Seth Greenberg ranks top 10 Frontcourts on ESPN.com

[Archies Bat]

From ESPN Insider:
The old adage that the college game starts with the guards is true, but to win a championship you need strong frontcourt play. Having a low-post presence that draws a double-team puts tremendous pressure on the defense. If he's complemented by a versatile power forward or "stretch 4" who can run, score in the trail spot in transition and play in ball screens, it gives a coach great flexibility.




In evaluating the best frontcourts in college basketball, I took into account not just the individual players' potential and accomplishments, but just as importantly how the frontcourt players complement each other. In today's game, your big men must have the ability to affect the game on both ends. Elite frontcourt players can defend, are active, alert off the ball and can defend ball screens.





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1. Florida Gators




The Gators have a deep and versatile frontcourt. They are led by one of the most physical and experienced big men in the country in Patric Young. He's a tremendous rim runner, has the ability to score on the block and is an excellent ball-screen player both offensively and defensively. He is joined up front by fellow senior Will Yeguete, a blue-collar power forward who, despite being undersized, is extremely efficient. Casey Prather is an active athlete who gave the Gators quality minutes at the end of last season.

Two transfers make the Florida frontcourt elite. Dorian Finney-Smith, a Virginia Tech transfer, has a unique skill set. At 6-foot-9, he has a floor game, is an instinctive rebounder (7 rebounds a game) and his length will make him an excellent defender in the Florida full-court pressure, half-court man and zone.

South Carolina transfer Damontre Harris is a 6-foot-9, 227-pound shot-blocker who rebounds basketballs out of his area. He will be excellent in the Florida defensive system. The X factor for the Gators' frontcourt is 6-foot-10 Chris Walker (ESPN RecruitingNation's No. 12 recruit in 2014). Walker has the skill set of a small forward and can run the floor as well as any big in his class. Walker has not yet been cleared to play by the NCAA.


...

8. Marquette Golden Eagles

Marquette has a unique frontcourt in that it has a 565-pound, two-headed post in Davante Gardner and Chris Otule. The pair combined for almost 17 points and over 8 rebounds a game. Gardner has soft hands, is a good passer and is effective in the high post as well as the block. Jamil Wilson is the next in a long line of undersized 4s for the Golden Eagles. At 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, Wilson plays hard and is skilled. Wilson played his best basketball at the end of the season. He averaged 13 points a game in his last nine games.

The X factor for Marquette is Steve Taylor. Taylor is a 6-foot-7 hybrid forward with elite athletic ability. If he can contribute, it will give Buzz Williams tremendous frontcourt versatility.

[downtown85]

I think (hope really) that Jameel will be a big contributor in some way. No mention in the article.

[tower912]

(A) nice to get some recognition.
(B)  agree that McKay will contribute, just don't know how yet.
(C)  Taken in total, CO,  DG, JWil, STjr, Juan, Deonte, JMcKay may be the deepest, most versatile frontcourt at MU since Al was here. 


There is going to be such a competition for minutes this year at every position.    I hope that whoever doesn't get minutes immediately sticks it out.   Because if they do, this is going to be a fun ride the next few years. 

[CTWarrior]

No mention of any of our incoming recruits, and it is Seth Greenberg, but nice to get a mention at number 8.

8. Marquette Golden Eagles

Marquette has a unique frontcourt in that it has a 565-pound, two-headed post in Davante Gardner and Chris Otule. The pair combined for almost 17 points and over 8 rebounds a game. Gardner has soft hands, is a good passer and is effective in the high post as well as the block. Jamil Wilson is the next in a long line of undersized 4s for the Golden Eagles. At 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, Wilson plays hard and is skilled. Wilson played his best basketball at the end of the season. He averaged 13 points a game in his last nine games.

The X factor for Marquette is Steve Taylor. Taylor is a 6-foot-7 hybrid forward with elite athletic ability. If he can contribute, it will give Buzz Williams tremendous frontcourt versatility.

Others on the list
1.  Florida
2.  Syracuse
3.  Kentucky
4.  Michigan State
5.  Michigan
6.  Virginia
7.  Stanford
9.  Arizona
10. Louisville

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/ncbexperts/id/9488052/florida-gators-lead-ranking-nation-top-10-frontcourts-college-basketball

[bilsu]

I think MU's starting front line will be very good. However, I think the real x factor is that the second team front line will be almost as good as the starting front line.

[GoldenZebra]

I think MU's starting front line will be very good. However, I think the real x factor is that the second team front line will be almost as good as the starting front line.

If the backcourt somehow gels quickly, we are gonna be fine next year. Todd is gonna have to bring it, and maybe the freshman can give some firepower, maybe.

[keefe]

Seth Greenburg Daughters

[JakeBarnes]

Seth Greenburg Daughters

  ...damn Seth, you done good.  Dibs on the redhead.

[MarquetteDano]

Barring injury, this will be our best frontcourt in a long while.  I forget if the combination of Curry, McIlvaine, Key, and Eford happened together.  If so, it would be the best since then and maybe even better.

[The Equalizer]

  ...damn Seth, you done good.  Dibs on the redhead.

Some days he's the tree, some days he's the dog.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

McKay is getting no love from analysts. I think he will be our starting power forward when the season starts and be our top rebounder throughout the season. (Gardner will be a better rebounder but McKay will play more minutes)

[bilsu]

McKay is getting no love from analysts. I think he will be our starting power forward when the season starts and be our top rebounder throughout the season. (Gardner will be a better rebounder but McKay will play more minutes)

Nightmere is the nickname I have for McKay, because that is what he is going to be for opposing coaches. This team is the perfect team for McKay to be on, because Gardner, J. Wilson and Anderson are all very good passers that will get him the ball if he gets anywhere near the basket.

[frozena pizza]

Haven't seen this posted yet.  ESPN ranks the top 10 frontcourts, with MU at #8.  Nice to think of our frontcourt as a strength rather than a guard-oriented team that can succeed despite lacking size.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/ncbexperts/id/9488052/florida-gators-lead-ranking-nation-top-10-frontcourts-college-basketball

8. Marquette Golden Eagles

Marquette has a unique frontcourt in that it has a 565-pound, two-headed post in Davante Gardner and Chris Otule. The pair combined for almost 17 points and over 8 rebounds a game. Gardner has soft hands, is a good passer and is effective in the high post as well as the block. Jamil Wilson is the next in a long line of undersized 4s for the Golden Eagles. At 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, Wilson plays hard and is skilled. Wilson played his best basketball at the end of the season. He averaged 13 points a game in his last nine games.

The X factor for Marquette is Steve Taylor. Taylor is a 6-foot-7 hybrid forward with elite athletic ability. If he can contribute, it will give Buzz Williams tremendous frontcourt versatility.

[ResidentBrown]

This is a sure sign that statistics only tell half the story. A two headed monster combining for an average of a whopping 17 ppg and 8 rpg! That is a stat line for your average individual all-conference C/PF. But we all know that these two guys contributed so much more than just points and rebounds. If the basketball careers of Otule and Gardner where compared to a movie, it would be a complex art film where appreciation can only be gained through focusing on the minor subtleties and piecing them all together to find some profound existential narrative of the human condition.

[Galway Eagle]

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=39286.0

[klyrish]

Seth Greenburg Daughters

Seriously burst out laughing. These pics should be posted at some point in every thread even remotely related to Seth.