@ Appalachian State (11/30)

[BillyLP]

I agree with all of the limitations on Swingle. But Swingle scored 9 points. He provides something no one else on the team and maybe the league can provide. Can you imagine having to be a C and bang with him and then try to guard Plowden? That's essentially what they are being asked to do. At 12-20 minutes per game he can wear down the other C. Give him 3-4 fouls.

I understand the thought here, but I think where he hurts BG at times is when he gets the ball in the paint and tries to go up with it. One specific time early in the game, he had it down low and should have had a relatively easy lay-in, but he almost seemed panicked, went up hard to draw the foul, hitting it high off the backboard and missing the rim entirely. Those possessions are no better than turnovers and he seems to do that a couple of times per game. Those are the possessions BG desperately misses a guy like Wiggins.

[OSUFALCON]

“Those are the possessions BG desperately misses a guy like Wiggins.”

I wouldn’t say Wiggins had a velvet touch as a freshman or sophomore. Not sure he did as a junior or senior. He could rebound like a beast but his offense was inconsistent in my opinion.

[BillyLP]

“Those are the possessions BG desperately misses a guy like Wiggins.”

I wouldn’t say Wiggins had a velvet touch as a freshman or sophomore. Not sure he did as a junior or senior. He could rebound like a beast but his offense was inconsistent in my opinion.

Maybe time is romanticizing the past for me, but it seems like Wiggins could consistently hit the post lay-ups and draw a ton of fouls his last couple of years. But yeah, I should have clarified that I meant junior/senior Wiggins and definitely not freshman/sophomore Wiggins.

[BleedOrange]

I agree with all of the limitations on Swingle. But Swingle scored 9 points. He provides something no one else on the team and maybe the league can provide. Can you imagine having to be a C and bang with him and then try to guard Plowden? That's essentially what they are being asked to do. At 12-20 minutes per game he can wear down the other C. Give him 3-4 fouls.

What is it exactly that Swingle gives us that the rest of the MAC doesn't have?

Size. But, what's the point if he can't do anything with it? He doesn't wear people down, he gets in quick foul trouble. Front-court players easily get vertical over him. He doesn't have the mobility to go towards a rebound that doesn't go directly to him. Guards clean him out if he does touch a loose ball. He doesn't have good enough hands to catch quick interior passes.

We all want to believe that a 6-10, 290lb guy can give an advantage. Here, I don't see even a whiff of potential.

[Globetrotter]

I agree with all of the limitations on Swingle. But Swingle scored 9 points. He provides something no one else on the team and maybe the league can provide. Can you imagine having to be a C and bang with him and then try to guard Plowden? That's essentially what they are being asked to do. At 12-20 minutes per game he can wear down the other C. Give him 3-4 fouls.

What is it exactly that Swingle gives us that the rest of the MAC doesn't have?

Size. But, what's the point if he can't do anything with it? He doesn't wear people down, he gets in quick foul trouble. Front-court players easily get vertical over him. He doesn't have the mobility to go towards a rebound that doesn't go directly to him. Guards clean him out if he does touch a loose ball. He doesn't have good enough hands to catch quick interior passes.

We all want to believe that a 6-10, 290lb guy can give an advantage. Here, I don't see even a whiff of potential.

In game 2 I saw him box out a ton of guys and at the very least bang with their post. In game 3 he put up 9 points.

I guess I see all the limitations your seeing, but there are positives too. AND, atleast until Matiss is back we don't have an alternative.

[mbenecke]

I agree with Globe here. I can see the limitations just like anyone else, but I don't want to flat-out dismiss the positives. He's a developing young guy - he's only in the beginning of his 2nd season in the program, and he comes in off a weird pandemic-ridden offseason.

I think he has the potential to be a pretty good player for us. He'll be around for another 2 years at the minimum AFTER this year, which is only 3 games in. Tons of time for him to keep grinding and improve.

[BleedOrange]

Well, I certainly hope I'm wrong.

[Matty B]

I agree with Globe here. I can see the limitations just like anyone else, but I don't want to flat-out dismiss the positives. He's a developing young guy - he's only in the beginning of his 2nd season in the program, and he comes in off a weird pandemic-ridden offseason.

I think he has the potential to be a pretty good player for us. He'll be around for another 2 years at the minimum AFTER this year, which is only 3 games in. Tons of time for him to keep grinding and improve.

The key point here is DEVELOPING. I like that Huger and staff are committed to developing him, but it could be a double edge sword as this is a year with a chance to win the thing.

I remember 15ish years ago, Kent had a 7 foot walk on named John Edwards. He was an absolute liability on both ends his first 2 years but Kent stayed committed to getting him minutes. By his senior year he was still limited but could get post position, score over smaller defenders at will, and at least be a serviceable defender. I believe he was all-MAC senior year and even ended up cracking the Indiana Pacers roster when most of their team got suspended after the Malice at the Palace.

Moral of the story, you cant teach size, but you can develop a few basic skills that combined with a size advantage can turn a player like Swingle into a very valuable asset. And at MAC schools 6'10 guys dont walk in the door everyday.

[BPardonMyTake]

“Those are the possessions BG desperately misses a guy like Wiggins.”

I wouldn’t say Wiggins had a velvet touch as a freshman or sophomore. Not sure he did as a junior or senior. He could rebound like a beast but his offense was inconsistent in my opinion.

Maybe time is romanticizing the past for me, but it seems like Wiggins could consistently hit the post lay-ups and draw a ton of fouls his last couple of years. But yeah, I should have clarified that I meant junior/senior Wiggins and definitely not freshman/sophomore Wiggins.

The same Wiggins some of this board used to refer to as “cupcake”? You specifically might not have participated in that nickname, but the point is we can’t write this kid off because whether people like it or not, he’s going to play. Let’s be clear, you are absolutely correct that this team would be scary good is Wiggins was still around.

Swingle is raw, he doesn’t know how to use his body, he commits dumb fouls on defense instead of just staying straight up, he clogs the lane at times, seemingly just kinda falls randomly, he is not perfect. Tell you what though, I sure as heck would get tired of running into him as an opposing guard when he sets screens. Ability to simply wear people out from his sheer size is there. He rolls hard to the basket, has shown SOME glimpses of finesse around the rim and at least looks like he wants the ball in the post. Heck, just looking forward to Buffalo on Sunday, Mballa will eat our lunch if swingle doesn’t play a decent amount of minutes. Matiss will certainly help the front court depth, but i don’t think he’s the answer as a post player. And Washington? I’m sure he can provide productive minutes and do think he should play more given the current situation underneath, but we just haven’t seen enough of him to say he should take swingle’s spot in my opinion. We all know Huger loves a traditional big, all signs point to him having a prominent role on this team. Seems to me we just have to live with the bad and hope the good will start to outweigh those rough patches as the season goes on.


If this 6’10” massive human was that polished, he wouldn’t be playing in the MAC. I will be the first to admit if he just ends up being bad. I really do think we start to see him grow into his own once we’re in the thick of conference play.

[BPardonMyTake]

“Those are the possessions BG desperately misses a guy like Wiggins.”

I wouldn’t say Wiggins had a velvet touch as a freshman or sophomore. Not sure he did as a junior or senior. He could rebound like a beast but his offense was inconsistent in my opinion.

Maybe time is romanticizing the past for me, but it seems like Wiggins could consistently hit the post lay-ups and draw a ton of fouls his last couple of years. But yeah, I should have clarified that I meant junior/senior Wiggins and definitely not freshman/sophomore Wiggins.

The same Wiggins some of this board used to refer to as “cupcake”? You specifically might not have participated in that nickname, but the point is we can’t write this kid off because whether people like it or not, he’s going to play. Let’s be clear, you are absolutely correct that this team would be scary good is Wiggins was still around.

Swingle is raw, he doesn’t know how to use his body, he commits dumb fouls on defense instead of just staying straight up, he clogs the lane at times, seemingly just kinda falls randomly, he is not perfect. Tell you what though, I sure as heck would get tired of running into him as an opposing guard when he sets screens. Ability to simply wear people out from his sheer size is there. He rolls hard to the basket, has shown SOME glimpses of finesse around the rim and at least looks like he wants the ball in the post. Heck, just looking forward to Buffalo on Sunday, Mballa will eat our lunch if swingle doesn’t play a decent amount of minutes. Matiss will certainly help the front court depth, but i don’t think he’s the answer as a post player. And Washington? I’m sure he can provide productive minutes and do think he should play more given the current situation underneath, but we just haven’t seen enough of him to say he should take swingle’s spot in my opinion. We all know Huger loves a traditional big, all signs point to him having a prominent role on this team. Seems to me we just have to live with the bad and hope the good will start to outweigh those rough patches as the season goes on.


If this 6’10” massive human was that polished, he wouldn’t be playing in the MAC. I will be the first to admit if he just ends up being bad. I really do think we start to see him grow into his own once we’re in the thick of conference play.