[Sly Fox]

Its official ... the kid we were hinting around about a few weeks ago has been cleared by the NCAA to play right away.

Hoops signing

Ozren Bjelogrlic, a 6-foot-7 forward, has joined the LU men's basketball team, Flames coach Ritchie McKay announced Monday.

Bjelogrlic spent his senior year of high school playing at Decatur Christian (Ill.) after moving to the U.S. from Croatia. He'll be eligible to play right away.

"Like most European players, he is highly skilled and has a great feel for the game," McKay said.

In his lone season at Decatur Christian, which was ranked as high as sixth in the nation last year, Bjelogrlic averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Click Here for Full Story

[SuperJon]

Now if he's good enough to break the top 9 rotation is a different story.


Edit to clarify: The kid is talented, don't get me wrong. However, he just doesn't know the game yet. He's definitely a project.

[TDDance234]

If anything, he brings some size and 5 fouls to use down low.

[paradox]

Now if he's good enough to break the top 9 rotation is a different story.


Edit to clarify: The kid is talented, don't get me wrong. However, he just doesn't know the game yet. He's definitely a project.

"he doesn't know the game yet"

Do you have a basis for such a statement or is it just your typical ignorant comment


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[SuperJon]

The biggest joke on this entire board declares my stuff ignorant. I love it.

[paradox]

Again, what is the basis for your statement about Ozren. Either it's ignorant or it's not. Your failure to respond in any intelligent way, only proves that it msut be your typical ignorant comment with no factual basis

[SuperJon]

It's come from people who have seen him play. They say he's got all of the talent and game that most European players have, he just doesn't know the game yet. He's got to learn. So far he's gotten by on raw talent. Now it's Division I basketball where you can't get by on just talent.

[paradox]

"Doesn't know the game yet"


As a general rule, I'd have to question any source that implies that a player from eastern Europe doesn't know the game ----especially a post player and a rebounder



Truth be told, Ezren is a somewhat undersized 4 who will be typically going up against more athletic players. It's his sound fundamentals, toughness, and dare I say, knowledge of the game that enables him to be a legitimate mid-major prospect. If there are any concerns at this stage, it would be, how well he stacks up physically with the opposition. LU is hoping that his skills are strong enough to transcend all of that. That's why he's here.


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[SuperJon]

You are the only person I have heard that has said that about this kid, and it's obvious you've never seen him play. I'm going to trust people on campus, who are generally right, as opposed to someone who has been wrong about 90% of what they have said on this board.

[shukcb04]

"Doesn't know the game yet"


As a general rule, I'd have to question any source that implies that a player from eastern Europe doesn't know the game ----especially a post player and a rebounder



Truth be told, Ezren is a somewhat undersized 4 who will be typically going up against more athletic players. It's his sound fundamentals, toughness, and dare I say, knowledge of the game that enables him to be a legitimate mid-major prospect. If there are any concerns at this stage, it would be, how well he stacks up physically with the opposition. LU is hoping that his skills are strong enough to transcend all of that. That's why he's here.


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thanks, dick vitale, for all the cliches.

[paradox]

Well, let's just say that the statement, "doesn't know the game yet" is much more descriptive of the person who authored it, Super-John, rather than the player that he was trying to label, Ezren


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[paradox]

"Doesn't know the game yet"


As a general rule, I'd have to question any source that implies that a player from eastern Europe doesn't know the game ----especially a post player and a rebounder



Truth be told, Ezren is a somewhat undersized 4 who will be typically going up against more athletic players. It's his sound fundamentals, toughness, and dare I say, knowledge of the game that enables him to be a legitimate mid-major prospect. If there are any concerns at this stage, it would be, how well he stacks up physically with the opposition. LU is hoping that his skills are strong enough to transcend all of that. That's why he's here.


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thanks, dick vitale, for all the cliches.

Thanks for the Dickie-V compliment. I appreciate it. Ezren-B with a kiss off the glass, baby


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[shukcb04]

"Doesn't know the game yet"


As a general rule, I'd have to question any source that implies that a player from eastern Europe doesn't know the game ----especially a post player and a rebounder



Truth be told, Ezren is a somewhat undersized 4 who will be typically going up against more athletic players. It's his sound fundamentals, toughness, and dare I say, knowledge of the game that enables him to be a legitimate mid-major prospect. If there are any concerns at this stage, it would be, how well he stacks up physically with the opposition. LU is hoping that his skills are strong enough to transcend all of that. That's why he's here.


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thanks, dick vitale, for all the cliches.

Thanks for the Dickie-V compliment. I appreciate it. Ezren-B with a kiss off the glass, baby


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it's not a compliment, dick vitale is an idiot.

[SuperJon]

Well, let's just say that the statement, "doesn't know the game yet" is much more descriptive of the person who authored it, Super-John, rather than the player that he was trying to label, Ezren


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Yea, since a) you can't even spell my name right when it's on this site well over 10,000 times and b) that was a direct quote from someone who's seen him play (which I have not).

[paradox]

Well, if the person who "saw" him play doesn't know what he's talking about, and then you write about it here, then you also become a person who doesn't know what he's talking about


I can see ya gettin' all personal and sensitive...but it's all in fun

I just gotta call ya on it because it's such a counter from the actual situation


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[shukcb04]

Well, if the person who "saw" him play doesn't know what he's talking about, and then you write about it here, then you also become a person who doesn't know what he's talking about


I can see ya gettin' all personal and sensitive...but it's all in fun

I just gotta call ya on it because it's such a counter from the actual situation


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well, truthfully, how many times have you seen this guy play since you think you are such an expert on him?

[paradox]

The information is out there, but you're gonna have to find it on your own.

[SuperJon]

It's funny, because it's been more than one person that has said the same thing about this kid. When I was first tipped off on him coming here I was told, "Don't get excited, the kid is a project." He gets here and more people say the same thing. Go figure.

[JDUB]

ok, dox is saying the kid is good, doesn't have any sources and hasn't seen him play.
jon is saying kid has talent but needs some work, has sources who has seen him play, which dox has yet to say he has because he evidently doesn't.
i'm sorry but i'm going with jon on this one, i prefer second hand scouting to making stuff up

[paradox]

Well, your statement is partially true in the "don't get excited part." However, he is not a "project" who needs to work on his "skills and knowledge"--that is actually his strong suite. The biggest concerns with Ozren is how well he is going to match up with stronger and more athletic players. So, there is this big question mark as to what value he brings to this team. At the very least, he'll add skill and depth. However, he is a hard worker, so there is a chance that he can transcend the physical side of things and make a soild contribution at some point. In other words, does he have enough skill and saavy to overcome what he lacks physically? If not, then he'll need to add strength. And in that sense he could be considered a "project."
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[shukcb04]

Well, your statement is partially true in the "don't get excited part." However, he is not a "project" who needs to work on his "skills and knowledge"--that is actually his strong suite. The biggest concerns with Ozren is how well he is going to match up with stronger and more athletic players. So, there is this big question mark as to what value he brings to this team. At the very least, he'll add skill and depth. However, he is a hard worker, so there is a chance that he can transcend the physical side of things and make a soild contribution at some point. In other words, does he have enough skill and saavy to overcome what he lacks physically? If not, then he'll need to add strength. And in that sense he could be considered a "project."
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ok stop repeating yourself. have you even seen him play, do you even know anyone who has seen him play?

[paradox]

The information is out there, but you're gonna have to find it on your own.

Again, it's out there.

[shukcb04]

The information is out there, but you're gonna have to find it on your own.

Again, it's out there.

so basically you havent seen the kid play or know anyone who has seen him play is what it amounts too?

[paradox]

If you'd rather leave it than take it---then fine

[paradox]

ok, dox is saying the kid is good, doesn't have any sources and hasn't seen him play.
jon is saying kid has talent but needs some work, has sources who has seen him play, which dox has yet to say he has because he evidently doesn't.
i'm sorry but i'm going with jon on this one, i prefer second hand scouting to making stuff up

JDUB:

I merely described where he plays and what type of player he is. I have no idea as to whether this kid is actually going to be good or not, and I made no such assessment or prediction. I've been saying that it's an unknown from the begining. Ezren adds depth at the very least. If he should transcend that is some significant way, then that would be a huge bonus for us.

If you want to hold me to some statements that I made about Stephene and Anderson, then fine. I said what I said and I'll have to live with that.

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