re: Josh LeBlanc with a terrific debut

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That press will be a flat out weapon come SEC play.

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I agree the press, especially with this team, can be very effective. But I would like to see Wade, at least for one game prior to SEC, have the players commit to it a little more and ratchet up the pressure on traps. Too many times I see our players approach a trap very half heartedly and either allow the offensive player to step through or dribble through it, or have enough room to pass over it.

Generally when a team approaches a press that way it can have some downside, more namely in the form of fouls or when it still gets broken you can have more of a runout and unbalanced numbers on the other end. However, we are already seeing that. There has been a number of times in many games where the ball makes it to the middle or down the sideline and we have 3 defenders behind the ball trying to play catch up. I just think trapping harder will pay off more dividends than what it hurts.

I definitely like when they throw the 1-3-1 half court defense out this year though. This team has so much length and athleticism that they should do well in a defense like that and can make it very frustrating for the other team when used properly and timely.

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I think he has like a 7'4" wingspan.

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Yep, height can be a misleading factor when that's the case, you don't rebound and block shots with the top of your head.

I knew I was leaving someone out.
Yes, I like Wilkinson as well for some minutes. As he learns and matures he will be a good one.

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Yep, height can be a misleading factor when that's the case, you don't rebound and block shots with the top of your head.

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In his case I can see being shorter but with a higher standing reach as an advantage. Keeping a low center of gravity while reaching as high as any other big will help him block more shots when the shooter initiates contact

The main trait that he possesses is that he don't take no crap. He will get in the opponents face and EVERY championship team needs that. From Cookie Man in 1981 to Tyrus Thomas in 2006..... Now we have LeBlanc that will be the enforcer. Love his motor and his length.

Bigsby as in KBW from couple years ago? And Brandon bass? Those 2 are as far apart as players as could be.

I see him as our 5th starter playing down low primarily. Allows Days to be our swing man with his 3 pt shot.

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LeBlanc will play almost starter like minutes, but I don’t think he’s a starter on this team. Simply because of the rotation and the lack of bigs we have. From a rotation standpoint it doesn’t make sense starting 3 of your top 4 bigs.

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I just can’t see continuing to start Hyatt or Wilkenson when you have someone like Leblanc sitting there. I’ll bet a you a Diet Coke he is starting by January.

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Announce return of the Waters/KBW lob but with Cook/LeBlanc

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I'd love to see it...but I think Gaines is the guy who would be throwing the lob. Cook, who has been very good, looks to be more in the "Smart...score first" mode

Tremont's ability to throw the lob from anywhere was amazing. The guy could dribble with his right hand and throw a perfect lob, off the bounce, from the 3 point line.

If Monday was any preview, I think Leblanc will have the most "wow" plays on the team. Smart, Thomas, Watford, Days are all steady, great players but there is not a lot of explosive plays in their games. Leblanc comes soaring in from nowhere with his long arms extended above everyone else!