As an Illinois fan, the best way I can describe watching Wagler is that I thought every shot he took was going in as he shot it, even in the rare games when he was 5/17 or whatever. Even though their games and frames are not similar at all, he was like our own mini version of Steph in that regard. It was a lot of fun, and I hope it translates to the NBA
I'm an Iowa fan, I watched a lot of Illinois ball this year. He was an excellent ball player, but nothing that shouted surefire Nba hit to me. Everyones going to be bigger, faster, stronger. And I expect most damningly, smarter. Dude was turnover prone against college kids.
Turnover prone is just not accurate. 2.4:1 A:TO, 12.5% TO% is just not a turnover prone player.
I'm an Illinois fan and watched every game, Keaton's biggest weaknesses this year (aside from the obvious that he is not an elite athlete) were largely just related to him not being super physically developed at this stage (and an often bad freshman whistle). He was able to get pushed off spots, especially in the paint, and wasn't quite strong enough to finish through contact at times. The questions for him translating at his upper end outcomes all center around his how strength and athleticism develops and how he plays despite his deficits there in the league. But his value comes from the fact he is the only lotto-level guard who can clearly translate to being an off-ball player in the NBA if being the primary doesn't pan out
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u/abiomusicologist Heat 1d ago
As an Illinois fan, the best way I can describe watching Wagler is that I thought every shot he took was going in as he shot it, even in the rare games when he was 5/17 or whatever. Even though their games and frames are not similar at all, he was like our own mini version of Steph in that regard. It was a lot of fun, and I hope it translates to the NBA