Asbjorn Midtgaard 7'0 C 2017 a Shocker!

[WheatShock]

As the past Season progressed, so did our rim-protection IMO. Could A.M. be such a player that does so because 'Marshall Law' luvs rim protection!!!!!!!!!!!

Asbjorn averaged just over .8 blocks a game this year. For comparison the top 3 shot blockers for the Shocks this year were Shaq at 1.0 BPG, Willis at .8 BPG, and Nurger at .4 BPG. I believe he will be a good but not great shot blocker for us.

[forevershockerfan]

Asbjorn averaged just over .8 blocks a game this year. For comparison the top 3 shot blockers for the Shocks this year were Shaq at 1.0 BPG, Willis at .8 BPG, and Nurger at .4 BPG. I believe he will be a good but not great shot blocker for us.

You might be right but our Staff can help him develop in lots of areas. Kerry will help him get stronger and he is not at all weak now. Maybe he can also alter some shots and get us some rebounds. I remember Nurger before and Nurger now and see development that really helped our depth this season with our bigs.

[WheatShock]

You might be right but our Staff can help him develop in lots of areas. Kerry will help him get stronger and he is not at all weak now. Maybe he can also alter some shots and get us some rebounds. I remember Nurger before and Nurger now and see development that really helped our depth this season with our bigs.

I hope Asbjorn follows Rauno around like a puppy this summer as he can learn a ton from him.

However I expect Asbjorn to be a better rebounder than Nurger right from the start. Rauno is quick for his size and changes directions well but his particular weakness is that he just doesn't jump that well and he is also slow to rejump on offensive rebounds and such.

[im4wsu]

Are you intentionally being stupid? 3% huh?

Okay 2.78%. Is that better?

[ShockingButTrue]

• 
  
  
  As I was saying, I hope the big guy can save
  some valuable minutes for our current post so he can be on the floor the last 8-10 minutes of each and every game with minimal fouls. He'll be able to be very aggresive and make that makes WSU an even better team.
  
  

[wufan]

It's the off-season and I'm super excited about Midtgaard! He's listed between 6-10 and 7-1 and between 264 and 270 lbs. All the recent stuff on him lists him between 209 and 212 centimeters, which translates to 6-10.5 to 6-11.75...so I'm guessing he's just over 6-11 and will be listed at 7-0.

He's playing in the Danish pro-league which is mainly comprised of Danish players and a few US players that were low level D-I stars and high level D-I starters and role players. He's averaging 9 and 7 and just shy of 1 block per game in 20 minutes. He shoots over 50% from the floor and nearly 70% from the stripe. The Danish league isn't high level Euroleague, but it is roughly equivalent to the Polish league where 19 year old 7-1, 280 lb Przemek Karnowski averaged 10, 5, and 1 in 25 minutes. Make no mistake, Asbjorn is not as skilled as Przemek, but their impact could be as similar as their size. At Gonzaga, Karnowski averaged 5 and 3 in 10 minutes as a freshman, followed by an average of ~ 11 and 6 in 25 minutes since then. I expect that Midtgaard will play limited minutes as a freshman, but average around 10 and 8 in 20 mpg over the rest of his career. The God Bear will be an anchor for this team in the first several years of AAC competition!

[Dan]

The addition of AM may allow us to move Willis to the 4, where he could be more effective. Willis' main problems are passing out of the double team and his post moves (shuffling feet/predictable move to left). At the 4 spot, DW doesn't have to post up as much and can rely on his drives and mid range jumper.

[pinstripers]

The addition of AM may allow us to move Willis to the 4, where he could be more effective. Willis' main problems are passing out of the double team and his post moves (shuffling feet/predictable move to left). At the 4 spot, DW doesn't have to post up as much and can rely on his drives and mid range jumper.

With McDuffie and Kelly, minutes at the 4 may not be available.

[mattdalt]

The addition of AM may allow us to move Willis to the 4, where he could be more effective. Willis' main problems are passing out of the double team and his post moves (shuffling feet/predictable move to left). At the 4 spot, DW doesn't have to post up as much and can rely on his drives and mid range jumper.

With his inability to guard the 4, his minutes may be limited :)

[wufan]

With McDuffie and Kelly, minutes at the 4 may not be available.

Great problem to have! Returning Brown, McDuffie, and Kelly at the 3/4, and Morris, Willis, and Nurger at the post + AM. I really like having Willis available as he gives us a different look in the post. Despite some of his shortcomings this year, statistically, he's the best JUCO under Marshall in his first year.

[mini-shock]

Not to be overly pessimistic for my 'first' post, I agree with the few on here who aren't too high on AM. I see the potential in his length and height. Remember back to Bush Tom Wamukota's limited skill and excellent speed and footwork. AM is missing the footwork and the speed. He is also missing the leap. As the comment in the YouTube hilariously illustrates, "He has the vert. leap of a deceased sloth fetus".
Noteworthy is the distinct difference between the player in this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcz3tMEDmNs) and this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-0tIQoPQmM). It is like 2 different players.
Both videos show a player who needs A TON of work, and a lot of his issues are coach-able. But it is disappointing that HCGM will have to teach a recruit how to run, jump, shoot, dribble, rebound, post-up...the list goes on of things this guy can't do yet.

Ok, I'm done being pessimistic. I think this guys will be fine for the job he will have: a short blow for our currently talented frontcourt. To that point, I think Eric Hamilton is a better player than this guy. But, there's a reason HCGM wants him. If anything he can rebound, set screens, defend, and pass.

Whatever happens, we are going to need way more than AM in 2018-19.

[proshox]

Not to be overly pessimistic for my 'first' post, I agree with the few on here who aren't too high on AM. I see the potential in his length and height. Remember back to Bush Tom Wamukota's limited skill and excellent speed and footwork. AM is missing the footwork and the speed. He is also missing the leap. As the comment in the YouTube hilariously illustrates, "He has the vert. leap of a deceased sloth fetus".
Noteworthy is the distinct difference between the player in this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcz3tMEDmNs) and this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-0tIQoPQmM). It is like 2 different players.
Both videos show a player who needs A TON of work, and a lot of his issues are coach-able. But it is disappointing that HCGM will have to teach a recruit how to run, jump, shoot, dribble, rebound, post-up...the list goes on of things this guy can't do yet.

Ok, I'm done being pessimistic. I think this guys will be fine for the job he will have: a short blow for our currently talented frontcourt. To that point, I think Eric Hamilton is a better player than this guy. But, there's a reason HCGM wants him. If anything he can rebound, set screens, defend, and pass.

Whatever happens, we are going to need way more than AM in 2018-19.

I see a guy with the understanding that big guys post up hard. He also has better footwork than most incoming bigs.

I guess don't see the same guy you see.

[ShockingButTrue]

But it is disappointing that HCGM will have to teach a recruit how to run, jump, shoot, dribble, rebound, post-up...the list goes on of things this guy can't do yet.
Ok, I'm done being pessimistic. I think this guys will be fine for the job he will have: a short blow for our currently talented frontcourt. If anything he can rebound, set screens, defend, and pass. Whatever happens, we are going to need way more than AM in 2018-19.

He might be able to give them what Ehimen did 2 years from now. By then I trust GGG to have gotten a pretty good power forward to go with all of our 6-5 to 6-8 wings/guards.
#ChokingChickens

[Kel Varnsen]

Asbjorn definitely has some polishing up to do. Finishing in traffic and over other bigs is probably at the top of the list. Without the benefit of a ton of film, I would guess he has plenty of work to do on the defensive end as well.

But he certainly has the physical tools to be a very effective big man at WSU. Big, naturally strong kid. Not built like Stutz or Nurger (as good as they have been for us). He's not going to be Karl-Anthony Towns by any stretch of the imagination, but I think his ceiling is higher than GS or RN. And for all his athletic limitations, Stutz was a force his senior season.

[pinstripers]

And maybe he'll redshirt