BParkDog
I will see number 5.
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2020
- Messages
- 154
- Reaction Score
- 1,130
I am very happy Cole is here, but I am less sanguine than most as to his prospects going forward, especially at point guard.
In his first 2 games with us, shot well, but 7 assists, 6 turnovers, 2 rebounds.
Cole, at Howard, shot 43% from 2, 37% from 3, had 6.2 and 3.5 Assists/TOs per game for a 1.8 Assist/TO ratio. Those numbers were against opponents who would be considered "cupcakes" for BE teams, such as American, Fordham, George Washington, Ball State, Hampton, and so on. That year, against Georgetown, with a final RPI of 84, and the highest ranked team he played, I believe, he had 6 assists, 6 turnovers, and 2 rebounds. He shot well. I did not see, but could have missed, any other top-100 RPI team on Howard's schedule (schedule is here . . . 2018-19 Men's Basketball Schedule - Howard University Athletics (hubison.com))
It seems, to me, that Cole will almost certainly struggle when he plays against top 50 teams. I expect his shooting % to drop and his assist/TO to move toward the Georgetown game last year. Further, at his age, with his experience and level of athleticism, I think he is at or near his ceiling.
Ultimately, I see Cole as a guy who will, at season's end, come off the bench or have an Olander-esque starting role. He will be a guy who we can, hopefully, turn to for some instant offense.
Gaffney is the most critical piece of our puzzle - we absolutely need him to play exactly as he finished last year and picked up this year. He is a true point, and his ball-safety is top notch.
Gaffney this year, so far 5 assists to 1 turnover (5:1 assist/TO), 4 for 10 from 2, 2 for 5 from 3, so 40% from both 2 and 3, 3 blocks, 7 out of ten from the line.
Unfortunately, I think Cole has been substantially over-hyped because of his numbers at Howard and rumors about practice. Caution encouraged when comparing success as far-lesser basketball schools (Cassel Jr) or performance in practice (Wilson/Purvis). "We talken bout PRACtice" people, not the game.
I will consider him a success at UConn if he can play 20 minutes a game, average 40% from 2 and 40% from 3, and maintain at least a 2:1 assist ratio. We need him to spell Gaffney, provide a reliable 3 point shooter, and act as a reliable 3rd ball handler in smaller line ups.
In his first 2 games with us, shot well, but 7 assists, 6 turnovers, 2 rebounds.
Cole, at Howard, shot 43% from 2, 37% from 3, had 6.2 and 3.5 Assists/TOs per game for a 1.8 Assist/TO ratio. Those numbers were against opponents who would be considered "cupcakes" for BE teams, such as American, Fordham, George Washington, Ball State, Hampton, and so on. That year, against Georgetown, with a final RPI of 84, and the highest ranked team he played, I believe, he had 6 assists, 6 turnovers, and 2 rebounds. He shot well. I did not see, but could have missed, any other top-100 RPI team on Howard's schedule (schedule is here . . . 2018-19 Men's Basketball Schedule - Howard University Athletics (hubison.com))
It seems, to me, that Cole will almost certainly struggle when he plays against top 50 teams. I expect his shooting % to drop and his assist/TO to move toward the Georgetown game last year. Further, at his age, with his experience and level of athleticism, I think he is at or near his ceiling.
Ultimately, I see Cole as a guy who will, at season's end, come off the bench or have an Olander-esque starting role. He will be a guy who we can, hopefully, turn to for some instant offense.
Gaffney is the most critical piece of our puzzle - we absolutely need him to play exactly as he finished last year and picked up this year. He is a true point, and his ball-safety is top notch.
Gaffney this year, so far 5 assists to 1 turnover (5:1 assist/TO), 4 for 10 from 2, 2 for 5 from 3, so 40% from both 2 and 3, 3 blocks, 7 out of ten from the line.
Unfortunately, I think Cole has been substantially over-hyped because of his numbers at Howard and rumors about practice. Caution encouraged when comparing success as far-lesser basketball schools (Cassel Jr) or performance in practice (Wilson/Purvis). "We talken bout PRACtice" people, not the game.
I will consider him a success at UConn if he can play 20 minutes a game, average 40% from 2 and 40% from 3, and maintain at least a 2:1 assist ratio. We need him to spell Gaffney, provide a reliable 3 point shooter, and act as a reliable 3rd ball handler in smaller line ups.
