Dayton

[Queens_NYC]

He's not shooting a lot though. As you noted he's only attempted 11 threes over the last 6 games, fewer than two a game. Last night he didn't attempt any. While he's been bad from the field, he gets to the rim a lot where he picks up fouls, going 16 for 18 (89%) at the stripe in the same stretch.

Skillings is averaging 6 rebounds and only 1 turnover per game in that same stretch, which is where his value comes from. He's a tremendous rebounder, putting up numbers typical of a 5. I don't think Skillings is the reason we're losing. We're making boneheaded defensive strategy choices.

I'm not placing any more blame on Skillings than anyone else for last night's performance, but considering this team hasn't established a regular "go-to" player through 10 games, I consider Skillings to have the best raw attributes to become that player over anyone else.

Yes, there's more to fix on defense before anything else. That should definitely our biggest concern going forward.

We'll still need one our perimeter players to emerge as "that guy" by the time we hit Big 12 play. I'm afraid if Skillings can't become that guy then we're going to underachieve and miss out on a chance at the NCAA bubble come March.

 

[sedziobs]

I'm not placing any more blame on Skillings than anyone else for last night's performance, but considering this team hasn't established a regular "go-to" player through 10 games, I consider Skillings to have the best raw attributes to become that player over anyone else.

Yes, there's more to fix on defense before anything else. That should definitely our biggest concern going forward.

We'll still need one our perimeter players to emerge as "that guy" by the time we hit Big 12 play. I'm afraid if Skillings can't become that guy then we're going to underachieve and miss out on a chance at the NCAA bubble come March.

That's fair. I don't see Skillings being that guy. Putting aside the poor shooting, I don't think he has the court awareness to be a primary option. When he gets going to the rim and runs into tough spots he's much more likely to put up a wild shot than to find space or pass the ball. He just doesn't have the instincts of an offensive creator.

I think Jizzle has the most potential as a go-to option. He might not get there for a while, but he's got the physical and mental makeup for it. Right now the best bet is probably Simas.