Who will contribute the most as a freshman?

[madcityCY]

In now way am I down on our freshman - just trying to be realistic. Many of us thought Sledge would get 10+ mins a game last year.

Here are some reasons I am not counting on much from SDW this year:

As far as shooting goes, He's been described as "streaky.". He had a great Senior yr from a scoring perspective., but he's playing against HS'ers - many of whom will not playing any college ball. McGee for example is not streaky (factoring in inconsistent opportunities as a 6th man, who sometimes got into foul trouble). If he's open, he makes it. I think SDW will be a great shooter by the time he's a junior or so.

SDW is slender. While he could prove to be a consistent scorer, his current physique is a defensive liability - unless he's a total ball-hawk, which I have not heard him described as necessarily. McGee and Babb are rock solid.

Again, I'm not down on SDW or any of the other frosh, just trying to be realistic. We'll need them to step up as sophs - and I think they will.

 

[nallen34]

Ejim is the only power forward ahead of Niang. Ejim will play 27 minutes a game. Clyburn will play some power forward for about 4 minutes a game when we have a small lineup in. This leaves 8 to 9 minutes per game for Niang.

Clyburn will play probably 30 minutes a game at small forward. 5 of the minutes at small forward will be from when we go with a 3 guard lineup (ex. Lucious, Babb, McGee) then the other 5 minutes at small forward will be given to Okoro who is Big 12 ready right now at 6'5 220 lbs.

Dorsey-Walker is 6'4 175 lbs. He has 2 SG's ahead of him in Babb and Mcgee. I think he should personally redshirt and put on 20 lbs of muscle and be ready to contribute a lot in 2013-2014.

Naz is 6'4 195 lbs. He has 2 PG's ahead of him in Lucious and Bubu. He needs to put on a good 10 lbs of muscle and should probably redshirt also. Then for the 2013-2014 he could compete with Bubu for a starting spot at the point.

 

[RustShack]

Booker will probably be the top backup to both Gibson and Ejim... We will have players lining up at different spots. Not so say Niang wont see any minutes at the 4.

 

[WhatchaGonnaDo]

I agree with rholtgraves - this is as much about opportunity as it is readiness. Barring injuries or other reasons a returner would miss games, Okoro, SDW, and possibly Long wont get too many minutes.

Let's do the minutes exercise: 200 total minutes to average out...

Clyburn: 34
Lucious: 33
Babb: 33
Ejim: 26
Booker: 18
Gibson: 20
McGee: 22
Palo: 7
Niang: 5
Everybody else: 2

As has been mentioned, that's a 9-deep rotation, which are actually kind of rare. 10 players is even more rare.

That's playing pretty small for a lot of time. Booker/Gibson may be higher than that

 

[Frak]

By the end of the season Niang will cut into Gibson's minutes.

I don't know about that. I would bet that Gibson will end up being the 2nd or 3rd leading scorer on the team. My thought is that Niang will contribute the most as the 4th big. As far as the other three, I think two of them will redshirt due to lack of minutes available. I think that Okoro is probably the most college ready of the three body-wise, but it depends on what skills the team needs in a backup. Saying that, it's only June and it seems like we always think that we're going to have all this depth coming into the year and then someone leaves and someone gets hurt prior to the season, so who knows?

 

[State43]

I think people are sleeping on Okoro and Walker. Okoro is said to be a very good defensive player which in most cases is more important as we usually have enough people that can put points on the board, just need stops.
And Walker is a top 150 guy. Solid shooting, good athelete.
My opinion is Niang will see the floor the most due to just a need for PForwards. I am excited about all these players tobe honest.

 

[imnclone]

In now way am I down on our freshman - just trying to be realistic. Many of us thought Sledge would get 10+ mins a game last year.

Here are some reasons I am not counting on much from SDW this year:

As far as shooting goes, He's been described as "streaky.". He had a great Senior yr from a scoring perspective., but he's playing against HS'ers - many of whom will not playing any college ball. McGee for example is not streaky (factoring in inconsistent opportunities as a 6th man, who sometimes got into foul trouble). If he's open, he makes it. I think SDW will be a great shooter by the time he's a junior or so.

SDW is slender. While he could prove to be a consistent scorer, his current physique is a defensive liability - unless he's a total ball-hawk, which I have not heard him described as necessarily. McGee and Babb are rock solid.

Again, I'm not down on SDW or any of the other frosh, just trying to be realistic. We'll need them to step up as sophs - and I think they will.

Can SDW create his own shot? McGee and Babb don't really have that ability although it may not stand out this coming season if Lucious plays well.

 

[cysox2]

Ejim is the only power forward ahead of Niang. Ejim will play 27 minutes a game. Clyburn will play some power forward for about 4 minutes a game when we have a small lineup in. This leaves 8 to 9 minutes per game for Niang.

Clyburn will play probably 30 minutes a game at small forward. 5 of the minutes at small forward will be from when we go with a 3 guard lineup (ex. Lucious, Babb, McGee) then the other 5 minutes at small forward will be given to Okoro who is Big 12 ready right now at 6'5 220 lbs.

Dorsey-Walker is 6'4 175 lbs. He has 2 SG's ahead of him in Babb and Mcgee. I think he should personally redshirt and put on 20 lbs of muscle and be ready to contribute a lot in 2013-2014.

Naz is 6'4 195 lbs. He has 2 PG's ahead of him in Lucious and Bubu. He needs to put on a good 10 lbs of muscle and should probably redshirt also. Then for the 2013-2014 he could compete with Bubu for a starting spot at the point.

Ejim, booker, Gibson, and clyburn probably all play the 4 at some point. I wouldn't say Niang is next in line behind ejim for that spot although I think he will give us some good minutes there.

Just because a player is built for big 12 play doesn't mean he's ready for it. With Raileys body type he seemed ready to contribute last year, but that was definitely not the case. It would be nice to see a couple of them red shirt, and I agree that long and sdw are the 2 most likely to do that.

 

[nallen34]

Ejim, booker, Gibson, and clyburn probably all play the 4 at some point. I wouldn't say Niang is next in line behind ejim for that spot although I think he will give us some good minutes there.

Just because a player is built for big 12 play doesn't mean he's ready for it. With Raileys body type he seemed ready to contribute last year, but that was definitely not the case. It would be nice to see a couple of them red shirt, and I agree that long and sdw are the 2 most likely to do that.

There are 80 minutes to be divided for the 4/5 positions.

Ejim will get 27ish
Gibson will get 23ish
Booker will get 18ish
Niang will get 8ish
Clyburn 4ish

Railey did have a Big 12 body you're right. He also was a late McDermott signee that was recruited by Portland and Utah State. Not surprising that he was a bust.

Okoro on the other hand is 6'5 220, has a bigtime motor i've heard, is a good defender, and was recruited by Pitt, Seton Hall, Zona, and A&M. Plus he is a small forward which we are thin at considering Clyburn is the only true wing that we have on the team. Okoro will see some minutes.

Dorsey-Walker and Naz should redshirt for sure unless they tear it up i don't see the point in wasting a year for both of them being more than likely the third string PG and SG.