Kwiatkowski

[The Falcon]

Does anyone have any information on why Doh is not playing Thomasz??

He is over 7' and has some abilities. Watch him in practice sometime.

My thinking is this - Doh doesn't start Bamba because he picks up to many cheap fouls early in the game and lately Papa has been getting many foul calls also - so - why not put Thomasz in early and let him play
defense and rebound and pick up five fouls with intelligent type fouls - this
would aid Papa and Bamba down the road and also help develop Thomasz.

I know he is a project - but think he could help if used correctly. What do you think about that strategy?

[PK]

Doh may be trying to redshirt him.

[perunapower]

Can he redshirt still? He has played some this season (though only 8 minutes over 3 games early in the season).

[RGV Pony]

Yeah, what are the rules as to when a redshirt is burned anyway? LOL

[mustangbill67]

I thought he had some medical issue and perhaps would be eligible for a medical redshirt.

[smupony]

Watch out...Stallion and the "Red Shirt Mafia" will come down on you all like a ton of bricks...

We don't discuss redshirting on Ponyfans...

[Harry0569]

At all of the games I have been to Kwiatkowski has sat on the bench and many of the games he has been in sweats/warm-ups. I hope Doh redshirts Tomasz because I feel like he needs the rest of the year to understand the American and college game. Like many international players, it takes 2-3 years to understand the fundamental differences between the European and American styles.
Sarunas Jasikevicius', star of the Lithuanian national team and member of the Warriors, kid brother played at my high school and it took him most of the season to stop flopping and play more physical. I believe that once Tomasz puts on more weight and develops better post moves, he will become a huge asset to this team

[mrydel]

Watch out...Stallion and the "Red Shirt Mafia" will come down on you all like a ton of bricks...

We don't discuss redshirting on Ponyfans...

If you are going to blame he redshirt mafia on anyone, blame me. If a player has played one play he can not redshirt. It gets old when people keep asking if they can redshirt because they just played a little.

Now medical hardship is different, but I have not heard anything that warrants a medical hardship for this young man. Maybe XTC knows if there is a medical issue, or opportunity available for the future.

[papawasamustang]

Yes, he does have 1 major problem for a bb player.
He can't jump

I'll take a chance or 2 with a 7 footer.

[The Falcon]

Mrydell is correct - He has already played (even if only a couple of minutes) and that has blown his red shirt.

XTC will need to give us something more official but I believe TK is
in danger of losing his medical - in that he suits up for every game and he is practicing with the team. So I believe a medical red shirt is becoming more impossible with each game. He was injured early in the year but appears to be OK now.

So back to my original point - He is over 7ft - let him come in and bang a few people - block shots - rebound - get fouls and give us a few minutes so that Bamba and Papa don't foul out of games as they have done earlier this year. Doh has said the reason he doesn't start Bamba is that he picks up too many early fouls.

[papawasamustang]

If he is not a redshirt or medical redshirt he should be playing 4-5 minutes per game @ least.
No reason to sit him down 100% of the time unless he just can't play.

[gregkinzer]

If you are tall jumping isnt a priority, if you know how to use your body.


And yes, if he set foot on the floor in a game this year, even for a jump ball, he burns a year and can't redshirt.

[The Falcon]

Been wondering where you have been. We need your expertise to comment more frequently on what you are seeing - or are you not
seeing any SMU games?

You didn't answer my original question though - what do you think of
using TK for 4-5 minutes a game and let him get some experience. He appears to have a good shot and 7ft 1in is not easy to come by - If nothing else he could knock people around and pick up fouls - saving Papa and Bamba from foul trouble. I know that Doh hasn't appreciated his effort in practice at times - maybe he has other reasons for not playing him - But - In a blowout like the Houston game - what would be the harm of letting him play the last 5 minutes to get some experience?

Does anyone remember Ike Upshaw? Coaches never played this gifted athlete several years ago - but when they got in the SW Conf Tourney - we had some injuries - they played him - and he was probably the star of a game or two. I don't say TK will be a star but at least let him be a role player.

[papawasamustang]

If you are tall jumping isnt a priority, if you know how to use your body.


And yes, if he set foot on the floor in a game this year, even for a jump ball, he burns a year and can't redshirt.
_________________
Greg Kinzer
SMU Basketball 1989-1993

Bring back the SWC!!!
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I was just kidding about the jumpin stuff. @ 7'0" who cares if he can jump or not.

I watch him warming up pretty closely. Looks really raw.
All I have seen in warmups is a nice lefty set shot (which would get thrown several rows deep in the bleachers if attempted in a game)
I'll still take my chances with him. You know that big men sometimes take alittle longer to develop.

[EastStang]

There's also foot speed. You have to have some quickness to get into position to block out the other teams forwards. I agree jumping isn't that necessary. I remember Wes Unseld with the Bullets used to get a lot of rebounds on the first bounce because no one could get around him to the bucket. Talk about a guy who could block out.