University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Player Profile - Mike Tisdale

Player Profile: Mike Tisdale
Position: Center
Height: 7'1"
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Riverton, IL

Player Summary

Tisdale played a decent amount of minutes in his freshman season due to a lack of depth among frontcourt players. And, down the stretch, he began to see more and more minutes. When he was in the game, Tisdale showed a good shooting touch and the willingness to attempt to mix it up in the post. However, he was pushed around a bit, especially in the Big Ten. His minutes will increase this season by necessity.

Statistics for '07-'08 Basketball Season

Minutes: 10.4
Points: 3.6
Rebounds: 1.7
Assists: 0.3
Steals: 0.1
Blocks: 0.4

Player Strengths

For a big man, Tisdale has a nice shooting stroke. He shot a few three-pointers, but he needs to hit them at a more consistent rate. He was able to stretch defenses with his shooting and also showed the potential to be a low post scorer. For his size, Tisdale is an adequate rebounder and shot-blocker. He also has underrated athleticism.

Player Weaknesses

Tisdale looked like a beanpole last season. It's been said that he's been gaining weight in the offseason, but he'll need to be able to keep the weight on during the season. Opposing frontcourt players were able to push around Tisdale on both ends of the floor. There were points when Tisdale looked lost and awkward when in the game. As with the other young Illini big men, this is not unexpected for a freshman. For the Illini to be successful, Tisdale will need to stay out of foul trouble. This may mean cutting down on his blocked shots.

Player Projections

The Illini frontcourt will go from a team strength a year ago to a large question mark this year. Whether or not Tisdale's ready, he'll have to carry the load at center for the Illini this year. He'll likely play as much as his conditioning will allow. If he gained a little weight and hit the gym, he might be able to surprise a few people. If not, he should still be able to give the Illini a little scoring and will be able to help on the boards and with his shot-blocking. Like the other young Illini, his best years are ahead of him. But, the experience he gained last year and will gain this year will serve him well in the future for the Illini. If, and when, he is able to put on some weight, he could be force in the Big Ten. A player with his height and shooting ability can be a huge weapon on the basketball court.

Projected Statistics for Illini '08-'09 Basketball Season

Minutes: 22.5
Points: 7.5
Rebounds: 5.5
Assists: 0.5
Steals: 0.2
Blocks: 0.6

Sources:
www.espn.com
illinois.scout.com/