Karaban is a lunch pail guy. He runs out in front, can beat his guy to the basket, etc. Not exactly Kevin Freeman, but a more complete player with the same mentality.
to quote 247's Finkelstein "McNeeley has a high natural feel for the game and is a good passer who can also facilitate for others around him. In fact, Montverde frequently made him the featured player of their half-court offense during his junior season and relied on his ability to make decisions with the ball in his hands, not necessarily as a primary ball-handler, but as the first domino in many of their actions."
good post. Counterpoint. I saw Mahaney probably play 6+ games in his first 2 yrs, and never thought he stood out as a terrible defender. Though slight, I don't remember him stranded on an island. This year, he's exposed. So the scheme has to play a role. Just having him (& stew & solo?) give a step, and have a man 2 passes away actually with a foot in lane would help. I'm confident we will either improve, or (more likely) it will soon be so clear, he will have to adjust. I mean Chuck Finley Lojack was made to look like Kolek last night.
100% agree about defense
Mock drafts are based off of recruiting rankings a year prior. Way too early on anyone else but flagged and the Rutgers guys. Lol
I agree. But it truly think the fix with this team is leaning all the way into our strength. The offensive side of the ball. Play adequate defense and score 75+ every night. I know this is simplifying the conversation tremendously. But I dont think this team is improving that much more on defense. Allowing about 68 ppg is the ceiling with this group. And with Liam I think that's good enough. Come tournament time we just can't afford to go cold from 3 like we were able to last season. We HAVE to score the ball and eliminate those 4+ minute stretches of scoreless basketball.
I am ok with that strategy. But we also have to as a fan base understand the metrics don’t favor teams ranked in the 100’s in defensive efficiency by KP making deep runs in ncaa tourney.
I think the only way to get to "adequate" is to really back off on the attacking extending nature of our Man. Which I don't think is in his DNA
I think we can get to top 75 defensively if these opposing 3 point percentages regress to the mean. Bad defense considered opponents are still shooting an insanely high percentage from 3 which is dragging our rating down. Some of that is just a statistical anomaly. I expect that to even out over the next 2 months.
We struggle guarding post ups(1v1) at the rim. We actually are pretty decent at guarding drives to the rim with our help defense. We need to find a way to limit post ups. I'm just not sure how to do it. It's why I don't get paid the big bucks.
im guessing they are doing the metrics that it is better to take away the 3, than to pack it up (like we did with Purdue). But the issue is we extend and deny the 3 pt line, but than cant stop the penetration on the extend anyways. I shudder to think what an athletic team like Alabama that spreads court and shoots the 3 would do, because we arent taking away either the 3 or ISOs. I do have faith we are gonna find out really soon, the staff has to see this. I think a by product of dialing back attacking D is more Reed time hopefully posting up (and I love Samson)
This why I think our defense may improve to top 75 with simply some of these abnormal 3pt % regressing to the mean. I mean it has to at some point.
Appreciate your research and comments. Metrics/stats suggest better numbers than the eye test. Next 5 or 6 games will be a grind with excellent coaching matchups vs Dan Hurley. Mild improvement(on D) with Liam's return falling somewhere in that grouping will be timely. Our offense will be continue to be excellent as long as our shooters can get their shots.
[note this post is somewhat sarcasm]
