[97fan]

[quote author=97fan link=topic=5776.msg42481#msg42481 date=1333066099]
Aren't we going to be awfully thin -- I mean that both literally and figuratively -- in the front court next season?

The only guys on the roster next year who are 6'8" or taller are Dwight Powell, John Gage and Stefan Nastic, plus incoming frosh Grant Verhoeven and Rosco Allen. Unfortunately, Gage and Powell are wing players, not post guys. And I think the same is true of Allen.

That seems like a big hole on what should otherwise be a good team.

dude have you even seen Powell play?! He's not remotely close to being a wing player. He just need to bulk up some more and not jack up long jump shots. His defense really improved a ton towards the end of the season too. I think he starts at center next season.
[/quote]

Well, he doesn't like to post up offensively, and he doesn't have good post moves. (Or maybe he's just not strong enough to execute the post moves that he has.) Maybe he doesn't need to be an offensive post-up presence in Dawkins' offense. But Josh Owens will be gone next season, and I can't see Powell filling that role, even after a summer in the weight room.

Given Powell's length and athleticism, I agree that he can do a great job defensively against most bigs.

More generally, I don't want to sound negative about this team's future. I absolutely love Chasson Randle and Josh Huestis. Those guys have incredibly high ceilings. Aaron Bright is loads of fun to watch, and can take over games. Anthony Brown made a lot of progress this year, as did Powell. And everyone is going to have added confidence as a result of the NIT run.

[97fan]

[quote author=97fan link=topic=5776.msg42481#msg42481 date=1333066099]
Aren't we going to be awfully thin -- I mean that both literally and figuratively -- in the front court next season?

The only guys on the roster next year who are 6'8" or taller are Dwight Powell, John Gage and Stefan Nastic, plus incoming frosh Grant Verhoeven and Rosco Allen. Unfortunately, Gage and Powell are wing players, not post guys. And I think the same is true of Allen.

That seems like a big hole on what should otherwise be a good team.

dude have you even seen Powell play?! He's not remotely close to being a wing player. He just need to bulk up some more and not jack up long jump shots. His defense really improved a ton towards the end of the season too. I think he starts at center next season.
[/quote]

Well, he doesn't like to post up offensively, and he doesn't have good post moves. (Or maybe he's just not strong enough to execute the post moves that he has.) Maybe he doesn't need to be an offensive post-up presence in Dawkins' offense. But Josh Owens will be gone next season, and I can't see Powell filling that role, even after a summer in the weight room.

Given Powell's length and athleticism, I agree that he can do a great job defensively against most bigs.

More generally, I don't want to sound negative about this team's future. I absolutely love Chasson Randle and Josh Huestis. Those guys have incredibly high ceilings. Aaron Bright is loads of fun to watch, and can take over games. Anthony Brown made a lot of progress this year, as did Powell. And everyone is going to have added confidence as a result of the NIT run.