In Reply to: Ball going through Mara is a big problem. posted by TheHappyBurgermeister on January 06, 2025 at 11:41:47
I see the deficiencies too, but I believe the positives—and the potential for even more—outweigh the option of sitting him. I slightly disagree with the criticism of his back-to-the-basket game. While it's not where we’d want it, there are plenty of possibilities. Teams can set picks to help post players get better positions, for example. Even if he’s not backing players down, holding the ball high, looking for cutters, and making quick decisions—like swinging the ball if nothing develops—could still be very effective. I think committing to playing through him a bit is worth considering.
What’s the alternative? Let him sit and risk losing him to transfer next year? With NIL opportunities, someone will likely offer him a chance elsewhere. I’d rather live with a few turnovers now and trust they’ll decrease over time. Many think he’s a year away, but with the state of college basketball, who knows what our roster will look like next season? Let's play him and see if a half-season of solid playing time will make him a major contributor come March.