As Team Walker over Hoggard… I’m not convinced that’s the best outcome for MSU.
I like the idea of Walker much more than the reality of Walker. Dude’s afraid of his own shadow.
1 Like
Hoggard
Home: 5.67 apg
Away + Neutral: 4.23
Walker
Home: 4.73
Away + Neutral: 3.9 apg
Devante Jones
Home: 4.6
Away + Neutral: 4.56
The MSU scorekeeper is wild
2 Likes
Entry pass to the post followed by two pump fakes a pivot and a fade away gets an assist in Breslin
3 Likes
as the PG you mean? do you want Walker - Akins starting?
Kohler’s not the most mobile big, right? Is he a good screener and roller? Can he pick and pop? Seems like if he can’t do those things we’ll he’s not going to be a good fit with how Izzo wants to play now. He’s not playing through the post as a first option nearly as much as he did early in Nick Ward’s day.
If Izzo were to shift his strategy towards playing out of the post and away from Hoggard and Walker initiating, well, then I’ll gladly take that.
No, I mean the PG situation is what it is. They have both guys. I’d just be a lot excited about a team that has Walker as a 30mpg PG than Hoggard as a 30mpg PG.
Would you rather have Jaelin Llewellyn or Tyson Walker?
1 Like
A Michigan version of Tyson Walker might be better than Llewellyn. I feel confident a MSU version will not though
1 Like
I might rather have Walker/Llewellyn than Llewellyn/Bufkin.
Tough call because I think Walker in a better half court offense could be something and Kobe scares me but also could be great once he figures it out.
1 Like
At 6-9, Koehler is going to be enveloped by guys like Hunter and Omoruwi, regardless of footwork. Maybe he is a real shoe leather guy like Ward, who scored it felt like 6 pts/game from early position. Also Ward had very special girth. I’ve never seen Kohler but from the head and shoulders, it ain’t there.
Anyway, no shade at MSU believers. I still believe Jace is taking a walk on slot so Youseff can sign up and Emoni can rain 3s.
2 Likes
Depends on how 6’9’’ he is. Trevion was listed at 6’10’’, a shade below 6’9’’ in shoes and more like 6’7’’ without. Pretty clear his size didn’t stop him from being a dynamic hub on offense. Also helped that Trevion has a standing reach over 9 feet and half an inch shorter than Hunter.
I think the point is that Trevion wasn’t that as a freshman though. He averaged 5 ppg and 2 rpg in 10 mpg. I think Kohler will probably eventually be good, but it’s a lot to ask a freshman to be among the best players in the Big Ten, especially as an undersized big. I wouldn’t just expect it next year like many seem to be doing.
Oh yeah I’m pretty on board w that assessment. I don’t think there’s obvious reason to have a very rosy view of Kohler’s production next season without having the same expectation for Michigan’s 3 incoming domestic freshmen. There were a bunch of all star games for this class and if he’s getting some heat, it should be reflected at least somewhat in the final rankings. Mostly I think we just don’t know much about how these guys will perform outside the top, I dk, 25. You’d rather be 40 than 80 but I’m not sure how much that’s worth.
My comment was just responding to the idea that his height is a definite limitation. It might be. But lot of factors there.
2 Likes
Jett Howard 6’7 220 SF – Michigan
Howard’s a good athlete and has good size at his position. Despite only scoring two points in the first half, Howard earned MVP for the winning Team Honor with 20 points on 9-12 shooting. He scored very well in the game and made some nice passes as well. He split time playing on and off the ball and was good off the dribble throughout the weekend, showing natural ability and change of speed with the ball. Although he didn’t make any 3s in the game, he was automatic to win the 3PT contest and knocked down his share in practice. Most of Howard’s points came from dunks and hitting contested shots at the rim, as well as showing a reliable floater with accurate touch at different heights and angles.
Jaxon Kohler 6’10 250 PF – Michigan State
In the first day of practice, Kohler struggled a bit making his moves, forcing it times, as he seemed bothered by both the speed and length of the competition. However, day two was much better and Kohler was in the driver’s seat. He executed well in the post, throwing fakes and counters, getting defenders off their feet as they bit on his advanced midrange/post moves. He shot it well too, not afraid to let the three fly when the defender had his hands down. While not known for his athleticism, he did have a nasty dunk on Tarris Reed in practice that stopped the scrimmage for a moment. Kohler scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in the game.
1 Like
That dunk I think has at least something to do with it. All it meant to me was further proof that Tarris has a long way to go defensively.
1 Like
My take is that I don’t think Kohler scoring 14 ppg is crazy. Definitely seems possible to me if Izzo is willing to play him. But being one of the better offensive centers and probably the worst defensive center, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re gonna be an above average player next year.
2 Likes
has there been chatter that Izzo knows Kohler is his starting 5, knows he’s a 35mpg workhorse already?
or is Kohler so skilled that he could average 14ppg in 18mpg?
classic Izzo would be 10mpg apiece for Kohler, Sissoko, Hauser, and the JV IMG guy
we all read that interview a few weeks back. He said “Sissoko will make us lead the country in rebounding” or some ish
2 Likes
I think Kohler is going to be good, Izzo is going to like him, and their depth chart may result in him getting a lot of minutes and having to contribute more than perhaps he would in another year.
With that being said, Mitch McGary scored 14 points or more 3 times as a freshman. Let that sink in for a minute. In 2014-15 Ricky Doyle was forced to play 20mpg as a freshman 6-9 post player on what ended up being a bad team. He scored 14 points just 3 times. Juwan Howard as a SOPHOMORE averaged 14.6ppg.
1 Like
The truth with Kohler is that nobody knows, even the rosy projections for him aren’t saying that he’s going to be first team all conference or anything close.
But I don’t see the merit in comparing Kohler or the center situation at MSU to Trevion Williams having to overtake Matt Haarms at Purdue or Mitch McGary having to overtake Jordan Morgan at Michigan. Entirely different situations.
There is not a comparison of the player or situation that fits better than freshman Nick Ward. He was a 6’9” center who was out of shape and couldn’t defend but had good footwork. He had very little competition at center. He scored in double digits 20 of his first 25 games at MSU before wearing down and not doing it again down the stretch of the season. He was averaging 15 and 7 in 23 MPG before the bad stretch knocked him down to 14 PPG on the year.
No matter what Izzo says to gas Sissoko up in the off-season the fact that he played more than 5 minutes in a conference game just 3 times all last season is telling. He’s not going to play more than 10-15 minutes max. Kohler getting 20, Sissoko getting 10, small ball getting 10 seems likely, and if that’s the split, Kohler is going to be productive offensively.
3 Likes