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Tadjo

He was rough but he is just getting started. He has unique size, athleticism and motor. He needs to adjust and play under control. But I like his upside, hell he hit a 3 pointer and hustled his ass off. Exited to see more of him.

supposedly these foreign born athletes Dembele, Traore, and Tadjo are ineligible for NIL money. So creating a hospital environment to attract these athletes and letting them develop seems like a sound plan for long term. I don't think Iowa NIL can afford to bring in already developed recruits with this level of athleticism. Too bad Fran doesn't seem to be a great defensive coach. Dimbele seems lost on defense even thought he has reasonable quickness. Defense/rebounding should be something they quickly could contribute if it were a focus.
 
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So creating a hospital environment to attract these athletes
Angry Throw GIF by BrownSugarApp
 
He was pretty lost at times which probably contributed to the bad positioning on defense, but I was impressed with his size. He was taller and more solid than I realized. He is sized like a player that always gives Iowa fits and am hoping the more familiar he gets with his role the more he can contribute. He certainly isn't afraid to bang inside which this team needs.
 
He's not skilled and lacks court awareness in certain situations. Will take him a while to be where Fran wants him to be, especially on defense. Offensively I don't think he can ever catch Dembele skill wise, so he's a screener, rebounder, dump off, lob dunker guy probably. Great in the open court, a bit of a liability on offense (role player) but perhaps a higher ceiling defensively if he can get his defensive IQ about double what it is now. Woodbury should mentor him :)
 
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He's not skilled and lacks court awareness in certain situations. Will take him a while to be where Fran wants him to be, especially on defense. Offensively I don't think he can ever catch Dembele skill wise, so he's a screener, rebounder, dump off, lob dunker guy probably. Great in the open court, a bit of a liability on offense (role player) but perhaps a higher ceiling defensively if he can get his defensive IQ about double what it is now. Woodbury should mentor him :)

Very small sample size but Fran has a very low bar defensively, so doubt that will hold him back (he should be fine in that department, he was pretty revved up causing 2 of the fouls). He did hit a 3 pointer so odd that you would say he is “not skilled” (it’s not like he banked it in). I was impressed with how fluid and bouncy he was, given his size. Great motor too. Still a ways to go and I like his upside - but it’s not like Dembele is lighting the world on fire, he tends to have a Glen Worley like touch in the paint, and plays bit stiff at times.
 
He's not skilled and lacks court awareness in certain situations. Will take him a while to be where Fran wants him to be, especially on defense. Offensively I don't think he can ever catch Dembele skill wise, so he's a screener, rebounder, dump off, lob dunker guy probably. Great in the open court, a bit of a liability on offense (role player) but perhaps a higher ceiling defensively if he can get his defensive IQ about double what it is now. Woodbury should mentor him :)
I don’t know. I have been disappointed that Dembele hasn’t shown any development in his offensive game this season. He has no post up game and instead of attacking the rim he shoots that fade away jumper that hasn’t been working.
 
I don’t know. I have been disappointed that Dembele hasn’t shown any development in his offensive game this season. He has no post up game and instead of attacking the rim he shoots that fade away jumper that hasn’t been working.

Yeah he hasn't taken that step. Part of me wonder if it's due to them turning him into a Center more than a stretch 4 where I think he was better. He's gotten bigger, but less mobile I think.
 
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Yeah he hasn't taken that step. Part of me wonder if it's due to them turning him into a Center more than a stretch 4 where I think he was better. He's gotten bigger, but less mobile I think.
He’s still developing his game, this season will push him and having guys like Chris Tadjo and Cooper Kock and Traore plus both Brock and Thelwell dealing will help in his development from what he can do Physically to what he needs to do mentally
 
He's not skilled and lacks court awareness in certain situations. Will take him a while to be where Fran wants him to be, especially on defense. Offensively I don't think he can ever catch Dembele skill wise, so he's a screener, rebounder, dump off, lob dunker guy probably. Great in the open court, a bit of a liability on offense (role player) but perhaps a higher ceiling defensively if he can get his defensive IQ about double what it is now. Woodbury should mentor him :)
I think you and I both thought Dembele was going to make big strides this year, but it sure hasn't happened. I don't understand why he seems to be so timid on defense around the basket. It is like the first thought in his head is "don't foul." On offense, he has no idea what to do with the ball, unless he is getting a spot up three, which he could be very good at. I still believe he has the ability to become a really good interior defender and rebounder, but he is going to need someone to convince him to be aggressive and own that area of the court. Coaches obviously aren't doing that. I am much less confident about him developing ballhandling skills.
 
I think you and I both thought Dembele was going to make big strides this year, but it sure hasn't happened. I don't understand why he seems to be so timid on defense around the basket. It is like the first thought in his head is "don't foul." On offense, he has no idea what to do with the ball, unless he is getting a spot up three, which he could be very good at. I still believe he has the ability to become a really good interior defender and rebounder, but he is going to need someone to convince him to be aggressive and own that area of the court. Coaches obviously aren't doing that. I am much less confident about him developing ballhandling skills.

Agreed. He used to be more of a stretch 4 who could hit a mid range and work the post a little bit. He seems more limited in his shots this season, not sure if it's because of his role or added size or what not.
 
I think you and I both thought Dembele was going to make big strides this year, but it sure hasn't happened. I don't understand why he seems to be so timid on defense around the basket. It is like the first thought in his head is "don't foul." On offense, he has no idea what to do with the ball, unless he is getting a spot up three, which he could be very good at. I still believe he has the ability to become a really good interior defender and rebounder, but he is going to need someone to convince him to be aggressive and own that area of the court. Coaches obviously aren't doing that. I am much less confident about him developing ballhandling skills.
The thing about Dembele is he definitely has the frame/size to be more of a force on the inside/boards. Just isn't there. Plays "soft" for lack of a better term.

Hopefully the light "turns on" for him because we need him to step up.
 
I think you and I both thought Dembele was going to make big strides this year, but it sure hasn't happened. I don't understand why he seems to be so timid on defense around the basket. It is like the first thought in his head is "don't foul." On offense, he has no idea what to do with the ball, unless he is getting a spot up three, which he could be very good at. I still believe he has the ability to become a really good interior defender and rebounder, but he is going to need someone to convince him to be aggressive and own that area of the court. Coaches obviously aren't doing that. I am much less confident about him developing ballhandling skills.
With his body and athleticism I was hoping for more of a Reggie Evans/Clay Hargrave guy. But, he looks a little lost out there.
 
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