Here’s my take for the 5 after a couple games:
First off, Matt Nicholson… Hands down the best option NU has. And honestly, I don’t think it’s close. The guy’s been the defensive anchor for NU the past couple of seasons, and that hasn’t changed. It’s not just about his size and strength but, the way he moves for a guy his size is impressive. His athleticism and court awareness set him apart as an interior defender. The progression in his positioning, especially from when he first stepped on the court, has been incredible. He’s a perfect example of what hard work and great coaching can do. His basketball IQ on both sides of the ball is through the roof.
Now, offensively, he’s limited. We all know that. His lack of touch around the rim really holds him back. I hear people asking for a post move from him, but realistically, he doesn’t have that natural scoring touch you’d want from a center at this level. Which limits his ability to develop that type of game. That said, he’s still a lob threat, especially when rolling to the basket. He does a great job sealing off defenders, and that’s where he can really make an impact in the pick n roll game. Bottom line, Nicholson is a great defender and offensively, he’s not going to make a huge impact. He’s developed a lot, but let’s be real about where he is: a solid-very good, defensive-first center who’s not going to change games with his scoring. Still, major props to him for how far he’s come.
Now let’s talk about Hunger… This kid’s got some potential. He’s the second best option NU has at the five, and I like what I see from him on offense. He’s got touch around the basket, a smooth outside shot that, when it’s falling, can stretch defenses. That being said it doesn’t fall consistently. The confidence in his offensive game has grown this season, and I think we’ll see that continue to improve. He’s shown flashes of driving the ball, and I think he could be more aggressive there. I want to see him put the ball on the floor a little more and make those plays.
Defensively, though, he’s still got work to do. He’s not at the level Nicholson is yet, and he’s not quite playing within the flow of the offense sometimes, which could limit his minutes as the season goes on. But, we’ve seen guys improve under this staff Martinelli’s a great example of that. He made a massive jump defensively last year, and even bigger one this year. Nicholson did the same thing in his career. So there’s definitely hope for Hunger. If he gets more consistent with his offense and puts in the work defensively, he could be a real mismatch for opposing centers with his ability to stretch the floor and drive. It’s all about consistency and development.
As for Fitzsimmons… Honestly, we haven’t seen much of him. He’s kind of a depth guy right now, a big body to fill a practice spot, and bring some energy off the bench. The upside of the other two guys is just higher, and I don’t want to see Fitz getting a ton of minutes unless we’re in a pinch. He’s a good guy to have in practice, but NU needs the guys who can contribute at a higher level.
So, in summary, Nicholson’s your guy for defense, Hunger’s got more offensive upside but needs work, and Fitz is there for depth. IMO there’s some solid options, but there’s still room for growth across the board. Just keep developing, keep grinding.
First off, Matt Nicholson… Hands down the best option NU has. And honestly, I don’t think it’s close. The guy’s been the defensive anchor for NU the past couple of seasons, and that hasn’t changed. It’s not just about his size and strength but, the way he moves for a guy his size is impressive. His athleticism and court awareness set him apart as an interior defender. The progression in his positioning, especially from when he first stepped on the court, has been incredible. He’s a perfect example of what hard work and great coaching can do. His basketball IQ on both sides of the ball is through the roof.
Now, offensively, he’s limited. We all know that. His lack of touch around the rim really holds him back. I hear people asking for a post move from him, but realistically, he doesn’t have that natural scoring touch you’d want from a center at this level. Which limits his ability to develop that type of game. That said, he’s still a lob threat, especially when rolling to the basket. He does a great job sealing off defenders, and that’s where he can really make an impact in the pick n roll game. Bottom line, Nicholson is a great defender and offensively, he’s not going to make a huge impact. He’s developed a lot, but let’s be real about where he is: a solid-very good, defensive-first center who’s not going to change games with his scoring. Still, major props to him for how far he’s come.
Now let’s talk about Hunger… This kid’s got some potential. He’s the second best option NU has at the five, and I like what I see from him on offense. He’s got touch around the basket, a smooth outside shot that, when it’s falling, can stretch defenses. That being said it doesn’t fall consistently. The confidence in his offensive game has grown this season, and I think we’ll see that continue to improve. He’s shown flashes of driving the ball, and I think he could be more aggressive there. I want to see him put the ball on the floor a little more and make those plays.
Defensively, though, he’s still got work to do. He’s not at the level Nicholson is yet, and he’s not quite playing within the flow of the offense sometimes, which could limit his minutes as the season goes on. But, we’ve seen guys improve under this staff Martinelli’s a great example of that. He made a massive jump defensively last year, and even bigger one this year. Nicholson did the same thing in his career. So there’s definitely hope for Hunger. If he gets more consistent with his offense and puts in the work defensively, he could be a real mismatch for opposing centers with his ability to stretch the floor and drive. It’s all about consistency and development.
As for Fitzsimmons… Honestly, we haven’t seen much of him. He’s kind of a depth guy right now, a big body to fill a practice spot, and bring some energy off the bench. The upside of the other two guys is just higher, and I don’t want to see Fitz getting a ton of minutes unless we’re in a pinch. He’s a good guy to have in practice, but NU needs the guys who can contribute at a higher level.
So, in summary, Nicholson’s your guy for defense, Hunger’s got more offensive upside but needs work, and Fitz is there for depth. IMO there’s some solid options, but there’s still room for growth across the board. Just keep developing, keep grinding.
