Your Views About Michael Frazier?

[KendrellJones]

Next year we'll lose Rosario and Boynton.

We'll get really nice big man help I feel. Even if Young leaves (hope not) we seem to be ok there.

I wanted to get people's view of Frazier. He seems to be someone who could help us nicely.

Can he play the kind of defense Donovan likes? Can he shoot and even do some nice distributing like Boynton has shown he can do?

Also, this is not at all a fishing attempt for digs at or negatives about Frazier. It is quite the opposite. But, if he has something to really work on that's ok.

Your views please?

[rserina]

Good question. This year he has been playing the three mostly, where he has a good quickness advantage, while his strength mitigates the size disadvantage he can have at times (same as it was with Beal). He has been surprisingly solid defensively and outstanding both shooting and rebounding the ball. He has also gotten much more comfortable knowing where to go with the ball when his shot isn't there.

Next year will be a different story. He will spend most of his time at the two, where he loses a quickness advantage, but gains a size and strength advantage. While the responsibilities of the two and three are pretty similar, we will have fewer ball handlers to run our ball screens, so he will have to step into that role and it is a far less familiar one for him. I suspect we will run more plays to free him up and you can expect to see him develop a little mid range shot to go with his perimeter shot.

In the end, I see him as a double digit scorer next season who spaces the floor well with his shot. He will be a solid defender, too, though his rebounding statistics should go down somewhat at the two. If he can improve his handle enough to get his shot off the ball screens, he could be really, really good. Otherwise, I see him as something of a mix between Weeks and Humphrey.

[jjenkins5]

Love his shot and his defense isn't too bad either - and he'll only get better. It will be fun to see how Billy utilizes him next year!

[UFreak]

Love the fact that he will likely be here for four years too. He will be someone who will one day get a huge ovation on seniors day.

[ThePlayer]

Down goes Frazier...into Gator basketball history!!

Probably the 2nd biggest surprise of this BB season.
(Scottie's confidence & maturity clearly the biggest).
Michael Frazier has an NBA body with a game to match.
He'll be a bigger force for us in the next two years to follow.

[GatorNation850]

Kid has a sweet shot. Most of the time he is pretty smart with his shots with a few wild ones but he's a freshman he will grow out of that. He is definitely a leader the future is bright in Gainesville. I absolutely love this team.

[ncgatorfan]

Been impressed by his play both offensively and getting in position for defensive rebounds. Seems to show quite a bit of emotion when he hits dagger 3's.

It will be interesting with Hill in the mix how the back court looks. MF2 could be splitting time at the 2 and 3 depending on how the rotation goes at PG.

[wci347]

I see right now Harris, Walker, Smith, Fraizer and Wilberkin (Hill)

2nd team Yeguette, Prather, Walker, Graham Ogbueze (Hill, Wilberkin)

Fraizer has to start. With him and Smith in the lineup at the same time, it opens the inside game for Walker and Harris for short shots. It also allows Wilberkin and Hill to penetrate for layups or to dish off.

[ApexNC]

Frazier's productivity and development is the single thing that has me most optimistic about next year. We had to have one of the freshmen step up this year to claim that SG role next year. I think pretty much all the other positions are solid. I now think SG will also be solid, thanks to Mr. Frazier!

[bogator]

Originally Posted by wci347

I see right now Harris, Walker, Smith, Fraizer and Wilberkin (Hill)

2nd team Yeguette, Prather, Walker, Graham Ogbueze (Hill, Wilberkin)

Fraizer has to start. With him and Smith in the lineup at the same time, it opens the inside game for Walker and Harris for short shots. It also allows Wilberkin and Hill to penetrate for layups or to dish off.

If Young decides to stay and you add him to this equation it would be a crazy lineup. It would make for some interesting decisions by Donovan about playing time. Good problem to have.

[gator_nica]

He´s a baller. Stone cold

[rserina]

If Donovan has proven anything, it is that newcomers have to beat out returnees for spots. I suspect Yeguete is a starter next season at one of the post spots. Harris will be returning from injury, Walker will be an incoming freshman, and Finney-Smith will be adjusting to an entirely new position and set of responsibilities. Personally, I think you see both Walker and Hill starting out as reserves, but they will play starter minutes and likely end up getting the spot to boot.

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by rserina

If Donovan has proven anything, it is that newcomers have to beat out returnees for spots. I suspect Yeguete is a starter next season at one of the post spots. Harris will be returning from injury, Walker will be an incoming freshman, and Finney-Smith will be adjusting to an entirely new position and set of responsibilities. Personally, I think you see both Walker and Hill starting out as reserves, but they will play starter minutes and likely end up getting the spot to boot.

I'm with you rserina.

Thinking that Hill and Walker will start given the experience and quality in front of them means you think this is Kentucky, where all of the positions change each year.

Fraier has played very well, but rserina makes excellent points about his likely changed role next year. The other frosh are developing.

Projecting starting lineups for next year now is nothing but foolishness if for no other reason than one doesn't know yet who will or will not be on the team. Recruiting isn't finished, Young may jump to the NBA, and one or more of the freshman may transfer.

[mikechap93]

I still see Frazier playing a good amount of three next year. Kasey hill is a starter from day one. So billy will have to figure out who takes point between kasey and Scottie.i think Scottie does the majority because of experience. But kasey is quicker and a bigger blow-bj threat. I love the team this year but I think it will be equally fun to watch for two more years

[UFreak]

Originally Posted by mikechap93

But kasey is quicker and a bigger blow-bj threat.

We are still talking hoops right?

[rserina]

Originally Posted by mikechap93

I still see Frazier playing a good amount of three next year. Kasey hill is a starter from day one. So billy will have to figure out who takes point between kasey and Scottie.i think Scottie does the majority because of experience. But kasey is quicker and a bigger blow-bj threat. I love the team this year but I think it will be equally fun to watch for two more years

The great thing about Wilbekin is that he can play off the ball or on it and he can defend three positions, so you can literally play him anywhere you want. He can play with Hill, start over him at the one or sub for him there. But you are still going to have a good 20-25 minutes to fill in the backcourt. If Graham and/or Ogbueze step up to take those, it definitely frees Frazier to play the three.

But then you have a minutes logjam there. Assuming Harris, Yeguete, and Walker fill out the post spots, with limited minutes at the four from Finney-Smith and/or Prather, you are left with Frazier, Finney-Smith, Prather, and Walker all left to divide up forty total minutes at the three.

Good problems to have, no doubt. If Frazier starts at the three, which is entirely plausible if you have a Hill-Wilbekin starting backcourt, I still think we want his shooting and size at the two.

[xenythx]

Don't forget that Frazier played with Hill in high school (and AAU, I think) so that combination should have some nice chemistry playing together.

[InstiGATOR1]

My view on Frazier is:

1. Nice perimeter shot. We sort of knew this after he was described as having the best shot form at the NBPA Top 100 camp last summer, but it is nice to see it converted into made shots at UF.

2. The surprise with him is that he rebounds so well.

3. His defense is at least pretty good or he would stick out like a sore thumb with this group and he does not.

I view the two deep next year as:

PG: Wilbekin, Hill
SG: Frazier, Graham
SF: Finney-Smith, Prather
PF: Yeguete, C.Walker
C: Harris

We shall see what happens with Young. As for the issue what Frazier really has done this year in my mind is solidify the one unknown position for 2013-14. That was the 2 guard. Since we now think that UF's 2 guard next year will be no worse than Frazier, UF is solid at every position again next year.

As for how long Frazier is at UF, that will depend on a number of factors. For now I am not interested in speculating past next season.

[GatorLurker]

My view is "poor man's Beal". He isn't Bradley (who is?), but has plugged in to supply much of what we got from him: scoring and rebounds.

[Go2gtr]

Everything you need to know is the PT Billy is giving him. This kid is doing it the right way and is loaded with talent.