Sterling Smith....Hopefully He's Good Enough to Start

[Chescat]

We need this guy to better than Chris Jones both offensively and defensively. If he is that, than Jones can
bring us instant offense off the bench and Newkirk can be the third guard and back up Robinson. If he can't
beat out Jones, than we will have last year's problems at both guard spots. If this guy can score and play decent defense, that will let Robinson concentrate on running the team and not having to be a scorer.

Now, Jamie still needs to bring in a viable center. IMO Nix is not a starting ACC center. I want to see
Young remain at PF with a REAL starting center backed up by Nix.

 

[dooz3]

We need this guy to better than Chris Jones both offensively and defensively. If he is that, than Jones can
bring us instant offense off the bench and Newkirk can be the third guard and back up Robinson. If he can't
beat out Jones, than we will have last year's problems at both guard spots. If this guy can score and play decent defense, that will let Robinson concentrate on running the team and not having to be a scorer.

Now, Jamie still needs to bring in a viable center. IMO Nix is not a starting ACC center. I want to see
Young remain at PF with a REAL starting center backed up by Nix.

Did we hire his Dad?

 

[JRPITT]

How do you know how good or bad Nix will be next season? Agreed that it would be nice to get an experienced center in the program. But the kid hasn't even had a chance yet. Go Pitt!

 

[Chescat]

How do you know how good or bad Nix will be next season? Agreed that it would be nice to get an experienced center in the program. But the kid hasn't even had a chance yet. Go Pitt!

Try re reading my post...I stated "IMO"...that makes it an opinion, not a fact. Read much?

 

[mvk112]

What are you basing your opinion on?

 

[cruzer]

We need this guy to better than Chris Jones both offensively and defensively. If he is that, than Jones can
bring us instant offense off the bench and Newkirk can be the third guard and back up Robinson. If he can't
beat out Jones, than we will have last year's problems at both guard spots. If this guy can score and play decent defense, that will let Robinson concentrate on running the team and not having to be a scorer.

Now, Jamie still needs to bring in a viable center. IMO Nix is not a starting ACC center. I want to see
Young remain at PF with a REAL starting center backed up by Nix.

I have no idea if Smith will start, but if he can't win the starting spot on this team, he should consider switching his sport of choice to lawn darts.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Being that Smith is a true guard and Jones is a 2/3 player, hopefully he will indeed win that starting spot.

I should say here.... getting some 3ball shooting should do wonders for this team... because with Wright and Robinson starting last year... and Jeter at SF..... no 3ball shooters on the perimeter and other teams would collapse to the inside (it wasn't extreme but was quite noticeable) and that would make things that more difficult for Young and Artis. Smith... and hopefully Cam Johnson also... could very well change that around significantly.

Otherwise, being that Dixon was not able to sign Thorne, I expect that Young will again be starting at C and Artis at PF. Remember that Artis was like a fish out of water when Dixon started him at SF and really came into his own once Dixon moved him back to his 'natural position' at PF. So, you start Artis at PF and Jeter at SF, and have Jeter spell Artis and that leaves starter minutes off the bench at SF for Chris Jones. Cam Johnson, can spell Smith at SG and play some SF also (but, that does not leave enough minutes for Newkirk and Wilson).

The main thing Dixon needs now is another big to spell Young.... a true sized big not someone like Luther or Jeter who both saw time at C last year. It is unknown how well Nix is gonna do (yeah, sure is big enough) so he needs another big that can play. If he can't find anyone other there better than Joe Uchebo... he should bring back Big Joe.

 

[KiwiJeff]

Good post Zara

 

[Zaratoughda]

Good post Zara

The one thing I cannot understand about Dixon and his bigs.... he tried all sorts of things to take some of the weight off of Young's shoulders.... starting Uchebo or Randall at C early on..... spelling him with them.... and nothing seemed to work UNTIL he started sending Uchebo in at various times.... at the start of a defensive possession and leaving him in for just a couple of possessions and then sending Young back in at the start of an offensive possession. This worked (!) with Young going off for 22 points in that game (I believe this was Cuse in the dome) and the same in the next two games.

But, Dixon went away from this and I can't understand why (possibly Big Joe's knees couldn't take it). Otherwise, if you find something that works (and this is a big thing for the team) you stick with it.

So, being that he was not able to sign Mike Thorne, I am hoping he goes back to something like this. Yeah, Mike Young scoring around 20 PPG next year would be major.

Yeah, this is a big thing for the team. If Mike Young is fresh, opposing Cs cannot cover him as he is way too quick for them.. and can even hit the outside shot including the 3ball at times.