Who will improve the most this summer?

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I recently viewed that "The Beast" is projected to go as high as 10th in the 2013 NBA draft. Interestingly enough Rodney wasn't even listed in the first or second round. It was clear that Mbakwe had worked on his free throw shooting last summer and had significantly improved that part of his game. Rodney still has a gap at the charity stripe and hopefull will follow his teamates lead.

It will be critical that these two improve this summer, it will be interesting on draft day, which one improved the most and if either of them get their name called?
 

Dre Hollins continue improvement (left hand please) is the key to a winning season next year.
 



If Joe Coleman can improve his outside shooting and his ball handling, he will be a key factor in next years success. The development of a back-up point guard(s) (Julian, Maverick or both) will also be key. Andre can't play 40 minutes.
 


I would have to agree with SS on Austin and Oto. Austin's been on an upward trajectory since he arrived here. I think we'll see a more decisive slasher and believe it or not an even better jump shooter out of Austin next year. Oto was a dissappointment to me this year after all of the publicity about his amazing shooting ability. His release point is too low still to be effective. I think Oto may have the most room for improvement... we'll see if he can maximize his potential.
 

Good posts! I see EE. Just needs to get stronger, add a post move or so, continue working on free throws. I see him as almost a double-double by junior year. I'm guessing at least one player improves so much we barely recognize his game next year, but not sure which one. At the end of last season, I felt we were just getting glimpses of what this group can do. Can't wait til next season.
 

howieramone said:
I see him as a double-double by junior year.
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He would be the greatest center in the history of Minnesota basketball if he ever achieves this, let alone by the end of his junior year. Averaging a double-double in college is exceedingly rare, especially since the advent of the shot clock. Kevin McHale never did it. Kris Humphries did do it, but he was the only good player on a terrible, terrible team. I think anyone, Eliason included, would be ecstatic if his Sr. year (not Jr. year) averages are in the ballpark of 10 and 8.
 

Big Mo. People forget how much of a force he was for us early in the season a couple years ago.
 




dpodoll68;531410[B said:
]He would be the greatest center in the history of Minnesota basketball if he ever achieves this[/B], let alone by the end of his junior year. Averaging a double-double in college is exceedingly rare, especially since the advent of the shot clock. Kevin McHale never did it. Kris Humphries did do it, but he was the only good player on a terrible, terrible team. I think anyone, Eliason included, would be ecstatic if his Sr. year (not Jr. year) averages are in the ballpark of 10 and 8.
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Not even close to the greatest ever, but certainly in the ballpark of most of the Dutcher bigs. He's 7-1, 260 now with advanced big man skills, unfortunately not offensively which is what most people notice. I see him getting 20-25 minutes next year splitting time with Huge Mo, and more the following 2 seasons. I don't believe being in the 10 and 8 ballpark his junior year is out of the question. What freshman C have we even had as good of rebounder and defensive player as EE, who didn't make the NBA? Bobby Knight was quite effusive in his praise of EE in his very first start. I saw the same thing and I believe him.
 


howieramone said:
NBA first round pick. A lottery choice is far from automatic for a fifth year senior.
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No definitely a lottery pick. Being 7'1" and having any ability at all will get a player into the first round in some drafts. He may not have been a lottery pick in THIS draft with those numbers, but in most drafts he would. To average a double-double for a Big 6 conference team is very very impressive.
 



howieramone said:
Not even close to the greatest ever, but certainly in the ballpark of most of the Dutcher bigs. He's 7-1, 260 now with advanced big man skills, unfortunately not offensively which is what most people notice. I see him getting 20-25 minutes next year splitting time with Huge Mo, and more the following 2 seasons. I don't believe being in the 10 and 8 ballpark his junior year is out of the question. What freshman C have we even had as good of rebounder and defensive player as EE, who didn't make the NBA? Bobby Knight was quite effusive in his praise of EE in his very first start. I saw the same thing and I believe him.
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I'm not saying he's not a good player. He is, and I like his game. I'm just saying that he won't average a double-double. Because he won't.
 


dpodoll68 said:
I'm not saying he's not a good player. He is, and I like his game. I'm just saying that he won't average a double-double. Because he won't.
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Fair enough. I added almost a double-double to my post.
 

I hope it is Oto. It would be really fun if he came out next year and surprised everyone with major growth in his game. I expect growth on Coleman as well.
 

XMan said:
I hope it is Oto. It would be really fun if he came out next year and surprised everyone with major growth in his game. I expect growth on Coleman as well.
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I'd agree on Oto, Austin was advertised as a shooter and struggled his first year.

Oto I hope has a similar change from freshman to sophomore year shooting as Austin did.
 

taller players who can hit 3's really stretch the floor

scher215 said:
I'd agree on Oto, Austin was advertised as a shooter and struggled his first year.

Oto I hope has a similar change from freshman to sophomore year shooting as Austin did.
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If Oto can start hitting 3's from the forward spot it would also really help Trevor in the post. In the past, players like Bauer, rickert, and Grimm really excelled at that.
 

Oto to Bauer is an excellent comparison. At minimum that's what I'd like to see Oto become. ... a 6-8 guy that can legitimately stretch a defense. Not sure Oto has the same hops as Bauer, however.
 

22 kids averaged ten or more rebounds per game 2012, they most likely averaged at least ten ponts a game also . Elliot could get to 8 rebounds and 12 pts a game someday.
 

dpodoll68 said:
I'm not saying he's not a good player. He is, and I like his game. I'm just saying that he won't average a double-double. Because he won't.
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I think he has a better chance at getting 10 boards a game over 10 points. Kid has zero offensive game right now. If he improves on that-he has a chance to be one of the better C's in recent years. I highly doubt he will be remembered in the same way we remember Thompson-Bruer-McHale...but he will be good enough.
 


Joe Coleman needs to develop a J and some handles and he'll be a brand new player. Rodney seems more confident in his J and his ability to put the ball on the floor so if he continues to develop those skills he could be awesome
 

march madness said:
If Oto can start hitting 3's from the forward spot it would also really help Trevor in the post. In the past, players like Bauer, rickert, and Grimm really excelled at that.
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Rickert was a much better than Oto offensively. People forget how highly rated rickert was coming out of high school. Bauer was a much better athlete than Oto, but I agree if Oto can hit his shots and stretch the d a little he will see a lot more playing time and it will make things for Trevor much better.
 

XMan said:
Rickert was a much better than Oto offensively. People forget how highly rated rickert was coming out of high school. Bauer was a much better athlete than Oto, but I agree if Oto can hit his shots and stretch the d a little he will see a lot more playing time and it will make things for Trevor much better.
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While less gifted, I think Oto's grittier than either of those guys. When things went bad for the Gophers towards the end of the regular season Oto was one of the few guys who would battle even when outclassed & down by 20 (see OSU). His outside game should come together if he's 1/2 as good a shooter as the scouting reports said. He'll be a 22yo Soph next year with international experience who's not afraid to mix it up. It's not a stretch to say as a 23-24yo upperclassman he should be a starter & perhaps a very good B1G player.
 

I think this summer will benefit Mo Walker the most and should make great strides
 



I expect that Andre Hollins will come back as the most improved player over the summer. When Andre can figure out how to finish at the rim, and how to limit his turnovers he will become a dominant B1G player. He also, needs to work on penetrating to his left. All of these things are very doable for a player with his talent and ability.

I'm sure that other players will see some improvement, but it will be most evident with Andre as he'll be on the floor more than anybody else.

We know what we're getting with Rodney and Trevor, and most everybody else has so many elements of their game that need improvement.

My second player that I expect major improvement from will be Austin Hollins. I want to see continued improvement on the offensive end of the floor from Austin, and I think that he will continue to improve his jump shooting ability.

We have a special team heading into this season that is capable of doing great things, now we need to execute in the final four minutes of games to get us over the hump.

GopherHoopsFan
 

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