Villanova 12/3 6:30 FS1

[Lobot]

Stop Eric Dixon. All you need to know. Nova is 4-4 with losses to Maryland, St Joe's, Columbia, and Virginia. They have really struggled under Kyle Neptune.

Dixon, a 6'8 PF, is their best player by far and is averaging 25 ppg including a 38 point outburst in the loss to Maryland. He's also the Wildcats leading rebounder at 6.6 rpg. You can't foul him at 90% FT either.

Keeping the unfortunately named PG Jhamir Brickus out of the paint is key as well. He's an assist machine but also has a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio.

Outside of Enoch Boakye at 6'11, they don't have a lot of height on the team. Everyone else is 6'9 or under.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...stats/_/id/222

[leeraymond]

The bigs are definitely a concern for me too. A few points of note:

-I've heard that Mike Roberts' abrupt and unexpected departure from the program last season hampered the development of the bigs. Maybe the "load up on talent at the 5 and figure the minutes out once everyone is eligible" approach backfired in some ways too.

-Tyler McKinley was expected to contribute as a back-up 5 this season. His injury definitely threw off the season's plan for the least experienced position group.

-Page was brought in as a multi-year high-ceiling developmental project. For all the the flashes he has shown against low/mid-major comp so far, he has definitely struggled to find his footing on both ends of the floor against high-major bigs. Wes said in an interview that due to his recovery from long term mono last season, he's still building his health/strength as we speak. He said he should be a considerably better player in January than November. We'll see.

Great points. Good information. Thanks.

[Carthage World]

Very good point on the big men. UC's big men (Aziz and Page) are not productive enough in big games. On the season, the duo account for 15.4 points and 8.3 rebounds, 3.57 rebounds, 1.28 steals, 1.28 assists, and 1.4 turnovers a game. That is not bad. However, for the two most high-profile games on the season (GT and VU), the duo combined to produce 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers for the GT game, and 3 points, 7 rebounds, 0 blocked shots, 2 steals, and 0 turnovers for the VU game. If you look at the averages for these two over the GT and VU games (UC's two biggest games of the year so far), they accounted for 7.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 turnovers.

For UC to win, especially against X, Dayton, and every team in the conference, Aziz and Page have to become more of a presence in the paint (both on defense and especially on offense). These two HAVE NOT shown up for the biggest games on the schedule. I hope that is not a pattern. Check this out, Page HAS NOT gotten a rebound in TWO CONSECUTIVE GAMES (GT and VU). How can a 6'10" / 6'11" forward not get a rebound in two straight games? Miller is NOT demanding ENOUGH of these two guys. What about the walk-on big man, Halvine Dzellat? What is his status? Is he redshirting or what? UC may want to think about seeing what this guy can do in live game action.

There was an argument earlier in the season concerning what Lakhin and Reynolds are doing on the season compared to UC's bigs. I ask all of you to check out what Lakhin and Reynolds are presently doing at Clemson and USF, respectively, compared to what UC's bigs are doing. Maybe, UC should have done a little more to have encouraged Reynolds to stay. He would have matched up better with Dixon than anyone presently on the team. Miller now has another problem; how to win with unproductive big men. Oops, I forgot. That has been an ongoing problem for Miller since his arrival.

By the way, both Lakhin and Reynolds are starters.

The bigs are definitely a concern for me too. A few points of note:

-I've heard that Mike Roberts' abrupt and unexpected departure from the program last season hampered the development of the bigs. Maybe the "load up on talent at the 5 and figure the minutes out once everyone is eligible" approach backfired in some ways too.

-Tyler McKinley was expected to contribute as a back-up 5 this season. His injury definitely threw off the season's plan for the least experienced position group.

-Page was brought in as a multi-year high-ceiling developmental project. For all the the flashes he has shown against low/mid-major comp so far, he has definitely struggled to find his footing on both ends of the floor against high-major bigs. Wes said in an interview that due to his recovery from long term mono last season, he's still building his health/strength as we speak. He said he should be a considerably better player in January than November. We'll see.

[leo from jersey]

My conclusion is on wins and losses. I see who has the ball in their hands the majority of the time and who they guard. He would be the Cats best off guard. I know CWM is working hard with him and thus I appreciate CWM.

[sedz]

are there any stats for shots not taken due to out of rhythm or no passing to guys in position to shoot or drive. Is there a stat for not breaking a zone by passing. I am not fighting but very curios to the whole aspect of the game. You can assist on 46% of made shots, but what if your passing caused bad shots or no shots? What about stacking on SL because there was no fear of a passing/penetrating PG. Is there a stat for calming the team down on the floor to stop the hurried shots or get back on defense. What about a stat when your twin PG gets trapped on the side continually leading to precious shot clock time going away or wild passes. Is there a stat for watching him instead of helping him.

Yes. Box Plus Minus or BPM and Net Points account for intangibles by blending individual stats with team stats when a player is on the court. Jizzle had the greatest quantitative impact on our team. What conclusions you draw from that are up to you.

[leeraymond]

Jizzle had a bigger net impact on the game than Dixon. Dixon had a game worst negative 3.6 defensive BPM. We had five players post negative BPM - Jizzle wasn't one of them.

Jizzle assisted 46% of our made baskets when he was in the game. He had half of our team's assists. He tied for the team lead in defensive rebounds. He only turned it over once in 33 minutes and had zero fouls. It's not his fault Aziz and Simas combined to go 2 for 9 on twos or that we got zero blocks and only 3 points from the center position.

James is one of UC's leaders right now; no doubt about it. Here are his numbers on the season per game: 14.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.57 assists, 1.28 steals, and 1.7 turnovers. Those are pretty good numbers for a sophomore point guard. I admit, sometimes James is frustrating to watch because he overdribbles the ball and hogs the ball some. However, James is one of the guys on the team, along with Mitchell and Thomas, that plays with a grit and toughness. Also, he can hit shots when everyone else is struggling with their shots. It took me a season to recognize his value. James may be an all-conference type of player in the making.

[leeraymond]

Jizzle had a bigger net impact on the game than Dixon. Dixon had a game worst negative 3.6 defensive BPM. We had five players post negative BPM - Jizzle wasn't one of them.

Jizzle assisted 46% of our made baskets when he was in the game. He had half of our team's assists. He tied for the team lead in defensive rebounds. He only turned it over once in 33 minutes and had zero fouls. It's not his fault Aziz and Simas combined to go 2 for 9 on twos or that we got zero blocks and only 3 points from the center position.

Very good point on the big men. UC's big men (Aziz and Page) are not productive enough in big games. On the season, the duo account for 15.4 points and 8.3 rebounds, 3.57 blocked shots, 1.28 steals, 1.28 assists, and 1.4 turnovers a game. That is not bad. However, for the two most high-profile games on the season (GT and VU), the duo combined to produce 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers for the GT game, and 3 points, 7 rebounds, 0 blocked shots, 2 steals, and 0 turnovers for the VU game. If you look at the averages for these two over the GT and VU games (UC's two biggest games of the year so far), they accounted for 7.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 turnovers.

For UC to win, especially against X, Dayton, and every team in the conference, Aziz and Page have to become more of a presence in the paint (both on defense and especially on offense). These two HAVE NOT shown up for the biggest games on the schedule. I hope that is not a pattern. Check this out, Page HAS NOT gotten a rebound in TWO CONSECUTIVE GAMES (GT and VU). How can a 6'10" / 6'11" forward not get a rebound in two straight games? Miller is NOT demanding ENOUGH of these two guys. What about the walk-on big man, Halvine Dzellat? What is his status? Is he redshirting or what? UC may want to think about seeing what this guy can do in live game action.

There was an argument earlier in the season concerning what Lakhin and Reynolds are doing on the season compared to UC's bigs. I ask all of you to check out what Lakhin and Reynolds are presently doing at Clemson and USF, respectively, compared to what UC's bigs are doing. Maybe, UC should have done a little more to have encouraged Reynolds to stay. He would have matched up better with Dixon than anyone presently on the team. Miller now has another problem; how to win with unproductive big men.

By the way, both Lakhin and Reynolds are starters.

[leo from jersey]

On the positive side, CWM according to his radio show is watching the film privately with JJ. I believe team ball is new to JJ, it would be interesting to be the fly on that wall. This has really got to help. Say what you want, but I like CWM. I look for more awareness out of JJ as the season progresses.

[leo from jersey]

Jizzle had a bigger net impact on the game than Dixon. Dixon had a game worst negative 3.6 defensive BPM. We had five players post negative BPM - Jizzle wasn't one of them.

Jizzle assisted 46% of our made baskets when he was in the game. He had half of our team's assists. He tied for the team lead in defensive rebounds. He only turned it over once in 33 minutes and had zero fouls. It's not his faare for lult Aziz and Simas combined to go 2 for 9 on twos or that we got zero blocks and only 3 points from the center position.

are there any stats for shots not taken due to out of rhythm or no passing to guys in position to shoot or drive. Is there a stat for not breaking a zone by passing. I am not fighting but very curios to the whole aspect of the game. You can assist on 46% of made shots, but what if your passing caused bad shots or no shots? What about stacking on SL because there was no fear of a passing/penetrating PG. Is there a stat for calming the team down on the floor to stop the hurried shots or get back on defense. What about a stat when your twin PG gets trapped on the side continually leading to precious shot clock time going away or wild passes. Is there a stat for watching him instead of helping him. The start of the game had our pg's man score on him twice and then he missed a shot. The Cats were quickly in the hole on the scoreboard and mentally. . I want a team that wins the game as a team and not our bragging on someone winning individual stats especially when the stats don't account for the whole aspect of the game. OR worse, a loss.

It is about winning and doing everything which brings victories. Stats can't replace fundamentality good basketball.

"Now, I guess, people want stars. People are trying to invent stars."

Oscar Robertson

[sedz]

Jizzle had a bigger net impact on the game than Dixon. Dixon had a game worst negative 3.6 defensive BPM. We had five players post negative BPM - Jizzle wasn't one of them.

Jizzle assisted 46% of our made baskets when he was in the game. He had half of our team's assists. He tied for the team lead in defensive rebounds. He only turned it over once in 33 minutes and had zero fouls. It's not his fault Aziz and Simas combined to go 2 for 9 on twos or that we got zero blocks and only 3 points from the center position.

[Rufus]

That's what I thought, 11pts in the first half, dominated the 2nd half.

I may have been mistaken too but I thought at halftime Rafferty said he has 21 pts. If not I stand corrected

[leo from jersey]

Thank you. JJ needs to be on the floor 36-38 minutes.

How was his defense. How was his passing. There is more than scoring in a victory. It is chances that are missed due to errant or hesitation in passing. There are points allowed due to defense and defensive hustle that goes into a complete. There are out of position and poor spacing. If a PG would try to master those things, then his teammates scoring would be up. Sure, folks like scoring, but there are so many things that makes a bb player. Could you imagine what SL and Mitchell's line would be with a true pg. Next year when Tillery comes and hopefully a transfer, put JJ at off guard and let him score 20 without missing out on 40. Was Dixon a PG or a player who had a pg get him the ball?

[BearKatz]

Rufus, are you sure ?
I thought he had 11 along with another Wildcat.
But I could be mistaken.

That's what I thought, 11pts in the first half, dominated the 2nd half.

[BearKatz]

Dixon had 21 pts in the first half.

I thought he had 11pts in the first half.

[SKell82155]

Dixon had 21 pts in the first half.

Rufus, are you sure ?
I thought he had 11 along with another Wildcat.
But I could be mistaken.