ANOTHER from Canton Timken

[ZiggyZoomba]

He was a below average MAC center.

I'm not going to go out and do the research, but I don't think this is a true statement. 2 or 3 in the MAC who were better last year, maybe... below average? I really don't think so.

Besides Chris Kaman, who is the last MAC center that would live up to your expectations, Rollo83? Just curious. The MAC doesn't GET great big-men.

Would I love to get someone who develops into a BETTER center than Otis Polk? Duh... who wouldn't? But saying that Otis didn't become a good MAC center is just ridiculous.

I really thought the mistake was PLAYING Otis at center... when it's obvious his natural position was shooting guard.

[h2oville rocket]

He was a below average MAC center.

I'm not going to go out and do the research, but I don't think this is a true statement. 2 or 3 in the MAC who were better last year, maybe... below average? I really don't think so.

Besides Chris Kaman, who is the last MAC center that would live up to your expectations, Rollo83? Just curious. The MAC doesn't GET great big-men.

Would I love to get someone who develops into a BETTER center than Otis Polk? Duh... who wouldn't? But saying that Otis didn't become a good MAC center is just ridiculous.

I really thought the mistake was PLAYING Otis at center... when it's obvious his natural position was shooting guard.

Based on the couple times I saw him play he may have been the best big man EVER i the MAC. He seemed to save it up for UT, or maybe it just seems that way. Even when he was an underclassmen (yes, the plural is correct) he had good games against us.

Grant is right (never thought I'd type THAT sentence). The MAC rarely even have players who are true centers-sometimes we have large, unskilled small forwards playing what is nominally the post position.

I'd say Polk was in the top half of the centers by his senior year and I'm not at all sure he didn't reach his potential- he was never going to be quick or graceful but he did what he could do well and didn't try to step outside or bring the ball upcourt. He blocked shots, got some boards, made forays into the lane a dicey proposition and provided five fouls in an extra large uniform. Garbage points were about all you could expect from him and nobody was running plays through him so points weren't a concern. He did fine.

[BGSU33]

Timken coach Rick Hairston said Rorie averaged roughly four points, six rebounds and five assists per game as a junior, but also said those numbers don't fully express his ability.

I have never seen either of those two from Timken play (although now I am very intersted in trying to make it down to see a game this year). That said, when I see a kid who is 6-9 in high school is only averaging "roughly" four points a game, it make me wonder how??? When you're 6-9 in high school, stepping on the court should alone can get you at least least that. I read where he said they had other scoring options and all, but this makes me think he's a big project player offensively, unless he was playing backup to a senior or something and didn't see much court time last year. Nonetheless, I hope he comes to BG and has a great career. Still, it just makes me chuckle sometimes to know if I had that kind of height, I wouldn't still be paying student loans, my scholarship would have taken care of it.

[BleedOrange]

-1

Sure, Otis worked his tail off and improved.

We were all wowed by his size, footwork, and quickness off his feet. However, Otis was agonizingly useless as a Fr and So and only marginally contributed as a Jr.

As a senior, he remained a ordinary mid-major post player that occasionally posted some impressive rebounding numbers. I can't think of one aspect of his offensive game that was effective. He didn't seem to have much of the 2nd-half competitive hunger that we've seen from other Falcons that won here. And let's not be deluded by the fact that he's "playing professionally in Europe". This sounds superficially impressive, but so what?

If Rorie becomes a version of Otis with less foul trouble, that will be fine me. He'll be depth on a winning team.

[Globetrotter]

Timken coach Rick Hairston said Rorie averaged roughly four points, six rebounds and five assists per game as a junior, but also said those numbers don't fully express his ability.

I have never seen either of those two from Timken play (although now I am very intersted in trying to make it down to see a game this year). That said, when I see a kid who is 6-9 in high school is only averaging "roughly" four points a game, it make me wonder how??? When you're 6-9 in high school, stepping on the court should alone can get you at least least that. I read where he said they had other scoring options and all, but this makes me think he's a big project player offensively, unless he was playing backup to a senior or something and didn't see much court time last year. Nonetheless, I hope he comes to BG and has a great career. Still, it just makes me chuckle sometimes to know if I had that kind of height, I wouldn't still be paying student loans, my scholarship would have taken care of it.

I agree it is disconcerning. At 6-9 he should be getting 4 pts a game just off rebounds and dunks. This seems like we got him for 3 reasons.
1. Size. We need absolutely need big men and at 6-9 220
2. The Guard. Sounds like he might be a real get and this guy ensured it
3. Potential. Think about how odd this number is for a 6-9 player. 4pts, 6rebounds and 5 assists. The first 2 give pause but the last one, if accurate, tends to imply that he has a high basketball IQ and that they might divert scoring from the post or run some kind of motion offense where he is on the perimeter more often then his size would imply. However bad this signs I love Big men and will always error on the size of going for potential here, atleast much more then slow, fundamental, wings.

[transfer2BGSU]

His offensive game never really developed. He didn't ever finish at the rim consistently, was a liability from the free throw line and as much as he was a shot blocker, that didn't do us any good when he spent half the game on the bench in foul trouble...and fouled out down the stretch of many games. .

Stats for 2009-10 in Free throws

JAKUBOWSKI, Joe 59/76 .776
CRAWFORD, Jordon 12/16 .750
LARSON, Marc 40/55 .727
BROWN, Dee 48/70 .686
THOMAS, Scott 85/127 .669
MARSCHALL, Erik 50/75 .667
POLK, Otis 65/108 .602
KRAUS, Luke 5/9 .556
CALHOUN, A'uston 1/2 .500
GOINS, Darion 2/5 .400
MCELROY, Danny 2/6 .333
ERGER, James 0/1 .000
KARAFFA, Matt 0/1 .000


Yes, Otis led ted team in personal fouls (102) but he only fouled out of 5 games last year. I don't think Otis was any worse than the remainder of the team as far as free throws go. He's definitely NO Lauren Prochaska when it comes to FT's but then again, not a single player on the men's squad is.

[factman]

Most of you are not old enough to remember that Nate Thurmond came to BG in a VERY similar situation! Andy really wanted Elijah Chapman and Nate was his 6'6" HS teamate so Andy recruited them as a package deal. Nate ended up growing another 3-4" and the rest is history! Remember, Rorie's HS coach says he is still growing, and I certainly trust Coach Orr's judgement on the raw talent it takes to become an effective big man in the MAC!

[Globetrotter]

Most of you are not old enough to remember that Nate Thurmond came to BG in a VERY similar situation! Andy really wanted Elijah Chapman and Nate was his 6'6" HS teamate so Andy recruited them as a package deal. Nate ended up growing another 3-4" and the rest is history! Remember, Rorie's HS coach says he is still growing, and I certainly trust Coach Orr's judgement on the raw talent it takes to become an effective big man in the MAC!

Really? Why? He has no track record of doing that. The last three guys that graduated got better but certainly their development was not incredible.

Not to be a Negative Nancy but I am very lukewarm on Orr in general. This team here is all of his recruits and if someone (McElroy, Calhoun) Does not step up I have no idea where the scoring is going to come from.

[factman]

ok Nancy!

[Rollo83]

He was a below average MAC center.

I'm not going to go out and do the research, but I don't think this is a true statement. 2 or 3 in the MAC who were better last year, maybe... below average? I really don't think so.

Besides Chris Kaman, who is the last MAC center that would live up to your expectations, Rollo83? Just curious. The MAC doesn't GET great big-men.

Would I love to get someone who develops into a BETTER center than Otis Polk? Duh... who wouldn't? But saying that Otis didn't become a good MAC center is just ridiculous.

I really thought the mistake was PLAYING Otis at center... when it's obvious his natural position was shooting guard.

I went back and looked at the centers...or the players who played the most center..on all the MAC teams last year. "Below average" may have been off just a bit. Otis was clearly "average" in both points and rebounds ranking right in the midddle of the pack.

That's average in a down conference not known for their big men to begin with. That's average with 8 of the other 12 players being younger than him.

My whole point here was the surpise at people on here hoping our new recruits turn into Otis Polk the player...average. I dream bigger.

Points
Greene (KSU) 13.6 SO
Jones (BSU) 12.2 SO
Dobbins (EMU) 12.1 SR
Kowal (NI) 10.5 JR
Mavunga (MU) 10.0 SO
Polk (BG) 9.9 SR
Anyijong (UT) 9.4 JR
Spica (CMU) 7.3 JR
Lawson (WMU) 7.2 SR
Van Kempten (OU) 6.8 SR
Robinson (UB) 5.8 SO
Marshall (Akron) 5.1 FR


Rebounds
Jones (BSU) 7.4
Lawson (WMU) 7.1
Greene (KSU) 6.9
Van Kempten (OU) 6.7
Kowal (NI) 6.4
Polk (BG) 6.4
Mavunga (MU) 6.3
Dobbins (EMU) 5.9
Anyijong (UT) 5.3
Marshall (Akron) 3.9
Robinson (UB) 3.7
Spica (CMU) 3.3

[ZiggyZoomba]

He was a below average MAC center.

I'm not going to go out and do the research, but I don't think this is a true statement. 2 or 3 in the MAC who were better last year, maybe... below average? I really don't think so.

Besides Chris Kaman, who is the last MAC center that would live up to your expectations, Rollo83? Just curious. The MAC doesn't GET great big-men.

Would I love to get someone who develops into a BETTER center than Otis Polk? Duh... who wouldn't? But saying that Otis didn't become a good MAC center is just ridiculous.

I really thought the mistake was PLAYING Otis at center... when it's obvious his natural position was shooting guard.

I went back and looked at the centers...or the players who played the most center..on all the MAC teams last year. "Below average" may have been off just a bit. Otis was clearly "average" in both points and rebounds ranking right in the midddle of the pack.

That's average in a down conference not known for their big men to begin with. That's average with 8 of the other 12 players being younger than him.

My whole point here was the surpise at people on here hoping our new recruits turn into Otis Polk the player...average. I dream bigger.

Points
Greene (KSU) 13.6 SO
Jones (BSU) 12.2 SO
Dobbins (EMU) 12.1 SR
Kowal (NI) 10.5 JR
Mavunga (MU) 10.0 SO
Polk (BG) 9.9 SR
Anyijong (UT) 9.4 JR
Spica (CMU) 7.3 JR
Lawson (WMU) 7.2 SR
Van Kempten (OU) 6.8 SR
Robinson (UB) 5.8 SO
Marshall (Akron) 5.1 FR


Rebounds
Jones (BSU) 7.4
Lawson (WMU) 7.1
Greene (KSU) 6.9
Van Kempten (OU) 6.7
Kowal (NI) 6.4
Polk (BG) 6.4
Mavunga (MU) 6.3
Dobbins (EMU) 5.9
Anyijong (UT) 5.3
Marshall (Akron) 3.9
Robinson (UB) 3.7
Spica (CMU) 3.3

That's great, Rollo. You win.

[h2oville rocket]

Anyijong isn't a center. Lo, Salter and Dressler were our post guys, such as they were. If we had Polk instead I feel we would have won at least five games last year.

[FalconTurf]

Anyijong isn't a center. Lo, Salter and Dressler were our post guys, such as they were. If we had Polk instead I feel we would have won at least five games last year.

And our "Friend from the SUN" compliments our graduated post who dedicated 4 years to the program (unless The Water is flowing sacarstic again?) while one of our own goes to great length to dig up statistics to prove our graduated post to be average. Is our fan base really this jaded?

In all the years I have watched basketball I understand one thing about the players on the floor that misses most fans - not every players' contributions can be measured in statistics. Apparently someone in Europe and a head coach that has been "coach of the year" in 2 DI conferences saw Otis's contributions as valuable.

As a fan I value a player who plays hard, represents us well and enjoyed a level of success I could only dream of enjoying. So Otis was a great FALCON post in my eyes.

[Rollo83]

Anyijong isn't a center. Lo, Salter and Dressler were our post guys, such as they were. If we had Polk instead I feel we would have won at least five games last year.

And our "Friend from the SUN" compliments our graduated post who dedicated 4 years to the program (unless The Water is flowing sacarstic again?) while one of our own goes to great length to dig up statistics to prove our graduated post to be average. Is our fan base really this jaded?

In all the years I have watched basketball I understand one thing about the players on the floor that misses most fans - not every players' contributions can be measured in statistics. Apparently someone in Europe and a head coach that has been "coach of the year" in 2 DI conferences saw Otis's contributions as valuable.

As a fan I value a player who plays hard, represents us well and enjoyed a level of success I could only dream of enjoying. So Otis was a great FALCON post in my eyes.

I have a friend who's a basketball agent and he sends a lot of guys to Europe and Russia. Great disparity in the leagues over there as far as talent. A lot of guys don't make much at all and other guys are promised money and then never get all of it. A contract doesn't mean much over there. They can terminate it at any time or just choose not to honor it. The premier leagues are a little more reputable and guys like Josh Childress from the Atlanta Hawks can get a "personal service" contract with the team owner/sponsor. That's like having a guaranteed contract here. Playing overseas has no parellel with professional basketball in the USA.

"As a fan I value a player who plays hard, represents us well and enjoyed a level of success I could only dream of enjoying. So Otis was a great FALCON post in my eyes."

That statement sounds like its coming from a fan base of a team that hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 1961. Again..I want more.

[Globetrotter]

Otis was a great post because he was very good on D in terms of blocking shots and being a presence down low. He was never a great scorer but he couldnt be ignored.