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Post by sdcoug on Apr 20, 2016 9:18:27 GMT -8
Izundu does 2 things well, 1 of which he does extremely well. If Izundu qualified he would have been second in the country in block % at 13.9, Vishal Fernandez of Valpo was at 14.3. He also has a 9.8 offensive rebounding %, which would rank in the top 300 in the country if he qualified. There are undoubtedly things to worry about, among them are his 6/19 A/TO in 342 Minutes played, he did commit 6.1 fouls per 40 minutes, which isn't good but not awful, he is a poor defensive rebounder. All in all I think he is a good Spencer replacement, he is very unlikely to be as sound as Spencer defensively but he can give us 20 solid minutes of center defense and we don't give up a 2017 scholarship at the same time, we desperately needed a rim protector for next year. I'm sure it will be asked why he just played 15 MPG for WSU, but Ernie Kent's not a good coach and there were WSU fans I saw wanting him to play more. This is all of course assuming that the transfer block doesn't work. Agree with most of what you say. As someone who watched every one of his games (when televised), he is actually a decent defensive rebounder. Josh Hawkinson happens to be an outstanding defensive rebounder & typically guarded the slower opposing "big", so he would end up cleaning up on the boards. If 2 guys had equal access to the ball they would ALWAYS default to Josh & let him grab the ball, as he was always trying to maintain his double-double streaks & lead the conference in rebounding. Izundu could easily have had a lot more boards if that wasn't the case.
This guy is a FREAK athletically. Can touch the top of the backboard, and is a pogo stick. He's just extremely raw. Defensively he focuses a little too much on the blocks & less on footwork, but with an offseason with our staff that can be greatly improved. The other difference is WSU's perimeter defenders are horrible, and Izundu was left to clean up a lot of messes. He'd go for the blocks, often putting himself in foul trouble, and occasionally leaving his man wide open. Again, our system will clean that up.
Offensively, I'd say he's a little ahead of Sky, but his game is still within 3 feet of the rim. His hands may be slightly better, and he might be much stronger to the hoop. Picture Sky when he's angry or aggressive, rather than gentile/quiet Sky. But otherwise, they're about the same. Sky, of course, is ahead of Izundu defensively, both from an instincts/coaching perspective, and in knowing when to double/switch etc. His knowledge of the game is greater, but think he can learn quickly.
He's a great athlete who, in the right system, could become a valuable addition. He didn't play much at WSU, but Kent NEVER had a set rotation. He was horrid at coaching and substitutions - he'd start Izundu, then end up playing him 3-4 minutes & not again the entire half. Then repeat the process in the 2nd, even if he was playing well. Did the same with their other center, Clifford. His injury set him back as well. But he was a starter at WSU & on a team which actually gave a crap about D he'd have been a 25-minute a game player.
I'd suggested on the other board a while ago he'd be a perfect replacement for Sky. If we couldn't find someone who'd elevate our program, he's a good guy to plug the hole. Have actually been hoping this was a possibility. For those on the fence who haven't seen this video, check it out:
www.cougcenter.com/2015/10/9/9489363/valentine-izundu-wsu-basketball-jump-high-wow
WSU, and Kent, are being petty and its sad to see. Kent's talking about tampering "before the season was over" - WSU's season was over, in the minds and hearts of the players, in late January/early Feb. They rarely had a close game in February & March, and often would be down 10 within the first 5-10 minutes of the game. They were in Vegas on the 9th and DONE before we even arrived into town, and they were on break AFTER their season was over.
I wouldn't doubt we'd had conversations with him prior to then, as I'm sure he was reaching out to ANYONE who would listen in January with the idea of leaving. He hated it at WSU. He doesn't want to be there. Why would Ernie even care? He'll just go elsewhere, but SDSU is a great fit for him. All Ernie is doing is making himself look weak.
Izundu may not be a "plan A" guy, but he's definitely a very good & solid "plan B" guy, and serves our purposes VERY well. Especially if he's willing to be a 15-minute a game guy. He's not a threat to Nolan or Z; he's a guy who can come in, provide D & energy & bang with the bigs, saving Nolan & Z fouls & giving the team a lift. They still get their minutes. A "plan A" guy would come in & play, taking away from our current players. In this situation I think a "plan B" guy is a great fit, and when it comes to our identity, Izundu is a very strong fit.
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Post by AztecBill on Apr 20, 2016 9:50:34 GMT -8
He would be good for us because he is a different type of player than any others we will have next season. It is nice to have options.
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Post by sdcoug on Apr 20, 2016 9:54:09 GMT -8
Nolan could become our best offensive shooting play at the 5 position we have had in a very long time . Zylan could also provide some inside scoring at the 5. What we need is defense at the 5 and rebounding from an experienced player who has gone against PAC - opponents . Izundu , if the story is correct was on "spring break " paid his own way to enjoy the So Cal scene . Believe WSU 's season was over . He did go watch a college game in a sport he normally plays , so how is this tampering ? When did he announce he was leaving ? Could his friend be a witness to what happened ? Yes, but Que doesn't like Ernie & is leaving as well, so his credibility would be greatly questioned. They're both bolting, and both apparently were looking to do so at or around the time of the P12 tournament.
Totally agree with paragraph #1. We have 5's who can score, but they're also foul prone & not "large". We need a banger, even if for 15 minutes a game. Izundu IS a banger, and very good at altering shots. We're seeking a stop-gap player - someone to fill in for 1 year while Nolan & Z expand their game (& girth & experience) & while we seek to recruit a HS 5 in 2017.
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Post by TheSanDiegan on Apr 20, 2016 10:05:34 GMT -8
Looks like the staff is happy with another Skylar: 3.8 ppg, 2.7 rebounds and 44% FT. He also had 50 blocks. Watching his highlight reel on Verbalcommits, he seems like a dependable rim protector. I still like the idea of Z and Malik playing above the rim at the 4 and 5, but I dig on the idea of having a mature big patrolling the paint, even if just off the bench in limited PT.
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Post by sdcoug on Apr 20, 2016 10:06:24 GMT -8
Player | FG/100 | FGA/100 | FG% | FT/100 | FTA/100 | FT% | ORB% | DRB% | Block% | TO% | AST% | STL% | PF/100 | Spencer | 3.9 | 6.6 | 59.40% | 1.6 | 3.6 | 46.30% | 11.70% | 14.00% | 8.70% | 14.80% | 4.20% | 1.10% | 6.10% | Izundu | 6.0 | 9.3 | 64.30% | 2.5 | 5.7 | 44.10% | 9.70% | 11.00% | 14.20% | 20.80% | 3.30% | 1.00% | 8.70% |
Just to clarify, that's FGM & FGA, etc. per 100 possessions, etc. Normalizing based on pace of play. I'd seen FG/40 minutes, etc., but not per 100 possessions (outside of Points per), so interesting to see.
Their games are very similar (obviously). Izundu is more aggressive on both ends of the floor, while Sky is a smarter & more experienced all around player. Izundu will get to the line more than Sky and although not a good FT shooter, his stroke is much better. You actually believe they'll go in, so could see him making big strides there.
With good coaching the gaps in fouls committed, TO's, etc. can be significantly narrowed.
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Post by ignoranus on Apr 20, 2016 10:20:20 GMT -8
My guess is that Izundu's availability will probably hang on the identity of the "friend" that provided the tickets. Hopefully NOT an Aztec player or former Aztec/wsu guy.
I do hope that this works out for Izundu and the Aztecs. Looks to be a very good fit.
Wanna see Z & Izundu in some sort of a jump-off competition. Polee might also enter...
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Apr 20, 2016 13:15:51 GMT -8
Well it's 2:12 PM, hopefully the hearing goes Izundu's way & we can call him an AZTEC sooner than later!
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Post by sdcoug on Apr 20, 2016 13:21:28 GMT -8
Well it's 2:12 PM, hopefully the hearing goes Izundu's way & we can call him an AZTEC sooner than later! Given what little WSU had going for them I'd guess it was over 10 minutes earlier....
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Apr 20, 2016 13:28:21 GMT -8
Well it's 2:12 PM, hopefully the hearing goes Izundu's way & we can call him an AZTEC sooner than later! Given what little WSU had going for them I'd guess it was over 10 minutes earlier.... Really? What happened??
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Post by sdcoug on Apr 20, 2016 13:45:23 GMT -8
Given what little WSU had going for them I'd guess it was over 10 minutes earlier.... Really? What happened?? Joking. But what does WSU have to offer? Izundu has said he has texts and receipts showing it all came out of his (& Que's) pockets, and it's his word against Ernie's re: contact, unless they have Izundu's phone records with calls from Valasquez or Hutson?
Here's what I pictured:
Izundu: - We took a spring break trip to San Diego - you know, the place where it's sunny & girls are all over the beaches. We have a friend at SDSU, and there were a ton of tickets available for their game against IPFW so we went.. $5-$10 per ticket. Once their season was over & I announced I was leaving they called me... - Here are all my receipts from our trip to San Diego.... - My friend Que is here to back me up.... - I have no interest in playing for WSU next year... - And oh yea, Ernie reached out to me a couple years ago & talked me into transferring to WSU....now he's blaming SDSU for doing the same?
Ernie: - Well, we don't have any records but it just seems fishy to us. Therefore, since this is what he wants & we can't have that, don't let him transfer. - That's all we got....
2-minutes
The only thing that WSU could have would be phone records - we're not that stupid, and potential for "free tickets" (e.g. Izundu's "friend"). Plus, the IPFW game was LONG after WSU's season was over, so it's a stretch to connect THAT game with his decision to transfer IMO.
I will say this. I was at the IPFW game, had someone in my seats on the opposite side of the court who I visited twice, and basically walked around a few times before, during & after the game. Never once saw Que or Izundu, and I've met them both and know Que. If they were there & in any "special" seats, at 6'5 & 6'11 I'd have noticed them. No mention of them in the SDSU "recruiting" section. My guess is they were in the upper bowl.....which would lead me to believe they weren't gifted anything special. ; ) My $0.02.
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Apr 20, 2016 13:49:02 GMT -8
Ernie should invest in Preparation-H and Tucks at the very least to prepare himself for next years Pac12 BB season! JMO
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Post by Old School on Apr 20, 2016 13:59:50 GMT -8
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Apr 20, 2016 14:02:59 GMT -8
That is broken news! We're waiting for the results of the "tampering" inquiry!
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Post by Old School on Apr 20, 2016 14:06:52 GMT -8
Ah, my bad. Oldie Out
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Apr 20, 2016 14:12:20 GMT -8
That's what I love about being old, 67 almost 68, impatience for closure on life's shite!
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Post by dunksalot on Apr 20, 2016 15:15:00 GMT -8
Nice posts sdcoug - You validate my hunches as I have not watched as much of Izundu as you apparently have. Skyler 2.0 coming to a Mesa near you - hopefully!
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Post by AztecBill on Apr 20, 2016 15:40:22 GMT -8
www.cougcenter.com/wsu-cougars-basketball/2016/2/14/10986988/izundu-valentine-day-wsu-basketball-block-shots-wowTo put the 12'5" max jump and reach in perspective. 1. Highest standing reach in NBA combine last year was 9'5" 2. Highest maximum jump for PF/C was 37.5 inches A player with both attributes above would have a maximum reach on a jump of 9'6.5". That is 1.5 inches above Izundu's feat. Of course, the players with 37.5 vertical leaps had 9'0" reaches and the player with 9'5" reach had a 25 inch vertical leap. I suspect 12'5" would be a record for max jumping reach in last year's NBA combine. He could improve his 12'5" by a couple of inches with easy fixes to his technique. He didn't transfer any of his horizontal momentum into vertical. That is an easy fix to get extra inches on his jump.
From watching his blocks, I think he would benefit using some volleyball techniques they use to control where spikes go. Your off hand can rotate your body as your blocking (Spiking) arm moves for the block (hit). Instead of hitting the ball out of bounds, it would be great to have that off hand thrown hard to the side to rotate the swing sending the ball hard into the back court.
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Post by aztecwin on Apr 20, 2016 16:14:48 GMT -8
That's what I love about being old, 67 almost 68, impatience for closure on life's shite! That was me ten or so years ago. The bad news is that it only gets worse.
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Post by AzTex on Apr 20, 2016 17:09:12 GMT -8
That's what I love about being old, 67 almost 68, impatience for closure on life's shite! That was me ten or so years ago. The bad news is that it only gets worse. I used to "live in the moment." Then I started having "senior moments." Now I just "live in the senior moment." sigh
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Post by biotec on Apr 20, 2016 17:09:22 GMT -8
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