The Dreaded Red Shirt

[The Hip Zip]

Cheatham must play.

That is all

[phil]

Who do you want to benefit. The individual player or the team. Using hindsight, I think Zeke would be a better pro prospect if he would have redshirted his freshman year and would be playing this year as a senior. However, we needed him to play as a freshman to improve the team that year and it was not even an option. He had too much talent to sit a year.

[akronzips71]

This board needs a LIKE button.

I LIKE the last two posts. Maybe the last three.

Kwan MUST play. Pat so far has been Mike Bardo, who really contributed nothing but size until his senior year.

Big Dog just does not look athletic. Maybe he needs a high level fitness program. Maybe he has not grown into his size yet, which happened with Zeke.

Kwan has only played 20 minutes. And missed a few jump shots. But at least he shoots!!

And he just looks damn athletic for a man his size. He looked like Q and Harney out there. Harness that and you have a star.

[Dave in Green]

Big Dog is not going to redshirt. He is exactly the kind of center that Coach Dambrot expected. As a reminder, below is an example of the kind of HS scouting report that caused Coach Dambrot to recruit him even though it was obvious to everyone that he isn't fast and doesn't have hops:

His big body provides brick wall defense. Johnson works hard defensively in the paint, laterally sliding his feet and positioning his body for denial of post-feeds. He is excellent at boxing-out and putting himself in position for rebounds. He walls-up defenders without leaning over or fouling them. Offensively, he keeps a low stance and settles for smart, high percentage shots. Loves his right-handed sweep hook and works toward the midline of the paint. One downside to his game is a low elevation from his jump.

Big Dog went head-to-head in HS and AAU with a number of highly touted bigs who could outrun him and outjump him. The important point is that they couldn't outplay him.

[Z.I.P.]

Big Dog is not going to redshirt. He is exactly the kind of center that Coach Dambrot expected. As a reminder, below is an example of the kind of HS scouting report that caused Coach Dambrot to recruit him even though it was obvious to everyone that he isn't fast and doesn't have hops:

Big Dog went head-to-head in HS and AAU with a number of highly touted bigs who could outrun him and outjump him. The important point is that they couldn't outplay him.

Damn! A guy like that needs a really good nickname to go with his super powers. I suggest, "Iron" Big Dog Johnson. Or just "Big Johnson" Big Dog Johnson. Anyone else?

[Hilltopper]

Damn! A guy like that needs a really good nickname to go with his super powers. I suggest, "Iron" Big Dog Johnson. Or just "Big Johnson" Big Dog Johnson. Anyone else?

You just love to push the limits, huh.

[ZippyRulz]

That's funny, I came up with "A Legit Bitch" which actually also might work.

LOL.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=legit-a-bitch

[akronzips71]

LOL.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=legit-a-bitch

Sounds like the annual Buffalo game.

[legendofzippy]

I have no idea how the coaches feel, but from my observations, I'd keep Cheatham and redshirt Big Dog also. I think Cheatham can help us more right now.

However, there's always a little bit of risk in taking a player who is overweight and slow, and making him sit for a year. Gives him a lot more chances to be lazy, and you sometimes end up with an even bigger problem the following year.

I don't see how we can redshirt either. Pat is clearly the starting center, so let's say Big Dog is the backup. It's not hard to get two bigs into foul trouble. So then what do you do - who's the other big to have on the court?

The answer might not come until the tournament in Hawaii though. It's not like other teams have a huge depth in "bigs", so I suppose it's possible the situation never comes up.

[Captain Kangaroo]

However, there's always a little bit of risk in taking a player who is overweight and slow, and making him sit for a year. Gives him a lot more chances to be lazy, and you sometimes end up with an even bigger problem the following year.

It's not like he'd be a non-qualifier. He still practices with the team. I doubt he'd do anything but dramatically improve his physical condition.

[akronzips71]

It's not like he'd be a non-qualifier. He still practices with the team. I doubt he'd do anything but dramatically improve his physical condition.

+11111111

[Dave in Green]

Don’t call Isaiah Johnson by his first name. He prefers Big Dog.

More than a few people thought that Johnson could end up playing elsewhere even after orally committing to UA, but with center Zeke Marshall’s departure, he sensed opportunity and he didn’t want to redshirt.

[Dave in Green]

One day left before we learn the Zips' redshirt plans. Any freshman who plays tomorrow night is not on Coach Dambrot's redshirt list. All indications are that Big Dog will play. It's questionable if any of the other three freshmen will. Kwan has obviously become a fan favorite with his unique skill set of size, speed, ball handling, rebounding and outside shooting. BJ and Aaron have also looked good, but are they good enough to take PT away from the veterans?

Defense is the key. As everyone here knows, Coach Dambrot rewards those who perform best on defense with more PT. All of the HS scouting on Big Dog praised his defensive abilities, and he gave a hint of that against an overpowered D3 Bluffton team with four blocks and no personal fouls. Kwan, BJ and Aaron also received praise for their defense in HS. The question is how that will translate to D1 college play, where the players are bigger, faster, stronger and more skilled. Over the course of their college careers, I think that all four freshmen will impress Zips fans and help keep the program on an upward trajectory. But any freshman who doesn't play tomorrow night will only have his redshirt burned if something happens in the next few games that convinces Coach Dambrot the veterans need more help.

[akronzips71]

Kwan has obviously become a fan favorite with his unique skill set of size, speed, ball handling, rebounding and outside shooting.

And you want him to sit out the year?

DUH

[Captain Kangaroo]

Next year there will be roughly 32 minutes/game freed-up based upon Diggs' graduation.

But, Dambrot will likely use his one available scholarship to bring in a point guard, and that kid will likely eat into a good chunk of those 32 minutes. So...add in Ibitayo's 4 minutes per game...and we'll have three redshirts vying for a handful of those newly-available minutes against a boatload of Juniors and Seniors.

I don't see the 2013-14 redshirt kids getting appreciable court time until 2015-16.

Unless of course, someone really underachieves this season. The 2014-15 Cheatham/Forsythe "battle" for PT will be interesting. Depending upon Pat's early motor, it might even occur this November?

We'll just have to sit back and watch how it all plays-out.

[Dave in Green]

@akronzips71, I notice that unlike Coach Dambrot you have a pattern in your player evaluations of overlooking defense. Does DUH stand for Defense Unknown Here?

[blueandgold]

@akronzips71, I notice that unlike Coach Dambrot you have a pattern in your player evaluations of overlooking defense. Does DUH stand for Defense Unknown Here?

I tell my son all the time how important defense is in basketball (all sports for that matter). He is good at it, but thinks that since he isn't the best ball handler or shooter that he shouldn't try out for a travel team or other teams because the other players are better at scoring. I think most people think that way and it's hard to get them to understand.

[akronzips71]

@akronzips71, I notice that unlike Coach Dambrot you have a pattern in your player evaluations of overlooking defense. Does DUH stand for Defense Unknown Here?

Actually, I have never seen much offense or defense from PF.

Big Dog may work out very well for us, but he does not get off his feet and his blocks against a D3 team of midgets do not mean much.

KD would not be so high on Big Dog if Pat was the replacement for Zeke. He appears to be the replacement for Mike Bardo.

So yes, we are going to need that athletic go getter in there. Count on it.

[Hilltopper]

Actually, I have never seen much offense or defense from PF.

Big Dog may work out very well for us, but he does not get off his feet and his blocks against a D3 team of midgets do not mean much.

KD would not be so high on Big Dog if Pat was the replacement for Zeke. He appears to be the replacement for Mike Bardo.

So yes, we are going to need that athletic go getter in there. Count on it.

Sometimes in the recruiting process the way to get a commitment from a player you really want is to assure them they will get playing time as a true freshman. KC was not highly recruited and was an after thought on a poor High school team. Big Dog was a highly sought after athlete in 2 sports.

[zippy5]

Actually, I have never seen much offense or defense from PF.

Big Dog may work out very well for us, but he does not get off his feet and his blocks against a D3 team of midgets do not mean much.

KD would not be so high on Big Dog if Pat was the replacement for Zeke. He appears to be the replacement for Mike Bardo.

So yes, we are going to need that athletic go getter in there. Count on it.

Not just directed at you, but I feel a lot of Zip fans think blocking shots is the only way to play defense after watching Zeke.

[Valpo Zip]

Not just directed at you, but I feel a lot of Zip fans think blocking shots is the only way to play defense after watching Zeke.

I am totally with you. I don't see any benefit in getting out of position to block a shot. What is so good about a block shot where the ball goes back to the other team to take another shot?

I would rather have the player stay in position, bother the attacking player enough to change his shot and get the rebound.

Unfortunately, the first one gets you a "Block" in the box score while the other one doesn't.

[akronzips71]

@akronzips71, I notice that unlike Coach Dambrot you have a pattern in your player evaluations of overlooking defense. Does DUH stand for Defense Unknown Here?

Cheatham had 54 blocks last year, 2.7 per game.

Yup, can not play defense.

Oh well, keep him on the bench all year.

[zippy5]

Cheatham had 54 blocks last year, 2.7 per game.

Yup, can not play defense.

Oh well, keep him on the bench all year.

Do you really think under three blocks a game in high school is an indicator of good defense?

[The Hip Zip]

Don’t call Isaiah Johnson by his first name. He prefers Big Dog.

He's in, no doubt about it. I was pretty excited about the addition of Forsythe when the news came out he was coming in from W Va.. I maintained that attitude through the first half of the schedule. However, after that period his stock dropped steadily in my opinion. I thought it became quite apparent why he was not a fit for Huggins or any other Big East team. I believe I'm not the only person that shares that opinion and at this point we must consider another option to get a good chunk of minutes at the 5 spot.

I'd love to see both Big Dog and KC get plenty of playing time right now. Not likely I'm sure, but one can hope

[Warriors4life]

Sometimes in the recruiting process the way to get a commitment from a player you really want is to assure them they will get playing time as a true freshman. KC was not highly recruited and was an after thought on a poor High school team. Big Dog was a highly sought after athlete in 2 sports.

Just an FYI Kwan Cheatham was not an after thought . Coach Dambrot personally recruited Kwan himself since his Junior year. Kwan Cheatham also had interest from UC, Xaiver and few more ... Also, remember what you did in high school is in the past. All that matters is what they can do now. And it seems Kwan Cheatham had a good performance his first game.