Balancing the Roster

[pnkranger]

Let's assume for a second that we get Brown, Reid, Atak, and Rogers back. Brown, Reid, and Atak are all just okay defenders at best. Sure, we need ball-handling and a starting 5 and depth at guard, but in terms of the capabilities we need, I think we need to prioritize strong defenders and rebounders and good passers. We have plenty of good offensive players to form a good core. But we've never had good defense, rebounding, and passing on any of Moser's teams.

This year's team as an example was great at shooting, ball-handling, and shot-creation but middling to bad at defense, rebounding, and passing. How many post passes just sailed completely out of bounds?

For once, I want to see a balanced roster. What do you want to see out of next year's roster?

 

[WTSooner]

Those guys are not okay defenders. Maybe Brown.

Atak, Rogers, and Reid were all negative defenders per Evan Miya Forsythe was the only other negative defender. Rogers might can improve, but I don't love his athleticism. I don't see Atak or Reid getting much better.

Wague and Jones were our best, followed by Davis and then Brown. So replacing our 3 best defenders when as a team, we weren't very good at defense.

What I want to see? A well rounded team. Defense is about effort, accountability, and basketball IQ, assuming you aren't a complete stiff. Go find ball players. Find guys that aren't one dimensional to start, and then you can bring some guys that specialize off the bench for limited minutes. Guards still win basketball games, so we can't short change the guard spots. Does Reid stay at the 3, or does he move to the 4?

 

[WichitaSooner]

I just want us to not have one or two fatal flaws. No team is perfect, but we always have a couple deficiencies that are so bad that we just can't overcome them. We finally fixed the turnover issue this season, and compared to past seasons, our rebounding wasn't awful -- there weren't as many games where it seemed like we couldn't get a defensive rebound if our lives depended on it. We shot well (other than Davis and JN). But our defense was so, so bad for most of the season that we played ourselves out of the tournament.

I think we need better, actual depth. JN was/is terrible. It may sound mean, but he simply can't play. If you have a guy like that in your rotation, you don't have depth. He didn't do anything particularly well, and did a lot of things very poorly. So, maybe this is where the GM will show his talent in identifying under the radar guys who can legitimately give us 15 good minutes off the bench.

And we have to get at least two legit SEC bigs. If Kai stays, you can't rely on him to be your starter. Don't get fooled into thinking you can rely on him to be that guy because he played two or three good halves in a consolation tourney against teams that weren't very good. He is a below-the-rim player, and guys like that will always have a hard time in the SEC at the five.

And I think Moser needs to actually use the roster the right way. It shouldn't take half a season to realize JN sucks, or that Davis shouldn't shoot 3s. Guys need to play to their strengths and not try to be more than what they actually are.

Assuming Dayton leaves, we will need a couple more shooters to pair with Brown and Atak (if they stay). Reid is a solid shooter for his size, but that will never be a huge part of his game. And ideally, at least a couple guys like Jones, who actually work their butts off and take defense personally. If Davis had been remotely close to the defender Moser expected him to be, that would have made a big difference. We need more guys who are an absolute pain in the butt to play against.

 

[WTSooner]

Not sure if this conversation goes here, but.....

Najera - 6'8, 235
Reid - 6'8, 226

I'd sure like to see Reid toughen up and do some of the things that Najera did inside.

 

[pnkranger]

Reid is not as athletic as advertised. He needs to develop that tweener mentality, get his strength up, and be willing to bang.

 

[MJSooner]

I just want us to not have one or two fatal flaws. No team is perfect, but we always have a couple deficiencies that are so bad that we just can't overcome them. We finally fixed the turnover issue this season, and compared to past seasons, our rebounding wasn't awful -- there weren't as many games where it seemed like we couldn't get a defensive rebound if our lives depended on it. We shot well (other than Davis and JN). But our defense was so, so bad for most of the season that we played ourselves out of the tournament.

I think we need better, actual depth. JN was/is terrible. It may sound mean, but he simply can't play. If you have a guy like that in your rotation, you don't have depth. He didn't do anything particularly well, and did a lot of things very poorly. So, maybe this is where the GM will show his talent in identifying under the radar guys who can legitimately give us 15 good minutes off the bench.

And we have to get at least two legit SEC bigs. If Kai stays, you can't rely on him to be your starter. Don't get fooled into thinking you can rely on him to be that guy because he played two or three good halves in a consolation tourney against teams that weren't very good. He is a below-the-rim player, and guys like that will always have a hard time in the SEC at the five.

And I think Moser needs to actually use the roster the right way. It shouldn't take half a season to realize JN sucks, or that Davis shouldn't shoot 3s. Guys need to play to their strengths and not try to be more than what they actually are.

Assuming Dayton leaves, we will need a couple more shooters to pair with Brown and Atak (if they stay). Reid is a solid shooter for his size, but that will never be a huge part of his game. And ideally, at least a couple guys like Jones, who actually work their butts off and take defense personally. If Davis had been remotely close to the defender Moser expected him to be, that would have made a big difference. We need more guys who are an absolute pain in the butt to play against.

I think we need shooters even if Sparky stays. His shooting % from the deep could have been impacted by the ankles, but he is not a solid, consistent shooter from deep.

Agree with you- need shooters, D, and inside presence. I know part of that is the 1:4 or 5 out sets Moser runs, but look at the NCAAs, the teams playing past the first weekend had strength on the inside. No free drives to the lane. Control the defensive boards and grab a few putbacks. Able to post up on mismatches.

And 100% we need depth, in the form that we don't give up something huge- outside shooting, defense, rebounding- when the bench comes in the game. Part of that is, of course, the substitution patterns and who came off the bench. But our team shouldn't be better when our bench shortens, which is what happened down the stretch.

 

[MJSooner]

Not sure if this conversation goes here, but.....

Najera - 6'8, 235
Reid - 6'8, 226

I'd sure like to see Reid toughen up and do some of the things that Najera did inside.

Reid is not as athletic as advertised. He needs to develop that tweener mentality, get his strength up, and be willing to bang.

Agreed. Love DReid, but he needs to get stronger, especially around the basket. Would love for him to be able to post up on mismatches, which he didn't do well.

Both him and Tae weren't great finishers at the rim, outside of lobs or dunks. Tae did better during the postseason, but would like to see Reid be able to play through contact better, and a lot of that comes from getting stronger. You would think- or at least hope- that Hump would be working on that during the offseason.

 

[pnkranger]

Yep -- get a baby hook or a turnaround he can get off against smaller guards to add to his bag. Get him some lane touches like Doolittle or Osby.

 

[MJSooner]

Yep -- get a baby hook or a turnaround he can get off against smaller guards to add to his bag. Get him some lane touches like Doolittle or Osby.

Man if he could play in the paint like Ro did with handles, or Nolan Johnson, with his corner shot, he could be potent.

 

[CMSOONER]

Reid has all the tools to be a + Defender. There is no reason he shouldn't be other than effort.