Big Man

[SMUPonyFan]

I know Hopkins and Hopkins have commited. Has anyone else? Especially any big men? We will be losing Forinash and Niemi. That leaves us with Kelley, Simpson, Castro, Pharis, and Smith. Besides Simpson and arguably Castro, the rest are more 4 spots or undersized 5 spots. We need a big guy. Alou Kane would have been nice.

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Go Red, Go Blue, Go Mustangs, S M U

[SMUguy]

You're right, we do need more big men, but I think we're all going to be surprised but the guys we have now. Simpson will grow another couple of inches, and if he has the same genetic makeup as his brother, he'll definitely strap on some pounds. And with more weight and strength, he's going to have more confidence going strong to the hole. Not that he needs to abandon his finesse - the skills he has are rare in a guy that size. But if he gets a little ornery, he could be overpowering.

And Castro has a chance -- that's all it is at the moment, a chance -- to be a really nice player. Kind of like .... remember Rick Mahorn? Not a whole lot of offensive moves, and certainly not quick. But when he got himself planted, there was no moving him. Look at Castro at the next game you go to (TONIGHT against LaTECH, right?) The kid has really thick legs. He sometimes moves his feet too much -- freshman nerves? -- when I'd like to see him hunker down in the low post, just outside the lane, and stay there, picking off defenders as the perimter guys race across the lane. Mahorn used to send people to the hospital with his picks. Castro isn't as strong, obviously, but he's only an inch or may two inches shorter than Mahorn, and he's pretty thick for a young man. Another couple of years in the weight room and he could be a real specimen.

We do need more big men, but Castro and Simpson have a chance to be a really strong tandem.

[SMUPonyFan]

No doubt Simpson and Castro will be great. Shoot, for true freshmen, they already are. But you can't go anywhere with two guys.

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Go Red, Go Blue, Go Mustangs, S M U

[Boston Pony]

If you look at where we are today and compare it to a few years ago, we have taken some big steps. For the Inside Guys, we are in better shape as the young guys are the strength of the group. We are looking like a group of 4's, however if Nigel Smith ever comes back we are in much better position. If not and Nigel is one coming off the bench, you have Simpson at 4, Castro at 5 and Kelley coming off the bench. It shortens the bench, however a 3 man rotation could work next year.