This seems to be a huge topic of conversation scattered amongst threads. A lot of people believe that Bruce Weber struggles to develop players. Some of it I feel is a little fabricated. Some of it is he hasn't had some of the guys long enough to really conclude some of the harsh opinions, which is a completely different topic and not one that is the point here.
So, honestly, since 2006, no matter the coach, can you name a player outside of Jacob Pullen that made significant improvement from one year to the next (like a big climb similar to Pullen's jump between his sophomore and junior season) or a significant improvement over a career that wasn't just gradual in nature (such as a breakout year that helped that player turn the corner)??
If you don't want to talk logically and/or be civil, please leave now. I really just want to have a discussion for once.
For every good example, there is always an iffy one. I bring this topic up because I want to know what you all feel about player development and what that actually means to you because I'm not sure we are on the same page with that. Wesley Iwundu has been a player that gets talked about a lot on here. To me, he's come a long ways from when he got his cookies taken from him four times in one short open gym game the first week on campus. He's now grown to be a player where you debate putting the ball in his hands in late game situations. So he has improved. A lot. Maybe not at the pace that some may feel is good enough, but it's still a pretty substantial jump. His, like most players, just make gradual steps.
Some players that I think made some significant jumps (obviously none of them are Pullen-like jumps):
Rodney McGruder -- basically every year in his career under Martin especially and to an extent Weber
Angel Rodriguez made a significant jump from being a turnover machine as a freshman to being a stable floor leader as a sophomore under Weber.
Shane Southwell went from a minor role player as a sophomore to a significant role player as a junior under Weber.
D.J. Johnson has gone from just a dude with a motor to a basketball player under the current staff.
Those are just off the top of my head. Feel free to add/discuss more names.
So, honestly, since 2006, no matter the coach, can you name a player outside of Jacob Pullen that made significant improvement from one year to the next (like a big climb similar to Pullen's jump between his sophomore and junior season) or a significant improvement over a career that wasn't just gradual in nature (such as a breakout year that helped that player turn the corner)??
If you don't want to talk logically and/or be civil, please leave now. I really just want to have a discussion for once.
For every good example, there is always an iffy one. I bring this topic up because I want to know what you all feel about player development and what that actually means to you because I'm not sure we are on the same page with that. Wesley Iwundu has been a player that gets talked about a lot on here. To me, he's come a long ways from when he got his cookies taken from him four times in one short open gym game the first week on campus. He's now grown to be a player where you debate putting the ball in his hands in late game situations. So he has improved. A lot. Maybe not at the pace that some may feel is good enough, but it's still a pretty substantial jump. His, like most players, just make gradual steps.
Some players that I think made some significant jumps (obviously none of them are Pullen-like jumps):
Rodney McGruder -- basically every year in his career under Martin especially and to an extent Weber
Angel Rodriguez made a significant jump from being a turnover machine as a freshman to being a stable floor leader as a sophomore under Weber.
Shane Southwell went from a minor role player as a sophomore to a significant role player as a junior under Weber.
D.J. Johnson has gone from just a dude with a motor to a basketball player under the current staff.
Those are just off the top of my head. Feel free to add/discuss more names.
