Quote:
Originally Posted by komacki
Good morning guys. I want to get your take on this.
In a thread over on the WSN boards about Jordan Taylor I supported the notion that he would be the freshman that would see the most minutes next year. One of my reasons was that Berggren, who I think is the second most likely to get the most playing time, has more competition. Specifically, I said that if Leuer progresses enough during the offseason on his body and low post defense he'll get the starting spot at the 5 (note that does not mean he'll be stuck on the block, it's the swing offense for cripes sake; nor does it mean that he'll be the main low post presence on either offense or defense, that will be Landry just like this past year), and that Nankivil will also be in the mix for minutes at the big men spots.
The response was the closest I've come to being run off a board. I was told that Leuer was in no way in Bo's plans as a 4 or 5, that he was a SF and would be the new Novak. And that if Nankivil wasn't the starting center next year the Badgers would be in big trouble.
So do you guys think that I'm wrong for thinking that Bo will mke Leuer into a lighter Brian Butch, or that they're wrong for thinking he's got the quickness to stay with someone 5 inches shorter than he is?
And if one of you is "Memhoops..." I want to know where your opinion that Nankivil better start is coming from.
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I don't see what the complete and utter outrage was about. We agreed on Leuer possibly starting at center in a previous conversation. People thinking he is a small forward.....now that's silly. Any tall but physically immature guy who isn't a klutz, can dribble alright, and possibly can shoot; many people think project to the small forward position. History doesn't support that thesis though. Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Tyson Chandler, etc. They simply couldn't justify guarding opposing 3's with their lack of lateral quickness, nor could they penetrate offensively on any of those players, so their best option is strengthen their frames and play inside, where they operate within less space. Jon Leuer is the young, college version of those players. Joe Alexander is much more athletic than Leuer and West Virginia can't justify him playing small forward very often. Leuer is an interior, frontcourt player who steps outside on occasion. He did exhibit plenty of post skills against Duke. He's the swing's 2008-2010 version of Brian Butch, only hopefully more athletic even following gaining weight. The high major version of Paige Paulsen if you will. There is a distinct possibility he'll play plenty of center next year and beyond.
Taylor had the best senior season of the quintet, he's the most physically mature, he's mentally mature, he's toolsy, we need a 2nd or at least 3rd competent ballhandler....he'll receive the most minutes of the freshman next season. But Berggren will be the 2nd most relied upon freshman, IMO. His length/strength/shot blocking ability will be required when we play a "true" center like OSU's incoming frosh BJ Mullens. Coincidentally, I'd rank our recruiting class in the exact same order they committed to Wisconsin: 1. Taylor, 2. Berggren, 3. Wilson, 4. Markolf, 5. Evans.