Jo Jun-hee’s KBL debut has been delayed, but if he can adjust to the team’s defense, he could make his debut sooner rather than later.
Seoul Samsung kicked off the 2023-2024 season on the 22nd with an away game against KCC in Busan. Despite hitting 16 three-pointers, it wasn’t enough to overcome a 25-point deficit due to a slew of early-game mistakes. They lost 100-106.
Samsung used rookie Jo Joon-hee, its fourth-round pick from the KBL Cup in Gunsan, in short bursts. He averaged 3 minutes and 16 seconds, but hit one three-pointer in both games. She showed that she can make a shot whenever and wherever she comes in.
However, his defense was disappointing. After the KBL Cup, Jo Jun-hee said, “I’m sorry that I couldn’t keep up with what the coach asked me to do on defense, and I need to work harder.”
Before the game, KCC coach Jeon Chang-jin said, “I don’t worry if the pressure is on the team that can match up, but I worry if one position is better than the other.” He was worried about Kofi Coburn’s dominance in the paint zone, saying, “I saw him in the cup tournament and he was great.”
Samsung’s best asset is Coburn. However, they need an outside shooter to keep him alive. When Lee Jung-hyun or Aban Nava were struggling from three-point range, Jo Jun-hee could have been considered.
Why didn’t Samsung bring Jo to Busan? Samsung head coach Eun Hee-seok explained.온라인카지노
“We need him right now. It’s necessary, but I don’t think so. Even though the KBL had the Hangzhou disaster, I don’t think they are less competitive in terms of player resources. We’re working so hard, but I hope Jo Jun-hee doesn’t take it too easy coming into the KBL and recognizes that it’s not an easy league. You need to come in with a certain amount of preparation, and that’s how you respect the league.
He’s preparing well, but I think he needs to integrate into the team on defense, not to mention offense, so coach Kim Bo-hyun stays behind and has him train separately. We’re working on the timing. It’s a tight game early on. If there are players who are overloaded because of the early games, we will consider putting them in early.”
After a short break, Samsung will play five games in nine days from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4. It’s a five-game back-to-back on Friday-Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday. After a two-day break, the team will play three games in five days from Nov. 7-11.
It’s a tough early season schedule. Jo Jun-hee will have a chance to make her debut in this schedule.