He can’t protect the rim and has no touch around the rim
To be fair … Expectations for his play have probably been unreasonable from day one. He’s just not as talented and as much of a force as everyone hoped for, if not assumed.
Yes, he has been a major disappointment
Absolutely no intimidation, everybody challenges him. He’s as intimidating as Pee Wee Herman.
Days like today he is La Brea.
Amari LOOKS like an imposing player, and I think that's part of why he's getting the playing time. But, my God, he plays at least a foot shorter and half time time just doesn't put out the effort. Noah is all effort, he's going to be a good one if he can bulk up.
He 100% does. I really have no idea but since UK has had so many free throws against them, how many rebounds does Amari have from opponents missed FTs where you are given position.
Even aside from today, Oweh is one of the few guys (only?) that seems to be able to rebound in traffic. The rest basically seem to need the ball to drop in their hands (where it's likely to first bounce off their hands and then finally come to rest) with no one there to take it away.
He plays like he had never seen a basketball until he came to the states, absolutely no instinctive moves offense or defense.
Listening to the post game show and Matt can be the densest smart person. He’s somewhat defending Pope by saying “I’m sure Pope is not telling Amari to not put his arms up, not to go after the loose ball” etc. Well yes Pope is because Pope continues to feed Armani minutes so Pope is condoning it.
He was supposed to be a defensive force that needed work on his offense.
But that was in a totally different era back when there was no transfer portal or NIL promises to deal with.
But what is the loss? Amari is done after this year and his lack of effort is killing the team. Watch the lack of motion when he gets the ball at the top. It’s like the rest of the team is like what is the point.
The biggest difference at this level is in the bigs. Amari doesn't get off the floor fast. He's in position to rebound and block shots, but just doesn't have the instincts to naturally react to the situation. Others are right. He doesn't play like his size says he should. It's probably why he ended up at Drexel instead of a P5. He's probably maximizing the talent that he has and ended up here. I used to work with a former lead recruiter at a D1. He said guard play wasn't much difference from a mid-major to a P5. He said it was the bigs that separated them. A whole lot more 6 feet people walking around than 6'10" people.
I'm at the point that I'd be fine with that, just have some player card (since they want to be treated like adults) that follows them around, that talks about player-coach disciplinary actions. That way there's consequences.
So, Noah is ready and will be a starter by the end of his college career? He already rebounds, plays better defense and shoots better than Anari.
Noah's body still has some maturing to do, but I think a strong base and strength will be a plus for him; and playing off of two feet we hear so much about will fit him to a tee. If he puts in the work (which is true for any player) I believe he'll play a ton next season and good luck wrestling that SF spot from him as a Junior. He just shoots it too well, and he rebounds and fights.
