How does Isaiah Whaley’s improvement impact the Huskies? | The Boneyard

How does Isaiah Whaley’s improvement impact the Huskies?

As others have pointed out, Whaleys PnR defense is elite--years ahead of most college bigs. This skill alone makes him our best center unless someone else can make surprise us. If he plays like he did the half of the season, we will be very good.

Stats last 12 games:

10.3 PPG
7.9 RPG
0.8 APG

1.4 TO
0.8 STL
2.5 BLK

53%FG (6.4 attempts)
78% FT (3.3 attempts)

27.5 Minutes per contest

A competent center (particularly on defense) elevates our team so much. We have been stuck with Carlton at the 5, who as much as he is a great kid, can't do the things most needed in Hurley's kind of big man: defend pnr, block shots, effeciency, aggressive defense on the perimeter, opportunistic and positional offense, rather than 3 dribble post ups.
 
I think his play has good enough to put us ahead of schedule this season. Amazing how everything is falling into place behind him in the front court.
 
the-boneyard.com

Whaley's Last 6

Friendly reminder that Isaiah Whaley got his first start on February 20th on the road at temple. Here are his stats over those last 6 games of the season in which he started: 33 MPG 13.8 PPG on 59% shooting, 79% FT 8.7 RPG 2.5 BPG T- 44 Days
the-boneyard.com the-boneyard.com
 
The way Whaley can hedge and recover makes me wonder if he's best used guarding stretch fours. He's not a stay in the paint shot blocker but he is smart and mobile and who can upset the flow of an opposing offense.
 
Last edited:
husky429 said:
As others have pointed out, Whaleys PnR defense is elite--years ahead of most college bigs. This skill alone makes him our best center unless someone else can make surprise us. If he plays like he did the half of the season, we will be very good.

Stats last 12 games:

10.3 PPG
7.9 RPG
0.8 APG

1.4 TO
0.8 STL
2.5 BLK

53%FG (6.4 attempts)
78% FT (3.3 attempts)

27.5 Minutes per contest

A competent center (particularly on defense) elevates our team so much. We have been stuck with Carlton at the 5, who as much as he is a great kid, can't do the things most needed in Hurley's kind of big man: defend pnr, block shots, effeciency, aggressive defense on the perimeter, opportunistic and positional offense, rather than 3 dribble post ups.
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I’m guessing it will be matchup dependent who we use at the 5. Whaley getting the nod against a PnR heavy team and Sanogo getting the nod vs everyone else, with Whaley moved over to the 4.
 
I am very excited to see how Hurley rotates the entire roster this year, but particularly the bigs. What is everyone's thoughts on the NCAA granting winter athletes another year of eligibility? Whaley seems like an ideal candidate to take advantage of this and return next year. In my opinion, he isn't an NBA player, but still a highly effective college player.
 
CL82 said:
The way Whaley can hedge and recover makes me wonder if he's best used guarding stretch fours. He's not a stay in the paint shot blocker but he is smart and mobile and who can upset the flow of an opposing offense.
Expand ...

Most PnRs at going to be run with the 1 and the 5... not the 1 and the 4. He can defend the 4, but like Hurley said--he's obviously at his best playing the 5. Him being able to show out his PnR defense is a big part of it
 
JonathanX said:
I am very excited to see how Hurley rotates the entire roster this year, but particularly the bigs. What is everyone's thoughts on the NCAA granting winter athletes another year of eligibility? Whaley seems like an ideal candidate to take advantage of this and return next year. In my opinion, he isn't an NBA player, but still a highly effective college player.
Expand ...
Yes, and he can likely carve out a nice role playing internationally after college.
 
Another impressive improvement by Whaley during his season ending spree was his ability to stay in the game. Remember he was a fouling machine but once it became apparent we needed 25 plus minutes out of him he kept his hands “in his pockets” when he had to in order to be more available.
 
I think having players on the roster who have improved their skills and shown that improvement to the coaching staff will elevate the overall performance of the team and provide the coaches with more lineup options.
 
mauconnfan said:
Another impressive improvement by Whaley during his season ending spree was his ability to stay in the game. Remember he was a fouling machine but once it became apparent we needed 25 plus minutes out of him he kept his hands “in his pockets” when he had to in order to be more available.
Expand ...
Yep I’m excited to see him this year.
 
husky429 said:
As others have pointed out, Whaleys PnR defense is elite--years ahead of most college bigs. This skill alone makes him our best center unless someone else can make surprise us. If he plays like he did the half of the season, we will be very good.

Stats last 12 games:

10.3 PPG
7.9 RPG
0.8 APG

1.4 TO
0.8 STL
2.5 BLK

53%FG (6.4 attempts)
78% FT (3.3 attempts)

27.5 Minutes per contest

A competent center (particularly on defense) elevates our team so much. We have been stuck with Carlton at the 5, who as much as he is a great kid, can't do the things most needed in Hurley's kind of big man: defend pnr, block shots, effeciency, aggressive defense on the perimeter, opportunistic and positional offense, rather than 3 dribble post ups.
Expand ...
his ability to go off for a double double in the right match up us also incredibly valuable, there are moments where hes playing like the best player on the court and you need.
 
JonathanX said:
I am very excited to see how Hurley rotates the entire roster this year, but particularly the bigs. What is everyone's thoughts on the NCAA granting winter athletes another year of eligibility? Whaley seems like an ideal candidate to take advantage of this and return next year. In my opinion, he isn't an NBA player, but still a highly effective college player.
Expand ...
I was going to ask the same question, but if whaley plays like he did at the end of last season I can definitely see him getting some over seas offer, and at that point he has to go make his money id think.
 
GoDAWGS said:
I was going to ask the same question, but if whaley plays like he did at the end of last season I can definitely see him getting some over seas offer, and at that point he has to go make his money id think.
Expand ...
At this point it's just a question of whether he wants to come back, he'll have plenty of offers to play overseas. Guys like Christian Foxen are playing overseas and actually playing well, so Whaley is a lock
 
I love when Isaiah Whaley is on the court. He hedges well and is such a live body. The 13.8 and 8.7 he averaged over the last 6 games made him a star in the making.
 
Two more years of Whaley is really exciting. If ever a guy could benefit from the extra year, he’s one of them.
 
Chin Diesel said:
I think having players on the roster who have improved their skills and shown that improvement to the coaching staff will elevate the overall performance of the team and provide the coaches with more lineup options.
Expand ...
This is downright Chiefian...
 
mauconnfan said:
Another impressive improvement by Whaley during his season ending spree was his ability to stay in the game. Remember he was a fouling machine but once it became apparent we needed 25 plus minutes out of him he kept his hands “in his pockets” when he had to in order to be more available.
Expand ...

He's the poster boy for player development and personal initiative based on how little Dan Hurley played him his first year. He really wanted to stay and make something of himself and he sure did.
 
Watchdog said:
He's the poster boy for player development and personal initiative based on how little Dan Hurley played him his first year. He really wanted to stay and make something of himself and he sure did.
Expand ...

He is an amazing success story, especially on the offensive end. Great to see such considerable development.
 

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