A conversation with Bryant McIntosh went a long way toward Rivals150 guard Jordan Lathon's decision to commit to NU.
Story: B-Mac's words helped Lathon become a Cat ($)
Story: B-Mac's words helped Lathon become a Cat ($)
How B-Mac helped Jordan Lathon become a Wildcat
- Thread starter lou v
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I'd love to see Isiah Brown emerge as a starter at the 2 who can also get us into offensive sets and prevent defenses from targeting one guy the way they often do with Mac. A Lathon-Brown-Law trio would give us a LOT of play-making ability on offense, especially adding the 3-point shooting ability of Falzon or Rap.
I think Gaines is going to press for minutes as well. NU is going to be more effective at breaking D's down off the dribble and then when they kick it out, we have better quality three point shooters (Law and Falzon) and better mid-range creators/finishers (Rap and Benson).
A very solid defense gets a bit more athletic and better on the perimeter.
A very solid defense gets a bit more athletic and better on the perimeter.
I'm not seeing this Benson as a creator and having a mid-range game. I'll be happy if he can provide 10 minutes of solid defense, good rebounding, and someone who can finish on the short-range game.
I'm expecting a pretty big step up from last season from Benson. I liked how he improved a lot as the season went on. I doubt he'll make a huge impact given limited time because of Pardon. 10-15 min seem right. I don't see him being a creator ever. A solid post option with an occasional mid range sure. (Basically agreeing with just wanting to talk him up a little as well)
I see him as a pretty refined shooter from inside the three point line. We'll see how the Sophomore jump goes.
IMHO, Brown should be primarily a two guard. He can score with the best of them- but when we had him bringing the ball up the court as a pg, he made too many mistakes/turnovers. It was almost as if he wasn't having as much fun out there at point versus at the shooting guard. I may be wrong, but that is how I interpreted his body language and the results of his play on the court.
Putting aside the armchair psychology, it isn't really surprising that a kid who was used to dominating the ball as a scorer in high school had a little trouble adjusting to more of a "true point guard" role at the B1G level.
Pardon made big strides in being able to "create" from freshman to sophomore year.
I watch Mr. Brown and all I see is a future star. I do not understand the negativity about him. He can put the ball on the deck and get to the hoop. He was the option when we needed the offense. He can shoot and was playing better defense at the end of the year. I go back to Billy McKinney days, but I think his jump will be enormous. I will not put on Billy's level, but Mr. Brown is going to be huge with his drives and his shooting. He needs a little refinement to play under control and shot selection, but he has all the tools.
Isaiah Brown showed tantalizing flashes of what he can do last season. All he has to do is make better decisions and be more consistent. I see him eventually being a better version of Tre Demps.
The best thing they could do with Brown is to let him be what he is. He's not a point guard and never will be. He's a streaky shooter that you ride when he's on....a poor man's Vinnie Johnson.
The scuttlebutt about Gaines seem promising.
Wouldn't want to expect much from a frosh, but Gaines could end up being a good sub off the bench at the 2 (something the 'Cats really didn't have last season and sorely missed when Lindsey was out).
As for Brown, he reminds me a lot of Demps - can put up the spectaular play (last season, Brown was better at anyone on the team taking hard hits to the basket and somehow still getting the ball in the hoop; problem is, he also had too many misses).
Unless Brown improves on his ball handling skills, may be better suited at the 2 (even if on the short side at a couple of inches shorter than Demps).
But we all saw how Demps improved over the years; if Brown wants to hold off on Gaines and Lathon on playing time, he will also need to be more serious on the defensive end.
Last year we really didn't see Brown do what he was hyped to do...be a cold blooded three point shooter. He had a decent freshman campaign and helped NU stay in a couple games.
Where he surprised was his ability to take guys off the dribble and get to the rim. He froze the ball a little too much doing this, though.
He was one of two guys who could receive the ball deep on the press and get it up court without turning it over. His handle on the press was tight. Decent defense.
Let's see if the summer doesn't move him further in the right direction. Further away from high school where he had the ball 99 percent of the time and shot it every time he had it. And more in sync with the NU offense where the ball flies around until it finds the open man.
It takes some time to learn and get comfortable with a new system.
His minutes will be interesting. I think his three point shooting jumps up into the high thirties (above .333) and his assist to turnover ratio improves (he'll lose the dumb turnovers in the half court). But this year more than any in the last forty, you're going to have to earn minutes. Gaines may get minutes over Brown for his defense -- he has the size to play 2's and 3's and spot defend a smaller 4 -- if the return of Falzon has NU raining threes and scoring is not a big concern.
If Brown gets 20 minutes a game he's on track to be something special.
You sure Brown was ever hyped as a "cold blooded three point shooter?" My impression was always that he's more of a slashing scorer than an outside shooter.
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Took a ton of threes in high school and shot .45 from the field. Won the NU summer shooting contest...first freshman to do so.
But you're right, rep is more inside the line as a creator. He's not Falzon,
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