ADVERTISEMENT

New Heights and Weights

I'd love that but I'm seeing late first round. Either way an NBA player.
Ok, then he will have no problem guarding Trey Kaufman then. Good to hear.

When I think NBA wing, I'm thinking Bobby Wilkerson, Calbert Cheaney, or OG Anunoby. And all of those guys won Big Ten Championships.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Hoosier Clarion
Ok, then he will have no problem guarding Trey Kaufman then. Good to hear.

When I think NBA wing, I'm thinking Bobby Wilkerson, Calbert Cheaney, or OG Anunoby. And all of those guys won Big Ten Championships.
Woody?
Doubt Mbako will be guarding TKR much, except on help. Guessing that will fall to Reanu/Ballo, although Mbako might be equipped to do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: T.M.P. and Cavanagh
I recognize I am not a great evaluator of individual talent, but I have not seen anything about MM that makes me think he is an NBA pro.
He started hitting open, stand still 3 pt shots last season. But the rest of his game needs serious development to be in the NBA.
I hope you are correct and he proves me wrong. A better offensive scheme from the coaching staff would help with that.
 
MM improved quite a bit last season. It will be very interesting to see what he's like after six more months of work. Obviously, he was a terrible defender to start last year -- so slow with no instincts. He was getting closer to serviceable at the end of the year, but he needs more work. His size and shooting ability (even if not all the way realized) should work for the league.

I think he will make it to the NBA eventually. Could be end of this season, or maybe he needs another. Just depends on the improvement trajectory. If he goes pro he needs a decent contract to top the NIL he gets -- two-way deals aren't close, and if he is improving at IU he may as well stay until his contract prospects are better.

To be clear I'm just talking about getting to the NBA, having much of a career is whole other thing and he needs to get a lot better to do that.
 
Last edited:
MM improved quite a bit last season. It will be very interesting to see what he's like after six more months of work. Obviously, he was a terrible defender to start last year -- so slow with no instincts. He was getting closer to serviceable at the end of the year, but he needs more work. His size and shooting ability (even if not all the way realized) should work for the league.

I think he will make it to the NBA eventually. Could be end of this season, or maybe he needs another. Just depends on the improvement trajectory. If he goes pro he needs a decent contract to top the NIL he gets -- two-way deals aren't close, and if he is improving at IU he may as well stay until his contract prospects are better.

To be clear I'm just talking about getting to the NBA, having much of a career is whole other thing and he needs to get a lot better to do that.
He made improvements last season. Defense was better by the end and he figured out how to get to the hoop, which helped his outside shooting as a result. Similar improvements over the summer and through the season could get him in the league.

He plays short on D. Sometimes he looks like he has T-Rex arms. Holds them close to his body and negates that length. Hope he learns to use it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ulrey
Similar to hype videos prior to a season, it's fun to see reported changes but means very little. If you add 5 pounds but can't shoot or havent improved your game it doesn't really matter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bucket Getter
He made improvements last season. Defense was better by the end and he figured out how to get to the hoop, which helped his outside shooting as a result. Similar improvements over the summer and through the season could get him in the league.

He plays short on D. Sometimes he looks like he has T-Rex arms. Holds them close to his body and negates that length. Hope he learns to use it.
I heard a pretty glowing review of MM from Rick Bozich and was really excited to see him, and then was disappointed. He really just seemed to be trying to think every thing through last year and not just playing from instinct. If he has grown, he could have a monster year, if he stays aggressive going to the hoop and has improved on D. I think he'll lead the team in scoring.
 
To continue to develop his overall game, he does need to aggressively go to the hoop. But to do that he needs handle to get there and hops & instinct to finish. Not evident last season.
I remain hopeful.
 
If he has grown, he could have a monster year, if he stays aggressive going to the hoop and has improved on D. I think he'll lead the team in scoring.
I will be pleasantly surprised if MM leads the team in scoring. Shocked, actually.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kkott
I will be pleasantly surprised if MM leads the team in scoring. Shocked, actually.
I really don't know who will and it's one of the things that excites me about this team. Reanu would be the "reasonable" prediction based off history. But, I think he's going to adjust to a new role with Ballo (yes, I think we'll play 2 bigs much of the time, and I think they are 2 of our best players so I don't necessarily think it's wrong, especially if you go stretches where you don't) and moving more to the perimeter. Heck, I could even see it being Ballo if we really worked to feed him the ball and he got his minutes up. He's gonna be huge protecting the paint, rebounding and in the PNR for us. Wouldn't surprise me at all if it's Rice or Carlyle either, I think both have a world of talent. But, I know Mbako was set on trying to be a 1 and done, and I don't think he had the year he wanted last year, from the Taco Bell incident on. He seemed to figure it out in the last third of the season and I'm hoping he's worked his tail off and hits the ground running. And, he's grown an inch. He's my guess.
 
Probably translates to 6'8" .. Lots of times they are listed an inch or so taller than really are. But 6'9" & 6'8" not much different for his game.
I like the guy .Show'd a bunch of progression in his game. Last half of the season .
I'd like to have heard his vertical went up four inches..
Explosiveness is what he lacks..
 
I like the guy .Show'd a bunch of progression in his game. Last half of the season .
I'd like to have heard his vertical went up four inches..
Explosiveness is what he lacks..
Na. Needs to refine his game and be Mello 2.0.

When Todd Leary said he had the best shot since Jay Edwards, I took notice. His form is almost perfect. Gonna be a walking bucket for a long time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: T.M.P.
I’ll believe the off-season hype as soon as I see it. This program (and a helluva lot of its fans) has perfected the annual overhype. I’d prefer the Cignetti approach. Shut up and show em.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GeorgeStrait IU
I recognize I am not a great evaluator of individual talent, but I have not seen anything about MM that makes me think he is an NBA pro.
He started hitting open, stand still 3 pt shots last season. But the rest of his game needs serious development to be in the NBA.
I hope you are correct and he proves me wrong. A better offensive scheme from the coaching staff would help with that.
Yeah...you should have stopped after "talent".
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT