Has OSU Basketball Found Its Missing Piece?

Last week Brad Underwood landed Dutch center Lucas N’Guessan. The 7-footer from the Netherlands immediately adds a post piece and physical interior presence that did not exist previously. With just two other bigs (Mitch Solomon and Igor Ibaka) on a guard and wing-filled roster, the opportunity for the young Dutchman to contribute is there. That is, if he’s deemed eligible for the 2016-2017 season (all signs point to yes, fingers crossed).

Solomon has shown flashes of potential, but quite simply has struggled to stay on the floor due to foul trouble, especially in the rugged Big 12. Ibaka logged just 23 minutes total last season, averaging .9 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.

So why does this commitment matter to the Cowboys? On the surface, he’s a largely unknown commodity, playing at Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain. He has not played against the same kind of competition as most recruits coming through the AAU circuit in the states, and was not highly recruited.

However, in the little tape that exists of him, you can see the potential. The quick feet, the instincts protecting the rim and rebounding, and his size and aggression in the paint is impressive. See for yourself here.

Oklahoma State has not had a legitimate 7-footer in the paint since Philip Jurick in 2012-2013 (he of just 2.8 points per game and 5.8 boards a game in just 17 minutes per game his senior campaign.) A lot of the struggles for the Cowboys in the Travis Ford Era can be attributed to the lack of rebounding and size in Stillwater. Take a look at where the Cowboys landed nationally the last few years in total rebounding percentage.

Ouch. The highest in the last five years Oklahoma State has ranked in rebounding percentage is 127th in 2012-2013. This is in no small part due to the lack of size the Cowboys have dealt with. In addition to rebounding, N’Guessan can fill a much needed role as a rim protector in the paint — an area where the Cowboys have struggled as well in recent years. The numbers aren’t as damning on the defensive end, but still show plenty of room for improvement. Let’s check out where OSU has landed in the NCAA in terms of blocked shots and opponent’s effective FG percentage.

Again, less than stellar results. The offensive system that Brad Underwood will bring to Stillwater typically includes one big with four guards/wings. So down the road, N’Guessan, after a year or two of development, may have the opportunity to anchor the new offense from the top of the key as well as protect the rim on defense which is essential in the rugged Big 12.

In Underwood’s system, N’Guessan will have the ability from the top of the key to face up, take his man off the dribble, or help move the ball around the perimeter, more easily accomplished at his size. There will be quite the learning curve for the young Dutchman, who will arrive in need of a lot of development and patience.

However, the tools are there for N’Guessan to give the Pokes their most physical post presence in years.