Big East DPOY Race

[Get a Job]

Nice smallie! The other problem that has a direct correlation to the problem you mentioned is we normally have gotten in while on the bubble. Those seeds are tough to have success with. They get you games like NC in NC two times and a stout Texas A&M squad with Robert Thompson as well as play in games. Finally when we had one decent seed (a 6) we drew Dayton in Columbus for a 10:00pm start Dayton home game. That’s why there is not a Friar fan alive complaining or worrying about our luck this year.

Agreed, but get prepared for maximum ribbing if you guys lost to a 13-seed this year!

 

[FriarJ]

Agreed, but get prepared for maximum ribbing if you guys lost to a 13-seed this year!

That’s certainly the path we are headed for. I guess we will see, this team appears different. Btw, all of those other games except the Dayton game came right down to the wire, it’s not like we haven’t been competitive. The Bryce Cotton gem against UNC in 2014 was particularly heartbreaking.

 

[auror]

If you're insisting he's not meeting any of those criteria, you're not watching the games.

I've watched a few (your games vs. UConn, Butler, Xavier, Marquette). His steal rate is literally the lowest on your team in conference play, and that stat doesn't really lie since it's a binary outcome (deflections would be better, but not available). He's good at denial and playing good on-ball without fouling defense, but not at creating turnovers. Indirectly that disrupts some team's offenses, but mostly those teams that run through their wings (I called out St Johns and Marquette already). I also mentioned in the post that he helps at the rim, but he's not elite in that regard, because he's not a full-time rim protector. UConn has 3 much better rim protectors alone. And I haven't seen you press with the intent to create turnovers. Let me know which facet of those things you think he does.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I've watched a few (your games vs. UConn, Butler, Xavier, Marquette). His steal rate is literally the lowest on your team in conference play, and that stat doesn't really lie since it's a binary outcome (deflections would be better, but not available). He's good at denial and playing good on-ball without fouling defense, but not at creating turnovers. Indirectly that disrupts some team's offenses, but mostly those teams that run through their wings (I called out St Johns and Marquette already). I also mentioned in the post that he helps at the rim, but he's not elite in that regard, because he's not a full-time rim protector. UConn has 3 much better rim protectors alone. And I haven't seen you press with the intent to create turnovers. Let me know which facet of those things you think he does.

The field goal percentage defense of Minaya is incredibly impressive. And steals for a great wing defender aren’t always super important. I mean all we have to do is look back to last year when Morsell locked up our backcourt. He doesn’t even average a steal a game for his career but has been a lockdown perimeter defender and won DPOY in the Big 10

 

[August_West]

Whaley’s stats are down, but if you watch him he’s the most intimidating and active defender in the conference from 30 ft out to the rim.

His hands are incredible. No player can reach and strip (or disrupt) without picking up a foul better than Whaley. However he is a notch down in overall defense this year for whatever reason ( nagging injuries? covid?) than he was last year. Still, all in all, a major plus asset on that end though. Love that kid.

 

[Friars1917]

I've watched a few (your games vs. UConn, Butler, Xavier, Marquette). His steal rate is literally the lowest on your team in conference play, and that stat doesn't really lie since it's a binary outcome (deflections would be better, but not available). He's good at denial and playing good on-ball without fouling defense, but not at creating turnovers. Indirectly that disrupts some team's offenses, but mostly those teams that run through their wings (I called out St Johns and Marquette already). I also mentioned in the post that he helps at the rim, but he's not elite in that regard, because he's not a full-time rim protector. UConn has 3 much better rim protectors alone. And I haven't seen you press with the intent to create turnovers. Let me know which facet of those things you think he does.

What you're insinuating here, is that he's not Dennis Rodman - he's not. He's one of the three best defenders in the Big East, and depending on your preference/values, he could be considered the best. You're choosing one statistical category (steal%) to pass judgment.

 

[auror]

What you're insinuating here, is that he's not Dennis Rodman - he's not. He's one of the three best defenders in the Big East, and depending on your preference/values, he could be considered the best. You're choosing one statistical category (steal%) to pass judgment.

My preference is for total defensive value and I'm noting that the positions do not provide this value equally on defense, and so from his position he has to do certain things to really make a difference, and he only does 1 of the options at a high level (1v1 individual defense, not disrupting offense or protecting the rim).

If you want to say he's one of the 3 best individual 1v1 wing defenders in the league, sure I agree he's up there.

Should a wing defender who doesn't cause steals and is not an elite rim protector be the DPOY in the conference? From my perspective, that type of player does not add enough total defensive value in most cases.