Awesome Freeman Gets First Start!!!!

[OldHoyafan]

Maybe JT3 will start Freeman at guard or forward depending on the opposition. If that is true, outside of Nova I don't see where Freeman at small forward would matchup with teams in the BE.
Freeman at small forward would create too much of a liability on defense and rebounding to be offset by increase in scoring. I agree Freeman has to play major minutes this year, but at 6'5" he cannot defend the average 6'7-8" small forward in the BE. Nor is he a great leaper that will allow him to get major rebounds at his height. I really envision his niche on this team will be at the big guard or 2 guard position. This creates a problem right now because Wallace needs to be on the floor to keep the offense clicking, which creates a defensive liability with Freeman and Wallace in the backcourt at the same. Hopefully Sapp will be able to give JT3 confidence to let him run the team with Freeman logging major minutes at 2 guard instead of small forward.

[MCIGuy]

Not that I agree with the decision to sit Ewing for Freeman but tell me how many good SFs in the Big East are actually NBA size?

[GIGAFAN99]

Jan 1, 2008 17:09:38 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Not that I agree with the decision to sit Ewing for Freeman but tell me how many good SFs in the Big East are actually NBA size?

That would be one or two and in those cases we'll probably still start Austin.

Is it just me or are we really hung up on this starting move which just adjusts when these guys come into the game in order to get better chemistry in the second unit up front?

We've had 9 guys playing between 18 and 25 minutes all year and Freeman moving to starting lineup doesn't change that. He just comes in first. If anything it allows us to adjust the minutes of the one guy who will probably lose substantial minutes going forward and that's Macklin. Roy will likely push towards 30 minutes so we just have to steal 5 minutes in each half with Macklin in. Otherwise, everyone should be pretty much interchangeable outside of crunch time and the way everyone has come along so far, I think that looks about right.

[OldHoyafan]

Jan 1, 2008 17:09:38 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Not that I agree with the decision to sit Ewing for Freeman but tell me how many good SFs in the Big East are actually NBA size?

If by good you mean having the ability to score, rebound and play defense, probably a few teams. But there are several that can do two of those 3 things ,i.e. rebound and play defense. As I said playing Freeman at small forward will cause rebounding problems and even defensive problems covering an average 6'7-8" small forward. There are several average 6'7-8" small forwards in the BE.

[hoyalawyer]

We are now a 3 guard team people. Our "small forward" is going to be a big guard. Just look at the recruiting classes we are bringing in. They scream play a 3-guard front, with a versatile 4 and a solid post at 5. Look at our depth this year

5- Roy /Macklin
4- DaJuan/ Pat
3- Freeman/ Crawford/Wattad
2- Sapp/ Rivers/ Crawford
1- Wallace/ Wright

Next Year
5- Monroe/ Vern* (Greg will play 4 as well, but due to Vern's lack of back to the basket game, I see him playing 5 a lot).
4- Dajuan/ Sims/Braswell
3- Freeman/ Wattad/ Nikita
2- Sapp/ Rivers
1- Wright/ Clark

[hoyalawyer]

Granted of course there is flexibility based on the versatility of the guys we recruit, however, I anticipate a 3 guard front much more often in the JTIII era.

[lichoya68]

lichoya predicts freeman now starting will ge a 25 point game SOON GO HOYAS GO AUSTIN and patrick be aggresive but stay calm man theyre gonna keep hacking you go in strong make the foul shots and STAY COOL go hoyas beat rutgers at the RAC ;D ;D ;D

[CTHoya08]

Leads the team in scoring once again.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Jan 5, 2008 16:11:11 GMT -5 CTHoya08 said:

Leads the team in scoring once again.

A friend who was watching the game with me today said the following (not an exact quote): "Is it me, or is Austin Freeman our best player right now?"

I'd have to agree.

[royski]

I believe I said something along the same lines when I was at the game and got quite a few murmurs of agreement from Hoya and Rutgers fans around me. I was also sitting directly behind the NBA scouts, and they certainly were taking notice.

[youngjeezy]

he seems mature beyond his years... especially when compared to "drive-into-triple-coverage-like-it-ain't-no-thang" chris wright

[SirSaxa]

Did everyone hear the comment by the announcers? "Is Freshman Austin Freeman the best player on the court right now?"

That may be the first time we heard that, but it will be repeated - often - over the next 3 1/2 years!

[lichoya68]

ANOTHHER EXPECTED TYPICAL GREAT STEADY AUSTIN GAME he will get 25 soon vs. uconn would be kinda sweet yup go hoyas go austin 25 and we will start to jive yup ;D

[HeartAttackHoya]

hate to make the comparison to another Big East opponent's alumn, but Freeman reminds me alot of what Richard Hamilton was like in college and now in the pros. Same intangibles, similar game. Very much enjoying having him fly under the radar of the other big name freshmen in the country. Dajuan Summer and him should both be first team All-Big East coming into next season.

[Hoya TMF]

don't you think next year, we'll need to move summers back to his natural small forward position?

i envision the line-up as:

1. sapp/rivers
2. freeman/wright
3. summers/clark? wattad? nikita?
4. monroe/braswell
5. macklin/sims

assuming no roster changes, our depth and talent next year will be awesome. i could see three guard lineups when summers sits, but otherwise, he seems better suited to start at the three spot.