I was wrong....

[thebigabd]

Hannes Polla will not redshirt. Guy is a 6'11'' Kevin Bookout. What a find by Kruger. He and Manek are going to destroy people for about 4 years. These are "foundational" players that you recruit around.

 

[brsooner]

Very,very impressed with the big Finn.

 

[Leroy]

It will be a whole new world for both of them in the Big 12.

 

[coolm]

It will be a whole new world for both of them in the Big 12.

while that may be true, you can't coach big.

 

[kbsooner]

Lets hope Polla catches onto the speed of the game. At the practice I went to (Thurs before they left), he was more than a step slow on D. Also didn't have a lot of quick lift to get boards, always seemed just at his finger tips, and would lose them. Got to remember though he is just a freshman!

 

[MisterF]

One of his traits, which is very Bookout, he catches the ball high and doesn't bring it down. Lost skill for lots of young centers.

 

[chuckb]

Polla's clearly a lot further along on the offensive end than he is on the defensive end. While I don't think he'll redshirt and that he'll have games in which he looks really good, I don't think he'll get a lot of minutes this season. I think the drop-off defensively from Lattin and McNeace will be too large.

 

[OUHoops]

Hannes Polla will not redshirt. Guy is a 6'11'' Kevin Bookout. What a find by Kruger. He and Manek are going to destroy people for about 4 years. These are "foundational" players that you recruit around.

I don't really voice my negative opinions much on here, but I was wrong too. Had questioned taking Polla from Day 1. Not now. He's got something. Even if it's just as a role off the bench for his career.

Was thinking the same about him and Bookout last night as well. Not sure if he'll ever be that good, but he's certainly that type of wide-load, hard-bodied player and has more skills than I imagined.

 

[sperry]

I think one of the two should redshirt. Looks like Manek is more ready, so that makes Polla the guy.


Jamuni and Lattin have all 40 minutes at center locked down. Doolittle, Odomes, Manek, Freeman should be able to hold the rest down. Having these guys for an extra year is a big deal.

 

[vbdad]

We are going to look like Wisconsin in a couple of years. Really would have had Pritchard kept his commitment.

I've heard he catches the ball great the other guys just need to figure out how to pass to the low post. Nobody has ever done it. He also is a good free throw shooter.

Defense is a work in progress but he is big and takes up space. Just think about what Landon Lucas did for KU last year. He should be able to do it for us in the future and hopefully soon.

 

[AdaSooner]

Manek with 17 points in his first game and Polla scoring 9 points on 4 of 4 shooting from the field made a strong case for getting more minutes, not redshirting their freshman season. If they continue to play like that, the returning players will need to step up their game or risk losing their position in the rotation. Competition for playing time can be a good thing.

 

[thebigabd]

If Polla does redshirt it won't be because he cant play, it will be because OU has too many options at the position and they want to save the eligibility.

 

[Darwin]

If you want to think you're wrong that's ok but one game against questionable competition proves nothing. I am optimistic about all these guys but put your shirt back on and relax. I'm going to wait for late November before I go screaming sweet 16 this season.

 

[skyvue]

If you want to think you're wrong that's ok but one game against questionable competition proves nothing. I am optimistic about all these guys but put your shirt back on and relax. I'm going to wait for late November before I go screaming sweet 16 this season.

There's a huge gap between suggesting Polla won't redshirt and predicting a Sweet 16 for this team. I've not seen a single poster make the latter prediction.

 

[SuperHoops]

Redshirting European guys is always a tricky proposition. If he's good enough to make the NBA he will leave before his SR year and a lot of times they won't stick around for the 5th year and they'll just go back home and play in the Euro league like M'baye did.

 

[usedtobe1]

Redshirting European guys is always a tricky proposition. If he's good enough to make the NBA he will leave before his SR year and a lot of times they won't stick around for the 5th year and they'll just go back home and play in the Euro league like M'baye did.

It's funny but I was thinking this exact same thing. In an article posted on here recently, they asked Polla about the travel going to New Zealand after traveling from Europe. He said he needed to get used to it because he intended to play pro ball where there is a lot of travel involved. That didn't sound like a guy who intended to redshirt a year and stay 4 more years playing NCAA basketball. My guess is he might not even be at OU 4 years. If he isn't good enough to make the NBA, he can make some money playing in one of the European leagues.

 

[AdaSooner]

Redshirting European guys is always a tricky proposition. If he's good enough to make the NBA he will leave before his SR year and a lot of times they won't stick around for the 5th year and they'll just go back home and play in the Euro league like M'baye did.

One more reason Polla won't redshirt.

I have said all along Hannes and Brady will play this season. I'm more confident of that now than ever.

 

[BoulderSooner]

One more reason Polla won't redshirt.

I have said all along Hannes and Brady will play this season. I'm more confident of that now than ever.

even if it is just as a 3rd C and when guys are in foul trouble he will play ...

heck CJ cole got some first half run in a few games last year because of foul trouble

 

[usedtobe1]

even if it is just as a 3rd C and when guys are in foul trouble he will play ... heck CJ cole got some first half run in a few games last year because of foul trouble

Polla is going to play more than when both Lattin and McNeace are in foul trouble. When they played last year against teams with good low post players, they were abused defensively. Polla is big enough and tall enough to help battle in the paint. JMHO.

From refereeing 2000 - 3000 HS and AAU games over the years, I think girth is one of the most underestimated physical attributes. Playing against a strong player that outweighs you by 30 - 50 pounds tends to wear a player down over the course of the game. Especially in the paint. Lattin and McNeace are incredibly athletic but got bounced around inside like ping pong balls at times last year. McNeace gets lots of accolades because of his offensive moves, but he was really pretty poor defensively last year. Lattin was much better defensively. I just think Polla brings another dimension. I like to have options.

 

[coolm]

Polla is going to play more than when both Lattin and McNeace are in foul trouble. When they played last year against teams with good low post players, they were abused defensively. Polla is big enough and tall enough to help battle in the paint. JMHO.

From refereeing 2000 - 3000 HS and AAU games over the years, I think girth is one of the most underestimated physical attributes. Playing against a strong player that outweighs you by 30 - 50 pounds tends to wear a player down over the course of the game. Especially in the paint. Lattin and McNeace are incredibly athletic but got bounced around inside like ping pong balls at times last year. McNeace gets lots of accolades because of his offensive moves, but he was really pretty poor defensively last year. Lattin was much better defensively. I just think Polla brings another dimension. I like to have options.

Couldnt agree more.