“Learning some plays, rebounding the loose balls, the 50-50 balls."

Nice article from Seth Emerson about the emergence of Derek Ogbeide.  This caught my eye at the very end:

Fox said Kessler “grades out defensively better than just about anybody on our team.” While he may not rack up the blocks and steals, good defense also includes more subtle things, like staying in front of your man and making the right switch.

I don't doubt that it's true, but staying in front of your man and making the right switch doesn't mean anything if you lack the physical tools to defend that man or grab and hold onto rebounds.  I appreciate everything Houston Kessler has done, and he's a guy I want coming off my bench a few minutes every game, but if you speed up the tape and look at results, I don't see how you can conclude he deserves to start on this team.

I really don't mean to talk down on the young man, and I hope that's not how this comes across, but Mark Fox has a history of valuing experience over talent (ahem, Sherrard Brantley and Kenny Gaines).  As his recruiting improves (and it has), that philosophy has to change, or the slow starts will continue to haunt this program.

[DawgNation]

Ogbeide is a Dawg

Mark Fox finished strong in the fall signing period by signing Derek Ogbeide, a big man from Mableton, Georgia.  Either a 2* or a 3*, depending on where you look, Ogbeide is a nice piece, and the Dawgs managed to beat out Memphis (among others) for his services.

While there are no Top 100 players in the class (yet), everyone who is committed addresses a position of need.  Assuming Mann and Gaines both return for their senior seasons, Fox will send out a team that's deep at both guard spots and big enough down low.  That's a winning formula in college basketball.

There is also one scholarship remaining.  The dream scenario, of course, has Jaylen Brown taking that spot.  No matter what, though, it'd be nice to see Fox take a win-now approach with that opening.  That means either an instant impact freshman (which is hard to find in the spring), or an experienced graduate transfer.

Regardless, Fox is off to a much better start this fall than last.  Welcome to the family, Derek!

h/t Seth Emerson