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In college basketball, would most teams be better off rarely playing a true center?
Posted on 1/26/18 at 1:49 pm
Posted on 1/26/18 at 1:49 pm
Auburn doesn't have a single guy over 6'8", and they are top of the conference. Tennessee has one guy over 6'8" who starts, but he doesn't even average 20 minutes a game. Tennessee's best player is a 6'6" guy who dominates much taller bigs.
All most bigs can do now is dunk and defend the lane. Hardly any of these 6'10" or above guys have the skill to score down low regardless of height differential, and even fewer won't turn it over against a double team.
I think 6'6" to 6'8" guys that can play on the wing present a bigger problem to 6'10"-7' guys than vice versa. Obviously if you have a Bagley or Ayton type of star, it's a different story, but would most teams be better off with smaller lineups?
All most bigs can do now is dunk and defend the lane. Hardly any of these 6'10" or above guys have the skill to score down low regardless of height differential, and even fewer won't turn it over against a double team.
I think 6'6" to 6'8" guys that can play on the wing present a bigger problem to 6'10"-7' guys than vice versa. Obviously if you have a Bagley or Ayton type of star, it's a different story, but would most teams be better off with smaller lineups?
This post was edited on 1/26/18 at 1:50 pm
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Posted on 1/26/18 at 1:50 pm to TomRollTideRitter
It's rare in college to find 6'10-7 footers who can move. This is why you see so many "undersized" teams. PRetty much anyone would take a 6'7 athletic guy over a 6'11 guy who struggles to move his feet or makes everyone gasp when he dribbles it.
This post was edited on 1/26/18 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:00 pm to TomRollTideRitter
I watched Purdue last night. They have a dude 7’2” and he seems hard to stop. They are ranked #3. I do think B.B. needs big centers still.
This post was edited on 1/26/18 at 2:03 pm
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:02 pm to TomRollTideRitter
I like Gonzaga's bigs
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:05 pm to Incisorbite
Agree, but I think OP is pointing out it is better to play better players than stick a big body at C just because.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:07 pm to TomRollTideRitter
Alexander should probably be getting more minutes for Tennessee tbh. He has been very efficient at both ends against both big and small opponents. He isn’t a guy you can really throw it to for a bucket but he is an excellent rim protector and is fluid and very efficient offensively. Barnes gets frustrated with him because he is somewhat passive on the offensive end but he should be getting 25+ minutes most nights.
I am a fan of small ball and it has worked at both levels but you have to have at least one adequate big guy to really compete.
Alexander had a double double against Purdue’s twin towers for example and was the key to us beating them because Barnes had to play him extended minutes.
I am a fan of small ball and it has worked at both levels but you have to have at least one adequate big guy to really compete.
Alexander had a double double against Purdue’s twin towers for example and was the key to us beating them because Barnes had to play him extended minutes.
This post was edited on 1/26/18 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:10 pm to TomRollTideRitter
It's definitely a guards game. It is much easier to win without any bigs than it is without adequate guards. Look no further than Auburn and Texas A&M for a perfect example of each end of the spectrum.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:20 pm to AUCE05
quote:
Agree, but I think OP is pointing out it is better to play better players than stick a big body at C just because.
This, LSU fans had to painstakingly ensure Darcy Malone for a few years. Everyone gets excited for a true 7 footer until you realize generally they are uncoordinated as human beings come.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:20 pm to TomRollTideRitter
Guardplay is key to the college game. The best teams have 2 big men, one of which is versatile as a ball-handler or a mid to long range shooter, and three guards, two of which can distribute the ball.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:21 pm to thunderbird1100
quote:
PRetty much anyone would take a 6'7 athletic guy over a 6'11 guy who struggles to move his feet or makes everyone gasp when he dribbles it.
It seems like they should, but I still see a ton of teams play those types of bigs.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:25 pm to marshallcotiger
Has nothing to do with height per position. Game has changed.
There are 6’ 10” point guards now.
I can remember (long time ago) saying “if only we could get a 7footer.
Then everybody had 7 footers.
Then everybody had more than one 7 footer.
Now 7 footers are playing the guard position.
I personally liked the game with a true center position that controlled the paint and you forced the ball inside on offense.
Maybe we should take a look at the three point line and why it was put into place.
There are 6’ 10” point guards now.
I can remember (long time ago) saying “if only we could get a 7footer.
Then everybody had 7 footers.
Then everybody had more than one 7 footer.
Now 7 footers are playing the guard position.
I personally liked the game with a true center position that controlled the paint and you forced the ball inside on offense.
Maybe we should take a look at the three point line and why it was put into place.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:27 pm to TomRollTideRitter
Athleticism is king right now. Heck our center is dominating the league in blocks and he's 6'7, but he can jump out of the gym. I expect more teams will look for a guy that's 6'8 or 6'9 and can run and shoot vs a +7' guy who lacks coordination and is slow.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:27 pm to TomRollTideRitter
There’s been such a push, especially with AAU and for guys to be “NBA ready”, to be able to consistently play multiple positions and that typically requires those prototypical big men to be leaner and more agile. So we’re seeing them get away from specializing guys to really be able to bang in the block and be an old school big body player.
Cousins is probably the last prototypical big man that we had and it makes me a little sad we’ve gotten away from that.
Cousins is probably the last prototypical big man that we had and it makes me a little sad we’ve gotten away from that.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:42 pm to TomRollTideRitter
As a team missing their true center. No.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:42 pm to TomRollTideRitter
Depends on the team and center, but one thing is indubitably true -- a good true center is hell to deal with for teams without a good true center. That may be one of the few times that the center is more important to the tempo of the game than the point guard.
Edit: one major problem in recent years is changing the clock limit for the paint. That has had a destructive effect on certain types of teams.
Edit: one major problem in recent years is changing the clock limit for the paint. That has had a destructive effect on certain types of teams.
This post was edited on 1/26/18 at 2:45 pm
Posted on 1/26/18 at 2:48 pm to AA7
quote:
Athleticism is king right now.
Donta Hall for Alabama. Not the tallest guy playing down low at 6'9" but athletic as hell. Would take him any day over a scrawny 7'1" uncoordinated guy
Posted on 1/26/18 at 3:09 pm to TomRollTideRitter
I think everyone in college is looking for that Draymond Green like player. They want someone at the 4 that can guard multiple positions and can occasionally hit a 3. Those guys are a lot harder to find than somebody with length. Just give me rim protection and rebounding out of the 5 spot and I'll be happy.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 3:46 pm to TomRollTideRitter
As good as Auburn is playing right now, I would take Austin Wiley and his size and presence in a heartbeat. It gives us another element to our game that we are missing now. It gives us more depth. As it stands now, an injury to any of Spencer, Murray, or McLemore would be devastating.
I think with Wiley we would have for sure beaten Bama. We were cold shooting the ball all night, even had by far our worst FT shooting night of the season. Wiley gives us back the size advantage that we didn't have against Bama, it gives us a scoring option when the 3s aren't falling, and even opens up the court to open up more outside shots.
Last season proved how much Wiley affects tbe game vs Bama.
1st game Wiley had one of his biggest games, 19 points and 9 rebounds. Auburn won by 20. The next game Wiley was much less effective, early could trouble so not many minutes and he never really got warmed up, but his presence alone still had a noticeable impact when he was on tbe court and Auburn still won by 5.
I think with Wiley we would have for sure beaten Bama. We were cold shooting the ball all night, even had by far our worst FT shooting night of the season. Wiley gives us back the size advantage that we didn't have against Bama, it gives us a scoring option when the 3s aren't falling, and even opens up the court to open up more outside shots.
Last season proved how much Wiley affects tbe game vs Bama.
1st game Wiley had one of his biggest games, 19 points and 9 rebounds. Auburn won by 20. The next game Wiley was much less effective, early could trouble so not many minutes and he never really got warmed up, but his presence alone still had a noticeable impact when he was on tbe court and Auburn still won by 5.
Posted on 1/26/18 at 8:18 pm to BowlJackson
yea and this year ...lost without Wiley
Posted on 1/26/18 at 8:20 pm to JBearden
Don't get me wrong we definitely could have used him the first go round, but the next time when y'all come to Auburn Arena we won't need Wiley to spank y'alls arse by about 20.
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