Mason's Homecoming victory over UR was the 4th game this season that Marko did not play (after missing just 1 game in his first 2 seasons). The other 3 games that he missed this season was due to a concussion. He was dressed for Saturday's game, so I don't know if it was due to getting hurt in the game at Davidson or Hewitt decided to go with an 8-man rotation.
This was also the first game that Vaughn Gray missed this season, after playing just 1 minute at Davidson.
But how much of Hewitt's recruiting shtick is "You'll play the 4, but my 4 out offense will give you 3 skills, and a chance at the NBA."
Oh, I'm sure that's a huge part of his pitch; but at this point the players have to be sick of losing with this one-one-on NBA crap that is doing nothing to make them better. In fact, it's making them look worse, because they are round pegs being crammed into square holes.
Okoloji, Marko and Royal are all the same in that they have the size to play the 3 but not the skills, speed or shooting ability. Of the 3, I think Royal is the only one who has the talent and size to transition to the 4 if he's coached properly.
Do you mean that Royal has the talent and size to effectively play the "4" if coached properly?
I don't understand why Houston hasn't turned Royal in to a post-up/back to the basket type player and bang down low guy. Isn't this what Houston was brought in to do? Is Royal that inept to learn back to the basket moves? Or has Houston and Hewitt agreed to make him a jump shooter and slasher..... when apparently his jump shot and drive to the basket is not very good, he is not fast enough to play the 3 and cut to the rim. It seems they refuse to adjust their philosophy on what type of player to make Royal and just let him shoot whatever shot he has in front of him. THIS is where their coaching is abysmal and needs to be addressed.
I can send a message to Jai Lewis and I'll pay him $100 of my own money to have him take Royal out and teach him some post moves on a Saturday at the Field House. But no..... apparently he is a straight up shooter. LOL
I often wonder which players on the current roster L would have punted (like Vlad) and which he would have improved...
Marko I think would improve slightly. At least work harder.