Starting Center

[DallasHoya]

In five Big East games, our starting center is 4 for 21 from the field, for a total 13 points, including two goose eggs and a 1 point game. How bad can Hayes or Bolden be?

[NCHoya]

I have almost gotten to the point where I say we go without a center. If Whit was still available, I would be 100% there. We could try Bolden, Moses or Hayes, but I would expect the offense to remain a disaster like it is when Hopkins is in.

[dreamhoya]

EXACTLY

[dreamhoya]

I would say no center too, but Hayes can run the floor.

[hoyaboy1]

From seeing Bolden in Kenner league, I suspect he would be equally as useless on offense and on the boards, but much worse on defense.

No idea really on Hayes, but in the few minutes he got this season he looked pretty confused and to have some major issues moving laterally.

[vv83]

There is no answer to the center problem on the roster. Playing small (DSR getting a lot of Hopkins minutes) seems to be the direction III is heading, as Hopkins minutes are decreasing, and his second half minutes have close to disappeared. But since our margin for error is so slim, it seems that we can't even afford the offensive possessions Hopkins costs us even in just 15 minutes of playing time. III's big decision may be whether to play hopkins in order to give him a chance to develop, or to play small in order to give the team the best chance to win. Neither is a real desirable option, and without Whittington even playing small is a lot less attractive as an option.

[EtomicB]

Jan 19, 2013 20:54:19 GMT -5 NCHoya said:

I have almost gotten to the point where I say we go without a center. If Whit was still available, I would be 100% there. We could try Bolden, Moses or Hayes, but I would expect the offense to remain a disaster like it is when Hopkins is in.

I agree NC but it will only work if JT3 opens up the floor on offense like he did in the 1st half Vs. St Johns and truly tries to press more on defense.

This team is not built to run this offense at all..

The worst part about this is the team will have Hopkins, Moses, Hayes & Bolden for the next 2 seasons after this.

[NCHoya]

Jan 19, 2013 21:22:31 GMT -5 EtomicB said:

Jan 19, 2013 20:54:19 GMT -5 NCHoya said:

I have almost gotten to the point where I say we go without a center. If Whit was still available, I would be 100% there. We could try Bolden, Moses or Hayes, but I would expect the offense to remain a disaster like it is when Hopkins is in.

I agree NC but it will only work if JT3 opens up the floor on offense like he did in the 1st half Vs. St Johns and truly tries to press more on defense.

This team is not built to run this offense at all..

The worst part about this is the team will have Hopkins, Moses, Hayes & Bolden for the next 2 seasons after this.

Yeah, I was surprised we did not press more tonight. Collins has a great handle, but deny him the ball and make someone else beat the press. Who knows what will happen over teh next 2 years, rosters have a way of remaining fluid.

[lichoya68]

did moses get in at all. ? he at least hustle plays d and is getting better on o strong out there need SOMETHING to happen soon.

[lichoya68]

Moses four minutes need some more 8-)of him imo ;D ;D meanary yup

[daytonahoya31]

Hopkins lack of development from last season is simply stunning....One of the biggest disappointments in recent memory...the guy at this point has no business playing in the Big East

[daytonahoya31]

Not sure what the answer is...I wouldn't be so down on him if he would just play a garbage man role, screen, pass, rebound, get points off putbacks and wide open dunks.

But the fact that this guy tries to create offense like he actually has the skillset to do so is infuriating. Nothing worse than the worst player on the team trying to be aggressive. I find myself screaming at the TV for guys to not give him the ball, for fear that he will try to make a move to the basket, thus causing an automatic turnover.

He did that in the first half, which led to Otto's second foul....I was seeing red....

We don't have a center right now. Just stop fronting, start Markel, Jabril, Aaron at the three, Otto and Nate and bench Mikael...He's a hinderance way more than a help.

Bring DSR off the bench, and move Domingo to the rotation and play Moses off the bench for your eight....Just stop playing Mikael all together...Until he makes improvement to his game, he has absolutely no business being on the court

[OldHoyafan]

Could not watch the game today but did see the Syracuse v Louisville game and reading the comments on the board it is apparent that Georgetown is no longer "Big Man U? Syracuse has two guys on their bench(Coleman and Keita) that would start for the Hoyas. Louisville's backup center would start for the Hoyas. The difference in talent at the center position is startling. You have to ask yourself, what happened? I know Adams was projected as a possible starter and there was the near miss on Noel, but Hopkins,Moses,Hayes and Bolden are four scholarship players, neither of which is a starting center in the Big East. As much as it hurts me to say it, I don't think Big John's influence on young big men is still there. There is just too much time between now and when he was coaching ball. These young guys say the respectful thing about the Georgetown heritage but all of Big John's centers have retired. Those who say Smith will not start right away are fooling yourselves. He will have to start because there is no one on this squad that could do better even at his present weight unfortunately, and it is now apparent that III must develop him into a center that will be drafted in the first or second round. He must do this or the Hoyas will have a drought of about five years without a NBA drafted center since he will be followed by Bolden and Hayes.

[mapei]

I don't care at all if we have an NBA center. But maybe that's just semantics since I do care lots that we have a winning NCAA. team and I 'd like to have very good college players at all 5 spots!

[michaeldm9]

The biggest thing that get me is Hopkins gets no rebounds. None. Why can't Moses play. If you got a guy on the floor that get no Rebounds or no Points, How bad can it be going to the backup. I would sit Hopkins just to light a fire under his But. He could at least rebound. Bolden and Hayes are not ready. In the games that Hayes played, he looked lost. But Moses has looked ok. He hasn't been spectacular but has done an ok job. Nate is having a bounce back season from last year. The problem is that he is playing a lot more center than he expected. I think his number would be better if he had someone who could play center. Play Moses Coach.

[blueandgray]

Josh Smith is the answer....too bad we have to wait a year before he sees the court.

[Eurostar]

Jan 20, 2013 0:34:18 GMT -5 michaeldm9 said:

The biggest thing that get me is Hopkins gets no rebounds. None. Why can't Moses play. If you got a guy on the floor that get no Rebounds or no Points, How bad can it be going to the backup. I would sit Hopkins just to light a fire under his But. He could at least rebound. Bolden and Hayes are not ready. In the games that Hayes played, he looked lost. But Moses has looked ok. He hasn't been spectacular but has done an ok job. Nate is having a bounce back season from last year. The problem is that he is playing a lot more center than he expected. I think his number would be better if he had someone who could play center. Play Moses Coach.

Coach is sitting Hopkins - his minutes are way down in big east play. He has to play some minutes because he's one of our only options for the next 2 years and he's only a Soph so should still develop some.

I dont know why everyone keeps saying he is playing out of position and should be a 4. Does he really seem like a 4 to anyone? He's possibly less equipped to play the 4 than he is at the 5. True he isnt as tall or strong as most of the 5's he's facing, but is he as versatile as any of the 4's?

That being said, I dont think we should give up on him in the long run. It took Henry several years to figure things out. This guy is only a Sophomore. He has a lot to work on but he could be a decent starter for us down the line.

[RDF]

The comparisons to Henry are wrong. Sims problem was he saw himself as "Jeff Green" when he signed--and even stated that in article where he committed. Now you'd think the staff would pick up on that and talk to him--but no--he was allowed to behave like that on the court--which cut his time. He flashed some moments when he played the post--still think he should've played with Greg in '09 and '10 more--but nothing can be done about that now, lol.

Hopkins is playing the "showcase" role in this offense--the high post. Now whether we agree or vehemently disagree about how this team operates it's offense, you aren't getting production from the guy and yet he's allowed to play like he's producing. Why?

This whole "we don't recruit positions--we recruit players". Fine. But you better approach the games that way too. That means if your center is not a good passer, not a threat facing up, can't finish at rim or post, then don't use him in similar way to better players who produced.

If you play Hopkins like last year--he's a good fit. He's just not ready for the responsibilty he's received this year and Thompson keeps going to the well. If you can't post anything in damn near a half worth of minutes against those mutts, then it might be time for the coach to accept it's not working and try someone else or something else.

[skyhoya]

sitting Hopkins really effect Otto because of the additional effort he has to put forth on D. Moses is not the answer, but he could be our future in the post, so he needs more minutes on Monday night in South Bend.

[NCHoya]

Good point by RDF about Hopkins playing our "showcase" position and literally being a negative player. Perhaps we do not need to analyze further than that as to why this team is not working - but what fun would that be?

Skyhoya, makes a good point too, Hopkins absence puts a huge burden on several players on defense so it is not as simple as just taking Hopkins out and playing without a center like I suggest earlier in this thread.

I am not scapegoating, it is a fact Hopkins complete failure to develop since last year, has submarined this season. We can talk about making all the adjustments and adaptations to playing time and criticize JT3, but this is probably too big an issue to successfully solve for nearly any coach, especially when your shutdown defensive player and #2 on offense is out.

Man, I hate being realistic.