Tominaga - 富永啓生

[Huskerpapa]

Given his recent prowess and arguably being the fan favorite, I thought I would start this thread.  Good article is attached for your enjoyment.   

He may have fans here, but he must really be a phenomenon in Japan.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/now/japanese-steph-curry-tominaga-joy-222843256.html

[hskr4life]

Just imagine where this season would be without him.  Guy is a legit role player and has done really well with his starter minutes.

[hhcmatt]

Just now, hskr4life said:

Just imagine where this season would be without him.  Guy is a legit role player and has done really well with his starter minutes.

 

All that Keisei stock you bought at the beginning of the season has

[Huskerpapa]

It would be cool if some of his fans in Japan could/would somehow chime in (hopefully in English).  Would love to here from them.

[The Polish Rifle]

This seems like a good thread for a Tominaga nugget I saw this morning…Per Robin on another other site, Tominaga was in discussion with Pro Teams in Japan last off-season. He was getting offers as high as $500,000. He will have those same discussions this off-season. Keep in mind he has no NIL opportunities in the states. 
 

 

[HuskerFever]

16 minutes ago, The Polish Rifle said:

This seems like a good thread for a Tominaga nugget I saw this morning…Per Robin on another other site, Tominaga was in discussion with Pro Teams in Japan last off-season. He was getting offers as high as $500,000. He will have those same discussions this off-season. Keep in mind he has no NIL opportunities in the states. 

 

I also think that Tominaga has such a strong drive and motivation to make it to the NBA that he's willing to develop under a former NBA coach, his national team, etc. to get him there.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think he's chasing $500K carrots. He's got his eyes on the prize. And he's having a lot of fun doing it.

[The Polish Rifle]

5 minutes ago, HuskerFever said:

 

I also think that Tominaga has such a strong drive and motivation to make it to the NBA that he's willing to develop under a former NBA coach, his national team, etc. to get him there.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think he's chasing $500K carrots. He's got his eyes on the prize. And he's having a lot of fun doing it.

Maybe. But the context was he considered it last year and he would consider it this year. So I don’t think it would be wise to rule it out. And his star has gotten bigger and his play has gotten better so I’m guessing he will be entertaining offers larger than 500k.

[Norm Peterson]

12 minutes ago, HuskerFever said:

 

I also think that Tominaga has such a strong drive and motivation to make it to the NBA that he's willing to develop under a former NBA coach, his national team, etc. to get him there.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think he's chasing $500K carrots. He's got his eyes on the prize. And he's having a lot of fun doing it.

 

Keisei is not an NBA player.

 

It's got to suck working your ass off and not getting any NIL dough while everyone else, including a walk-on who never plays, is getting some cash.

 

Would it surprise anyone if Keisei chose to walk at the end of this season? I'll be disappointed, for sure, if he does. But I can do math, and I get that $500,000 is $500,000 more than zero.

[Nebrasketball1979]

38 minutes ago, Norm Peterson said:

Keisei is not an NBA player.

 

I think this is accurate for today but I'm not as dismissive as you are on his future prospects.  He needs to add some weight and develop defensively and he also needs to develop his handles.  Going into this season, I thought he was more of a three point specialist along with a defensive liability.  I never imagined him developing into our best and most creative finisher at the rim.  Whose to say he can't surprise us all again next season and further develop his weaknesses.  He's listed at 6'2, that might be generous, but he's not prohibitively small.  I believe the American version of Keisei Tominaga is also listed at 6'2 as well.  Just saying.

[uneblinstu]

5 minutes ago, Nebrasketball1979 said:

I think this is accurate for today but I'm not as dismissive as you are on his future prospects.  He needs to add some weight and develop defensively and he also needs to develop his handles.  Going into this season, I thought he was more of a three point specialist along with a defensive liability.  I never imagined him developing into our best and most creative finisher at the rim.  Whose to say he can't surprise us all again next season and further develop his weaknesses.  He's listed at 6'2, that might be generous, but he's not prohibitively small.  I believe the American version of Keisei Tominaga is also listed at 6'2 as well.  Just saying.

 

@Norm Peterson can do the geometric analysis here as I can't see if anyone is standing on their tip toes or if their knees are bent, but it looks to me like the American version is taller by a couple inches.

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by uneblinstu

[Chuck Taylor]

If KT was an NBA prospect, then why did he play only 2, 5 and 6 minutes in the 3 games before Gary got hurt? Fred coached in the NBA, seems like he should have seen the NBA potential.

[AuroranHusker]

I am sure that Keisei will play professionally, but I highly doubt his version of the 'pro level' would be in the NBA.

 

 

[royalfan]

The thought of him checking anyone in the NBA makes me laugh and I love the guy.  He was my guy for the breakout player in that thread.  He is not playing NBA basketball though.  

[busticket]

3 hours ago, Chuck Taylor said:

If KT was an NBA prospect, then why did he play only 2, 5 and 6 minutes in the 3 games before Gary got hurt? Fred coached in the NBA, seems like he should have seen the NBA potential.

It’s doubtful KT will sniff the NBA, but him not playing more before the injuries is one of the things that irritated me about Fred.  I could tell from watching Tominaga that he was a very heady player and did a lot of the little things right.  Always moving, ball never stuck when he had it, good passer.  But one mistake and he was banished to the bench for the rest of the game.  At the same time Bryce had a leash about 10 miles long.  The injuries (and Wilcher being a hot mess) forced Fred’s hand in playing Keisei.  
 

I’ll be honest…I can give a crap if a kid has NBA potential.  You don’t need that to be a great college player.  

[HB]

4 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

 

Keisei is not an NBA player.

 

It's got to suck working your ass off and not getting any NIL dough while everyone else, including a walk-on who never plays, is getting some cash.

 

Would it surprise anyone if Keisei chose to walk at the end of this season? I'll be disappointed, for sure, if he does. But I can do math, and I get that $500,000 is $500,000 more than zero.

Would not surprise me at all, Norm.   In fact, I expect it.   Despite the North Platte  girlfriend.  

[AuroranHusker]

8 minutes ago, busticket said:

It’s doubtful KT will sniff the NBA, but him not playing more before the injuries is one of the things that irritated me about Fred.  I could tell from watching Tominaga that he was a very heady player and did a lot of the little things right.  Always moving, ball never stuck when he had it, good passer.  But one mistake and he was banished to the bench for the rest of the game.  At the same time Bryce had a leash about 10 miles long.  The injuries (and Wilcher being a hot mess) forced Fred’s hand in playing Keisei.  
 

I’ll be honest…I can give a crap if a kid has NBA potential.  You don’t need that to be a great college player.  

 

Heady player not unlike how Thor performed for both Miles & Hoiberg. Baseline cuts are a thing of beauty.

 

[Norm Peterson]

30 minutes ago, HB said:

Would not surprise me at all, Norm.   In fact, I expect it.   Despite the North Platte  girlfriend.  

 

Does she know?

 

 

[roscoe]

I will admit I was completely wrong on KT. I thought he would have his moments but didn't think he could do it on the level he is doing it now. Hope he continues to rub my face in his success.

[Faux Mike Peltz]

I’m not pointing any specific fingers here. But the overwhelming sentiment on the board this past offseason was that Tominaga should find a different place to play, and wasn’t a Big 10 player.

Then he started to show some flashes and some commented that he could score against lower level teams like UNO and Queens but that was his ceiling.

Then he nearly broke Purdue’s heart and some said “but now he’s on the scouting report”

And now, his stats as a starter are very good and he’s definitely on other teams’ scouting report.

My point is, it seems “we” (me included) tend to limit what he can and can’t do. I’m not saying he’s an NBA player but he’s honestly closer to sniffing the NBA than probably anyone else on our roster…(and this board )

[HuskerFever]

6 hours ago, Faux Mike Peltz said:

My point is, it seems “we” (me included) tend to limit what he can and can’t do. I’m not saying he’s an NBA player but he’s honestly closer to sniffing the NBA than probably anyone else on our roster…

 

It's probably my fault in initiating this topic. But my point wasn't "Is he or isn't he an NBA level player?" It was "In Keisei's mind and heart, he's got the attitude and motivation to do whatever it is he can do to get to that level". Whether that's a reality or not is another story.

[hhcmatt]

I really expected Michigan to shut him down. Maybe Wisconsin will but if they're following him out to the panhandle on defense that really opens things up for the rest of the team

[MichHusker]

3pt hunting Keisei is not thay good of a Big 10 player as we saw last year with his 33% 3pt shooting. This year's Keisei who's probably more dangerous as a cutter is very much a good Big 10 player. He's only taken 18 more 3's than 2's this year so far

[cornfed24-7]

18 minutes ago, MichHusker said:

3pt hunting Keisei is not thay good of a Big 10 player as we saw last year with his 33% 3pt shooting. This year's Keisei who's probably more dangerous as a cutter is very much a good Big 10 player. He's only taken 18 more 3's than 2's this year so far

I agree. But as for last year with the couple of black holes we had he could have cut all game and that ball was never coming to him. 

[Huskerbballfan]

23 hours ago, Chuck Taylor said:

If KT was an NBA prospect, then why did he play only 2, 5 and 6 minutes in the 3 games before Gary got hurt? Fred coached in the NBA, seems like he should have seen the NBA potential.

Fred also had C.J starting most of the year which is a questionable decision at best. 

[basketballjones]

7 hours ago, hhcmatt said:

Maybe Wisconsin will but if they're following him out to the panhandle on defense that really opens things up for the rest of the team

Unfortunately no one else on our team can get by anyone while they’re face guarding KT.