Danny Bateman
Heisman Trophy Winner
It is becoming apparent that although NU has added a ton of height since last season, we do not seem to be attacking with our biggest players. For example, here are stats for our three tallest players:
Brian Diaz ©: 9.7 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.3 blocks per game, 21.8 minutes per game
Brandon Ubel (F): 6.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .7 bpg, 21.2 mpg
Quincy Hankins-Cole (F): 3.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .2 bpg, 11.0 mpg
Now, given Cole's stats might be thrown off since he is getting half the time per game of the other two. But it is becoming painstakingly obvious that our big men are still growing into their role. They will get there, I hope, but it is a process, and will take time. I'd love to see more aggressiveness, with much higher rebounding and block numbers. 4 rebounds a game from a near 7 footer in Diaz who is getting that much time are not enough.
This begs the question... how much better would this team be if the 6-11 Christopher Niemann had not blown out his ACL again? Does anyone know what kind of skillset Niemann brings to the table? I have no clue on the guy, but I am not as informed as some of you.
Hopefully Niemann gets a medical redshirt and can finally come back and play for us next year. Or perhaps the answer will come from outside the team. Doc has two current recruits for this years recruiting class, Kenyon McNeill and Andre Almeida. Obviously, Kenyon is a guard, but you have to love what doc has done recruiting the Southeast. He pulled Adrian Coleman out of Georgia from seemingly nowhere last year. Almeida may be a key cog in our plans for the future. He is all of 6'10" and 320 lbs. He is a true, thick post player. His 2008 JUCO stats were very nice... 13.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.5 bpg, and a whopping 70.5 field goal percentage. He could be a player. Also, do not forget Vander Joaquim. He did not make it with our last class, but is currently enrolled at the College of Eastern Utah, and still hopes to make it here. He is very highly thought of. That is another bonus with Doc's recruiting. Since hiring Walter Roese, we have been making nice inroads with Brazilian players (Vander and Andre).
On the side note, Roburt Sallie, who was committed to NU, is now the second leading scorer for the Memphis Tigers. I REALLY wish we wouldn't have botched his enrollment at NU. We could have used him pretty well.
Brian Diaz ©: 9.7 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.3 blocks per game, 21.8 minutes per game
Brandon Ubel (F): 6.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .7 bpg, 21.2 mpg
Quincy Hankins-Cole (F): 3.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .2 bpg, 11.0 mpg
Now, given Cole's stats might be thrown off since he is getting half the time per game of the other two. But it is becoming painstakingly obvious that our big men are still growing into their role. They will get there, I hope, but it is a process, and will take time. I'd love to see more aggressiveness, with much higher rebounding and block numbers. 4 rebounds a game from a near 7 footer in Diaz who is getting that much time are not enough.
This begs the question... how much better would this team be if the 6-11 Christopher Niemann had not blown out his ACL again? Does anyone know what kind of skillset Niemann brings to the table? I have no clue on the guy, but I am not as informed as some of you.
Hopefully Niemann gets a medical redshirt and can finally come back and play for us next year. Or perhaps the answer will come from outside the team. Doc has two current recruits for this years recruiting class, Kenyon McNeill and Andre Almeida. Obviously, Kenyon is a guard, but you have to love what doc has done recruiting the Southeast. He pulled Adrian Coleman out of Georgia from seemingly nowhere last year. Almeida may be a key cog in our plans for the future. He is all of 6'10" and 320 lbs. He is a true, thick post player. His 2008 JUCO stats were very nice... 13.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.5 bpg, and a whopping 70.5 field goal percentage. He could be a player. Also, do not forget Vander Joaquim. He did not make it with our last class, but is currently enrolled at the College of Eastern Utah, and still hopes to make it here. He is very highly thought of. That is another bonus with Doc's recruiting. Since hiring Walter Roese, we have been making nice inroads with Brazilian players (Vander and Andre).
On the side note, Roburt Sallie, who was committed to NU, is now the second leading scorer for the Memphis Tigers. I REALLY wish we wouldn't have botched his enrollment at NU. We could have used him pretty well.
