How much better can Niang get?
- Thread starter GoSTATE71
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There's a guy that couldn't jump that comes to my mind. Hate the guy, but he was a great college player.
Niang could develop a mid-range game and lead us to a couple national titles, just like Laettner did for the Blue Devils in the 90's. That'd be allright by me.
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Niang could develop a mid-range game and lead us to a couple national titles, just like Laettner did for the Blue Devils in the 90's. That'd be allright by me.
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FIFY.
To those saying he won't improve offensively, I think I understand what you are saying, but I think he will improve in several ways. First off, conditioning. He plays really good offense at the beginning of halves, but can trail off after he's been on the floor for a bit. Second, he needs to figure out how to stay out of foul trouble. By his Jr year, he should be playing 30-35 minutes per game. Third, when he is an upperclassman, the offense will run through him much more than it does today, much like Royce last year. 2 apg is amazing for a freshman big, but I think he'll get that up to at least 5 when the offense is tailored for him.
The other place I think he'll improve offensively is knowing what shots to take when. Not that he has bad shot selection now, but I think it'll really improve. He can also be a more consistent rebounder.
I have quite high expectations for Niang, I think he could have a Fizer-esque career path. I think by his senior year he could potentially be a 20-10-5 guy. He has that much potential.
He does get a bad rap for being out of shape. I personally don't think he's in bad shape for a FR. There aren't many FR posts that can come into their first year and give the amount of time/production that he has. He'll certainly improve, as all FR do, but he's in decent shape for a post player at this stage.
he really reminds me a lot of Larry Bird. He isn't going to wow anyone with his athletic ability, but somehow he just gets his shots and makes them. He is just sneeky cleaver with the ball, and a great passer. He just knows where to go to get the ball for an easy basket.
He makes really good players look like ametuers. If he can develop some more speed and the conditioning to go full bore the whole game, his top is very high. Also, with the flashes of brilliant team play I have seen this year, these coaches are really due some credit. If Fred has 4 years developing Georges, he will be one of the most special players I have seen at ISU and will probably end up with a banner next to Hoibergs.
So all he can do is shoot from the outside, drive and finish with touch, use great post moves on the block, and execute on either end of a pick and roll? meh.
Really, we have seen Niang score in almost any manner that does not require superior strength or jumping ability.
Maybe not that much better, but with more strength and experience, he could be a go-to, dominant player. He already has the skill to make tough shots, but if he transforms his body he will get more easy looks (fast-breaks, out-muscling guys for better position). Adding the strength to back most guys down to his great footwork and touch would be a guy that demands double teams. I also suspect he adds to his skill level too- tightens his already decent handle and mid-range game.
Are you talking conditioning or weight? He has a lot of dead weight right now and while I bet he is a lot stronger since getting to ISU, he still needs to cut that weight asap. I'm assuming next year he will have transformed his body a pretty decent amount over the offseason.
I'm talking conditioning. He needs improvement in both areas, but he's playing a lot of minutes for a FR big and staying productive. Not to mention he has the ball in his hands a lot and is getting challenged by a lot of taller post players, and still handles it.
Certainly his body can use some time in the weight room, but that will come.
As far as Niang changing his body, do any of you guys remember how pudgy and unathletic looking Jared Homan was as a true freshman? He could barely score the ball at all and by the time he was a SR he was ripped and an offensive and defensive force.
Niang's ceiling is way higher than Homans too.
Niang's ceiling is way higher than Homans too.
If McLemore leaves, I think he'll be the most valuable offensive player in the B12 starting next year. He probably doesn't have the kind of curve for growth as some players since he's already pretty polished, be there is still room for improvement, and he is not far from being very, very, good as it is.
Niang has EVERYTHING you could want in a freshman playing the 4, except the vertical leap and being about 6" taller. He will learn to play smarter defense, he will get bigger and stronger, and I expect his vertical will improve a bit. I do not anticiapte Fred being able to coach him to 6'11" though...
So my son keeps calling him Georges (pronouncing the S at the end like he's plural), and tonight finally nicknamed him "Gorgeous Georges". Pronounce it sloppily and make it rhyme, and say it with me: "Gorgeous Georgeous".
So my son keeps calling him Georges (pronouncing the S at the end like he's plural), and tonight finally nicknamed him "Gorgeous Georges". Pronounce it sloppily and make it rhyme, and say it with me: "Gorgeous Georgeous".
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DistrictCyclone
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He's already got one hell of a start; about the only guys I can think of who've put together a freshman campaign as good as Niang's are Hoiberg, Stevens, Grayer, Fizer, and maybe Jake Sullivan.
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