Bigs for next year?

Chitowncy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
Jan 14, 2009
2,292
1,572
113
Ames
The wonderful thing is that if we just keep the guards we have (and add Nojus who is a top recruit and seems to be a good shooter which we need), I think we're going to be set with the guards / wings. The wet dream is adding someone just a little better and bigger than a Tre King. Tre is fantastic and has been awesome for this team and I find his shooting has been so crucial from the forward spot along with his leadership and defense, but I'm dreaming here NBA-calibre big and in my dream we get someone like a Julius Randle with a little post up game as well.

If Biliew and Rock can continue to develop and contribute as I think they can, along with Watson and this new big time big, that should be enough. Really hope we can find this big-time player somewhere to plug-in and fit the culture, because that's all that's missing on paper. We could go with a smaller lineup or bigger.

Fun to think about, but enjoy the good times right now regardless! The future is never guaranteed.
 

singsing

Well-Known Member
Nov 2, 2007
2,303
1,658
113
So we are counting 6-6 Kayden Fish as a big but we aren't counting 6-8 Omaha Biliew? I would get it if you are just discounting that he will be ready, but you flat out said you don't count him as a big.

I would think between Fish, Biliew, Momcilovich and Watson we have some coverage at the 4 but it would be really nice to have another (beefier hopefully) 5 to help out Rock.

I am also curious who the "enforcer" of daily effort will be. We have the CEO, but we still need someone to fill BRE's role.
I'm with you on Biliew. Even this season he's not playing wing. He's always posted up or defending under the rim. He's being used very similarly to King. King's a pf isn't he? He shot that 3 a couple days ago and I was shocked. I'd consider Milan more a wing than Omaha and I wouldn't consider him a wing either. Highly skilled pf with range in my book. The way our bigs defend the perimeter kinda makes things difficult to differentiate.
 

AuH2O

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2013
12,999
20,962
113
I'm with you on Biliew. Even this season he's not playing wing. He's always posted up or defending under the rim. He's being used very similarly to King. King's a pf isn't he? He shot that 3 a couple days ago and I was shocked. I'd consider Milan more a wing than Omaha and I wouldn't consider him a wing either. Highly skilled pf with range in my book. The way our bigs defend the perimeter kinda makes things difficult to differentiate.
As long as Billiew, Rock and anyone else they might bring in can guard a 5 and double like Rob and Ward, then ISU will be alright. Watson was basically playing the 4 when he has been in, and MM spent some time there.

Having that “true 5” is something a lot of teams don’t really have. Would be great to have one, but TJ is going to have some good lineups he can throw out there.
 

singsing

Well-Known Member
Nov 2, 2007
2,303
1,658
113
As long as Billiew, Rock and anyone else they might bring in can guard a 5 and double like Rob and Ward, then ISU will be alright. Watson was basically playing the 4 when he has been in, and MM spent some time there.

Having that “true 5” is something a lot of teams don’t really have. Would be great to have one, but TJ is going to have some good lineups he can throw out there.
Yeah, I could even see Watson and Omaha on the floor at the same time next season. King and Watson seem to compliment each other when they're on the floor together. I'm not too worried about it. I know we'll probably bring in a big, but I'm happy with the core we have going in. Honestly think we'll be better next year.
 

cayin

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Apr 11, 2006
10,114
10,379
113
Yeah, I could even see Watson and Omaha on the floor at the same time next season. King and Watson seem to compliment each other when they're on the floor together. I'm not too worried about it. I know we'll probably bring in a big, but I'm happy with the core we have going in. Honestly think we'll be better next year.
without bringing in a big we will not be better next year. Losing King, Ward and Jones is huge. Rock and Omaha will not be far enough along in their development to be as good as those guys yet. Watson I really like, I'm not worried about him. But it would be nice to get him scoring more. We definitely need another big, maybe two. Anyone know how Rock is coming along?
 
  • Creative
Reactions: Aclone

singsing

Well-Known Member
Nov 2, 2007
2,303
1,658
113
without bringing in a big we will not be better next year. Losing King, Ward and Jones is huge. Rock and Omaha will not be far enough along in their development to be as good as those guys yet. Watson I really like, I'm not worried about him. But it would be nice to get him scoring more. We definitely need another big, maybe two. Anyone know how Rock is coming along?
I didn't say we weren't bringing in a big. Where did you read that? Think we have a good core to compliment whoever we bring in. I assume we'll bring in some quality player or players. Who wouldn't want to play with our guard court next season.
 

HFCS

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
75,680
66,016
113
LA LA Land
4cf4f723-12b2-4ec3-a5a2-30046806f5e1_text.gif
 

Clonehomer

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
26,806
24,905
113
With how much better Bilew looked this eeekend I don’t have as much worry about him at the 4 next year. While it may be nice to bring in a transfer, I won’t fret about going into the season with the guys on the roster today.

Watson, Bilew, and hopefully Rock can fill the interior void. We have the bodies to play a 4 guard look most of the time anyways. I just don’t know how you divide up minutes for 3 positions otherwise.
 

I-stateTheTruth

Well-Known Member
Nov 13, 2016
8,869
14,235
113
It's probably much easier to attract a big or two with the regular season and Big 12 tourney success we've enjoyed. Heaven knows we're going to need a one. A big bag of NIL cash probably helps, too.

But it might be a bit discouraging to be a guard that can't step into the 4 spot like Milan can. I mean, right now, it appears that the 3 guards that sometimes played 100% of the minutes are all coming back. Paveletzke didn't play in a number of conference games and generally didn't go over the 8-minute mark, IIRC.

So what are the playing prospects for Paveletzke, J. Hamilton, Indrusaitis and Pierce? Hamilton is listed at 6-5 and the two incoming freshmen are 6-4. Their ability to get on the floor at all in TJ World starts with a prequisite of defense but even if they figure that out, it doesn't appear that there are many minutes available regardless. Good problem to have, of course, and sometimes these things take care of themselves. But it looks like getting minutes in the front court is going to be waaaay easier than the backcourt with the returning studs we (probably) have.
 

Clonehomer

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
26,806
24,905
113
It's probably much easier to attract a big or two with the regular season and Big 12 tourney success we've enjoyed. Heaven knows we're going to need a one. A big bag of NIL cash probably helps, too.

But it might be a bit discouraging to be a guard that can't step into the 4 spot like Milan can. I mean, right now, it appears that the 3 guards that sometimes played 100% of the minutes are all coming back. Paveletzke didn't play in a number of conference games and generally didn't go over the 8-minute mark, IIRC.

So what are the playing prospects for Paveletzke, J. Hamilton, Indrusaitis and Pierce? Hamilton is listed at 6-5 and the two incoming freshmen are 6-4. Their ability to get on the floor at all in TJ World starts with a prequisite of defense but even if they figure that out, it doesn't appear that there are many minutes available regardless. Good problem to have, of course, and sometimes these things take care of themselves. But it looks like getting minutes in the front court is going to be waaaay easier than the backcourt with the returning studs we (probably) have.

Next year will be difficult to see floor time for those guards beyond the core group. But, if they’re patient, there will be a hole the next year with Gilbert and Jones gone. Plus, I wouldn’t guarantee that Lipsey wouldn’t look at taking the jump after next season. So it isn’t like they won’t see time for years to come. It’s just one more year of getting wrap up duties early in the season.
 

Help Support Us

Become a patron