The Floyd Street Tribune: The intrigue of a new big man on a team packed with big guys

Inside: What's the bread-and-butter for Tennessee transfer Brandon Huntley-Hatfield at Louisville? Also, an updated recruiting big board and schedule notes.

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A current roster thought: The potential of BHH

Concerns about Louisville’s thin backcourt persist, but new coach Kenny Payne did well in his early days and weeks by keeping a number of loaded-with-potential big guys and adding a former five-star prospect in Tennessee transfer Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. And it’s BHH who I want to discuss in this week’s short topper.

The critique of BHH, who at 6-10, 246 pounds, is built as if a sculptor cut him from marble, was that he tried too often to be a skill guy at Tennessee, that he didn’t grasp just how physically dominant he could be. That’s not to say he didn’t dunk or do work around the basket — BHH was 44 for 64 around the rim, including 12 of 12 on dunks, and was one of Tennessee’s best offensive rebounders. But it’s more about decision-making and shot selection: Of his 129 shot attempts, 13 were 3s and 52 were long 2s — and he made just 15 of those shots. Simpler phrasing: BHH was 15 of 65 (23.1%) on jump shots last season, but they accounted for half his attempts and torpedoed his offensive efficiency.