The Statue of Liberty. Sorry, couldn't resist
Our centers also can’t pick up cheap fouls away from the basket. Hunger fouled a guard 40 feet from the basket reaching for the ball.
He did foul Edey as he was finishing a dunk. That was cool. Luckily, he missed the free throw.
Oh I agree. Fouling was part of the strategy, too. But Edey wasn’t blowing the doors off. Choked at the line too (just like smith btw but that’s another story).
Or the refs need to call fewer cheap fouls that don't affect the play.
Strongly disagree. Verhoeven was not a liability at the end of the year. Not boxing out is not being overmatched. It’s a lack of awareness. We did not get beaten on the boards as badly last year.
Preston is giving up 8 inches to the guy. He wasn’t the reason for the L.
I didn’t say he was the reason for the loss. I said he’s overmatched at this level. On the game tying basket in regulation, Preston follows Smith down the lane but makes no effort to block or alter his shot. He then stands almost directly under the basket and makes no effort to box out Edey. Edey then dunks the put back. If Preston had engaged Edey, he gets the rebound regardless of the size difference.
I think he has been a contributor. Of course, he can’t match Edey. He wouldn’t have been out there, if the refs didn’t call a foul on Big Matt and Hunger every time Edey got the ball. Put him on a 6’8 player and he’ll do fine. His basketball IQ is generally fine, but it is damn near impossible to guard someone with at is 8 inches taller than you, has an array of excellent post moves, and gets foul calls if you rub against him.
I completely disagree on the rebound. If he boxes out Edey, he gets the rebound. Boxing out means putting your ass in the offensive player and clearing space around the basket. If he had done that, Edey would have had to go over his back to get the rebound. He made no attempt to box him out. None. He stood almost under the basket and waited for the ball to come down. I believe Robbie Hummel said he was in no man's land. Guys get rebounds in front of much taller players all the time. Edey averages 4 offensive rebounds a game so he's not unstoppable if you box him out. He left the most dominant player in college basketball and didn't even try to contest Smith's shot. He should have immediately rotated back to Edey.
How tall are you? I’m 6 foot, considered myself decent at defense back in the day and no way it hell I was guarding a 6’8 guy with strong post moves. Maybe you were better?
Didn’t say guard. Not expecting him to guard Edey without lots of help and even then not expecting him to stop him. But I could box out a much taller player if I had good position. Earlier this year against Michigan State Buie got switched on a big on defense and got a big rebound. He backed him away from the basket. Announcer mentioned his good form. Preston had position. He just didn’t try to engage Edey. I believe Preston also allowed Gillis a putback off a missed free throw but I would have to go back and check.
uh - Gus Hurlburt raises his hand 🙋♂️🤷♂️😉
I ren
I didn’t forget. Didn’t mean for this to be an extended thread where I keep bashing Preston. Just thought Verhoeven was a much more solid role player and Preston makes a lot of mistakes for a 5th year player (like on the game tying dunk).
Thats a logical concern but I don't think Collins sees it that way.
I like Verhoeven more as well. How soon we forget the steal from Preston in win against PU though.
The fact is - in the first game against Purdue - Preston played the last 4 minutes of regulation time and the first 4 minutes of OT, without a break.
I’m 6’ and still no problem guarding 6’2”-6’3”. On D, my empty hand goes as high as their hand with a ball. Their dribble is very much in my primary vision. And to get from dribble or pass to shot, they have to pass through a very reachable zone.
