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Post by longsuffering on May 9, 2022 0:08:15 GMT -5
He should be ahead of where Louth and Rabs were their first season. Indiana State was 4-14 in the MVC last year, worse than HC in the PL. Josh Schertz didn't think Wilbar picked up on his system fast enough. Maybe nobody did. Welcome aboard Simon.
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Post by longsuffering on May 9, 2022 0:18:21 GMT -5
1) That’s not what I said. B) If he is anywhere above our 4th big this year, he’s either a great addition or something went wrong with Gates, Louth, and Kenny. So our 4th big is 6’11 with D1 experience. 2.5 years ago we didn’t have a 4th big, and our 2nd & 3rd bigs were not D1 players. Only this crew could complain about that. I think this crew is mostly concerned based on the available info that this player will not make us materially better and yet we are dedicating a scholarship to him for some number of years. Some of us were concerned that a coach in Nelson’s position would fill our open scholarships with the best available player from the clearance bin at the portal. That seems to be what is happening here though I would love it if Wilbar becomes a great player for us. There’s just nothing in his record to date that suggests he will. If he’s just going to take up a scholarship and play 8 mpg as our 4th big, I would have preferred we pass and fill the schollie with a more promising prospect next year. If he wants to hang around for six years after high school before receiving a bachelor degree even though he has the smarts to get into HC, and he gets an NCAA waiver, our exposure is three years. Otherwise it's two years, half the risk with every freshman basketball player who walks up Linden Lane.
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Post by joe on May 9, 2022 6:49:13 GMT -5
I don’t know, he’s a pretty athletic 6’11” guy who can shoot 3s. Who the heck are people expecting a horrible team to get out of the portal? I think this is a decent signing.
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Post by alum on May 9, 2022 7:02:40 GMT -5
Looks decent but Tom Seaman isn't walking through that door.
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Post by rgs318 on May 9, 2022 7:23:17 GMT -5
In all the comments, has anyone mentioned that he is 6'11"?! As they say, you can't teach height. (Thanks, Joe. I see you did just that!)
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Post by trimster on May 9, 2022 7:29:05 GMT -5
Looks decent but Tom Seaman isn't walking through that door. It took a while for Tom Seaman to become a force in the paint.
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Post by trimster on May 9, 2022 7:31:47 GMT -5
I don’t know, he’s a pretty athletic 6’11” guy who can shoot 3s. Who the heck are people expecting a horrible team to get out of the portal? I think this is a decent signing. My thoughts exactly, vis-a-vis who do you expect us to be signing.
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Post by WorcesterGray on May 9, 2022 7:39:57 GMT -5
While he likes shooting threes (nearly 2/3 of his FGAs were from deep in 21-22), he hasn't shown the ability to make them - just 30% last year, 27% at Lincoln Memorial.
His rebound rate at the defensive end was very good, so I'm more hopeful he can help there.
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Post by Tom on May 9, 2022 7:45:05 GMT -5
Doesn't actually being in the same country as Holy Cross give this kid a leg up on Louth when he started freshman year
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 9, 2022 7:50:46 GMT -5
Louth didn’t really have much of a freshman year as he was stuck in Canada for part of it.
Wilbar appears to have some weight in addition to the height. I believe he pushed some defenders around in the highlight reel
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Post by Ignutz on May 9, 2022 8:05:08 GMT -5
Highlights from last year.
Alley oop opportunity with our (TBD) point guard. Feel good after watching the highlights. He seems quicker than Rabs. He looks like he can be a contributor, but bigs should not be wearing 14. Let’s get back to normalcy, when the single digits and -teens were bringing up the ball and feeding the 30s and 40s in the paint. (20s reserved for guys like Doran, Witts and Vicens, and, of course, Togo)
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Post by Sons of Vaval on May 9, 2022 9:19:48 GMT -5
Any suggestion that any decision by Coach Nelson was less than brilliant makes you a hater. B) If he is anywhere above our 4th big this year, he’s either a great addition or something went wrong with Gates, Louth, and Kenny. So our 4th big is 6’11 with D1 experience. 2.5 years ago we didn’t have a 4th big, and our 2nd & 3rd bigs were not D1 players. Only this crew could complain about that. Landing a transfer who is going to be a bench player (fourth big, as you suggest) getting somewhere around 10 mpg isn't making a difference on next year's team. Also, do you believe Wilbar is going to be ahead of Lewis? Sorry, but I am expecting more. We are getting to the point where it's last call at the bar, the lights are flickering on, and Nelson is frantically searching for the best available option.
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Post by longsuffering on May 9, 2022 9:22:36 GMT -5
Let's see how many counties his wing span can cover on the map of Massachusetts decal on the Hart Center Floor.
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Post by longsuffering on May 9, 2022 9:27:45 GMT -5
B) If he is anywhere above our 4th big this year, he’s either a great addition or something went wrong with Gates, Louth, and Kenny. So our 4th big is 6’11 with D1 experience. 2.5 years ago we didn’t have a 4th big, and our 2nd & 3rd bigs were not D1 players. Only this crew could complain about that. Landing a transfer who is going to be a bench player (fourth big, as you suggest) getting somewhere around 10 mpg isn't making a difference on next year's team. Also, do you believe Wilbar is going to be ahead of Lewis? Sorry, but I am expecting more. We are getting to the point where it's last call at the bar, the lights are flickering on, and Nelson is frantically searching for the best available option. Wilbar is currently ahead of Lewis, isn't he? Lewis played 19 minutes last year...against D-1 teams.
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Post by bringbackcaro on May 9, 2022 9:33:34 GMT -5
B) If he is anywhere above our 4th big this year, he’s either a great addition or something went wrong with Gates, Louth, and Kenny. So our 4th big is 6’11 with D1 experience. 2.5 years ago we didn’t have a 4th big, and our 2nd & 3rd bigs were not D1 players. Only this crew could complain about that. Landing a transfer who is going to be a bench player (fourth big, as you suggest) getting somewhere around 10 mpg isn't making a difference on next year's team. Also, do you believe Wilbar is going to be ahead of Lewis? Sorry, but I am expecting more. We are getting to the point where it's last call at the bar, the lights are flickering on, and Nelson is frantically searching for the best available option. My point was more about Gates being #1 and expecting Kenny and Louth to continue making a big step forward. If that is the case, I don't expect Nelson to be bringing in a better immediate plug & play Big recruiting off 13 dreadful seasons (wheres you seem to think those guys are growing on trees in the Portal) If he took the approach that some suggested of just saving the scholarship until next year, you and your crew would be killing him for not trying to make the team better this year. He's in a no-win situation with you guys right now. Our best chance for success next year is Bo, Kenny, Louth, and Gates (to some extent) taking a significant step forward, Octave being an immediate contributor, and Dorsey and/or a transfer holding down the PG spot. Other factors (Batchelder being an immediate contributor, Rabinovich finally staying healthy, Lewis taking a major leap, etc.) would be great, but we are not going to be competing at the top of the pL (where we need to be) if the above don't happen.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on May 9, 2022 9:59:32 GMT -5
I don't have a problem with taking a chance on a big if we consider it the 13th slot, so to speak. Just based on that one reel, he does seem to have athletic ability that can work in the PL, I would think. But these last 2 remaining slots are crucial. Need plug and play types, with one of them being a PG.
Welcome to HC, Simon!
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Post by hchoops on May 9, 2022 10:04:44 GMT -5
Based on the video alone, he may be able to play a lot as a stretch 4 with Gerrale at the 5 and hopefully as a 5 on defense with some shot blocking ability. He has much more size than Kenny, especially valuable vs larger front lines. Louth is more of a similar skill player to Gerrale. Of course, this all depends on him being eligible immediately. I would presume (hope) that has been determined already.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on May 9, 2022 11:21:53 GMT -5
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 9, 2022 11:44:47 GMT -5
Some nice comments about HC.
Hope the “lacking in effort” comment was inaccurate.
Simon Wilbar= I broils woman
I don’t think Octave lends himself to anagrams
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Post by Chu Chu on May 9, 2022 11:48:43 GMT -5
From reading the comments on this link, I see he was well thought of at Indiana State and seen to be a real contributor to the team. He moves well in the video clip linked earlier. We needed the height. On balance, I like this get. I'll bet he does well with us!
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Post by Tom on May 9, 2022 11:53:55 GMT -5
From the Sycamore board
I don't see HC handing out many tractors. Might be a case of Midwesterners look at life differently than people from the Northeast.
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Post by longsuffering on May 9, 2022 12:00:40 GMT -5
Positive comments about Holy Cross. If Simon does have three remaining years of eligibility, it's hard to imagine HC was his first choice given there is no graduate school. His "Thank God" comment makes sense in that light.
The ball is now in Coach Nelson's, RJ's and the rest of the staff's hands. At least they have something to work with. Comparing this late pick up to Joey Reilly, Simon is three years older and a foot taller. I am sure Joe "got it" and he did contribute to HC, but Simon has much more upside. Time to benefit from three years of trial and error attempting to teach "attack and serve" and get it right with next season's roster.
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Post by trimster on May 9, 2022 12:10:38 GMT -5
After reading about Lincoln Memorial, the last 13 HC teams would have problems competing with them. They have been one of the top D2 teams in the country, (Schertz had a winning percentage off the charts, 83%), and they play in a 5,000 seat arena that puts the Hart Center to shame. We aren't signing 3 star transfers and recruits because we probably aren't on a par with the top D2 programs in the country. We are what HC has chosen to be; a low-level D1 program. It is what it is.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on May 9, 2022 12:13:29 GMT -5
CBN must feel pretty confident Simon will be granted a waiver to play immediately; otherwise it doesn't make sense to me - why would he bring someone in he cannot use in what he must realize is a make or break year.
Wondering if 1) Simon will become Austin Lewis 2.0; 2) Austin will become Simon Wilbar 2.0, or 3) they both turn out to be totally different players.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on May 9, 2022 13:11:10 GMT -5
Lewis vs Wilbar will be interesting. Didn’t Lewis show (in HS or limited HC play) that he can run and can handle the ball a bit. He showed decent shooting form, perhaps? One knock was he needed some weight, and I believe CBN said he had gained 30 lbs. in contrast Wilbar comes in already listed at 235 so that is one advantage he has. I’m betting on Dave’s #3 above-different types of players
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