EJ Anosike is a Vol

Looks like last year he mostly played in the 4 spot. Where will he fit into our depth chart with Corey Walker?
Walker will be a freshman so I doubt it will be a problem. This guy is coming here to play immediately. Senior vs freshman will not be a problem for Barnes.
 
Personally I see Anosike taking up all of Uros and Olivier’s minutes immediately Obviously he can/will get quality minutes backing up Pons too (Pons played so much better at the 4 I’d expect the staff to want to keep him there). Between backing up both of them I’d expect him to get at least 15-20+ mins if not more a game.

I’d expect to see basically the three of them playing the the 4 and 5 for the majority of the game barring foul trouble.

I think you’ll see one of Nkamhoua or Pember redshirt. Both seem like such team first guys and have bought into the culture so much I don’t think they’d transfer. But between Anosike and Walker coming I don’t see them getting many minutes at all and RSing one would make the most sense with Pons and Fulky graduating after next year.

Regardless of how the starters or minutes shake out, we should have a much deeper team than we’ve had in some time. Even our #1 team a couple years ago, by years end couldn’t really play Pons or Fulky too much and basicallly only went 6 deep. Our squad next year should go at least 8/9 deep barring injuries. With 7 legitimate guys that would probably start on most other teams in the sec.

Gaines/Walker being your 8th and 9th men off the bench is a should make for a damn good team.
 
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Personally I see Anosike taking up all of Uros and Olivier’s minutes immediately Obviously he can/will get quality minutes backing up Pons too (Pons played so much better at the 4 I’d expect the staff to want to keep him there). Between backing up both of them I’d expect him to get at least 12-20 mins if not more a game.

I’d expect to see basically the three of them playing the the 4 and 5 for the majority of the game barring foul trouble.

I think you’ll see one of Nkamhoua or Pember redshirt. Both seem like such team first guys and have bought into the culture so much I don’t think they’d transfer. But between Anosike and Walker coming I don’t see them getting many minutes at all and RSing one would make the most sense with Pons and Fulky graduating after next year.

Regardless of how the starters or minutes shake out, we should have a much deeper team than we’ve had in some time. Even our #1 team a couple years ago, by years end couldn’t really play Pons or Fulky too much and basicallly only went 6 deep. Our squad next year should go at least 8/9 deep barring injuries. With 7 legitimate guys that would probably start on most other teams in the sec.

Gaines/Walker being your 8th and 9th men off the bench is a should make for a damn good team.


Fulky minutes will go down and that’s a good thing
 
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Fulky minutes will go down and that’s a good thing

Definitely. It will make him that much more effective IMO. Barnes knew he was playing him too many minutes, even admitted it, but our team had no choice.

What may be even more important than him not getting so tired is there was definitely some times Fulky would be in, or almost in, foul trouble and would purposely not be as aggressive going for a rebound or shot block as he usually is. Which is smart, we needed him being smart since he was so crucial to us last year. I think getting Anosike goes a good ways to help alleviate that. Fulky won’t have so much pressure to not foul knowing he’s the only serviceable big
 
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Gotta love that dunk, despite the obvious over the back foul, gave it a "like" until I realized bTo was the poster and "unlike" (d) it. I refuse to give bTo a "like" until I see him give, at least one "like" to anybody. Most of the time I agree with bTo, but this too good to give anybody a "like", kinda bothers me, bTo is starting to become a holier than thou, elitist, poster that thinks his opinion and takes are better than everyone else's and I don't like that. Maybe, I'm being childish, but bTo started it, na-na-na-na-boo-boo
 
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Fulky minutes will go down and that’s a good thing
Yes, that guy gives it all. Having him fresh at the end of games will pay dividends. If Fulks puts on another 10-15 pounds of good weight he’ll be unstoppable. Add the fact that we are bringing in multiple scoring threats to keep off the double teams.
 
Gotta love that dunk, despite the obvious over the back foul, gave it a "like" until I realized bTo was the poster and "unlike" (d) it. I refuse to give bTo a "like" until I see him give, at least one "like" to anybody. Most of the time I agree with bTo, but this too good to give anybody a "like", kinda bothers me, bTo is starting to become a holier than thou, elitist, poster that thinks his opinion and takes are better than everyone else's and I don't like that. Maybe, I'm being childish, but bTo started it, na-na-na-na-boo-boo

Starting to? He's always been that way.
 
Pons just isn’t good at the 3
He wasn’t good at the 4 prior to this season....no reason to think it’s impossible that he might develop as a 3 for next season. Not saying he will, but he’s not playing 4 in the NBA if that’s where he desires to be
 
He wasn’t good at the 4 prior to this season....no reason to think it’s impossible that he might develop as a 3 for next season. Not saying he will, but he’s not playing 4 in the NBA if that’s where he desires to be


He didn’t play the 4 until this season so how do we know he wasn’t good at it?



As far as the NBA goes its almost a positionless league. He will only be in the nba as a specialist anyway if he makes it imo
 
He didn’t play the 4 until this season so how do we know he wasn’t good at it?



As far as the NBA goes its almost a positionless league. He will only be in the nba as a specialist anyway if he makes it imo

He would be smart to continue working on his outside shot AND working very hard on his handle. Hard to be very effective in the NBA at 6'5" unless you can handle the ball.
 
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He didn’t play the 4 until this season so how do we know he wasn’t good at it?



As far as the NBA goes its almost a positionless league. He will only be in the nba as a specialist anyway if he makes it imo
He didn’t get significant minutes at the 3 before either as Admiral and Bowden had that locked down pretty much. Prior to this season the only thing he showed was the ability to be an on ball defender and the occasional athletic splash play. No outside shot, no handles, weak team defensive skills. The lights started coming on this year and our greatest team need was the 4. CRB continually says he’s the hardest worker on the team. I’m willing to keep an open mind that next year he might be a more complete and improved player than he showed this season. If your mind is closed then there’s nothing to discuss
 
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He didn’t get significant minutes at the 3 before either as Admiral and Bowden had that locked down pretty much. Prior to this season the only thing he showed was the ability to be an on ball defender and the occasional athletic splash play. No outside shot, no handles, weak team defensive skills. The lights started coming on this year and our greatest team need was the 4. CRB continually says he’s the hardest worker on the team. I’m willing to keep an open mind that next year he might be a more complete and improved player than he showed this season. If your mind is closed then there’s nothing to discuss

Sure he may get better at the 3 but you seem to be forgetting he started 13 games there as a soph and didn’t have much success there this season either. Also next years team has more options at the 3 than this years team did and he still couldn’t stick there this season. I just think that next years team will
Be much better off with him playing way more 4 than 3.
 
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I knew EJ was a terrific rebounder, but I never realized he at one point grabbed 4 offensive boards per game. That’s huge, especially for a team that will be guard heavy like Tennessee. Springer slashing to the rim will force the big to crash, giving EJ an easy Put back.
 
Creighton will be really good next year. I've seen preseason rankings that have them as high as 2nd in the country.
 
I don't expect anything out of the two football players in basketball this year. They won't even start practicing basketball until football is over (if there is football)
 
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