My Starting Line Up

[The Horn Identity]

Weill, I had to run up to Temple to see my daughter's game, but I heard that Dex started tonight. So, I can only assume and was pleasantly surprised to hear that the starting line up that I predicted at the end of last season has already come to pass:

G - AJ
G- Mason
F - Damian
F - Atchley
C - Dex

I like the bigger, 2 guard line up.

My other prediction that I will continue to get ridiculed for is that Dex will have the opportunity to go pro after this year.

 

[theropods]

I don't think Dex will be ready after this year. He still needs one more year to work on his weight and conditioning. He's got a strong shot after next year though.

Someone might take him early, but it will be harder for him to keep the weight off in the NBA. He'd be best served by another year with Todd Wright.

 

[bierce]

I love Pittman's progress, his effort, and the results on the offensive end, but Pittman can't play in the NBA next year. Hell, he's almost a screener for the opposition when he's on defense.

 

[hornpharmd]

At this point I have seen more out of Wangmane than Pittman.

Don't we have another bigger shooting guard? Isn't Gary Johnson progressing?

 

[The Horn Identity]

NBA drafts on potential not current ability. By the end of the year, Dex will have shown enough potential to get drafted.

Better use him up this year.

 

[iluvthisbbteam]

Speaking of Wangmane...why did he not play last night?

 

[Mr. Orange]

Dex is a great story and I love his attitude, but I just don't see him going to the League this year. I will be the first to admit that I'm not an expert on the NBA draft, but I will need to see a lot more out of Dex to believe he gets drafted in a great position. He has played 27 minutes YTD and has 8 fouls. I was on a plane for the Tulane game so i didnt see how he picked up those fouls, but I'm still waiting to see him develop a low post game that is ready for the NBA.

Far too often he just backs into a guy and gets the foul because he is so damn big. IMO he needs more variety in his offensive game. He is now a junior and has only averaged 6.4 minutes a game. That is sure to increase after this season, but the guy has always been a fouling machine. At this point, I would wager a significant amount of money that Dex returns for his senior season. Its not like Stetson or Tulane are loaded down low, and he has picked up fouls at an alarming rate. If he proves me wrong it will mean great things for the Horns......come on Dex, prove me wrong!

 

[The Horn Identity]

I realize that I'm a bit out on a limb with the Dex's last year prediction. Mostly, it's because I just want to see him play more:

1. I like the kid and his story.
2. I want to see UT have a more dominating presense inside.
3. I want to see a UT go with a bigger line up (more 2 guard, with Damian at #3, Atchley at #4, and Dex at #5).
4. I hate to see him 'wasted' on the bench. Put him in there until he is gassed. Go ahead and let him foul out. (You don't get to carry those fouls to the next game).

As you said, if Dex does have the opportunity to go pro, it'll mean good things for the Horns. Go Dex!

 

[Horns11]

He IS already in there until he's gassed. If the dude can't play more than 17 minutes a night, there's no way he has any draft potential at this point.

 

[Failed Engineer]

Dexter shows very little explosiveness in his game. It's not needed at the collegiate level but if he expects to play in the NBA, he needs to show some of that ability, because he's not going to be that much bigger than NBA centers.

He could get away with a lack of explosiveness if he was big by NBA standards, but he's not. He will need another year in the program to demonstrate to NBA teams he has the ability to score in the post against quality defenders and show the lateral movement to not be a liability defensively.

 

[Djibouti, Djibouti]

I like Dex's story...but I'm not sure I ever see him playing in the NBA.

 

[The Horn Identity]

OK, now you guys are just depressing me.

I'll give up on pimping Dex if you guys quit bashing him.

I hope he proves me right, and you guys wrong.

 

[Kafka]

Horn Identity:

I'm a huge fan of Dex and really want Dex to succeed. The guy has amazing hands (great for rebounding, catching passes, shooting, and passing) and potential. I'm impressed with the progress that he has made this year with his drop step move and his jump hook.

The key problem for Dex is that he still has to improve his conditioning (stamina, jumping, and running) a bunch. The question I have is whether Todd Wright thinks he has gotten Dex nearly as physically fit as possible or whether Dex can still improve his fitness a bunch.

There are a lot of questions about most of the horns' big men. Wangmene and Hill are having trouble getting PT. Chapman still seems not very impressive athletically. Gary Johnson is pretty short to play against elite power forwards.

It will be interesting to see how our big guys do in Hawaii.