![]() ![]() Holmgren does not figure to be a back-to-the-basket center in the NBA, but a guy who will likely play power forward, work in an out of the perimeter on offense and be a shot blocking presence from the weak side on defense.īut he does have to show that he can handle physical forwards and centers, especially on the defensive end, where his size could be an issue in the post.Ī strong game from Holmgren today would put a lot of those fears to rest, as Duren and Williams both have NBA bodies and play a physical style. The Tigers feature Jalen Duren, who could be an option for the Pistons if they fall to 7th, and DeAndre Williams, a 6-foot-8 senior who plays physically and could be tasked with bodying Holmgren today. ![]() Pistons’ draft: Chet Holmgren needs to prove himself against MemphisĬhet Holmgren will have his work cut out for him against Memphis, as they feature two strong, athletic bigs, the type of players that some critics worry Holmgren won’t be able to handle. I think the fact that Duke is better defensively, that gives Duke a bit of an edge but I also thought UCLA had the edge with their physicality against Gonzaga and that proved not to be the case.Related Story: Pistons' Twitter Mailbag! Readers ask about free agency, Killian and more.Īs for elite competition, Holmgren will get his chance in the NCAA tournament, starting today when he’ll be facing off against another of the top center prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft. They just go out, they ball, they make this Duke team a much better defensive team. I was impressed the very first game he played, he and Trevor Keels were guys I would define as dudes. “Another guy that has a grown-man frame, an NBA frame, is Paolo Banchero. “I think what’s most impressive is he’s a guy who understands how to play with this frame,” ESPN college basketball analyst Jon Crispin said on air of the rail-thin Holmgren. On Friday, a slew of NBA decision-makers - and fans of college basketball - will have their eyes on how Holmgren and Banchero perform. We’ll learn a lot about their chances on Friday when they face a Gonzaga team that is hungry and re-loaded after losing last year’s title matchup to Baylor in a game that saw their undefeated season come to an end. Griffin and Jeremy Roach, along with a complement of older players, Duke has a chance to send Coach K out with his sixth championship this season. Led by Banchero and fellow freshmen Trevor Keels, A.J. ![]() (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) Getty Images against the Kentucky Wildcats in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on Novemin New York City. NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts following their game. None of them won a national title, although Brand’s team reached the championship game. 1 picks under Coach K: Elton Brand (1999), Kyrie Irving (2011) and Zion Williamson (2019). He's the real deal, there’s no question about it.”ĭuke has had three No. I told him, why don’t you say what you’re thinking.But he's going to keep getting better. “He over-dribbled a couple times, but usually he’s been smart with it. “He's a lot better than he was a month ago because he's learned to play strong with the ball,” he said. He was so much better than he was a week ago.”ĭuke coach Mike Krzyzewski made similar comments about Banchero on opening night when he went for 22 points and seven rebounds in the win over Kentucky. He’s an intelligent player and everybody just needs to understand that he’s a work in progress. Said Gonzaga coach Mark Few: “The best thing about Chet is he wants to be coached and he always wants me to push him, he’s very driven. Banchero is from Seattle, has an Italian father and chose Duke over Kentucky, Gonzaga and North Carolina, among others.īy all accounts, both players are high-character young men - and team-oriented players.Īsked about his skillset after going for 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks in the win over UCLA, Holmgren said on ESPN, “I try not to pay too much attention to things that don’t affect me too much.I’m worried about our team and how I can help our team get better every single day so that when it comes to March, we’re the best we can be. ![]() Holmgren is a native of Minneapolis where he won four state titles at Minnehaha Academy. ![]()
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