Theo John thread

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

We want, need Theo.  Do we want McKinley Wright?????

Hell no

[onepost]

Has gotten into foul trouble a lot in HS games, but a ton of it is weird/(b.s.) calls vs. him trying to block shots. He's got great blocking skill.. length, timing... will be nice to add that to the roster.

Wades mentioned it and I absolutely agree but Jay Bee, could you see Theo being a Jordan Bell type a couple years down the road?  Maybe wouldn't have the ceiling athletically Bell does now but he looks like that kind of player.

Also, I noticed in a couple of your clips (thanks by the way) that Theo hedges ball screens better than Luke did.  At least, he anticipated the drive and dropped back early enough to swat Jones or whomever was driving.  Would that be an accurate assessment or are we looking at four more years of dumb fouls due to lazy hedging?

[Jay Bee]

Wades mentioned it and I absolutely agree but Jay Bee, could you see Theo being a Jordan Bell type a couple years down the road?  Maybe wouldn't have the ceiling athletically Bell does now but he looks like that kind of player.

Also, I noticed in a couple of your clips (thanks by the way) that Theo hedges ball screens better than Luke did.  At least, he anticipated the drive and dropped back early enough to swat Jones or whomever was driving.  Would that be an accurate assessment or are we looking at four more years of dumb fouls due to lazy hedging?

Agrees on him being better than Luke defensively in most areas. Not sure on Bell.. he's a weird one. I could see Theo's freshman year looking similar to Bell's, though.. low-usage, but strong rebounding, block%.

I always go back to Faisal as my comp for him.

[tower912]

Wasn't Faisal 6'7?     So, Faisal, but taller?    And I am totally OK with that, if he makes his free throws.   

[Jay Bee]

Wasn't Faisal 6'7?     So, Faisal, but taller?    And I am totally OK with that, if he makes his free throws.   

Yes.. what I've always said is Faisal +2 inches.

Theo was a perfect 4/4 from the line last night. His team also shot a higher FT% than Apple Valley last night. Unfortunately, #FTsNoMatta

[tower912]

If TJ turns out to be a 6'9 Faisal, strong defense, rebounding, shotblocking, presence, with the ability to run the floor, put in the dump offs from guards and the putbacks, I will be happy.    If he does all that and develops a few reliable offensive moves along the way, I will be ecstatic. 

[brewcity77]

Next year will certainly be interesting, and John and Cain are probably two of the guys I'm most interested in. Thus far, Wojo has had two significantly impactful freshmen each of his first two years. Not sure if that will be the case this year, but I could see either John and/or Cain being able to make major contributions. Maybe not providing the kind of scoring we have seen with Howard, Ellenson, Haanif, and Hauser, but on the rebounding and defensive end.

I do think next year is the most important of Wojo's four thus far. We need to start seeing improvement on the defensive end. Another year in the system for Howard and Hauser, guys like Anim, Cheatham, and Heldt should be fairly comfortable by now, and lots of length coming in. The pieces are there, the question will be if Wojo can implement an effective and efficient defensive strategy. We don't need top-25, but it has to start becoming respectable.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Next year will certainly be interesting, and John and Cain are probably two of the guys I'm most interested in. Thus far, Wojo has had two significantly impactful freshmen each of his first two years. Not sure if that will be the case this year, but I could see either John and/or Cain being able to make major contributions. Maybe not providing the kind of scoring we have seen with Howard, Ellenson, Haanif, and Hauser, but on the rebounding and defensive end.

I do think next year is the most important of Wojo's four thus far. We need to start seeing improvement on the defensive end. Another year in the system for Howard and Hauser, guys like Anim, Cheatham, and Heldt should be fairly comfortable by now, and lots of length coming in. The pieces are there, the question will be if Wojo can implement an effective and efficient defensive strategy. We don't need top-25, but it has to start becoming respectable.

Agreed. We really need to add a few bodies, and at least 1 of the impactful nature, for me to be optimistic that we can be better next year than this year. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, but this is the year we need Wojo to land a top tier grad transfer.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The most important season is the next one #wadesworldwisdom

[GooooMarquette]

It will be awesome if Theo ends up being Faisal + 2 inches.

Hopefully he can shoot FTs a little better though.  Even though - I know, I know - FTs no matta.....

[Nukem2]

It will be awesome if Theo ends up being Faisal + 2 inches.

Hopefully he can shoot FTs a little better though.  Even though - I know, I know - FTs no matta.....

well, Nigel Hayes' FTs in OT did matter  on Friday night.  Even the last one he made....   

[cheebs09]

I see Wojo's preferred offense being four guys that can shoot and move the ball with a low usage 5 that can finish dump offs and keep the ball alive on rebounds. On defense the center would be a rim protector and quick enough to aggressively hedge. I think John and Eke fit the mold of this.

This is purely eye test, but I don't know if our offense really missed a beat while Heldt was in. I know Luke was very efficient, but it seemed to bog the offense down a bit dumping it in to him to back down. Also, it was always deflating when he missed (stupid autocorrect). Again, purely eye test, so if someone has stats to contradict, I wouldn't be surprised.

[Pakuni]

I see Wojo's preferred offense being four guys that can shoot and move the ball with a low usage 5 that can finish dump offs and keep the ball alive on rebounds. On defense the center would be a rim protector and quick enough to aggressively hedge. I think John and Eke fit the mold of this.

This is purely eye test, but I don't know if our offense really missed a beat while Heldt was in. I know Luke was very efficient, but it seemed to bog the offense down a bit dumping it in to him to back down. Also, it was always deflating when he kissed. Again, purely eye test, so if someone has stats to contradict, I wouldn't be surprised.

I think that was Wojo's preferred offense because that was best suited to his players this season. With Fischer and Heldt the only true bigs, there wasn't much choice in the matter. Things looked different last season, with Fischer and Ellenson on the court at the same time (I know Henry got a lot of flak - perhaps deservedly - for tossing up too many 3s, but in reality less than a quarter of his attempts were from behind the arc).
So, I guess what I'm saying is, I wouldn't necessarily count on MU's lineup going forward being four shooters and a pivot. If Wojo can find a second post player who can present even a little bit of an offensive threat, I think he'd be happy to run him out there to offer another rebounder and rim protector.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Also, it was always deflating when he kissed.

So you weren't a fan of the senior day proposal, huh.

[warriorchick]

So you weren't a fan of the senior day proposal, huh.

She's a succubus, I tell ya!

[Newsdreams]

I think that was Wojo's preferred offense because that was best suited to his players this season. With Fischer and Heldt the only true bigs, there wasn't much choice in the matter. Things looked different last season, with Fischer and Ellenson on the court at the same time (I know Henry got a lot of flak - perhaps deservedly - for tossing up too many 3s, but in reality less than a quarter of his attempts were from behind the arc).
So, I guess what I'm saying is, I wouldn't necessarily count on MU's lineup going forward being four shooters and a pivot. If Wojo can find a second post player who can present even a little bit of an offensive threat, I think he'd be happy to run him out there to offer another rebounder and rim protector.

Think will be similar with Froling / Theo

[Newsdreams]

Like the this plus we are getting new young fans
https://twitter.com/theojohn123/status/845878485147095040

[keefe]

Ya must have more contacts dan Bausch and Lomb.

Doc

The new Ganzer?

[Dawson Rental]

Theo John is going to be an important part of the success of MU going forward. The kid has an incredible work  ethic. He is the kind of tough and athletic big we have needed for a long time.

I am even more excited about Theo than I am about Kostas, which tells you my level of enthusiasm for John is high.

The last clause of your last sentence was completely unnecessary.  Believe me, we would have gotten there on our own.

[rocket surgeon]

Great footwork and body control- very natural!  He's ready bababy, just has to learn the NCAA game and he will be fine, but ready he is.  I can tell by the way he moves, court awareness, etc. let's keep him for 3 years

[DUNKS45]

I really like what I see in him. Looking forward to see who else Wojo can bring in.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Great footwork and body control- very natural!  He's ready bababy, just has to learn the NCAA game and he will be fine, but ready he is.  I can tell by the way he moves, court awareness, etc. let's keep him for 3 years

[Markusquette]

Much of next season rests on Froling in my opinion.  We need him to step in and be close to as good as Luke quickly.  I know that's asking a bit but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities based on what I've heard about him.  I think Theo will contribute but I want to see him as our 4 splitting time with Sam and probably playing the 5 a bit too.  Not sure if Eke will be ready to contribute anything. 

[Nukem2]

Much of next season rests on Froling in my opinion.  We need him to step in and be close to as good as Luke quickly.  I know that's asking a bit but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities based on what I've heard about him.  I think Theo will contribute but I want to see him as our 4 splitting time with Sam and probably playing the 5 a bit too.  Not sure if Eke will be ready to contribute anything.

But, he will miss the meat of the NC schedule as he won't be eligible until after the 1st semester.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Much of next season rests on Froling in my opinion.  We need him to step in and be close to as good as Luke quickly.  I know that's asking a bit but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities based on what I've heard about him.  I think Theo will contribute but I want to see him as our 4 splitting time with Sam and probably playing the 5 a bit too.  Not sure if Eke will be ready to contribute anything.

Froling is going to be huge for us (one way or the other), but he isn't really a 5.  I actually think Froling will play the 4, and Matt/Theo at the 5.  Froling will get some time at the 5 when he we go 4 guard sets, but he is much more Ellenson-lite type player than Luke type player.

This also depends on if we bring in a grad transfer big.