Sophomore F Martins Igbanu
After the resounding success of the Emmanuel Ezechinonso era, Tulsa went back to the Covenant Christian Ministries Academy pipeline and grabbed 3-star Martins Igbanu over interest from Cincinnati, among others. In retrospect, it's easy to see why Mick Cronin was recruiting him. After playing his way into, and then back out of, the starting lineup over the first 6 games, Igbanu played just 7 minutes per game for the remainder of the non-conference schedule. But an 8-point, 7-rebound performance against UConn got him back into the regular rotation, where he eventually won a spot in the starting lineup for the final 13 games of the season. Per 40 minutes, Igbanu averaged 17 points/10 rebounds in AAC play.
With the offseason departures of Edogi and Magnay, Igbanu will be 1 of just 3 true post players remaining on the roster this season. My model wanted to limit him to 21mpg, but the circumstances will likely require Igbanu to match his career high (29) early and often this season, which could be a problem for the most foul-prone returning player on the roster. Igbanu has the tools to be a force inside and if he can make improvements defensively and with his free throw shooting, he could be the best big man Tulsa has seen in a long time.
Random stat: Igbanu was #1 in conference play in fouls drawn per minute played.
2017 stats: 15.3mpg, 6.3ppg, 4.0rpg, 0.3apg, 0.2spg, 1.4topg, 0.3bpg, 56.0% 2PT, 55.6% 3PT, 58.9% FT
2018 proj.: 26.9mpg, 12.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 0.8apg, 0.5spg, 2.7topg, 0.8bpg, 52.9% 2PT, 29.4% 3PT, 65.7% FT
After the resounding success of the Emmanuel Ezechinonso era, Tulsa went back to the Covenant Christian Ministries Academy pipeline and grabbed 3-star Martins Igbanu over interest from Cincinnati, among others. In retrospect, it's easy to see why Mick Cronin was recruiting him. After playing his way into, and then back out of, the starting lineup over the first 6 games, Igbanu played just 7 minutes per game for the remainder of the non-conference schedule. But an 8-point, 7-rebound performance against UConn got him back into the regular rotation, where he eventually won a spot in the starting lineup for the final 13 games of the season. Per 40 minutes, Igbanu averaged 17 points/10 rebounds in AAC play.
With the offseason departures of Edogi and Magnay, Igbanu will be 1 of just 3 true post players remaining on the roster this season. My model wanted to limit him to 21mpg, but the circumstances will likely require Igbanu to match his career high (29) early and often this season, which could be a problem for the most foul-prone returning player on the roster. Igbanu has the tools to be a force inside and if he can make improvements defensively and with his free throw shooting, he could be the best big man Tulsa has seen in a long time.
Random stat: Igbanu was #1 in conference play in fouls drawn per minute played.
2017 stats: 15.3mpg, 6.3ppg, 4.0rpg, 0.3apg, 0.2spg, 1.4topg, 0.3bpg, 56.0% 2PT, 55.6% 3PT, 58.9% FT
2018 proj.: 26.9mpg, 12.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 0.8apg, 0.5spg, 2.7topg, 0.8bpg, 52.9% 2PT, 29.4% 3PT, 65.7% FT
