****The OFFICIAL 2013 Mizzou Tigers Basketball Thread****

[Saul Good]

MIZ-SEC

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Good breakdown on Jankovic. He has to get much stronger and learn to play D... but the offensive skill is impressive.

Frontcourt is going to be much less impressive next season. Criswell will be a good guy, but he's a complementary offensive piece, not a primary option (unless he make a BIG jump between now and then).

I don't know that Jonathan Williams III will be ready to start as a true freshman, but he has a skillset similar to Bowers and should be able to give good minutes at the 4, even if it is off the bench.

X-factor is Keanu Post... he's a little bit of a raw JUCO guy, and I don't think you can count on having the same success with him that they did with Criswell. But who knows?

Offense will clearly have to flow from Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown, as well as Ross.

I think we might see more of Ross at the 4 next year, too.

We don't have a choice, really. Ross almost has to play the 4. Hell, if Kim English could do it, so can Ross.

2011/2012 gave Haith the blueprint for how he'll handle 2013/2014, especially if Pressey does return.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's possible that Beard decommitted because he was worried about PT given that Clark will be here a year earlier and is no slouch himself.

As far as Jankovic's offense, it appears that he has an inconsistent outside shot. I haven't seen him demonstrate any other type of offensive skill, whether it's post moves, a mid-range game, or an ability to attack the basket.

As far as D is concerned, you can teach someone to play better defense, but it helps little if they have leaden feet and can't anchor themselves in post defense.

As far as offensive skill... I was actually surprised his 3-point percentage was as low (30.5 percent) as it is. He's a guy who can shoot 38-40 percent from deep, IMO.

He has good handles for a face 4 (just average for a 3) and I think he'll be able to beat guys in isolation, eventually (like Leo Lyons, who didn't really hit his stride with that until he was a junior/senior.

He's also an excellent FT shooter. He's never going to be a back-to-the basket mauler, but with his outside touch, surprising athleticism and ball-handling, I think he's a guy who be a nightmare pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop guy down the line. He also fits nicely in a space, 4-out, 1-in offensive set.

The defensive side... if he gets stronger, he'll be better able to guard guys his size. I don't think he'll ever have the feet to play a wing/3 spot defensively and hold his own with any consistency, but they can work to improve his instincts, technique and positioning.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

It's possible that Beard decommitted because he was worried about PT given that Clark will be here a year earlier and is no slouch himself.

As far as Jankovic's offense, it appears that he has an inconsistent outside shot. I haven't seen him demonstrate any other type of offensive skill, whether it's post moves, a mid-range game, or an ability to attack the basket.

As far as D is concerned, you can teach someone to play better defense, but it helps little if they have leaden feet and can't anchor themselves in post defense.

He doesn't have a back to the basket game. I'm surprised you haven't seen an ability to attack the rim, I've seen it quite a bit from him and have been pleasantly surprised by his first step and his ability to finish when coming forward.

He's a nice offensive player but he doesn't play like a big man so there's some cognitive dissonance there. And honestly, I don't think he ever will play like a big man.

I'm going to reach deep into the bag here and make a Danny Granger comparison. I don't think he'll be quite that extreme (or that good), but Granger was a guy that did have a pretty good first step when he caught the ball facing the hoop and he was able to use that first step often enough to give him space to shoot from outside. Either Jankovick gets much bigger and develops sort of an Andrei Bargnani game (skilled big with range) or he stays skinny and becomes a Danny Granger/Raef LaFrentz sort, though not as good as those two.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

As far as offensive skill... I was actually surprised his 3-point percentage was as low (30.5 percent) as it is. He's a guy who can shoot 38-40 percent from deep, IMO.

He has good handles for a face 4 (just average for a 3) and I think he'll be able to beat guys in isolation, eventually (like Leo Lyons, who didn't really hit his stride with that until he was a junior/senior.

He's also an excellent FT shooter. He's never going to be a back-to-the basket mauler, but with his outside touch, surprising athleticism and ball-handling, I think he's a guy who be a nightmare pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop guy down the line. He also fits nicely in a space, 4-out, 1-in offensive set.

The defensive side... if he gets stronger, he'll be better able to guard guys his size. I don't think he'll ever have the feet to play a wing/3 spot defensively and hold his own with any consistency, but they can work to improve his instincts, technique and positioning.

Stay out of my head, demon!

Yeah, a 'face 4' is a good way to describe him. Leo Lyons is a nice comp but Lyons ended up developing some very nice core strength before he turned the corner.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

He doesn't have a back to the basket game. I'm surprised you haven't seen an ability to attack the rim, I've seen it quite a bit from him and have been pleasantly surprised by his first step and his ability to finish when coming forward.

He's a nice offensive player but he doesn't play like a big man so there's some cognitive dissonance there. And honestly, I don't think he ever will play like a big man.

I'm going to reach deep into the bag here and make a Danny Granger comparison. I don't think he'll be quite that extreme (or that good), but Granger was a guy that did have a pretty good first step when he caught the ball facing the hoop and he was able to use that first step often enough to give him space to shoot from outside. Either Jankovick gets much bigger and develops sort of an Andrei Bargnani game (skilled big with range) or he stays skinny and becomes a Danny Granger/Raef LaFrentz sort, though not as good as those two.

I'm not expecting him to be Arthur Johnson by any means. However, I would expect him to have a semblance of touch from within 15 feet and I haven't seen any of that yet.

He looks like Generic European Big Man X in that he's suited for an international style of play because he can conceivably space the floor (although he hasn't displayed that ability in a game yet), but plays horrible man and team defense.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I'm not expecting him to be Arthur Johnson by any means. However, I would expect him to have a semblance of touch from within 15 feet and I haven't seen any of that yet.

He looks like Generic European Big Man X in that he's suited for an international style of play because he can conceivably space the floor (although he hasn't displayed that ability in a game yet), but plays horrible man and team defense.

I think he could be a solid help defender. I don't think he'll ever be an asset in man D, but with time, I don't see why he couldn't be a nice team defender.

[Mizzou_8541]

I'm in Columbia unexpectedly for work Wednesday...anybody have an extra ticket to sell for the Mizzou-Florida game?

[warpaint*]

Line for tomorrow opened at a pick em. I think it might be Arky -1 now. Caught me by surprise. Figured the way we've struggled on the road Arky would be more of a favorite.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by warpaint*

Line for tomorrow opened at a pick em. I think it might be Arky -1 now. Caught me by surprise. Figured the way we've struggled on the road Arky would be more of a favorite.

We need a solid win. It'd be a big step.

[Saul Good]

I'd bet the house on Arkansas. Don't get that line at all.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I'd bet the house on Arkansas. Don't get that line at all.

I'd bet on Mizzou.

But, That's why I don't gamble.

[warpaint*]

Heck if I know. The way Arky turns the opp over and plays well at home and the way we have turned it over and struggled on the road this game has big Arkansas win written all over it.

The only caveat to that is I do think with Haith getting the rotation shortened and guys settling into roles and getting healthy it does feel like we could be on the cusp of taking a step forward.

[Mizzou_8541]

Originally Posted by warpaint*

Heck if I know. The way Arky turns the opp over and plays well at home and the way we have turned it over and struggled on the road this game has big Arkansas win written all over it.

The only caveat to that is I do think with Haith getting the rotation shortened and guys settling into roles and getting healthy it does feel like we could be on the cusp of taking a step forward.

How is Ross' ankle? Didn't look promising when he went out against Mississippi St.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Mizzou_8541

How is Ross' ankle? Didn't look promising when he went out against Mississippi St.

"Game time decision" is what I read this morning. I think he'll play, but hopefully he won't be too limited.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by kepp

"Game time decision" is what I read this morning. I think he'll play, but hopefully he won't be too limited.

He looked upset when he went down Wednesday night. Hope it was less of an injury then he thought when it happened