MPG with no transfer

[Nukem2]

Exactly.  Maybe as a switch up when they want to go small on offense, but Heldt and John are the posts.  Morrow is an old school power forward.

Yep.  His body is not a 5.  But, suspect he will be a real contributor.

[D'Lo Brown]

Why do people think Morrow will play major minutes at the 5. He did say the reason he transferred is because he didn't want to play the 5, but forward or wing. So emergency minutes at the 5 due to foul trouble, but starting at the 5 and major minutes no. We need a true body ready 4 and that is Morrow.
http://www.omaha.com/huskers/mens-basketball/ed-morrow-s-decision-to-transfer-leaves-husker-coach-tim/article_7449afcc-14dc-11e7-94d1-df0c482dda4a.html

Agree, but this came out of nowhere. I don't read every single post on this board so I could be wrong, but I can't remember too many people opining that he will be playing the 5. It's common knowledge here that he wants to play the 4 primarily.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think there will be times when we need our 5 best players on the floor and at least right now, I don't think Matt/Theo/Eke are in that 5.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I think there will be times when we need our 5 best players on the floor and at least right now, I don't think Matt/Theo/Eke are in that 5.

Exactly this. Positions no matta.

[MUMountin]

I think there will be times when we need our 5 best players on the floor and at least right now, I don't think Matt/Theo/Eke are in that 5.

Maybe, but I also think there are also times when we need the 5 guys Wojo trusts the most on the floor, and I think Matt IS in that group (along with Markus, Sam, Sacar, and GE currently).  I can imagine Ed cracking that group quickly, but not sure yet who else.

[D'Lo Brown]

Maybe, but I also think there are also times when we need the 5 guys Wojo trusts the most on the floor, and I think Matt IS in that group (along with Markus, Sam, Sacar, and GE currently).  I can imagine Ed cracking that group quickly, but not sure yet who else.

Exactly this.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Maybe, but I also think there are also times when we need the 5 guys Wojo trusts the most on the floor, and I think Matt IS in that group (along with Markus, Sam, Sacar, and GE currently).  I can imagine Ed cracking that group quickly, but not sure yet who else.

Seeing how he "trusted" Sam to the tune of 30 mpg freshman year, I'm assuming he'll trust Ed & Joey to a similar degree.

[Cheer4MU]

Are we finally getting to the point where being a young/inexperienced team is no longer an excuse? I know this thread assumes no grad transfer, but I'm going to ignore that for now and say we do land a grad transfer point guard for the purpose of this roster breakdown:

Seniors - Heldt & unnamed grad transfer
Juniors - Anim, Hauser, Howard, Morrow
Sophomores - Cain, Elliot, John (all of whom have saw fairly substantial minutes as freshmen)
Freshmen - Bailey, Eke, Hauser (20yo frosh and 2 RS freshmen)

I'm intrigued by Bailey due to his skill set and build. He will likely be rusty so I don't have high expectations immediately, but at least one can assume he is more mature than your run of the mill freshman. We all know Ike is a project, but hopefully a year of working on his game yields another serviceable big. Excited about Hauser and happy he has had extra time with the team and training staff to get healthy.

We won't be the most experienced team out there, but again, without looking deep into 2017-18 minutes for D1 programs, we should be more in the middle of the pack. Something to look forward to I think.

[HutchwasClutch]

Barring a grad transfer addition, which no one can predict, so I'll go with what we know right now, think these 5 would be our best -
S. Hauser
Morrow
John
Howard
J. Hauser

I'd put Cain and Anim in next pushing those 5.  With a year of experience under his belt, John should be ready to take minutes from Heldt.  He's developing a nice back to the basket game, with already tremendous athletic ability and strength.   Heldt does everything right, but he'll always be limited. 

[HutchwasClutch]

Sam averaged 26.5 mpg his freshman season on a deep team. 

Joey is more talented and explosive than Sam, I would be very surprised if he's not close to or at 30 mpg next season.  Totally disagree with other projections of 25 mpg, and some with 15 mpg for him are laughable.  This kid is a big time talent and will have an immediate impact and be a go to guy next year. 

[D'Lo Brown]

Barring a grad transfer addition, which no one can predict, so I'll go with what we know right now, think these 5 would be our best -
S. Hauser
Morrow
John
Howard
J. Hauser

I'd put Cain and Anim in next pushing those 5.  With a year of experience under his belt, John should be ready to take minutes from Heldt.  He's developing a nice back to the basket game, with already tremendous athletic ability and strength.   Heldt does everything right, but he'll always be limited.

To add to your points on Theo:

I think he's already had a back-to-the-basket game, but it might be most useful to add some moves that exploit his size and power. One has to imagine that he won't be losing any mass over the offseason, so it would seem that he would be an ideal player to learn to immediately face the basket and force the issue (as Davante did). I think he of course should continue developing his back-to-the-basket game, it shows promise. But he just has no need to be avoiding contact or trying to be exceedingly sneaky when he is close to the basket. I just think he should be drawing a ton of fouls offensively and he hasn't been, because he has been a little weak with the ball, so to speak.

Of course this would also involve him putting in some significant work on FT shooting, but it can be done. The coaching staff has done some good work in that department, and he did improve significantly there as the season went on.

[HutchwasClutch]

  3) I'm lost -- like other posters -- at what our Warriors will look like -- until I know whether we have a real point guard next year. If we don't, God help Wojo because he's going to need it.

Wojo and staff does need to get a grad transfer PG.  They pull that off and bring in a good one - guy who can distribute, defend, and at least be a threat to hit 3's, and this team will be very, very strong.   If they aren't able to do that, I remember back when Robb Logtermann was forced into playing a PG role as a freshman, 90-91 season.  He was completely miscast and results were ugly for him and team alike.  However that team was extremely young and not as talented as what we're bringing back next season.  Still, a good PG makes it all work.  Imagine the Final Four team without Diener!

[HutchwasClutch]

To add to your points on Theo:

I think he's already had a back-to-the-basket game, but it might be most useful to add some moves that exploit his size and power. One has to imagine that he won't be losing any mass over the offseason, so it would seem that he would be an ideal player to learn to immediately face the basket and force the issue (as Davante did). I think he of course should continue developing his back-to-the-basket game, it shows promise. But he just has no need to be avoiding contact or trying to be exceedingly sneaky when he is close to the basket. I just think he should be drawing a ton of fouls offensively and he hasn't been, because he has been a little weak with the ball, so to speak.

Of course this would also involve him putting in some significant work on FT shooting, but it can be done. The coaching staff has done some good work in that department, and he did improve significantly there as the season went on.

Agree with everything you say.   He could be an absolute beast in the paint with a more aggressive mentality.  He did play a little soft at times when he got touches, nothing that more experience and work on his game over the summer shouldn't solve.  He checks all the boxes of what you want in a big.   And he's our only guy who is a true rim protector. 

[D'Lo Brown]

Agree with everything you say.   He could be an absolute beast in the paint with a more aggressive mentality.  He did play a little soft at times when he got touches, nothing that more experience and work on his game over the summer shouldn't solve.  He checks all the boxes of what you want in a big.   And he's our only guy who is a true rim protector.

That's how I feel about Theo as well. I think he needs some polish and "hard work" should get him there. Clearly by looking at the guy, you can tell that he has some work ethic to him.

The team's offensive identity could change in some ways next season, too, which could make Heldt a little less useful... Perhaps Wojo will look to have more of a force down low as opposed to a facilitator. Pure speculation though, a lot more dominoes to fall.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I wouldn't consider John a true rim protector at this point. Yes he can swat balls with the best of them, but he's often out of position and if he doesn't get the block he usually fouls or gives up an easy bucket. Love his potential but there's a reason he didn't get more minutes.

[HutchwasClutch]

That's how I feel about Theo as well. I think he needs some polish and "hard work" should get him there. Clearly by looking at the guy, you can tell that he has some work ethic to him.

The team's offensive identity could change in some ways next season, too, which could make Heldt a little less useful... Perhaps Wojo will look to have more of a force down low as opposed to a facilitator. Pure speculation though, a lot more dominoes to fall.

Think their identity will change quite a bit offensively, they won't need to be so reliant on the 3 to generate offense.  Morrow will get paint points, Joey will slash and use his athletic ability to score, John down low, etc. 

[Herman Cain]

Barring a grad transfer addition, which no one can predict, so I'll go with what we know right now, think these 5 would be our best -
S. Hauser
Morrow
John
Howard
J. Hauser

I'd put Cain and Anim in next pushing those 5.  With a year of experience under his belt, John should be ready to take minutes from Heldt.  He's developing a nice back to the basket game, with already tremendous athletic ability and strength.   Heldt does everything right, but he'll always be limited.

Elliott showed he can compete hard at the Big East level. With a summer to add another 10 pounds of muscle and a surgically repaired thumb we are going to see great things from him.  He is a player the Coach wants on the floor as much as possible so that figures into the thinking as well.

[HutchwasClutch]

I wouldn't consider John a true rim protector at this point. Yes he can swat balls with the best of them, but he's often out of position and if he doesn't get the block he usually fouls or gives up an easy bucket. Love his potential but there's a reason he didn't get more minutes.

Out of position?  Yeah, when he had to come over and help because someone got beat off the dribble.   I saw a ton of that.  He's clearly our best pure shot blocker.  How do you define rim protector?

[HutchwasClutch]

Elliott showed he can compete hard at the Big East level. With a summer to add another 10 pounds of muscle and a surgically repaired thumb we are going to see great things from him.  He is a player the Coach wants on the floor as much as possible so that figures into the thinking as well.

I agree with all of that.  He's a tough kid and his length is very valuable defensively.  He'll be in the mix for sure.  But Anim has edge in experience (will be his 4th year in program), not to mention a couple inches taller and stronger overall.  As you said, they can add muscle to his frame.

Cain has edge overall athleticism and about 4 inches taller I think.

We'll see, his toughness may overcome what he's lacking against others he'll be competing for minutes against.  Too bad he's not a pure PG. 

[Herman Cain]

I agree with all of that.  He's a tough kid and his length is very valuable defensively.  He'll be in the mix for sure.  But Anim has edge in experience (will be his 4th year in program), not to mention a couple inches taller and stronger overall.  As you said, they can add muscle to his frame.

Cain has edge overall athleticism and about 4 inches taller I think.

We'll see, his toughness may overcome what he's lacking against others he'll be competing for minutes against.  Too bad he's not a pure PG.

I like Sacar a lot ,and if he continues to improve his offense next year, could be a break out year. I am also a big fan of Cain and believe he will play a big role next year as well. .

My  affinity for Elliott is based on both his complete package of skills and his selfless attitude. He is a classic Detroit  public high school basketball player that is team first and all about winning.  The kind of player Tom Izzo would recruit to great success over the years ( in fact he was recruiting Greg)

At times I can see us putting out a line up of  Elliott, Cain, Sacar, Morrow and Theo, which would compete well against the more athletic physical opponents while our shooters get a breather.

[HutchwasClutch]

I like Sacar a lot ,and if he continues to improve his offense next year, could be a break out year. I am also a big fan of Cain and believe he will play a big role next year as well. .

My  affinity for Elliott is based on both his complete package of skills and his selfless attitude. He is a classic Detroit  public high school basketball player that is team first and all about winning.  The kind of player Tom Izzo would recruit to great success over the years ( in fact he was recruiting Greg)

At times I can see us putting out a line up of  Elliott, Cain, Sacar, Morrow and Theo, which would compete well against the more athletic physical opponents while our shooters get a breather.

Agree, kid's a winner and tough.  Stories I read before and up to him signing with MU was Izzo was recruiting him hard too.  Speaks volumes. 

Wonder if bad left thumb cost him showing ability to handle/ distribute ball more?  I think he did play quite a bit of PG in HS, although I think he played just about everywhere for his HS team.  Maybe not out of the question that an offseason he could develop into our PG next year, with the big IF we don't sign a grad transfer. 

[Herman Cain]

Agree, kid's a winner and tough.  Stories I read before and up to him signing with MU was Izzo was recruiting him hard too.  Speaks volumes. 

Wonder if bad left thumb cost him showing ability to handle/ distribute ball more?  I think he did play quite a bit of PG in HS, although I think he played just about everywhere for his HS team.  Maybe not out of the question that an offseason he could develop into our PG next year, with the big IF we don't sign a grad transfer.

If you watched him carefully live , it was very apparent he could not use the left hand much , to the point where he literally did not have the handle necessary to be effective as a point guard. At this juncture I do not think there is enough time for him to recover from the surgery and put in the work necessary to be our primary point guard option this coming season, I think he is more likely a combo guard for us.  Greg built excellent on court chemistry with all the players on the team . They know when they give him the ball it is going to find its way to its most productive use.  There is not stat that measures that kind of thing, other than winning. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Out of position?  Yeah, when he had to come over and help because someone got beat off the dribble.   I saw a ton of that.  He's clearly our best pure shot blocker.  How do you define rim protector?

Not just when someone got beat off the dribble. He would come out way too far when covering 5s that couldn't shoot. He should have been hanging around the Big East logo in the free throw lane. He was often lost or late when covering the weak side as well.

Rim protection for me isn't just about blocking shots. It's about altering shots even when you can't get to them, and keeping other posts from scoring. Theo's points per possession allowed was the second worst on the team, ahead of only Rowdy. A large part of this is his high foul rate. At the moment, I would consider Matt a much better rim protector than Theo. But Theo clearly has the higher ceiling and is the better shot blocker. He showed more improvement from beginning to end than any other player IMHO. I'm very excited about what he could become.

[brewcity77]

He's clearly our best pure shot blocker.  How do you define rim protector?

Ed Morrow is also a good shot blocker. Theo was the best last year, not sure he will be next year.

[HutchwasClutch]

Ed Morrow is also a good shot blocker. Theo was the best last year, not sure he will be next year.

I only took into account last year's team in my opinion.   I haven't seen Morrow play yet.  I didn't realize he's considered a good shot blocker too.  I thought strength of his game revolved primarily around rebounding, both ends.   Hope he does show well protecting the rim.