Looking forward to seeing Foster pair up with Young and Conditt with the small ball fours.Gives us two different looks each with a rim protector.
Xavier Foster Committed To Iowa State
- Thread starter LLCoolCY
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You seem pretty sure about that
24 points per game (49% fg, 32% 3P, 75% ft), 9.7 rebounds per game, 3.7 blocks per game
I'd consider that in the neighborhood of 13 and 6. Given he's still a top 100 guy, but not a top 10 guy, I'd say that would be acceptable from his as a freshman.
He missed a ton of games this season with an injury and also had mono for a while too, so I think that needs to be taken into account as well.
Xavier Foster 2018-2019:
14.4 points per game (54 % FG, 27% 3P, 51% FT), 11.8 rebounds per game, 6.2 blocks per game
And from the video's, his ball handling, he's not going to be Kevin Durant or anything but his game (and body) evolved in the last year, he's much more versatile. If he has similar improvement this offseason, he'll be a factor next year. Between he, Solo and Conditt, you have a wide variety of skills and more length than we've had in the frontcourt since...idk when.
I'd love to see Prohm implement a similar play that Self uses with Dotson and Doke. Start Bolton on the left wing and run him through a Foster screen and then a Solo screen. It would be easy for the defenders to get lost when they have to cover Bolton flying towards the rim, Foster possibly going to the rim or the three point line and Solo either going to the rim or settling in for a mid-range jumper. Then I'd park Jackson on the three-point line and have Johnson ready to slash to the rim from the opposite side. You could run that play with a number of successful results.
I think to add to your point is a key is developing a culture of working to get better. We constantly heard of Ejim, Niang & Long and others creating the culture of putting in the hours in the gym to develop their craft. Yes you need talent, Yes you need talent around you. But to develop the on court chemistry and teamwork it takes to be special takes a culture that breeds it. That is one aspect of coaching that often seems to be overlooked, yet is not just the coaches, but the leadership of key players as well.
I actually don't disagree with your point, but since you asked, who hasn't been played to their strengths?
1) I suggest the experiment with Michael Jacobsen at the 4 with a lot of time on the perimeter wasn't that successful. If, however, you counter that was to get Young more time in the post, then I would say that may have played more to Solomon's strengths.
2) I understand we struggle at the point with Tyrese injured, but Bolton is so loose with the rock in his hands that doesn't seem to play to his strength. He feels like a natural SG, where he can take the guy off the bounce, but to watch him with careless turnovers and then to put his head down and try to drive between two defenders is painful to watch. Again you might counter with who is better? I felt Nixon actually ran the point a bit better, if you can get him to not be so shot happy.
That's only two (pessimist & optimist) types of people. You left out the victims ("Who has been drinking out of my glass?) and the 6 Sigma types ("You have twice the infrastructure necessary for the amount of liquid you have to contain.")
Absolutely. And that's why I like what I'm hearing with Tre Jackson.. There's already been multiple stories about him staying longer than most after practice, getting up extra shots after a game, etc. That's the type of culture that builds strong programs. Other guys feed off of those types of player's work ethic.
Part of Rasir's problems are due to not being surrounded by many options that the defense fears.
Yeah this year is a bit different. Prohm had to experiment at that 4 position and Mike ended up having to take on that role. I think that had more to do with no one else being capable of playing that position and Mike was the least worst of the bunch.
On your second point, I think that although Nixon does have a stronger handle than Bolton, he's such a liability taking care of the ball. Bolton's not head over heals better, but I think Prohm would rather the ball be in his hands a majority of the game than Nixon's. Prohm loves that pick and roll / pick and pop action, and I think he'd rather have Bolton taking it down hill on the defense instead of the constant pull up game Nixon was giving us.
