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After looking like he was healthy and finally ready to contribute, Anderson has gone dormant again.

I realized tonight what the issue really is for him. Anderson’s problem is Bean, the White Rodman.

Bean just does too many good things to take him off the court for long. He probably accounts for nearly 10 extra possessions a game with his offensive rebounds, deflections, steals, blocks, and winning 50-50 balls. All hustle and heart. Anderson doesn’t give us that.

And we can’t play them together because he’s not quick enough to defend perimeter guards so he can’t play the 3 and with Queta back to full strength and now Kuba looking good he won’t play at the 5 anymore unless a team plays small ball. His best bet to see the floor is to channel Bean’s game and try to replicate it just enough for Smith to trust resting Bean 10-12 min.

I wondered about Anderson as he appeared to be very able, very athletic and just the ticket to improve the athleticism of this team. For me Hipster, your post is very enlightening, and I thank you.

I would start Brito or a Anderson that can't guard the perimeter at the 3, versus Miller all day long.

I would buy more into this except against CSU, Bean can not guard Roddy. In the first game, only Anderson had the strength to contain Roddy and stop him from getting inside. Last night was more of the same and that would be the time to let Bean sit a little more and Anderson play a little more. Anderson only played 3 minutes. Given that matchup, he should have at least played that 10-12 minutes of not more. Something else is keeping him on the bench though coach not wanting to bench Bean I’m sure is a big part of it.


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Sl7vk wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 7:53 am

I would start Brito or a Anderson that can't guard the perimeter at the 3, versus Miller all day long.

Absolutely.

Seeing Anderson start at F alongside Bean in place of Miller (or at least play more minutes there in place of Miller) would be a very interesting experiment.

Roy McAvoy wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 8:31 am

Seeing Anderson start at F alongside Bean in place of Miller (or at least play more minutes there in place of Miller) would be a very interesting experiment.

It’s time we do something besides waiting for Miller to shoot his way out of it.

AA looks and plays sleepy to me. He just doesn't bring any fire. There are minutes for him to be had, but I don't see the value.

newhouse9 wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 11:04 am

AA looks and plays sleepy to me. He just doesn't bring any fire. There are minutes for him to be had, but I don't see the value.

I thought he had plenty of fire against LSU

Bean is a great rebounder, but he got 3 shots blocked last night. Roddy owned him last night.

I loved him against LSU. I wish that guy was still here!

We need Anderson to play and play with confidence. He will be needed vs. Mitchell if we match up against SDSU again. That guy has abused Bean twice and been the big difference in the game. Anderson is the one player with the strength to guard him.

newhouse9 wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 11:04 am

AA looks and plays sleepy to me. He just doesn't bring any fire. There are minutes for him to be had, but I don't see the value.

I think it is just Anderson's style of play. Smith seems to want to see continual ball movement with quick passes and immediate shots taken by the open man. That is not always how Anderson plays, he is calculating and smooth with his back to the basket which takes time with the ball. He doesn't let a defender speed him up into making poor decisions and doesn't try to do too much with ball like Bean often does in the same situation. Bean is better at scoring when the ball is fed to him in a ready position to score - just catch and go up after the dish. He is not that great at creating his own scoring opportunity and will often force the issue and get blocked or lose the ball before he even gets a chance to shoot or pass. We saw that happen multiple times against CSU.

We've seen Anderson's ability to hold off guys in the rebounding game and use his strength and craftiness in the lane on offense but for whatever reason he has an incredibly short leash with coach Smith. He comes in for 1 min. and will be right back out. We don't see this type of rotation or short appearances by anyone else except for Bairstow on occasion. I'm not sure how you get into the flow of a game with so few minutes played and I'm sure it has had an effect on his confidence as the season has progressed.

I think his short leash is due to his defense not offense.

stewusu98 wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 12:12 pm

I think his short leash is due to his defense not offense.

This very well could be the case. I guess I just don't understand why others are allowed to play through similar defensive deficiencies.

Aglicious wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 12:17 pm

stewusu98 wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 12:12 pm

I think his short leash is due to his defense not offense.

This very well could be the case. I guess I just don't understand why others are allowed to play through similar defensive deficiencies.

Because of their proficient outside shooting abilities. We need that offense.

Anderson should play more. Bean is averaging just over 6 points over the last 3 games and it is just a little better over the the last 6. Bean is a better rebounder, but he wasn't great against CSU. For a team that struggles on offense, we could use him. I don't care who he takes minutes from. He is extremely good on the block.

Seems that if Coach Smith thought AA could help, he'd be playing him more.

Play Bean, Anderson and Queta together. Anderson would guard the 4, Bean the 3. How would that have looked against CSU? Could Bean guard Thistlewood? I know Bean would not be in position to get as many defensive rebounds, but he would still do pretty well.

On offense I'd rather have Bean shoot his ugly outside jumper than Miller.


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Bean couldn't guard the big guys from CSU or SDSU.

bpd wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 1:21 pm

Anderson should play more. Bean is averaging just over 6 points over the last 3 games and it is just a little better over the the last 6. Bean is a better rebounder, but he wasn't great against CSU. For a team that struggles on offense, we could use him. I don't care who he takes minutes from. He is extremely good on the block.

Is this meant to imply he can take minutes from Bean? Because that is absolutely insane... Beans contributions are much more than his stats.

I'd love to see Queta, Anderson, and Bean together. Anderson can do everything that Brock does on the offensive end while adding another post threat. He could also guard bigger 4s. Bean has locked up guys like Alston (2-8, 7 points last game) and McDaniels (3-10 7 points at USU last year). He could absolutely handle guys like Thistlewood or Schakel.

Sl7vk wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 7:53 am

I would start Brito or a Anderson that can't guard the perimeter at the 3, versus Miller all day long.

Amen to that, brother.

bpd wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 1:21 pm

Anderson should play more. Bean is averaging just over 6 points over the last 3 games and it is just a little better over the the last 6. Bean is a better rebounder, but he wasn't great against CSU. For a team that struggles on offense, we could use him. I don't care who he takes minutes from. He is extremely good on the block.

You're not seeing the full picture. Bean does so much more than score points and rebound the ball. Without Bean, this team would be in sad shape right now.

aggies95 wrote: ↑

February 13th, 2020, 3:50 pm

I'd love to see Queta, Anderson, and Bean together. Anderson can do everything that Brock does on the offensive end while adding another post threat. He could also guard bigger 4s. Bean has locked up guys like Alston (2-8, 7 points last game) and McDaniels (3-10 7 points at USU last year). He could absolutely handle guys like Thistlewood or Schakel.

I would agree, I like those three with Merrill and Bairstow. I think Bairstow needs a little confidence to shoot when he is open. Bairstow is shooting 36.4% from three, 3rd on the team behind Queta (100%) and Merrill (40.8%). He sometimes passes up an open three with a pass or drive and turnover, but if he shoots and shoots well, that will be a huge benefit.

Sl7vk wrote: ↑

February 12th, 2020, 7:53 am

I would start Brito or a Anderson that can't guard the perimeter at the 3, versus Miller all day long.

THIS!

Anderson should've been starting in place of Miller a very long time ago.