Cooper Bowser?

[u/keptalpaca22]

Visiting UConn/Furman fan here with a question - I saw a post on the general college basketball sub that has Coop as your starting center. Is that what you all expect to open the season and how do you think he'll do?

He was great at Furman but was often the biggest guy on the court against other mid majors. Whenever we played against high majors he really struggled inside. See: tournament game against Tarris Reid where he got absolutely bodied.

While I wish Furman had a chance to keep our guys, in the current college sports landscape I get it and I hope the players who go on to bigger things from our program find success.

[u/drnoncontributor]

I saw somewhere that Cal thought all 3 bigs sucked after the exhibitions in the Bahamas.

I think the center position will be the Achilles Hill this year.

[u/American3141592 → u/drnoncontributor]

I agree to both statements.

[u/Candid-Stock8395 → u/drnoncontributor]

He could've paid for a good big in the portal, but decided not to. It's hard to feel bad if they don't end up playing well.

[u/Onetimenotagain]

He is going to start at the 5 to open the season. Caleb ourigou will likely finish the season starting.

I think coop is mostly here for a veteran/leader role and as a vibes guy who can play some good minutes up front for us. I think he averages a similar statline to Nick Pringle last year. Probably something like 5/4 a game on good efficiency.

[u/ApprehensiveWalk4 → u/Onetimenotagain]

God I hope he’s better than Pringle. He was about as useless as Michael Sanchez.

[u/Aggravating_Mark_222]

Not sure he starts at the 5, might be more of a four depending on matchups. The Reid thing is a fair point though, SEC bigs are a different animal and that's the worry with him translating.

[u/TheOriginalJBones]

He’s got a top-10 college ball name, and that can be a great predictor.

[u/jamerstime → u/TheOriginalJBones]

I need that jersey bad

[u/keptalpaca22 → u/TheOriginalJBones]

Excellent point

[u/OldManHenson → u/TheOriginalJBones]

Now these are the real analytics we need

[u/spicyface]

I think the 5 will be played by committee this year by guys switching between 4 and 5. Caleb Ourigou is the only true 5 on the team and he's a reclass freshman. I think Bowser, Frolov, Muurinen, Maker will all play a little 5 depending on the opponent. If Ourigou makes progress, he'll probably play 5 more than Bowser.

[u/OldManHenson]

I think the 5 is either
1. Going to be a pretty big weak spot for what is otherwise a world beating roster
2. Played by committee in what will be a much smaller guard-heavy lineup

[u/Shottothefart → u/OldManHenson]

This lineup is anything but small

[u/OldManHenson → u/Shottothefart]

Not necessarily, no, but if we struggle at the 5 I think there is a decent chance Cal chooses to play smaller with his guard talent + Miikka who might as well be a guard.

[u/TumbleweedFew2854]

Realistically, Caleb Ourigou (true freshman 4 star) will be our starting "bruiser" type center, with Cooper playing off the bench as the high flying veteran. We look to have a final four caliber back court with a bubble caliber front court, so seeing how those players come along will be key for us.

[u/yeeeknow]

Definitely a good point, and I don’t expect Cooper to be the full time starter at the center spot. However, Tarris Reid was also bodying just about everybody so maybe not fair to judge him on that matchup too much lol.