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Watching the tournament, it is evident that two things are really important:
1) Enough bigs so that you don't get dominated down low.
2) Multiple players that can create their own shot or shots for others.

We are fine with number 1, but number 2 all we have is Nic Moore. Russell isn't a shot creator, he is a shot maker. Manuel can create his own shot with his athleticism, he just can't make one . And Frazier and Sterling aren't at that point yet.

However, next year we add Mundiay, who can create his own shot and shots for others. If either Keith or Sterling can add that aspect to their games (and both have the athleticism to do it), we would have three players who can create their own shot.

Louisville has three, and UConn has two. That next level down - teams like UT or Memphis - or us right now - they only have one.

I am sure most you have figured this out by now, but it is something that has really struck me over the last couple of days. Hopefully Mundiay can play a little defense, but his impact on the offensive end plus the continued development of either Keith or Sterling really puts us in another category as a team. A team that can not only make the tournament, and that teams are "scared to play", but a team that has a lot of potential to go a long way.

Another scoring threat will make everybody better.

But hold on there....we have a deep tournament run to make THIS YEAR.

sadderbudweiser wrote:Another scoring threat will make everybody better.

But hold on there....we have a deep tournament run to make THIS YEAR.

Continuing tomorrow night, go Stangs! Take it to LSU!

Mudiay is regarded as a very good perimeter defender FWIW

mustang1992 wrote:

sadderbudweiser wrote:Another scoring threat will make everybody better.

But hold on there....we have a deep tournament run to make THIS YEAR.

Continuing tomorrow night, go Stangs! Take it to LSU!

Right, let's try to make a deep run this year.

I'd love to go to NY this year, would be fun.

We still need another scorer besides Moore, we'll see if Keith pans out or not and if LB trusts him his Soph year. Mudiay apparently isn't going to bring 20 pts a game. Most of these teams have a quick and very lengthy 4 and great guard play. Boatright and Napier were very helpful to Uconn obviously.

I would love to see a Harris type of player that can shoot well and move well w/out the ball. Perhaps Sterling Brown can get developing his shot.

I think if we could add tuesdiay we would have number 2 covered

GiddyUp wrote:

I would love to see a Harris type of player that can shoot well and move well w/out the ball. Perhaps Sterling Brown can get developing his shot.

Pat McCaw could fit that description if we can get him.

Smu97186 wrote:I think if we could add tuesdiay we would have number 2 covered

Nice

Who is this Mundiay kid? Is he any good?

Fridiay & Saturdiay are my favorite 2 days

GiddyUp wrote:I'd love to go to NY this year, would be fun.

We still need another scorer besides Moore, we'll see if Keith pans out or not and if LB trusts him his Soph year. Mudiay apparently isn't going to bring 20 pts a game. Most of these teams have a quick and very lengthy 4 and great guard play. Boatright and Napier were very helpful to Uconn obviously.

I would love to see a Harris type of player that can shoot well and move well w/out the ball. Perhaps Sterling Brown can get developing his shot.

Parker and Wiggins didn't average 20 ppg and they were two of the best prospects to come along in the last 5 years and scorers...

To make our team immediately better, he has to out perform Nick Russell by quite a bit. I KNOW he's much more talented, but Russell has many years of experience on him and has become a pretty good defender. He doesn't have the slashing skills or speed that Mudiay seems to have. We'll have to see. According to ESPN.com, Russell is averaging 9.6 pts, 3 rebounds, 3 assts, 1 steal. I'm guessing Mudiay has a chance to average more rebounds than that and it would be nice if he averages more assists and steals than that. So, if he averages 12 pts / game plus 5-6 rebounds, 4-5 assists, 2 steals he will bring what we need and we will better for it.

I don't know who replaces Shawn Williams. I guess it's either Sterling (when we go "small") and/or Ben (who, if he puts on 10-20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, will be a handful come next year).

ojaipony wrote:To make our team immediately better, he has to out perform Nick Russell by quite a bit. I KNOW he's much more talented, but Russell has many years of experience on him and has become a pretty good defender. He doesn't have the slashing skills or speed that Mudiay seems to have. We'll have to see. According to ESPN.com, Russell is averaging 9.6 pts, 3 rebounds, 3 assts, 1 steal. I'm guessing Mudiay has a chance to average more rebounds than that and it would be nice if he averages more assists and steals than that. So, if he averages 12 pts / game plus 5-6 rebounds, 4-5 assists, 2 steals he will bring what we need and we will better for it.

I don't know who replaces Shawn Williams. I guess it's either Sterling (when we go "small") and/or Ben (who, if he puts on 10-20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, will be a handful come next year).

Don't forget the leadership that Nick and Shawn bring. Someone is going to have to step up big time

Pony147 wrote:

ojaipony wrote:To make our team immediately better, he has to out perform Nick Russell by quite a bit. I KNOW he's much more talented, but Russell has many years of experience on him and has become a pretty good defender. He doesn't have the slashing skills or speed that Mudiay seems to have. We'll have to see. According to ESPN.com, Russell is averaging 9.6 pts, 3 rebounds, 3 assts, 1 steal. I'm guessing Mudiay has a chance to average more rebounds than that and it would be nice if he averages more assists and steals than that. So, if he averages 12 pts / game plus 5-6 rebounds, 4-5 assists, 2 steals he will bring what we need and we will better for it.

I don't know who replaces Shawn Williams. I guess it's either Sterling (when we go "small") and/or Ben (who, if he puts on 10-20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, will be a handful come next year).

Don't forget the leadership that Nick and Shawn bring. Someone is going to have to step up big time

Agree. That will be a void. I think Markus seems to be a leader, and I would like Nic to be also.