can be more than a catch and shoot 3 point guy. He comes off screens real nice squaring up to the basket. It is obvious pulling the trigger will not be a problem.

Is this even possible? I'm no Wally historian, but to me he looks like an athlete with kind of a broke shot and huge vertical. His brief stints last year reminded me more of Rodney with a little better handles than a 3 point specialist. If he can, in fact, be a deep threat I think the sky is the limit and we may be looking at the next Sam Jacobson.

 

[howieramone]

. It is obvious pulling the trigger will not be a problem.[/QUOTE]

In the 9 games and 47 minutes Wally played, this is what I liked most about him. I always like a frosh who's not afraid to shoot. Wally played mostly garbage time. When the game is slipping away, might as well step up and heave it towards the hole.

 

[jovs]

Is this even possible? I'm no Wally historian, but to me he looks like an athlete with kind of a broke shot and huge vertical. His brief stints last year reminded me more of Rodney with a little better handles than a 3 point specialist. If he can, in fact, be a deep threat I think the sky is the limit and we may be looking at the next Sam Jacobson.

I like the comparison to Rodney, he's a little bit smaller, not quite as physical at this point, better offensively out on the floor than Rodney ever was, comparable to Rodney playing defense as freshman, by Rodney's senior year though he dominated defensively both in the paint and out on the perimeter, if Wally can develop like that he is going to be a heck of a player.

 

[MN1nAZ]

Is this even possible? I'm no Wally historian, but to me he looks like an athlete with kind of a broke shot and huge vertical. His brief stints last year reminded me more of Rodney with a little better handles than a 3 point specialist. If he can, in fact, be a deep threat I think the sky is the limit and we may be looking at the next Sam Jacobson.

"Sam The Man" We can hope. He has the hops but needs the handles.

 

[corcoran1]

He is smaller, than Rodney, both in height and upper body build, and I don't believe he jumps as well from a standing postion as Rodney. I believe Wally will always be a wing, so his ball handling skills need to get a lot better. He is a very good athlete who has a lot of work to do to be a very good basketball player.

 

[Gopherguy0723]

He is smaller, than Rodney, both in height and upper body build, and I don't believe he jumps as well from a standing postion as Rodney. I believe Wally will always be a wing, so his ball handling skills need to get a lot better. He is a very good athlete who has a lot of work to do to be a very good basketball player.

I don't understand why he wouldn't take a redshirt. If anything, it is an extra year of free college in case he needs five years to get his degree or a free year of grad school. Free grad school is a much better deal than free undergrad.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Not all people who are 6'5" are created equal.

Trevor was a small PF in terms of height, but he had a freakishly long wingspan (longer than Nerlens Noel), plays really physical and has the athleticism and size to compete against people who are 6'9"/6'10". Mbakwe could defend Zeller because of those traits.

You might be able to find other PF's who are as short as Wally, but they are built differently. Even Rodney plays stronger, has a wider frame and a sort of freak athleticism that allowed him to play in the post in college.

To me, Wally is a wing and he'll always be a wing. I think he's athletic enough to not just be a spot up shooter from the outside, but he isn't a good enough ball handler (yet) to create his own shot.

 

[GopherHomer]

Just to reiterate my point and not be known as the guy that compared Wally to Rodney, I just meant to imply that he was closer to a Rodney type player than a 3 point specialist.

 

[Roland Brooks]

I will take a Zach Novak type... same size... he did a little of everything he even guarded Trevor...

Hit some 3's, got some rebounds and would make some athletic plays as well.

 

[golfing18now]

Admittedly I have had no contact with Wally at all, but he looked like he had some growing up to do when I watched him last year. He was jacking up three pointers in pregame from about 10 feet inside the half court line at one game I was at and was frequently the last guy to the huddle at pretty much every game. He just looked like a guy that had a really high opinion of himself given how little he contributed last year (as a freshman, obviously). Really not trying to trash somebody that I don't know personally. Does anybody have better insight that I on what type of team player he is, etc etc?

 

[march madness]

Was Wally a great 3 pt shooter in high school? He didn't look it in the few minutes last year. I ask as people are comparing his role to that of some pretty good college shooters.

 

[march madness]

Wally shouldn't play the 4 ever, ok unless he gets one of those Rodman late growth spurts. He is 6'5" max and doesn't appear to be more than 190 lbs. That is sf-sg size all the way. The Rodney comparisons are closer than the spot up shooter ones so far.

 

[GopherJake]

Was Wally a great 3 pt shooter in high school? He didn't look it in the few minutes last year. I ask as people are comparing his role to that of some pretty good college shooters.

Great 3 point shooters rarely, if ever, are nearly concussed after having their shot blocked into the top of their head from behind.