Unsung hero: Samson Johnson

[ctbro1999]

For the season: 79% from the field, 76% from the FT line.

His last 3 games:
11-11 FG, 7-8 FT

The man is an efficiency machine. He doesn't get a ton of volume, but when he takes a shot, he usually makes it. And in last night's game, I saw him doing some of what Clingan did all of his two years at UConn, patrolling the paint and deterring guys from even looking at the basket.

 

[Umami Zen]

For the season: 79% from the field, 76% from the FT line.

His last 3 games:
11-11 FG, 7-8 FT

The man is an efficiency machine. He doesn't get a ton of volume, but when he takes a shot, he usually makes it. And in last night's game, I saw him doing some of what Clingan did all of his two years at UConn, patrolling the paint and deterring guys from even looking at the basket.

Didn't miss a shot last night

 

[ctbro1999]

Didn't miss a shot last night

His "worst" shooting game the last 7 games is a 5-8 against Butler. Lol

 

[Chin Diesel]

It’s a piece of the puzzle figuring out how and when to use Johnson and Reed Jr.
PG is solved. It's Diarra.
SG is solved. It's Ball.
PF is solved. It's Karaban.
SF is solved. It's McNeley

Figuring out how to use Reed/Johnson, Ross and Stewart is the task for February.

It's an 8-man rotation. Mahaney and Nowell are emergency use only.

 

[Kitaman]

Its obvious Samson Johnson and Reed are pushing each other. As long as one of them has a good game were fine. If both do then we are March ready.

 

[FlexOnEm]

It’s a piece of the puzzle figuring out how and when to use Johnson and Reed Jr.
PG is solved. It's Diarra.
SG is solved. It's Ball.
PF is solved. It's Karaban.
SF is solved. It's McNeley

Figuring out how to use Reed/Johnson, Ross and Stewart is the task for February.

It's an 8-man rotation. Mahaney and Nowell are emergency use only.

First of all, props to Samson. That’s what this thread is about.

But I think to imply Ross should be ahead of Mahaney in the rotation is crazy. Marquette was a terrible matchup for Mahaney and I agree he didn’t look good last night. Mahaney is the only viable healthy guard we have off the bench right now and he’s been showing flashes of ability the last couple of weeks. He’s definitely capable of giving Diarra and Ball a breather when they need it. The rotation once McNeeley comes back will be Diarra, Ball, McNeeley, Karaban, and Samson with Mahaney, Stewart, and Reed off the bench. I maintain that 8 man rotation has top 10 upside.

 

[Palatine]

It’s a piece of the puzzle figuring out how and when to use Johnson and Reed Jr.
PG is solved. It's Diarra.
SG is solved. It's Ball.
PF is solved. It's Karaban.
SF is solved. It's McNeley

Figuring out how to use Reed/Johnson, Ross and Stewart is the task for February.

It's an 8-man rotation. Mahaney and Nowell are emergency use only.

Mahaney will get 10 +/- minutes every game. Nowell will get minutes almost every game, more if he continues to develop.

Johnson starts. Reed comes off the bench. Minutes will depend on the match up.

Steward will start. He will get max minutes if he hitting his shots. Ross will be our defensive stopper.

 

[jibsey]

Johnson is improving and is an asset, even defensively.

 

[dogpause]

Two players have greatly exceeded my always lofty expectations this season, Solo, of course, and Sampson. He's much tougher and more physical than I thought was possible. And he hustles, diving on the floor and running the court. He's unique among bigs. If he weighed 20lbs more, he would really be special.

Is he out of elgibility after this season?

 

[boog204]

It’s a piece of the puzzle figuring out how and when to use Johnson and Reed Jr.
PG is solved. It's Diarra.
SG is solved. It's Ball.
PF is solved. It's Karaban.
SF is solved. It's McNeley

Figuring out how to use Reed/Johnson, Ross and Stewart is the task for February.

It's an 8-man rotation. Mahaney and Nowell are emergency use only.

Mahaney or Nowell has to play. Diarra cannot play 40 minutes a game and while it "worked" against Marquette, a point guard by committee of Ross, Ball, and Stew cannot be expected to work consistently.

 

[El Obrero]

Good call. Fixating on what Samson Johnson doesn’t do has pretty much become a Boneyard fetish.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

When we pick look back on this season, we will regret that Johnson and Reed did not get 5-10 minutes a game together while McNeeley was out.

They are two of our best players on both ends and we leave one on the bench so we can get another mediocre 3 point shooter with questionable defense on the court. More Reed and Johnson on the court together would mean more 3 attempts on kick outs from Ball.

 

[Edward Sargent]

One thing I wonder with Samson is whether he has any range on his shot. This is not a knock just a wonder! I assume he has taken a few 3s in practice, but he hasnt taken one in a game that I can recall.

 

[auror]

 

[microfich]

The guy is only the plausible UConn all-time leader in field goal percentage - career and single season (75.3, 79.3 so far this year.)
Unofficial, of course, since he doesn't take quite enough shots per game (5) to qualify for this record. He is at 4.4 this season, so possible.

Samson Johnson College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Samson Johnson - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more

www.sports-reference.com

 

[AllHusky]

When we pick look back on this season, we will regret that Johnson and Reed did not get 5-10 minutes a game together while McNeeley was out.

They are two of our best players on both ends and we leave one on the bench so we can get another mediocre 3 point shooter with questionable defense on the court. More Reed and Johnson on the court together would mean more 3 attempts on kick outs from Ball.

From your lips to Hurleys ears. it is not too late to work on that lineup so that it is serviceable come tourney time. Biggest problem is how well the 1-3 players adjust to it, and exploit its effectiveness.

 

[UCan3]

For the season: 79% from the field, 76% from the FT line.

His last 3 games:
11-11 FG, 7-8 FT

The man is an efficiency machine. He doesn't get a ton of volume, but when he takes a shot, he usually makes it. And in last night's game, I saw him doing some of what Clingan did all of his two years at UConn, patrolling the paint and deterring guys from even looking at the basket.

I saw where Hurley pretty much said that this has been his favorite player to coach. That is all I had to hear. His performance Saturday. night was kind of legendary.

The free throws are an indication to some extent of how locked in you are on winning and supporting your team. He is “locked in’ and thank you for starting this thread!

 

[jibsey]

He has been good and the increased floor time has him playing with more confidence out there. Just the eye test from last year to this says it all.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

From your lips to Hurleys ears. it is not too late to work on that lineup so that it is serviceable come tourney time. Biggest problem is how well the 1-3 players adjust to it, and exploit its effectiveness.

You can run a lot of the same top of the key screens off the ball to both Johnson and Reed and then play a 2 man game downhill to the rim with two really tall players. The whole defense would have to collapse on it, leaving Ball, any anyone else on the court, open for catch-and-shoot 3's.