PF/C Kosta Koufos (CSKA Moscow)

[LitlBuck]

Koufos should get the ball more.

I am starting to agree. I stated this before that sometimes he will have very good position down on the blocks and the wing players will have the ball and just look at him and pass it back out to Butler. You are correct when he gets the ball with the clock shop winding down he has to do something in a hurry which really limits what he can do.

 

[graveyard.roses]

Maybe they should let him create some more, give him some ball handling duties. A guy that can hit the outside shot and perhaps create for himself shouldn't be getting fed the ball as if he is a Center that is confined to the post...you know, sort of how Greg had to be fed the ball last year.

 

[LitlBuck]

Maybe they should let him create some more, give him some ball handling duties..

Not trying to be too critical of him but he doesn't seem like he has very good (strong) hands when he is around the basket.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

After rewatching the game...

KK continues to show his offensive game...He still lets stronger players push him out, and at times he needs to realize that he would be better off to put the ball on the floor and get closer...

But he showed good offensive game with his off the bounce, his face up bank shot that he hit...

He is also playing more physical IMO on the defensive end...But DJ White showed his experience and his ability that he has gained in 4 years of college to play against taller guys...

I just think we need to continue to include him in the offense, maybe moreso in the midrange and not always on the block like some want, and not often outside the 3 point arc...

He is such a tough matchup for any big man because if they do play him physical he can step out and beat him off the dribble...

I understand somes frustration with him, but I think some just have never been stuck watching a team that their 7 footer wants to play on the perimeter...

 

[LitlBuck]

I just think we need to continue to include him in the offense, maybe moreso in the midrange and not always on the block like some want, and not often outside the 3 point arc...

He is such a tough matchup for any big man because if they do play him physical he can step out and beat him off the dribble...

I understand somes frustration with him, but I think some just have never been stuck watching a team that their 7 footer wants to play on the perimeter...

My thoughts on KK are that he would rather be beyond the arc than shooting 15' jump shots. He also seems to have problems when he puts the ball on the floor. I don't know if it's because he just doesn't have good dribbling skills or the fact that he is so tall the shorter guys have an easier time getting the ball from him.

I admit that I would like to see him more involved in the offense but he either seems to be outside or inside and not in between were he might be able to get his shots off easier. Maybe he's tired also

 

[crazybuckfan40]

My thoughts on KK are that he would rather be beyond the arc than shooting 15' jump shots. He also seems to have problems when he puts the ball on the floor. I don't know if it's because he just doesn't have good dribbling skills or the fact that he is so tall the shorter guys have an easier time getting the ball from him.

I admit that I would like to see him more involved in the offense but he either seems to be outside or inside and not in between were he might be able to get his shots off easier. Maybe he's tired also

I think at times he would like to be behind the arc, but that is just because he wants to get his shots off and at times it is easier for him to get that shot, because guys aren't looking to get him the ball inside...I think he could destroy a zone in the short corner, hitting 10-15 foot jumpers...


I think he does a solid job of putting on the floor when the lane is there, and he is quicker than a lot of big men...

He really does have good touch on his shot, but needs to get more arc on his shot at times...He knocks them down from real deep in practice, and i know practice is practice...But he has a good stroke...Just think that he could be more consistent and really really tough to defend if he developed more of the midrange Tim Duncan type game so to speak...

 

[LitlBuck]

II think he does a solid job of putting on the floor when the lane is there, and he is quicker than a lot of big men...
...

Just disagree. I think when he puts the ball on the floor he tends to lose it. I also do not think that he has very strong hands.

I know that he is young but if guys think he can be an NBA player next year they should remember White's dunk on him.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Just disagree. I think when he puts the ball on the floor he tends to lose it. I also do not think that he has very strong hands.

I know that he is young but if guys think he can be an NBA player next year they should remember White's dunk on him.

He really hasn't lost the ball off the dribble that much...Because he does a good job of shielding the defender from the ball and then shoots that little half hook shot...

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I saw a couple things I really liked in the IU game. One being the bank high of the glass. Pretty, pretty shot. Where's that been all season? Another being the drive from the wing/corner across the lane that drew Gordon's 4th foul. That's the first time I've really seen him take the ball in that spot on the floor and do something other than pass back out or shoot. I'd like to see him get that chance a little more often.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I saw a couple things I really liked in the IU game. One being the bank high of the glass. Pretty, pretty shot. Where's that been all season? Another being the drive from the wing/corner across the lane that drew Gordon's 4th foul. That's the first time I've really seen him take the ball in that spot on the floor and do something other than pass back out or shoot. I'd like to see him get that chance a little more often.

Agree also the spin move he pulled off on White down on the block...First time I think I had seen that since the Findlay game when I remember him doing it once or twice...

Lots of skill just needs to develop his understanding of the offense a little more, and when to pick and choose his spots...

 

[gracelhink]

KK played increased minutes and looked fresher, less winded Sunday compared to other games. His limited minutes previously some have attributed to stamina issues. His play was intense during his PT, and think the season unlike Butler, may be contributing to better endurance, and less fatigue.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

OSU coach continues to see improvement in Kosta Koufos
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Ohio State basketball notebook[/FONT]
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
BY Mike Popovich
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS The big guy is making some big strides.

Head Coach Thad Matta certainly likes the improvement he is seeing in Kosta Koufos' low post game. Ohio State's 7-foot center from GlenOak High School is coming off an 18-point, 9-rebound outing in Sunday's loss to Indiana. One of Koufos' eight baskets came on a spin move around a defender along the baseline.

"Dating back to the second half of the Tennessee game (Jan. 19), I thought he started making some big strides," Matta said. "I've been very pleased with the progress he's making."

Koufos leads Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (6.7 per game), blocked shots (45), offensive rebounds (62) and defensive rebounds (98).

"He got a couple of rebounds Sunday that were out of his area," Matta said. "He tipped them, kept them alive and snatched them."

INJURY SLOWS TURNER Evan Turner has not looked much like Evan Turner lately. An injured right wrist slowed the Buckeyes freshman guard's progress after three solid games against Tennessee, Illinois and Minnesota, where he averaged just over 17 points. It has contributed to Turner shooting just 5-of-23 from the field, including 1-of-10 from 3-point range, the last four games. "It somewhat throws off my shot, but it got better the past couple of days," Turner said. "I've been icing it and everything." Turner initially hurt his wrist against Illinois. He was inadvertently kicked by the Fighting Illini's Denetri McCamey when he air-balled a 3-pointer and hit the ground. The wrist got worse when he banged it against Iowa's Tony Freeman during a game against the Hawkeyes. Turner and McCamey are former high school teammates. "He said he was sorry," Turner said. "It wasn't intentional. There wasn't too much I could really blame him for. It was just the heat of the game."

Cont...

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Just disagree. I think when he puts the ball on the floor he tends to lose it. I also do not think that he has very strong hands.

I know that he is young but if guys think he can be an NBA player next year they should remember White's dunk on him.

he has short arms...

 

[Plato]

Rubio named FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year

(Koufos came in 4th place)

MUNICH (Young Men's Player of the Year) - The votes are in and Spain and DKV Joventut star Ricky RUBIO has been named the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year.

Rubio won handily in a vote of both fans and an expert panel of basketball journalists, players and coaches. Milos Teodosic of Serbia and Olympiacos finished second while Marco Belinelli of Italy and the NBA's Golden State Warriors won a close battle for third with fellow Italian Danilo Gallinari and Konstantinos Koufos of Greece.

Rubio led Spain to a fifth place finish at the Under-18 European Championship Men in August, where he averaged 19.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest while shooting nearly 50% from behind the three-point line.

He has been playing a bigger part for club side DKV Joventut as well, averaging 12.5 points per contest, second only to last year's Young Men's Player of the Year Rudy Fernandez, while dishing out 3.5 assists per game.

"It's been clear in the last few seasons that Ricard Rubio is one of the most exciting young players in Europe or any part of the world for that matter." Said FIBA Europe President George Vassilakopoulos.

"His exploits for both country and club make him a very deserving winner."

"I still remember his performance at the Under-16 European Championship Men two years ago (51 points, 24 rebounds and 12 assists)," commented FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin. "I think we all knew then and there that we were watching someone special."

The second place finisher Teodosic also had an impressive year leading Serbia to gold at the Under-20 European Championship Men and playing a significant role in the senior team's efforts at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain.

Young Men Poy

1. Ricky Rubio, Spain
2. Milos Teodosic, Serbia
3. Marco Belinelli, Italy
4. Konstantinos Koufos, Greece
5. Danilo Gallinari, Italy
6. Milan Macvan, Serbia
7 Nicolas Batum, France
8. Alexey Shved, Russia
9. Vladimir Dasic, Montenegro
10. Mladen Jeremic, Serbia

 

[graveyard.roses]

Konstantinos has short arms? Anyone know the measurement of his wingspan? His arms look pretty long to me. He seems to have good hands, the only thing is that he isn't very athletic and so he doesn't go up as quick as a Greg Oden. That's maybe where some get dissapointed with his play around the hoop. His explosiveness around the hoop is something he will have to work on during the summer. Enough of the negative scrutiny on Konstantinos, let me point out that after several rebounds in the game against Indiana I saw him racing down the court with passion, in hopes for a fast break. He is ready for the NBA, though. People say things like "He's not athletic enough to guard a Garnett and nearly not physical enough to guard guys like Dwight Howard." Let me ask y'all this, just how many bigs in the NBA can guard those guys? Not many. Kosta is NBA ready today. I've said this earlier in this year: He should only come back for his sophomore year if he really likes Ohio State and wants to continue playing with his teammates of this year and the guys coming in, and if he wants to make a run at a final four and championship.

James Little Animal said it best in that there are things money can't buy. I don't know Konstantinos personally nor do I know what his experience this year has been like, but I can only imagine how much fun he'd have next year.