Wessel at SF

[ArtVandalay]

I like Wessel at the four vs the three due to speed and defense on the wing as mentioned above. Grady, however, is our best post player offensively by far. But him and Wessel at the two big spots means absolutely no rim protection defensively. I think as Shamet and Connor get up to speed, Wessel's PT will decline.

[ShockdaWorld]

I like Wessel at the four vs the three due to speed and defense on the wing as mentioned above. Grady, however, is our best post player offensively by far. But him and Wessel at the two big spots means absolutely no rim protection defensively. I think as Shamet and Connor get up to speed, Wessel's PT will decline.

I agree with this 100%, but I would also include the hopeful reappearance of late last season ZBrown as a reason for the declining PT.

[Jhook89]

I think Kelly and Grady down low has actually looked pretty good. Go look at the box score of last nights game. Tulsas bigs didn't accomplish much. We go destroyed by their guards. That was a combination of Fred being a cardboard cut out version of himself, our young inexperienced guards, and Wessels lack of athletic ability.

We need to sit Fred till he's actually ready. I hope that brown or Shamet can step up and move Wessel off his spot.

[shockmonster]

A loss and panic sets in. Evan is who he is and he hasn't changed. He was 1-3 shooting. The entire team needs to rebound better and that includes Kelly, and Shaq. They need to have Grady's numbers for rebounding. Brown has a higher ceiling but he didn't play like it. He is definitely a downgrade in handles from Cotton. He has to get better. It really doesn't matter whether Wessell starts or comes off of the bench. He does the little things but that hasn't changed no matter what position he plays or if he starts.

[LandStander]

I think he can play the 3 or the 4 based on matchup. Last night he just couldn't keep up with the speed on the floor at the 3 or the 4. I think that's why he didn't make an impact. He's a physical player and the ncaa is getting away from physical defense. Evan might have to adjust his style of play if he wants minutes. Just like every other defender.

[WSUwatcher]

A loss and panic sets in. Evan is who he is and he hasn't changed.

Refresh my memory if necessary, Aargh, but wasn't Wessel the starting SF (and a leading three-point threat) for the Final Four team that was undefeated when he went out with his finger injury? He seemed capable of playing SF back then, which wasn't exactly ancient times.

The reason he played PF last year was because WSU was well stocked at SF and not so much at PF, so he was the emergency fill-in -- not because he's a natural but undersized PF. This year the coaches are obviously hoping to et 40+ minutes at PF from Grady and Kelly combined, and their SF anchor, Cotton, is gone -- so Wessel goes back to the position he had originally won as a sophomore starter three years ago. That doesn't seem too hard to figure. The change in officiating may indeed affect him, as someone noted, but it's going to affect lots of guys, and Evan is a smart and experienced player in addition to being physical and a hustler. He'll figure it out.

[wufan]

Refresh my memory if necessary, Aargh, but wasn't Wessel the starting SF (and a leading three-point threat) for the Final Four team that was undefeated when he went out with his finger injury? He seemed capable of playing SF back then, which wasn't exactly ancient times.

The reason he played PF last year was because WSU was well stocked at SF and not so much at PF, so he was the emergency fill-in -- not because he's a natural but undersized PF. This year the coaches are obviously hoping to et 40+ minutes at PF from Grady and Kelly combined, and their SF anchor, Cotton, is gone -- so Wessel goes back to the position he had originally won as a sophomore starter three years ago. That doesn't seem too hard to figure. The change in officiating may indeed affect him, as someone noted, but it's going to affect lots of guys, and Evan is a smart and experienced player in addition to being physical and a hustler. He'll figure it out.

I agree with this guy!

[ArtVandalay]

Refresh my memory if necessary, Aargh, but wasn't Wessel the starting SF (and a leading three-point threat) for the Final Four team that was undefeated when he went out with his finger injury? He seemed capable of playing SF back then, which wasn't exactly ancient times.

The reason he played PF last year was because WSU was well stocked at SF and not so much at PF, so he was the emergency fill-in -- not because he's a natural but undersized PF. This year the coaches are obviously hoping to et 40+ minutes at PF from Grady and Kelly combined, and their SF anchor, Cotton, is gone -- so Wessel goes back to the position he had originally won as a sophomore starter three years ago. That doesn't seem too hard to figure. The change in officiating may indeed affect him, as someone noted, but it's going to affect lots of guys, and Evan is a smart and experienced player in addition to being physical and a hustler. He'll figure it out.

What you fail to mention is the weight he put on between those years. He's much stronger and bulkier now, which he needed to play the four, but slows him down at the three.

[LandStander]

I think he and baker both took some weight off in the off season in preparation for this season.

[pinstripers]

Seriously, if Wessel doesn't play the 3, who does? The 5-fouls-in 1o minutes Shamet, or the deer-in-the-headlights Brown?

[wusphlash]

I see nothing wrong (based on a sample size of 2 games) with what Anton and Rashard have done at the 4/5. Anton is the real deal. Rashard has made significant strides offensively. Help from Shaq, Bush or Eric would be greatly appreciated.

Anybody that listens to Gregg on a regular basis knows that Evan will not be removed from the starting line up. Playing time at the 3, however, is up for grabs. If anyone wants to step up (Zach, Markis, Landry) they will be rewarded with minutes.

[shockmonster]

Seriously, if Wessel doesn't play the 3, who does? The 5-fouls-in 1o minutes Shamet, or the deer-in-the-headlights Brown?

First of all, I think that Wessel will continue at the 3. I think that the character trait that Gregg like most of all regarding Evan is that he is totally unselfish. He doesn't need to score big to contribute. The player who very possibly will end up playing more minutes at the 3 soon may be Ron Baker. If we go to a 3 guard offense with Fred, Conner, and Ron playing those positions, we may find our sixth man in Conner Frankamp and of course Landry Shamet. If we smooth out our rebounding woes, we could run with anyone. Baker does it all.

[asiseeit]

Good exchange of thoughts here regarding Evan. I've admired him from the start as a player
that consistently plays above his natural abilities. He is just the type of person that employers
look to hire and I expect he will do well after basketball. Despite his physical limitations as a
slow 3 or a small 4 GM has confidence in him and I understand that. He solidified my
admiration for him as a player with his KU performance last year. He has EARNED his spot as
a starter and I hope/expect he will remain a starter.

[Aargh]

First of all, I think that Wessel will continue at the 3. I think that the character trait that Gregg like most of all regarding Evan is that he is totally unselfish. He doesn't need to score big to contribute. The player who very possibly will end up playing more minutes at the 3 soon may be Ron Baker. If we go to a 3 guard offense with Fred, Conner, and Ron playing those positions, we may find our sixth man in Conner Frankamp and of course Landry Shamet. If we smooth out our rebounding woes, we could run with anyone. Baker does it all.

This year he needs to score. Cotton averaged 9.8 ppg last year. Wessel averaged 4.2. There is no stat for how many points Cotton prevented, so the team needs to make up significantly more than the 9.8 ppg that was lost with Cotton.

With the current starting lineup, either Kelly or Wessel needs to average double figures to maintain last year's offensive production and account for at least some of Cotton's D. If Wessel maintains his scoring average, then be prepared to get Evanville'd a couple of times this season.

[ShockdaWorld]

I'm not as concerned about Wessel's offense, although I do think it would be a big step up for this team if he was at least a little bit of a threat from the arc so teams couldn't just leave him alone. He has shown in the past that he can be, but he needs to show it more in order for teams to respect him. My concerns are about his defensive ability at the 3. He's never been the fastest guy on the team, but when he could play physical, he could make up for that lack of foot speed. Now that they are taking the physical out of defense, that lack of foot speed is a concern. I don't know what the solution to that concern is, or if we have one. Maybe as stated earlier, it is Ron at the 3. I don't know. I just know that our defense versus Tulsa's athleticism at the 3 spot was less than adequate.