2016-2017 Season

[waterhead]

I'm not saying I think he'd be a better option, just saying that if JJ hasn't gotten 1000x better on defense you can bet your bottom dollar you'll see KJ bringing the ball up the court before you'll see JJ doing it.

I understand your point about defense. I'll give you that. But I will probably write off the season if we are in a situation with KJ bringing the ball up...lol. I think Evans played a little point in HS and I trust his handles and turnovers a lot LOT more. As long as KJ isn't dribbling he's fine...hahaha...but seriously

 

[waterhead]

Didn't Johnson bring the ball up some last year when Cobb was hurt?

I must have PTSD from that time if he did...

 

[UCBearcats]

I like KJ and all but no way we have him bring the ball up over Jenifer. KJ was way too turnover prone the past couple seasons. IF Cumberland and Evans are injured or in foul trouble I could definitely see Troy and Jenifer sharing point duties with KJ, Clark and Washington out there. Troy's size automatically pushes him over to the wing instead of Jenifer, but they could both run the offense still...

You need to keep in mind that you have a HC on the sidelines who has a borderline disdain for offense and has shown a million times that he values defense over any type of offense.

JJ was an absolute liability on the defensive end of the court last season, so much so that it makes you scratch your end as to why Mick recruited him the first place. He's clearly not naturally suited to play our brand of basketball.

Now I'm not saying that JJ can't get better, just saying that he needs to be a lot better than he was last year before you'll see him get meaningful minutes. All I'm focused on is defense too, but he was also an offensive liability last season. Lot of work for that kid to do in order to make an impact.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I must have PTSD from that time if he did...

Hahahahaha I think it was only a couple times but I swear it happened.

 

[L-T]

You're correct Jacob. ZERO chance Jenifer sees the floor in any key moment of any game. Based on what we saw last season he'd have to make a tremendous leap forward to see anything other than garbage minutes off the bench.

Lol! You and Jacob will be eating these words by the end of the year.

 

[GarradJ21]

The last two years we have lacked that senior leader. 3 years ago we had SK JJ and Rubs. Each one could have been the leader but they happened to all be seniors at the same time and lead the team. 2 years ago was Sanders. an ok role player but not a leader. Last year we had 4 seniors, to me none in which were leaders or looked at as leaders. Our Jr. pg was more of a leader than any of our seniors last year. I like it this year how our most vocal and top player on our team is our senior pg. You can just tell in his interviews that this is his team and it's time to go out with a bang during his sr. year. KJ makes a great co-captain being from cincy a sr guard with his best friend being the other senior. Always plays the hardest too. This is going to be a good year.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Please not the whole "Troy's team" thing again all year. It's so unfair to everyone on the team imo, including Caupain, to term it that way. I do know what you mean: All-Conference player, PG, captain, etc. But the "his team" term in sports is just asking for unwarranted pressure and criticism. We all know Caupain is a leader, will represent the team the most in the media, and all that. But it's about more than him. He knows that. He couldn't deflect that question fast enough when directly asked last year if it was his team...so why continue to put that on him? Caupain is a team guy, I can't stand setting him apart from his teammates. It really doesn't seem like it's something he wants. If he is going to have the success we all want for him, he has to be able to be himself and among his teammates. There has an implied standard for him, no reason to keep ramming that point home imo.

I'm not specifically saying all of this to you Garrad. Just my general feelings on that term.

 

[GarradJ21]

My point is everyone on a team has a leader if you ever played a sport or coached a sport I don't care what the case may be even if you go out with a group of friends there's a person in the group that seems like more of a leader. Just saying I am glad more of the leader is our sr pg. That's all. Yeah I get it, a lot of pieces to the puzzle. So I agree I shouldn't make it out or no one should as far as it is his team, just saying it's good to know that more of the leader of the team is the sr pg, and that is what we lacked in our last 2 senior classes.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

My point is everyone on a team has a leader if you ever played a sport or coached a sport I don't care what the case may be even if you go out with a group of friends there's a person in the group that seems like more of a leader. Just saying I am glad more of the leader is our sr pg. That's all. Yeah I get it, a lot of pieces to the puzzle. So I agree I shouldn't make it out or no one should as far as it is his team, just saying it's good to know that more of the leader of the team is the sr pg, and that is what we lacked in our last 2 senior classes.

I definitely get what you're saying and don't disagree. For whatever reason, I just personally don't like the specific "his team" label, especially for college kids.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I feel like Clark has been flying under the radar this offseason. Haven't hard a ton about him. He is so freaking solid. Does anyone know where his 24.3 ranked in PER last year? He was around Top 50 in the country for the majority of the year last year, not sure where he finished..

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Gary Clark's Per 40 minutes stats last year:

13.7 PTS 11.6 REB 2.8 AST 2.0 BLK 1.6 STL

 

[#BearcatNation]

I feel like Clark has been flying under the radar this offseason. Haven't hard a ton about him. He is so freaking solid. Does anyone know where his 24.3 ranked in PER last year? He was around Top 50 in the country for the majority of the year last year, not sure where he finished..

I believe he was top 25 before his injury, but I could be wrong. He was completely dominating a January-February stretch. Just contributes in every facet. A basketball analytic guy's dream.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I believe he was top 25 before his injury, but I could be wrong. He was completely dominating a January-February stretch. Just contributes in every facet. A basketball analytic guy's dream.

That could be a factor in his draft stock. Front offices in the NBA are getting more into analytics each year. Someone may use a 2nd round pick on him just to lock him down in their organization for Summer League and end of roster/D-League guy. And it'd be up to him to work from there.

 

[kskenyon4]

I feel like Clark has been flying under the radar this offseason. Haven't hard a ton about him. He is so freaking solid. Does anyone know where his 24.3 ranked in PER last year? He was around Top 50 in the country for the majority of the year last year, not sure where he finished..

I can only find top 20 for the year, and he's not that close to it.

He was #19 in the country for Defensive Win Shares though, with 2.5. He was also 17th in the country in Box Plus/Minus with 11.2.

 

[UCBearcats]

I can only find top 20 for the year, and he's not that close to it.

He was #19 in the country for Defensive Win Shares though, with 2.5. He was also 17th in the country in Box Plus/Minus with 11.2.

Anyone know what Gary's reverse point shares rating was for games on Tuesdays and Thursdays that started after 7:30 PM?

 

[waterhead]

I can only find top 20 for the year, and he's not that close to it.

He was #19 in the country for Defensive Win Shares though, with 2.5. He was also 17th in the country in Box Plus/Minus with 11.2.

It seems to me that defensive plus minus heavily favors bigs that can block shots. I don't think we would see many guys like KJ or Bishop ranked highly even if they are good defenders. Steals help but staying in front of your man and help D can't really be calculated in a stats based formula.

That said... Gary did it all last year but he's not as good as Rubles at guarding a wing or guard. He's a better blocker though. Overall I would put Rubles and Jackson ahead of him (on D only)...but he was just a soph last year so he could be really really great.

 

[kskenyon4]

It seems to me that defensive plus minus heavily favors bigs that can block shots. I don't think we would see many guys like KJ or Bishop ranked highly even if they are good defenders. Steals help but staying in front of your man and help D can't really be calculated in a stats based formula.

That said... Gary did it all last year but he's not as good as Rubles at guarding a wing or guard. He's a better blocker though. Overall I would put Rubles and Jackson ahead of him (on D only)...but he was just a soph last year so he could be really really great.

For what its worth - 5 guards were in the top 20 of D Win Shares, and 3 additional Guard/Fowards (D Hamilton being one of them).


Justin Jackson was #13th in D Win Shares his Senior year with 3.0. He was 12th in the country in blocks. And #1 in the country in Defensive Rating.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I worry that we aren't going to be ready and clicking for the Rhode Island/Duke thing. That's coming up quick.

 

[waterhead]

I worry that we aren't going to be ready and clicking for the Rhode Island/Duke thing. That's coming up quick.

It's a concern but let's see. I was hoping Washington would be a galvanizing force and chemistry builder. Certain roles have not been established... Especially after the exhibition. If all the players have a team philosophy...we will be fine. If roles aren't defined it could be tougher.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I worry that we aren't going to be ready and clicking for the Rhode Island/Duke thing. That's coming up quick.

I'm expecting a loss to Rhode Island, remember that game is like 40 minutes from their campus so it's essentially a road game. If we don't happen to win that game, then the OOC gets scary with road games against Butler and Iowa State. We'd have to split those and beat Xavier to get higher than a 6 seed, IMO.