I just read that he is leaving Minnesota and is looking into transfer options. He would have to sit out next year and then would have one year of eligibility. I think this would be a perfect addition for us. A 6'11" center that could be an excellent complement to Gardner and Otule. Pretty solid on both ends of the floor.
He's currently a Junior, so he'd have to sit out one year. Trying for another Robert Jackson? If it leads to a Final Four I'm game :)
If he were a sophomore now, I'd be all game. But I dunno about adding someone for two years with only the one year of eligibility. By that point, Davante should be getting some big minutes (god willing) and I have to think we could find a younger big man to give Davante the rest while grooming him to take over the majority of the minutes. Seems like this signing would be creating a situation where two players at the same position leave at essentially the same time and we'd be starting from scratch at the 5.
Quote from: MUBurrow on March 26, 2011, 11:17:05 AM
If he were a sophomore now, I'd be all game. But I dunno about adding someone for two years with only the one year of eligibility. By that point, Davante should be getting some big minutes (god willing) and I have to think we could find a younger big man to give Davante the rest while grooming him to take over the majority of the minutes. Seems like this signing would be creating a situation where two players at the same position leave at essentially the same time and we'd be starting from scratch at the 5.
I agree that if there is a high school 7 footer that could log big minutes by his soph year, we should take him. Based on what I've seen I'm not going to hold out for it though.
Quote from: Jacks DC on March 26, 2011, 10:47:25 AM
Pretty solid on both ends of the floor.
Not sure what your definition of 'pretty solid' is but that is probably a stretch. He's a bit of a foul-machine and turns the ball over a lot (around 24% TO rate). He's a very big boy, solid, and has a bit of a mean streak.
Has decent shot blocking numbers but they have all been in bunches - he is NOT a shot blocker, even at almost 7 feet tall (he is a traditional player). Shot very poorly from the field this year and has always been brutal from the line (from memory, I think he's probably a mid to high 50% FT shooter).
Very good rebounder, including on the offensive end. I think he'll wind up at a mid-major and have a 10-11 point, 6-8 reb season in his final year of eligibility.
In Minnesota, Ralph Sampson should get 30 mpg or a bit more. The Gophers also have former-MU target Maurice Walker coming back after an injury-shortened season (averaged 10 mpg before going down) and redshirt freshman Elliot Eliason who, like Sampson and Iverson, is also around 7 feet tall.
If Mbakwe plays for the U this year, there are not many situations where they will want more than one of Sampson, Iverson and Eliason in at one time.. the minutes are just not going to be there.
In addition, I thought Tubby shat on Iverson a bit this year, playing freshman guards and a walk-on power forward instead of Iverson. Dude was looking at hoping to get 15-20 minutes a game this year. Thought Iverson was going to transfer a year ago... nothing surprising about the move.
I live in minneapolis now and watched the gophers a lot as I grew up a fan. Iverson would not be a good pickup for Marquette. He does get rebounds, but he is a turnover machine and has terrible offense even after 3 years. He offers nothing that Otule and Gardner lack and he would be a waste of a scholarship for those 2 years.
Iverson blows
watched him for 3 years
No way. It does not make sense to add a junior with one year of eligibility left to take up a scholarship. There is not enough value in such a move.
Center, I went to school with Robert Jackson. I knew Robert Jackson. Robert Jackson was a friend of mine. And Center, you're no Robert Jackson!
Pass on Iverson, we don't need to waste two years on this guy. I'd sooner have a JUCO who can play right away or a freshman who can give us four years.