Over the weekend, WBR’s Matt DeMarinis fielded questions from our readers about the first week-plus of basketball practice. In case you missed it, here’s a roundup of some of the Q&A! Note that some of the questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
“What are the newcomers best skills, each?” -Russell Hopp (@HoppRussel42266)
Matt DeMarinis: Ty Davis’ best skill is running an offense. Jackson McAndrew/Fedor Zugic: shooting. Larry Johnson: at this stage, probably rebounding? The dude can HOP. Jamiya Neal: defensive disruption. And Pop Isaacs: playmaking
“Fedor Zugic: best player, or best player ever? Serious question, what’s the hold up with his eligibility and how would you handicap the chances that he actually plays?” -Ravi Lulla (@ralulla)
MD: Hopefully an eligible player at some point because he’s fun.
The NCAA isn’t very keen on 20-something-year-old pros coming over to the college game. Creighton’s situation with Zugic isn’t unique, so we’ll see how the NCAA decides to handle it.
My prediction: he’ll play this season, just not right away.
“Any skills that Kalkbrenner worked on specifically? More 3-point shooting moves?” -Peter Frampton’s Heart Shaped Talk Box (@g00dddd)
MD: Not really. I would just say that everything looks more refined. He looks like the best version of himself that I’ve seen at CU.
“Are there any candidates for most improved player? A potential surprise impact player?” -Sully Stavneak @SullySulmeister)
MD: Jasen Green, Isaac Traudt, Sterling Knox depending on the day. Green probably has the overall lead among the candidates.
“Does Green make the starting lineup?” -Joe Doyle (@joe_doyle)
MD: At this point I would be shocked if he doesn’t. His rebounding and ability to guard up or down depending on the matchup is really valuable, and his perimeter shot is much, MUCH improved from a year ago.
“How big is the falloff of talent from last year or is there any?” -Justin (@Justin65612514)
MD: The beauty of basketball is there are multiple methods to peel the onion. It’ll look different, but that doesn’t automatically translate to a “falloff.”
“Who’s gonna replace the scoring of Trey and Baylor, and who’s good enough to create their own shot when the offense is slumping like Trey would with his midrange?” -Otrips – RDJ (@12otrips)
MD: Can’t give a good answer to question number one until I see them play someone.
As for question number two, throw the ball to the 7-foot-1, 270-pound cheat code and let him feed until he’s not hungry anymore.
“How do the 3 freshman look? Can we expect any to crack the rotation early?” -Kyle (@Kyle_Brayman)
MD: The latter will be the toughest question to answer because they all have different strengths. Technically there are six freshmen on this year’s team (Johnson, Davis and McAndrew, plus Zugic and redshirt freshmen Sterling Knox and Shane Thomas.)
I think Zugic is the most skilled among that group, but I would consider Knox and Davis the frontrunners for rotation minutes at the moment. Take that as a compliment to the ones mentioned instead of a slight against the ones who weren’t.
“Steve Ashworth role?” -Russell Hopp (@HoppRussel42266)
MD: Same as last year — he can be the primary initiator or play off the ball while someone else like Pop Isaacs or Ty Davis starts the offense.
“How much of a second year pop for Steve? (It’s not Steven this year…it’s Steve.)” -Deebs (@THE_Home_DEBO)
MD: I think probably an uptick in overall efficiency from 3-point range is the first place to look. He truly is a special shotmaker.
“What’s the starting 5?” -Eric Reibe fan account (@AnDav78)
MD: On October 5, 2024, I’ll go with… Ashworth, Isaacs, Neal, Green, Kalkbrenner.
“How do we replace the unprecedented success that last year’s senior Manajays produced during their four years?” -Ian Kirwan (@kirwan_ian)
MD: They added Jahenns Manigat. Nuff said. (ED. NOTE: Kirwan was a Manajay from 2016-2020.)
“Is the McDermott Center really an upgrade from the old Vinardi center?” -Dr. Daniel G. Kolder (@DrDanielKolder)
MD: Nothing can ever replace the spiral staircase and 200-foot long court that y’all had to run suicides on. (ED. NOTE: Kolder was a walk-on for Dana Altman’s squads from 1996-1999.)
“Me on day one, ‘I realize the game is faster at this level but the court is longer too, did not know that.’ And the spiral stair case!” -Dr. Daniel G. Kolder (@DrDanielKolder)