Just to be clear, I thought CMac was bad tonight as well. He needs plenty of work. Fortunately he knows some people that can help him out I'm sure. I can already tell though that unless he's all-B1G freshmen team, he will be one of the most scrutinized players of this fan base. Woodbury x 2
I am a pretty positve poster in general and a supporter of Fran. Like many I attend Iowa games and watch players in person. I know TV is great and all but a live experience is still the best. You see more in person. I also attend these high school championships often. I've seen Paige, Barnes, McDermott, McCabe, Bohannen, Pemsel, etc. play. Connor is no where close to the type of player or athlete that Paige was as an example. Paige was dominant on the court but even he has struggled some at times and has had to stay 4 years at UNC. What does that tell you given the type of players recruited to UNC.
I am a firm believer in giving Connor a scholly if he deserves it and have said so on this board but after what I saw tonight I would really lean towards changing to a walk-on offer instead. That's not going to happen but it would be the best for the program and probably best for his psyche. Connor appears not to possess the base athleticism including foot speed to make it at the power 5 level agsinst the types of athletes he is going to see with programs like MSU, Maryland, Indiana, OSU, Michigan, Purdue, etc. Gesell is twice the athlete Connor is and we know about his struggles in the B1G. I am not sure that people really get that the B1G is an elite basketball conference most years and how freaking good you have to be to play meaningful minutes. If Connor was an elite shooter like we think Bohannen will be then maybe I could see it but that does not appear to be the case. He has a decent jumper but nothing off the charts and it does not appear that he can create for himself. Troubling to me is he was not able to blow by any Valley player off the dribble and their were multiple opportunities. No attempts at the rim. Lane was able to a few times. He also did not take advantage of his size mismatch on the 5'10" Valley guard on the block several times. He has a lot of work to do to make it.
I have concerns about Pemsel too and am curious about his true height. He played hard and was aggressive but I did not see an explosive player on the blocks. You know he's going to see players that will send his shot into the third row if he plays below the rim. He's going to have to develop some craftiness in his game that McCabe did around the bucket just to contribute. We will see.
Lane was interesting. Could not decide if he could make it at Iowa or not but he has more athleticism, quickness and aggressiveness than Connor. He actually drove it and finished a few in traffic. He hit a few outside shots. I do not think he is quite the leaper that Wasphun is which is the athleticism aspect that helps him to elevate as needed. He has an interesting body type as he is really solid/thick from the hips down. I think he'd be a better player for UNI than Tanner Lohaus will be (not impressed at all).
If you are going to error on a player, error on the side of quickness, explosion and toughness like what we see in Wagner. He lacks offensive skills at the moment but that can possibly be developed but you cannot develop the god-given qualities. If it does not materialize he can learn to play very good defense and rebound to contribute that way. That's my issue with bringing in guys like Fleming, Ellingson, now Connor & possibly Pemsel.