A Light at the End of the Tunnel

[BCHoopster]

Bernard Toone is a perfect comparable person, top 5 out of high school, highly recruited, might have been rated #1 in the country that year.  Maybe you like Joe Wolf better, but Joe was quicker than Ellenson, but Ellenson might be better in the long run.  Or maybe Dirk Nowitski is that better.  I will try and think of a few more players I can think about but it is late.  Your ideas?

[BCHoopster]

Cliff Alexander was the 2014 Scout 6th ranked player, same as Henry in 2015, ain'a?

Not even close to the same player, inside player only, slow, no outside game, can not put the ball on the floor, yes can dunk, not impressed, just physical type power player.  No skills but dunking.  Henry has way more of an offensive game, can put the ball on the ground, can play point forward if needed and has a great outside shot.  No comparison except the rating.

[PGsHeroes32]

To all, Ellenson is playing against a bunch of short white kids, he does not play against good enough competition right now, it will take him sometime.  He is a little slow a foot to play the 3, he can shot it like a three but not sure he could guard a three.  I remember a very similar player named Bernard Toone, could not guard anybody, slow, feet did not move on the D end.  But Al being smart enought went to a zone with Bernard, and that was the difference.  A front line of Whitehead, Toone and Ellis were really long.  I think Fisher, Ellenson and Taylor plus the bigger guards will make Ellenson a good enough defender.  Plus look at how many shots Juan does not take, playing the 4 will get Ellenson those shots and I do not think he will hesitate to take them, were Juan as a senior does not, not sure why not.

Hes played multiple games against some of the best Minnesota competition and yes, many of those players are of the darker skin variety.

[The Equalizer]

I'm hoping for a line of like 8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .75 bpg from Henry initially. Those are pretty good numbers for a freshman starter. I hope he meets and exceeds that expectation.

For perspective, these stats would not put Henry well outside the top 10 frosh in scoring, and barely in the leaders in rebounding.

Brian Wardle is #10 at 10.3 ppg as a freshman.  Jerel McNeal, Tom Copa, Dominic James and Dameon Mason tied for 7th in rebounding at 4.5.

Its one thing to temper one's expectations.  However, one can do so and still believe he should be capable of something north of Wardle's 10.3 ppg, or more rebounds than Tom Copa's 4.5.

Jimmy Mac's frosh record of 92 blocks might be safe.

[wadesworld]

I'm hoping for a 13 and 6 type season out of him next year.  He's the real deal, and we will still be thin on experience, though not as bad as this year.  I think we will see more open perimeter jumpers for guys like Duane with Luke, Hank, and Steve all having the ability to play well down low, and I think we'll see those 3 have more spacing with Duane and hopefully a couple of Sandy, Cheatham, and Nosko, plus Hank's ability to step out to the perimeter.

[dgies9156]

Bernard Toone is a perfect comparable person, top 5 out of high school, highly recruited, might have been rated #1 in the country that year.  Maybe you like Joe Wolf better, but Joe was quicker than Ellenson, but Ellenson might be better in the long run.  Or maybe Dirk Nowitski is that better.  I will try and think of a few more players I can think about but it is late.  Your ideas?

I hope you're wrong. I was at MU when Bernard was there and I believe Al once described him as having more wasted talent than anyone else he ever coached.

If you want to go to that era, think Earl Tatum. Or perhaps Bo.

I will say my only concern about Henry is the "Rice Lake Factor." He's playing a lot of ball against kids that don't hold a candle to his talent. That's where bad habits begin. In my high school, decades ago, we had two of the best players in the state who ultimately were incredible flops in the Southeastern Conference. The reason was they came up against very few opponents who had the height and skill to challenge them. I know today, with AAU ball, traveling clubs etc., is very different, but this is the one issue that scares me.

Bernard Toone may have had some of the same problem. He was so good that few of his opponents challenged him -- until he arrived at Marquette.

[mu03eng]

To all, Ellenson is playing against a bunch of short white kids, he does not play against good enough competition right now, it will take him sometime.  He is a little slow a foot to play the 3, he can shot it like a three but not sure he could guard a three.  I remember a very similar player named Bernard Toone, could not guard anybody, slow, feet did not move on the D end.  But Al being smart enought went to a zone with Bernard, and that was the difference.  A front line of Whitehead, Toone and Ellis were really long.  I think Fisher, Ellenson and Taylor plus the bigger guards will make Ellenson a good enough defender.  Plus look at how many shots Juan does not take, playing the 4 will get Ellenson those shots and I do not think he will hesitate to take them, were Juan as a senior does not, not sure why not.

He doesn't have to guard a 3.....that's the beautiful thing about Henry's game, he is a match-up nightmare.  If he plays the 3 on O, who guards him...their 3 or their 4/5?  If it's the 4/5, he can drive on them, if its the 3 he can post them up or shoot over him.  On defense we can play zone or have a front line of Taylor, Luke, and Henry that if the other 3 drives past Henry there is support behind.

I'm not saying Henry will play the 3 exclusively, but he will get some minutes there.

Put me down for 12ppg, 5.5rpg and 1.1bpg as Henry's stat line

[Benny B]

Minnetonka... Champlin... Hopkins.... these are all Minnesota teams, no?  Weren't there any Wisconsin junior high teams available?  A killer whale gorging himself on lutefisk tells me nothing of the whale's veracity.

[mu03eng]

Side note, I've noticed in Henry's videos even though he is right handed he finishes to the left side of the hoop a lot.  Is this a routine thing or just happenstance from the videos I've seen?

If routine, I think that speaks volumes to his preparation and not playing to his competition....we have current players on the roster that can't finish on both sides of the rim  

[We R Final Four]

Seeing HE is person 3x he can go left and right and can finish left or right on either side of the hoop.

[tower912]

I am thrilled to that Henry is coming to MU.   But until I see him on the court against other collegiate players, I am not going to put the burden of being a program changer on him. 

[willie warrior]

He doesn't have to guard a 3.....that's the beautiful thing about Henry's game, he is a match-up nightmare.  If he plays the 3 on O, who guards him...their 3 or their 4/5?  If it's the 4/5, he can drive on them, if its the 3 he can post them up or shoot over him.  On defense we can play zone or have a front line of Taylor, Luke, and Henry that if the other 3 drives past Henry there is support behind.

I'm not saying Henry will play the 3 exclusively, but he will get some minutes there.

Put me down for 12ppg, 5.5rpg and 1.1bpg as Henry's stat line

Man, can't wait till Henry gets here. I have seen posters say he will play the 1, the 3, the 4 and the 5. It goes without saying that he can also play the 2. Sell beer and popcorn during TO's. We will be in Fat City next year.

[4everwarriors]

I dunno. Looney is averagin' a double-double and will be a lottery pick. Don't see why Henry would've be capable of doin' the same thing, aina?           

[wadesworld]

I dunno. Looney is averagin' a double-double and will be a lottery pick. Don't see why Henry would've be capable of doin' the same thing, aina?           

Slightly more points, hopefully half as many boards.

[Golden Avalanche]

I dunno. Looney is averagin' a double-double and will be a lottery pick. Don't see why Henry would've be capable of doin' the same thing, aina?           

Are you writing "wouldn't have been" or "would have been" capable of the same thing? And why you are writing about Ellenson in the past tense regarding his college career?

For my money, Ellenson will be a national stud, will likely be the BE pre-season FOY, should get around 17 and 8 and will provide Fischer with the cover he desperately needs. Furthermore, I'll be more impressed with Cheatham as a Freshman than most of you will be with Ellenson and will continue to enjoy the rise of Duane.

[Lennys Tap]

For my money, Ellenson will be a national stud, will likely be the BE pre-season FOY, should get around 17 and 8 and will provide Fischer with the cover he desperately needs. Furthermore, I'll be more impressed with Cheatham as a Freshman than most of you will be with Ellenson and will continue to enjoy the rise of Duane.

Lanche, what are you expecting from Cheatham?

[PGsHeroes32]

I'm hoping for a 13 and 6 type season out of him next year.  He's the real deal, and we will still be thin on experience, though not as bad as this year.  I think we will see more open perimeter jumpers for guys like Duane with Luke, Hank, and Steve all having the ability to play well down low, and I think we'll see those 3 have more spacing with Duane and hopefully a couple of Sandy, Cheatham, and Nosko, plus Hank's ability to step out to the perimeter.

Agreed with around 13 and 6 for him. I think the key is him doing it efficiently. I don't think there is any question he is going to average double figures and at least 5 boards a game. I am just hoping he has great shooting % to go along with it. And maybe he comes in a just straight up owns. Only down side to that however is he probably leaves after 1 year. But the plus side is we are in the tourney.

[Golden Avalanche]

Lanche, what are you expecting from Cheatham?

Relatively modest numbers on the surface, perhaps similar to Lockett. Certainly not the strong impact defensively as Lockett as the transition to University and all that huzzah but it seems Haanif could find a nice niche behind the "star" players in Ellenson and Duane as being a key cog all across the court whether it's handling ball at certain times or using height advantage on the perimeter to funnel poor penetration to the twin bigs. Intrinsically, I feel as if Haanif may have a 2x Cohen Freshman year where reading between the lines you can see the incremental development of an intriguing prospect.

[Lennys Tap]

Relatively modest numbers on the surface, perhaps similar to Lockett. Certainly not the strong impact defensively as Lockett as the transition to University and all that huzzah but it seems Haanif could find a nice niche behind the "star" players in Ellenson and Duane as being a key cog all across the court whether it's handling ball at certain times or using height advantage on the perimeter to funnel poor penetration to the twin bigs. Intrinsically, I feel as if Haanif may have a 2x Cohen Freshman year where reading between the lines you can see the incremental development of an intriguing prospect.

Sign me up. Thanks.

[LON]

Relatively modest numbers on the surface, perhaps similar to Lockett. Certainly not the strong impact defensively as Lockett as the transition to University and all that huzzah but it seems Haanif could find a nice niche behind the "star" players in Ellenson and Duane as being a key cog all across the court whether it's handling ball at certain times or using height advantage on the perimeter to funnel poor penetration to the twin bigs. Intrinsically, I feel as if Haanif may have a 2x Cohen Freshman year where reading between the lines you can see the incremental development of an intriguing prospect.

As long as he gets 25+ minutes per game.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I am thrilled to that Henry is coming to MU.   But until I see him on the court against other collegiate players, I am not going to put the burden of being a program changer on him. 

Agree. 

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

As long as he gets 25+ minutes per game.

25+ minutes per game might need to go on the Meme Tourney watch list.

[GooooMarquette]

As long as he gets 25+ minutes per game.

I see what you did there.

[mu03eng]

25+ minutes per game might need to go on the Meme Tourney watch list.

Meme watch list

Concern is letting the tournament get too Ners heavy.....could be renamed the Ners tournament....AND nobody wants that.

[Lighthouse 84]

Meme watch list

Concern is letting the tournament get too Ners heavy.....could be renamed the Ners tournament....AND nobody wants that.

Just remember to put the Ners tournament in the "Why JJJ has to play 25 minutes" thread.