Big Man Missing? i need answers please.

[AZTECGAMECOCK]

Ok, just a quick couple of questions. I cant remember the last time we had a dominant big man at center on the court. Maybe Tony Kitchings? And he was soft at times. This year we have no one again and we are getting beat inside again. Ive noticed Mitchell Carter is 6'10 and 260 pounds. Is he not good enough to be playing yet? i would at least have him out there filling up the middle and around the basket. Why cant we recruit an athletic big man? Other SEC teams dont have true centers but they do have big athletic guys that can rebound, block shots and score points. I think this is what we are missing to have a successful basketball team. Opinions please..........................:wink:

[hardcock2]

I think this is what we are missing to have a successful basketball team

among other things!:grin:

[JAYBEZ]

Actually, no one really has dominant big men anymore. Even the NBA isn't built around "shaq like" players anymore.

And no, you don't need them to win. Duke hasn't had a big man in a looooong time.

[COCKROCK]

And no, you don't need them to win. Duke hasn't had a big man in a looooong time.

You are exactly correct.

True, Duke has one of the more talented teams in the country year in and year out, but what I like about them is they play very sound fundamental basketball...

They box out for rebounds, they shot free throws, they hustle and they pass extremely well.....

In other words they are a very we'll coached team.

Regardless of the level of talent and size a team has they are not going to have tremendous success unless they are coached correctly.

[CoverTwo]

Actually, no one really has dominant big men anymore. Even the NBA isn't built around "shaq like" players anymore.

And no, you don't need them to win. Duke hasn't had a big man in a looooong time.

I've been trying to drive this point home to some knuckleheads on this board but they still dont understand the concept.

[hardcock2]

You are exactly correct.

True, Duke has one of the more talented teams in the country year in and year out, but what I like about them is they play very sound fundamental basketball...

They box out for rebounds, they shot free throws, they hustle and they pass extremely well.....

In other words they are a very we'll coached team.

Regardless of the level of talent and size a team has they are not going to have tremendous success unless they are coached correctly.

....and that is a HUGE difference.

[Latt7more]

Duke might not have that 7 footer every year, but they usually have a pretty good post man and the same goes for UNC they have Tyler Hansbrough and he's about 6'9 maybe 6'10, but he still dominates the 7 footers by good post moves

[jellafever]

Ok, just a quick couple of questions. I cant remember the last time we had a dominant big man at center on the court. Maybe Tony Kitchings? And he was soft at times. This year we have no one again and we are getting beat inside again. Ive noticed Mitchell Carter is 6'10 and 260 pounds. Is he not good enough to be playing yet? i would at least have him out there filling up the middle and around the basket. Why cant we recruit an athletic big man? Other SEC teams dont have true centers but they do have big athletic guys that can rebound, block shots and score points. I think this is what we are missing to have a successful basketball team. Opinions please..........................:wink:

Mitchell Carter is far from being ready to play. I saw him play in high school at the Beach Ball Classic and I was wondering the whole time why we even offered him a scholarship. He didn't look like he was even capable of playing division 1 college basketball.

[cboom4250]

Mitchell Carter is far from being ready to play. I saw him play in high school at the Beach Ball Classic and I was wondering the whole time why we even offered him a scholarship. He didn't look like he was even capable of playing division 1 college basketball.

not to mention he is currently injured. from what i hear, he is just a big softie in the post. not trying to knock the guy, but if he's just going to be pushed around he's better off on the bench anyway.

[brat]

This knucklehead says our lack of size is one reason everyone is crying about all the wild shots put up inside and how we can't make lay ups and such. Because we have a smallish team, they have to alter their shots in hopes it will not get blocked or hurry the shots in hoes of avoiding them...both lead to much more inaccuracy.

I've been watching basketball since the days of the great Bill Russell and his Celtic teams of the mid 1960's and I know good team basketball and crappy team basketball when I see it and the difference between good big men and plodders.

Give me some height inside every night of the week and I'll take my chances, for a number of reasons. I already know what some jerk weeds think on the subject.

[COCKROCK]

UNC has no one on their roster that is taller than 6'9 and Duke has 1..... They traditional do we'll without a so called big man.

Maybe a better example would be College of Charleston during the John Kresse era. He never had the talent that a Duke or UNC would put on the court, nor a "big" man, but his teams played hard and was very disciplined.

[USC-Hokie]

It sucks to say it but this is yet another rebuilding year. I don't think the team will be good until 09-10. Downey and Archie will be seniors and the majority of the current team will still be here. Also, Anthony Grant will be our coach.

[uscnoklahoma]

This knucklehead says our lack of size is one reason everyone is crying about all the wild shots put up inside and how we can't make lay ups and such. Because we have a smallish team, they have to alter their shots in hopes it will not get blocked or hurry the shots in hoes of avoiding them...both lead to much more inaccuracy.

I've been watching basketball since the days of the great Bill Russell and his Celtic teams of the mid 1960's and I know good team basketball and crappy team basketball when I see it and the difference between good big men and plodders.

Give me some height inside every night of the week and I'll take my chances, for a number of reasons. I already know what some jerk weeds think on the subject.

And from knucklehead to another :bow::bow::bow:

[cockman97]

Well heres another knucklehead posting his opinion about lack of height. But i would like to also say this isnt the only thing wrong with this team. There is alot if issues. They all need to be addressed if we ever want to have a "decent" basketball team.

[uscsweig]

I played with him over the summer at Blatt. he hit three 3-pointers but never went down low

we have athletic players in 6-7 to 6-9 range, they just need to be more physical, and the younger guys need more experience

[cold-cocked]

lol @ pick up game scouting:lol:

[brat]

Oh, and another thing...smaller teams have a tendency to foul more often than bigger teams.

Why?

Over the back fouls trying to get rebounds and slaps on the arms trying to block shots of the bigger men on the other side, who are trying to score...all of which is trying to compensate for their lack of height.

But, you knew that, right???

By the way, the front line of Tom Owens - 6'10", Tom Riker - 6'11", John Ribock - 6'8" and relief from Danny Traylor 7'0" would wax almost any team now playing. Owens, Riker, and Ribock could run the floor and did it often.
If not for Roche, Owens would have been the star of Frank's teams and is the best big man we have ever had. He could have easily average over 20 points a game, if needed and let the ACC in rebounding three years in a row. Somewhere around 13 boards a game. He was also a superb defensive player. Riker could score from inside and hit outside shots from as far as what now is the three point line. He was a 1st Round NBA pick (when the league was much smaller). Ribock was more of the muscle man, bruiser and got some rebounds, and could score in a pinch, but seldom needed to do so and got lots of garbage baskets, put backs and such. Chicago Bears tried to get Ribock to try out as a TE, but he didn't take them up on their offer.

[Will4144]

AZTECGAMECOCK[/B]]
I think this is what we are missing to have a successful basketball team

And a decent coach!

[CoverTwo]

The game of basketball has changed. It isnt about having a 7'0er that can just throw his arms up in the air then turn to the basket and dominate..The game is more about atheltic ability, quickness, and the ability to play in transition..Teams these days are built on athletic 6'8 - 6'10 guys that can run the floor and play above the rim..Once Shaq retires, old school post player will be DEAD..There is a new generation of big men that are taking over the game with superior athletic ability and would rather play from 15 feet out than in the post..You have your exceptions here and there with Kevin Love (UCLA) and Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) and they are under 6'10.

Give me a starting five that has a 6'10 center that can run the floor and play inside/outside and I promise you he would wipe the floor with your 7'0 bruiser..Duke is a classic example of this..they have 1 guy over 6'10 (Brian Zoubek) and the rest of the team is in the 6'7-6'9 range and look what they are doing. They have their best team since the squad that won the National Championship..Nolan Richardson's Arkansas team didnt have a true post guy but by God they used that tremendous athletic ability to steamroll to a crown.

Its great that you live in the past (like so many of our old school fans that enjoyed the glory days of Frank, Cremins, Ribock, Owens, Roche), but the game has changed since then.

[brat]

Yes, in some ways I live in the past, but I know solid team basketball, with big men who could move (which these guys could do) could also shoot mid range jumpers, shots that are now 3 pointers, the short shots and shoot from the foul line and play defense.

Today's players are now dunk and 3 point shots, nothing near a complete game.

It's why the Spurs were so successful (old style team) over the last few years with Robinson and Duncan in today's new game.

Athletic big men beat athletic shorter guys, almost all the time. Our guys can't win, regularly, on the outside shot and they have trouble getting quality shots off inside. Look at Downey, unless he steals and gets it in a clean breakaway lay up, he has trouble getting off a good shot if his layups are contested. You, ideally, need a mix of both brands of basketball, and that we do not have and will not win until we do.

All sports evolve and change and the old style will eventuially come back because there will be other talented big men who will come along and other teams wil need height to try to defend and slow the big men down. New style basketball does not mean it is better basketball. It it worse.

[roosterrizk1]

When did a big man have to be 7 feet tall? A big man can be a 6'9" guy that goes 250 or better and knows how to rebound. The biggest problem I see is that we don't play defense and our offensive game plan sucks.

[uscnoklahoma]

When did a big man have to be 7 feet tall? A big man can be a 6'9" guy that goes 250 or better and knows how to rebound. The biggest problem I see is that we don't play defense and our offensive game plan sucks.

That would make me happy as well....

I actually met one of our premier big men from last year at last year's UT game....let's just say he looked like he was from Kenya.:rotfl: No names but you should be able to figure it out...he would have never pulled a ball out of my hands...but then again I would have never gotten the board to start with :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[roosterrizk1]

Its funny how I see low D1 Teams such as Winthrop put a decent big man out there yet Odom can't find one...??? I don't understand it at all. I say the lazy recruiting over the years is why we are where were at. Yes, I know Odom had a decent class for once but the lack of upper classmen defines his recruiting over the years. These guys should be coming in to support our upper classmen not be the focus of the Team. Odom needs to retire or just go away............

[OLDCOCK]

Carter is not will not ever be a player-- I hate it but we are a soft mouthy bb team! They need to shut their mouths and play hard nose basketball . They are not good enough to run their mouths!