In Reply to: A large part of that was that teams packed the post defense posted by TheHappyBurgermeister on March 31, 2024 at 10:28:34
yes - and the answer to that is (a) a BIG PF to be wingman to Adem, force defenses to have to deal with two bigs inside rather than just one guy (NOT twin towers - that really didn't do anything for us other than clog the lane and stifle movement on offense) and (b) shooting the ball better - not only threes but also those midrange shots from the elbow, shot we rode to the final four with Johnny Juzang and which is also Dylan Andrews' bread and butter shot.
When Utah packed the pain completely in the second half they destroyed us because we couldn't hit anything. When Arizona tried it in the first half against us in Tucson, we hit our outside shots and built a nice lead against them until we couldn't keep it up in the second half.
But imo both those things are needed for our team. We're far too weak inside - especially, as Phil keeps reminding us, entering the B1G. While BRO reports the staff is looking at adding one PF, one wing and two guards (could that emphasis be because we expect to lose some guards to the transfer portal or European pro ball?), and if Adem Bona chooses to leave that will certainly add a big effective center to the list of transfer goals, seems to me the priority list ought to include two bigs (both PFs or 1 PF, 1 big C), and two good shooters - one G and one wing.
If two good shooting guards are in fact priorities I still think bringing in two big bodies - at least sophomores this year if not both upperclassmen - is essential..
Point is, so long as Bona is the only threat we pose in the paint, teams are doing to collapse on him unless and until we can make them pay for doing so with our shooting. Fortify the front line relieves him of some of that pressure and the need for shooting speaks for itself