Starting with a quick review of last season's performance.
- SEC defensive player of the year. 2.5 blocks per game.
- Shot 56% from the field and 59% from the line.
-Didn't play more than 26 minutes in any game (and under 20 minutes in most games) until game 14. Played at least 30 minutes every game but the blow out wins over the last 10.
Here are what I see as key areas of off season development.
1. The exciting thing about Robert Williams is that he was so good but also has so much obvious room for improvement. More than anybody else on the roster, Robert Williams can improve a ton in basic fundamentals. Things like blocking out, rotating and positioning correctly on defense and so forth. Most games he doesn't need to block out because he can just jump over everybody, but in a couple of games it really hurt us (Arkansas stands out in my mind). This is somewhere I expect we will see a clear and obvious improvement.
2. Although it is hard to imagine, I think we will see a significant physical improvement. Robert Williams put on 30 pounds last off season. As explosive as he was this year, he will still adjusting to carrying the extra weight. I don't think it impacted his max vertical much necessarily but it did impact his stamina and his ability to quick jump/ second jump through out the game. In the interview with Logan on premium he specifically mentioned this and said that it took basically all year for his joints to adjust to jumping with the extra weight and that he had to ice his knees and ankles after every game.
3. Developing a little mini hook with the left and right hand. If he does that he will be absolutely unstoppable in the post. Unlike Tyler he doesn't need great foot work and positioning because he can just jump over who ever is guarding him. He did that funny looking move that was kinda a hybrid between a drop step and a turn around jump shot but it usually worked because he could just elevate. If he just gets to where he can turn to either shoulder in the post there will be literally nothing that anybody can do (in the college game) to stop him. In the interview with Logan he said he was working on his left hand because his left hand "was pretty terrible."
4. And then the obvious; improve on free throws. Nice touch and nice release, back spin, etc. He can be a 70% free throw shooter eventually. Maybe even this year.
Robert Williams was really good this year and I expect him to be the most improved player on the roster. Should be a ton of fun to watch.
What do you think?
- SEC defensive player of the year. 2.5 blocks per game.
- Shot 56% from the field and 59% from the line.
-Didn't play more than 26 minutes in any game (and under 20 minutes in most games) until game 14. Played at least 30 minutes every game but the blow out wins over the last 10.
Here are what I see as key areas of off season development.
1. The exciting thing about Robert Williams is that he was so good but also has so much obvious room for improvement. More than anybody else on the roster, Robert Williams can improve a ton in basic fundamentals. Things like blocking out, rotating and positioning correctly on defense and so forth. Most games he doesn't need to block out because he can just jump over everybody, but in a couple of games it really hurt us (Arkansas stands out in my mind). This is somewhere I expect we will see a clear and obvious improvement.
2. Although it is hard to imagine, I think we will see a significant physical improvement. Robert Williams put on 30 pounds last off season. As explosive as he was this year, he will still adjusting to carrying the extra weight. I don't think it impacted his max vertical much necessarily but it did impact his stamina and his ability to quick jump/ second jump through out the game. In the interview with Logan on premium he specifically mentioned this and said that it took basically all year for his joints to adjust to jumping with the extra weight and that he had to ice his knees and ankles after every game.
3. Developing a little mini hook with the left and right hand. If he does that he will be absolutely unstoppable in the post. Unlike Tyler he doesn't need great foot work and positioning because he can just jump over who ever is guarding him. He did that funny looking move that was kinda a hybrid between a drop step and a turn around jump shot but it usually worked because he could just elevate. If he just gets to where he can turn to either shoulder in the post there will be literally nothing that anybody can do (in the college game) to stop him. In the interview with Logan he said he was working on his left hand because his left hand "was pretty terrible."
4. And then the obvious; improve on free throws. Nice touch and nice release, back spin, etc. He can be a 70% free throw shooter eventually. Maybe even this year.
Robert Williams was really good this year and I expect him to be the most improved player on the roster. Should be a ton of fun to watch.
What do you think?