Fuller as a 4

[HuskerPower #nato73]

What do people think about this?  I noticed in warm-ups yesterday (besides the fact that he was making about every shot) that he seemed taller than Shields, Petteway and all of our 6'6' contingent. 

 

Do people feel like he could develop into a strong 6'8 kid that can shoot and defend the 4 and rebound.  It would be nice.  Do you all feel this is actually the plan and that he has the frame for this?

 

It does not seem like rebounding is killing us this year it is more post defense and interior offensive finishing that is the problem. We can have size at the 1,2 and 3 that also crash the defensive boards.

[TheGov21]

I believe that is the plan.  That's the reason he is redshirting and trying to gain some weight.  From what I saw in Miles' teams at CSU is that he doesn't mind playing "small" and it seems like he wants a "stretch 4."  Fuller should be able to do that.

[doc1394]

If you had a lineup with Petteway at the 2, Shields at the 3, and Fuller at 4, I don't think rebounding would be much of a problem. Shields and Petteway hold their own on the defensive glass already. 

 

I can't wait to see Fuller in action next year

[extremehoops]

Word is Fuller has been the most impressive on the scout team, so if he comes in next year at 6'7" and 210-215lb of muscle that would be a good fit to

the rotation

[Chad A]

Love this idea.  He seems to have the basketball IQ to pull it off - but doesn't seem to have the quickness to pull off being a 3 or 2 - so this is the best way for him to see the floor.  Heck Ryan Anderson at 6'4 was a better 4 than he was 3 (not quick enough to guard the 3 effectively or get his shot off against better athletes)...you just gotta bring the attitude soak in the teachings of leverage and spacing, and obviously get stronger without losing the shooting touch.  We see with Pitchford that even though he's 6'10, he'll probably never be a dominating PF or C in the block.  So work with what you have... get Fuller on the court as a stretch 4 - let's see what one year of strength and conditioning can do for him.  And if you can't join them... beat them with something they don't have, which is three point threat from your 4 and 5 positions - get those tall post players out of the lane to allow our guards to drive and dish.  Force the other team to make a move to stop our offense as opposed to us having to adjust to their offense.  For the first year or more I'd like to see him in a 6th man role next year plugging him in anywhere from positions 3 and 4 and being that deadeye three point shooter off the bench.

[Silverbacked1]

Word is Fuller has been the most impressive on the scout team, so if he comes in next year at 6'7" and 210-215lb of muscle that would be a good fit tothe rotation

Well yeah they said that Petteway was the best on the scout squad last and look where it got him... oh wait never mind.

[Huskerpapa]

At this time, we really have no true center.  We have players who play multiple roles.  One can argue that the following players have played the four this year: Walter, Leslee, David, Nathan, Shavon and Terrell..I guess for arguments sake you could through Pelz in there as well. 

 

My point (I think) that I am trying to make is that this team seems to be made up of interchangable parts.  We have multiple players handling the ball as well.  I kind of like that Coach Miles can play the mad scientist and create match up problems (when it works )

[bobcat402]

ive got no problem with this. The game is evolving to this, the traditional 4 and 5 isn't dead, but it isn't a necessity to achieve success as it one was, as others said, shields, rivers, and petteway are great rebounders at the 2 and the 3, and ive seen Tai get in there and mix it from time to time, and we always have leslee, and pitch next year. depending on how Hammond comes in, and we see were he is at, and how Hawkins and Tai develop over the course of an off season, and whomever we get as the second and possibly third new recruits, its not hard to imagine NU going 10 deep, with a wave of 6'4-6'10ish of interchange parts and pieces, that will make very hard to defend, im not a huge fan of the NBA game, but if you watched the Spurs-Heat game it was an example of smart offense, and defense, and using multiple pieces, to make a great game plan.

[Hooper]

Brian Rosenthal mentioned during a chat that the staff's plan is to develop Fuller into an Ethan Wragge-type stretch 4.

[PimpMario]

We talked about fuller a little bit during the game.  I hadn't heard much about him, I am glad to hear that some people think he is developing nicely.  We are going to need some really good role/bench players next year if we want to take a step forward.