Dallas Lauderdale

Dallas Lauderdale - Lauderdale's plus strengths are his shotblocking instincts, his strength, and his aggression. That's about it. He cannot dribble, shoot or pass, and he's also a strangely poor rebounder. Offensively, he is limited to a short lefty hook shot, the dunk, and a free throw technique reminiscent of Charles Barkley's golf swing. It is mainly the middle of these three, which is why Lauderdale has shot 72% or better in each of the last three seasons. He also has a career high single season free throw percentage of 46%, dropping as low as 31% this season. Lauderdale plays rather like Ben Wallace, if Ben Wallace could not rebound or pass. But in absolutely no way must he be confused with Ben Wallace.

Now a senior, Dallas Lauderdale's role has been reduced by the presence of Sullinger, yet he still does what he does. He dunks everything, clanks free throws, tries to block everything, pushes people around, and takes up space. The main changes to his game are an ever-worsening free throw stroke, a new lefty hook that occcasionally gets an airing, and a resignation to his premature baldness, leading to a shaven head that makes him look even more intimidating than before. (Which is a good thing in a 260lb interior defender.) Meanwhile, freshman Thomas has occasionally looked like freshman Jordan Hamilton out there, with the ability to make shots from any area of the floor, but with pretty much no recognition right now of where to shoot. Yet considering the calibre of player that Jordan Hamilton has become, this, too, is a good thing.