2021 WSU transfers starting

[pie n eye]

You compare Mo to Carl Hall but Hall played a lot of minutes at the 4 position his Senior season which was also our F4 season. We also had Ehime Orupke and Shadrack Lufile who played minutes at the 5 so Carl had to average approximately 10-15 minutes at the 4 position to go along with Cle Early.
To compare Mo with Carl Hall isn't accurate. To compare Ehime with Mo isn't an accurate comparison.

You seem to have a deep love affair with Mo, but you fail to recognize that he may only be able to go so far, and if this year is his ceiling, we need more to go along with him. As I pointed out before, teams with BIG Centers give Mo a problem by just being to use their length to give him problems. Mo can contribute and play major minutes (15-20 minutes imo), but he has limitations.

Compare Mo’s stats to any of our previous centers in their Junior year and he stacks up well. Then remember that those guys all played in the Valley their Junior year.

Does he have limitations? Sure, what player on the team doesn’t? He needs to improve his rebounding most of all and also his defense. If he could develop a reliable 15 foot jumper to use on occasion it would be great.

I know exactly what Mo is as a player which is why I appreciate him so much. You seem to want him to be some NBA level center which he isn’t and we’ve never had at WSU* in the Marshall era. We get big men who are undersized, lazy, good at some things, not so good at others, etc then coach them up to accentuate their skills and develop their weaknesses. I look at it as the center by committee approach. We didn’t have that last year, at all. Mo wasn’t the thing holding us back at center last year it was the lack of depth and options behind him.

Darnell Brodie - 6’10, 275 - Mo had 22, 4 boards.
Michael Durr - Mo had 12 and 7.
Cisse - Mo had 10 points.

He had good games and bad games when we faced teams with a larger front line.

[SubGod22]

Hall's teams were also better rebounding as a whole. That definitely wasn't the case with this past seasons team.

[Shockm]

Mo might not be a jump shooter but he does have a nice face up and drive from about 10-15 feet. Hall didn’t step out and shoot jumpers until his senior year.

I remain confused by statements that Mo doesn’t have a post up game or can’t navigate under the basket. I must be watching a different game.

My knee jerk statement is that Carl was a better rebounder than Mo. And yet if you look at the stats he averaged 5 boards per game his Junior season in 22 minutes. Last year Mo averaged, you guessed it, 4.7 boards in 23 minutes.

Mo still has plenty of room to grow specifically on defense and cleaning the glass but he was good last year. Not serviceable, good. Our issue at center was a lack of depth behind him. The three headed monster approach has been successful during the Marshall years. It was more like 1.5 headed monster last year.

You compare Mo to Carl Hall but Hall played a lot of minutes at the 4 position his Senior season which was also our F4 season. We also had Ehime Orupke and Shadrack Lufile who played minutes at the 5 so Carl had to average approximately 10-15 minutes at the 4 position to go along with Cle Early.
To compare Mo with Carl Hall isn't accurate. To compare Ehime with Mo isn't an accurate comparison.

You seem to have a deep love affair with Mo, but you fail to recognize that he may only be able to go so far, and if this year is his ceiling, we need more to go along with him. As I pointed out before, teams with BIG Centers give Mo a problem by just being to use their length to give him problems. Mo can contribute and play major minutes (15-20 minutes imo), but he has limitations.

[pie n eye]

Mo might not be a jump shooter but he does have a nice face up and drive from about 10-15 feet. Hall didn’t step out and shoot jumpers until his senior year.

I remain confused by statements that Mo doesn’t have a post up game or can’t navigate under the basket. I must be watching a different game.

My knee jerk statement is that Carl was a better rebounder than Mo. And yet if you look at the stats he averaged 5 boards per game his Junior season in 22 minutes. Last year Mo averaged, you guessed it, 4.7 boards in 23 minutes.

Mo still has plenty of room to grow specifically on defense and cleaning the glass but he was good last year. Not serviceable, good. Our issue at center was a lack of depth behind him. The three headed monster approach has been successful during the Marshall years. It was more like 1.5 headed monster last year.

[Shockm]

Udeze still has a limited skillset. Yes, he's worked hard, but we really don't benefit if he's playing 25 minutes a game. I know we had depth issues last year that unfortunately made it a need. But he's not that good with his back to the basket unless he's against way overmatched defenders. He's not a good or willing passer. He can't really face up and provide much. Hopefully with more depth, he won't play so much ole defense. Get him within two feet of the basket and he's much better. That's usually done with drive and dish opportunities where all he has to do is dunk it or lay it in.

He has a place, we're just better off if someone unseats him at some point. He's definitely not a game changer or someone I'd consider a go to option when you need a basket.

I agree. Udeze improved his game this year, and was more than serviceable imo, he has a lower ceiling, than we need. While Jamie E. was still improving and showing a higher ceiling, even when he graduated, I think that Mo have reached his ceiling.

The Memphis Center (Cisse), and Centers similar to him, just has to stand behind Mo, and with his athleticsm, he can stop Mo in his tracks. He can bother and block every shot Mo puts up. Mo was bothered by Memphis, S. Florida, etc. just because of their length.

[SubGod22]

And every other player on that list could and did face up and hit jump shots. That made them more valuable and explains their higher usage rates.

[Stickboy46]

If Udeze gets in position, he's one of the best scorers we have had

The big thing that jumps out, is his usage percentage is lower than all those others. The others had more willing passing guards that set them up very well, yet Udeze still scored at a higher percentage than them. The talent is there .. not sure we have utilized it completely.

[SHOXAAC]

I agree he has limitations, so did Carl Hall. Carl came back his senior year with a 8-10’ jumper. No reason Morris can’t do the same. He still has more to bring to the table next year and maybe the year after.

I agree Udeze can bring some game to the table. He is no Carl Hall however. Hall could rebound and negotiate himself around the basket, Udeze hasn't shown that skillset yet. I believe he has it in him because of his energy, but numbers don't lie.

[TheShocktocles]

I would love to see Udeze develop that mid range shot like Carl Hall. He just needs to get in the gym and practice making the catch and shooting the ball. If he can improve his free throws he should be able to do this. The range of the shots are about the same. It would make Udeze harder to guard.

In fact several players at WSU should develop this shot. Especially RCIV and Clarence Jackson. Those two already know how to get to the cup and shoot 3 pointers but shooting that midrange shot would make them very hard to guard. I was impressed on Arkansas, and UCLA players could make that midrange pull up. Go Shocks.

[Dan]

I agree he has limitations, so did Carl Hall. Carl came back his senior year with a 8-10’ jumper. No reason Morris can’t do the same. He still has more to bring to the table next year and maybe the year after.

[SHOXAAC]

Udeze still has a limited skillset. Yes, he's worked hard, but we really don't benefit if he's playing 25 minutes a game. I know we had depth issues last year that unfortunately made it a need. But he's not that good with his back to the basket unless he's against way overmatched defenders. He's not a good or willing passer. He can't really face up and provide much. Hopefully with more depth, he won't play so much ole defense. Get him within two feet of the basket and he's much better. That's usually done with drive and dish opportunities where all he has to do is dunk it or lay it in.

He has a place, we're just better off if someone unseats him at some point. He's definitely not a game changer or someone I'd consider a go to option when you need a basket.

I would call him serviceable. If he makes a stride as he did last year he will be even more serviceable. As you said, his skillset is limited.

[SubGod22]

Udeze still has a limited skillset. Yes, he's worked hard, but we really don't benefit if he's playing 25 minutes a game. I know we had depth issues last year that unfortunately made it a need. But he's not that good with his back to the basket unless he's against way overmatched defenders. He's not a good or willing passer. He can't really face up and provide much. Hopefully with more depth, he won't play so much ole defense. Get him within two feet of the basket and he's much better. That's usually done with drive and dish opportunities where all he has to do is dunk it or lay it in.

He has a place, we're just better off if someone unseats him at some point. He's definitely not a game changer or someone I'd consider a go to option when you need a basket.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

Morris Udeze is going to be difficult to dislodge with his experience and work ethic. He’s a perfect example of why young guys should stick around and develop. Once they are in their 3rd and 4th year, it’s going to take a heck of a player to take your spot.

I could even see Udeze coming back for a 5th year. I don't think there are too many 6'8 Centers (who are questionable rebounders) playing pro ball these days.

[Dan]

I'd love to see McFarlane take a starting spot at some point during the season. 6'10" and 6'8" would look a lot better. Especially considering the improvement it would bring to those positions in athleticism and versatility.

One can dream.

Morris Udeze is going to be difficult to dislodge with his experience and work ethic. He’s a perfect example of why young guys should stick around and develop. Once they are in their 3rd and 4th year, it’s going to take a heck of a player to take your spot.

[SubGod22]

That would awesome for the Shocks to have 2 6'8" starters on the front line! Or, even 6'10" and 6'8" starters.

Drake and Loyola both had bigger front lines than the Shocks did this year.

I'd love to see McFarlane take a starting spot at some point during the season. 6'10" and 6'8" would look a lot better. Especially considering the improvement it would bring to those positions in athleticism and versatility.

One can dream.