Consigliere
All-American
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2012
- Messages
- 21,927
We're 8-3 (0-1) and the regular season is 1/3 over. Not a bad start and no bad losses (in terms of the quality of the opponent).
BPI: 66th [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bpi/_/view/overview/page/2]
SOS: 26th
RPI: 40th [https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/rankings/rpi/]
NET 81st [https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings] *Not sure how often this updates
Some Random Thoughts:
1. Guards and Scoring. The guards are the clear and obvious strength of this team. We will go as far as they take us. The magic number seems to be 65 points, obviously the SOS may explain part of that production. If they can combine to score 60 (or more), things may go our way during conference play. I think we will need some more production from the freshman but that may be difficult.
2. Kam. He is our leading scorer but I am most impressed with his rebounding. Considering we're NOT a good rebounding team (32.9 RPG or 302nd), if he can average 5.0 RPG that will be a tremendous help. Overall, this transfer is a great addition.
15.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2, 1.1 TO and 35.8% 3PT
3. DJ and his improvement. DJ has improved every year here and he continues to this year. Going forward, he must get 7-8/game attempts from 3PT. Let him shoot more, anywhere on the court, just let him shoot. They moved the 3PT line back and he is having his best season.
15.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 APG and 47.1% 3PT
4. Lykes. He started off a little slow, maybe because of an injury but he is playing well. His scoring is down from last year (16.2 to 14.9) but that can be explained by possibly (a) playing 4.6 less MPG, (b) less FG attempts and/or (c) having Kam. Even though his scoring is down, his shooting percentages are up overall. He is shooting 46.1% from FG and 37.3% from 3PT. He is also averaging 1 less TO per game this year. Whether you love him or hate him, we're going to need him a lot going forward. I personally will take the good with the bad.
14.9 PPG, 2.8 APG, 1.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG and 1.9 TO
5. Our Front Court. Clearly our front court has been bad, if we can somehow get (at least) 15 Points and 15 Rebounds from the combined efforts of Sam, Rodney and Stone, it would be tremendous.
- Sam. I proceed with moderate caution but I have been impressed with his production recently. Going forward I will gladly take his production over his last 6 games...28 Minutes, 9.5 Points, 7 Rebounds and 1.3 Blocks . He has been our sole consistent player in the front court. If he can hit his FTs and hold the ball (after a defensive rebound), his production will improve too.
- Rodney. I am shocked by his improvement, with that said, he shouldn't play more than 15 minutes per game. He can still hardly move and is incredibly weak. Rodney is a tremendous defensive liability and one of the worst defensive players (who actually plays) during the Coach L era. I expect him to get abused in ACC play by any big man with a pulse.
- Stone. It has been a small sample but 1 good game and 3 bad ones. Hopefully most of his issues are from getting back to game shape.
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Next up @ Clemson and they're pretty bad. After Clemson we play Duke and @ UL. Clemson feels like a must win game.
BPI: 66th [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bpi/_/view/overview/page/2]
SOS: 26th
RPI: 40th [https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/rankings/rpi/]
NET 81st [https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings] *Not sure how often this updates
Some Random Thoughts:
1. Guards and Scoring. The guards are the clear and obvious strength of this team. We will go as far as they take us. The magic number seems to be 65 points, obviously the SOS may explain part of that production. If they can combine to score 60 (or more), things may go our way during conference play. I think we will need some more production from the freshman but that may be difficult.
2. Kam. He is our leading scorer but I am most impressed with his rebounding. Considering we're NOT a good rebounding team (32.9 RPG or 302nd), if he can average 5.0 RPG that will be a tremendous help. Overall, this transfer is a great addition.
15.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2, 1.1 TO and 35.8% 3PT
3. DJ and his improvement. DJ has improved every year here and he continues to this year. Going forward, he must get 7-8/game attempts from 3PT. Let him shoot more, anywhere on the court, just let him shoot. They moved the 3PT line back and he is having his best season.
15.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 APG and 47.1% 3PT
4. Lykes. He started off a little slow, maybe because of an injury but he is playing well. His scoring is down from last year (16.2 to 14.9) but that can be explained by possibly (a) playing 4.6 less MPG, (b) less FG attempts and/or (c) having Kam. Even though his scoring is down, his shooting percentages are up overall. He is shooting 46.1% from FG and 37.3% from 3PT. He is also averaging 1 less TO per game this year. Whether you love him or hate him, we're going to need him a lot going forward. I personally will take the good with the bad.
14.9 PPG, 2.8 APG, 1.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG and 1.9 TO
5. Our Front Court. Clearly our front court has been bad, if we can somehow get (at least) 15 Points and 15 Rebounds from the combined efforts of Sam, Rodney and Stone, it would be tremendous.
- Sam. I proceed with moderate caution but I have been impressed with his production recently. Going forward I will gladly take his production over his last 6 games...28 Minutes, 9.5 Points, 7 Rebounds and 1.3 Blocks . He has been our sole consistent player in the front court. If he can hit his FTs and hold the ball (after a defensive rebound), his production will improve too.
- Rodney. I am shocked by his improvement, with that said, he shouldn't play more than 15 minutes per game. He can still hardly move and is incredibly weak. Rodney is a tremendous defensive liability and one of the worst defensive players (who actually plays) during the Coach L era. I expect him to get abused in ACC play by any big man with a pulse.
- Stone. It has been a small sample but 1 good game and 3 bad ones. Hopefully most of his issues are from getting back to game shape.
------
Next up @ Clemson and they're pretty bad. After Clemson we play Duke and @ UL. Clemson feels like a must win game.