jipops
Member
But where is the fun in that? Thankfully you are not practicing this
Way-Too-Early Projected Lineups and Stat Lines for the 2024-2025 Season
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brevity
Member
Wow, excellent. Thank you. They did flip flop! Do you have Kon and Isaiah at your fingertips?
Sure.
RSCI 2024 Summer (October 2023)
Kon Knueppel: #15 (ESPN #22, Rivals #15, 247 Sports #16, On3 #9)
Isaiah Evans: #17 (ESPN #8, Rivals #30, 247 Sports #11, On3 #19)
RSCI 2024 Final (May 2024)
Kon Knueppel: #14 (ESPN #18, Rivals #9, 247 Sports #17, On3 #17)
Isaiah Evans: #16 (ESPN #14, Rivals #13, 247 Sports #13, On3 #25)
SkyBrickey
Member
Oh I'm definitely tempering my (public) enthusiasm for Kon. It's possible he's our 5th starter and second leading scorer. Not likely, but possible. I hope that's clear as mud!But where is the fun in that? Thankfully you are not practicing this
jipops
Member
Sure, lots of things are possible. But if Kon is our 2nd leading scorer, this board will not be a pleasant place to be.
SkyBrickey
Member
I think Kon blew up at EYBL in the summer of 2023. Duke offered in July 2023.
In trying to find his ranking before that summer, I came across this quote a month ago from NBA scout John Chepkevich after watching Kon for a few days at the Tatum camp in early July. If someone already posted this, I missed it. Most notable to me is the comment on Kon's D.
"Incoming Duke freshman, Kon Knueppel, had a very productive all-around showing at the Tatum Elite Camp.Rained down threes, finished through contact, made smart cuts, kept the ball moving, and was rock solid defensively. Projected mid-1st round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft."
SkyBrickey
Member
How so?
McCain was our second leading scorer last year.
Why is it such a bad thing if Kon is our second leading scorer when a lot of NBA guys are now saying he's our second best prospect?
Is it also a bad thing if Cooper is our leading scorer?
How bad is it if Proctor leads us in assists?
jipops
Member
Before last season started, NBA guys were saying Proctor was one of our best prospects. I’m not putting stock in something that differs even from my own impressions until it plays out on the floor. Kon and McCain are not the same player - it’s not a like for like just because they are coming in with similar rankings. I have bigger questions regarding Kon than I did McCain.How so?
McCain was our second leading scorer last year.
Why is it such a bad thing if Kon is our second leading scorer when a lot of NBA guys are now saying he's our second best prospect?
Is it also a bad thing if Cooper is our leading scorer?
How bad is it if Proctor leads us in assists?
And I just have a hunch that the identity of this team is one that Kon could struggle to fit in with in just one season. With Flagg, Brown, Proctor, and Foster defense is going to be a huge calling card. I feel like it should be anyways. Players like Gillis, James, and maybe (hopefully-fingers crossed) even Maluach will have an easier transition to that than the likes of Kon and Isiah.
SkyBrickey
Member
Ok, but why will this board be unpleasant if Kon is our second leading scorer? That's just a bizarre statement.
And this whole idea that you and Azz have put forward that we are a defense-first team and Kon doesn't fit in is equally bizarre to me.
Most coaches look for a balance in offense and defense. You need both to win. Is it possible, just possible, that Jon sees enough defense in guys like Flagg, Brown, Maluach, Proctor and Foster, and decides he needs the offensive punch of the young scoring savant - who was described a month ago as "rock solid defensively" by an NBA scout?
I don't know if Kon is going to start or play 25mpg, but I maintain that he's getting TJ'ed by quite a few folks on this board.
jipops
Member
You do know we can see this going different ways without either being bizarre right? I gave you my prognostication that is no less reasonable than a 14th rated player being the second leading scorer as a freshman for a true title contender.Ok, but why will this board be unpleasant if Kon is our second leading scorer? That's just a bizarre statement.
And this whole idea that you and Azz have put forward that we are a defense-first team and Kon doesn't fit in is equally bizarre to me.
Most coaches look for a balance in offense and defense. You need both to win. Is it possible, just possible, that Jon sees enough defense in guys like Flagg, Brown, Maluach, Proctor and Foster, and decides he needs the offensive punch of the young scoring savant - who was described a month ago as "rock solid defensively" by an NBA scout?
I don't know if Kon is going to start or play 25mpg, but I maintain that he's getting TJ'ed by quite a few folks on this board.
SkyBrickey
Member
I don't think your view on Kon's level of play is bizarre. I don't agree with it, but it's not bizarre. I see a wide range of possible outcomes for Kon's season - on the offensive side probably anywhere from our 2nd to 6th leading scorer.
What's strange to me is your statement that this board would be an unpleasant place to be if Kon is our second leading scorer.
It's almost like you and some folks have something personal against Kon, but I can't imagine that's true. Maybe I'm just missing something.
If Kon is our second leading scorer and we are entering the tourney as a #1 seed, I expect this board would be a very pleasant place to be.
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bluedevilwildcats
Member
Dude....please give this a rest, it's frankly beyond tiresome.
Yes, you are missing something and I'm not sure how. He doesn't think Kon is all that great, which if true, would mean things went horribly awry if he were 2nd best scorer.
SkyBrickey
Member
Ok, that's at least a clear answer.
Fish80
Member
I for one hope Kon is all that great!
SkyBrickey
Member
I agree Fish! We had a lot more proven returning scorers last season. Roach, Flip, MM, Proctor.
And I don't remember a single person being disappointed McCanin was our second leading scorer.
I'm sure the same thing will play out this season with Kon if he has a big year...
SkyBrickey
Member
I just want us to win a title. We are overdue and it feels like Jon is rightly pushing in all the cups for this season. If that's Kon as a starter or as our 9th man who returns for his sophomore season, I'm good either way!SkyBrickey, I don’t want to jinx anything. One can always hope.
THIS.... a thousand times. And if we do, the lineups and rotations are moot. GO DUKE!!!!
Let's pump the brakes there, Captain Hyperbole or did brevity fail to alert me that we have entered the ludicrous statement phase of the off-season. If so, I'm a bit bummed out since I had some doozies ready. I probably won't use them since there is not way I can top "young scoring savant."Ok, but why will this board be unpleasant if Kon is our second leading scorer? That's just a bizarre statement.
And this whole idea that you and Azz have put forward that we are a defense-first team and Kon doesn't fit in is equally bizarre to me.
Most coaches look for a balance in offense and defense. You need both to win. Is it possible, just possible, that Jon sees enough defense in guys like Flagg, Brown, Maluach, Proctor and Foster, and decides he needs the offensive punch of the young scoring savant - who was described a month ago as "rock solid defensively" by an NBA scout?
I don't know if Kon is going to start or play 25mpg, but I maintain that he's getting TJ'ed by quite a few folks on this board.
The truth of the matter is I'm not as down on Kon as you think I am. I just need to counteract your unhinged optimism with a healthy dose of reality. If left unchecked there is a chance the Earth can lose its axis and go hurdling into the sun. I'm doing for the planet, SkyB... for the planet.
bluedevilwildcats
Member
Somewhat surprised anyone on this board would consider "young" to be hyperbole, but to each their own.
SkyBrickey
Member
I was early to Kon Island, but I don't think my expectations for Kon's season involve "unhinged optimism" at all.
There are multiple NBA analysts who are more bullish on Kon than I am until I see some live games. When I'm not trying to bait someone into a pie bet, I'd put the over/under on Kon's season at 22mpg and 11ppg. That's 7mpg and 3ppg fewer than McCain. If that represents wild optimism, then I'll happily own it!