Pre Season ALL BIG EAST

[scoscox]

I am no fan of throwing shade at a bunch of young kids who work hard to improve their games and represent their schools and this conference we all love. This is especially true when fans of a certain program start puffing out their chests as if their team is the 2nd coming of the 2015-2018 Villanova Wildcats. I have to remind myself that these kids should not be the ones targeted b/c of some internet douche-baggery.

Let's try to be honest and constructive here... In order for Q and Naji to become great players, instead of just good players, they need to improve their shooting. Naji and Q threw up around 300+ 3's last year combined at a less than 29% clip. That's just not good enough for a guard or a wing, or for any aspirations for being considered as one of the best players in the league. Yes, other parts of their games are good to very good. So I think X could legitimately compete for a BE title if those two guys are able to significantly improve that one area. If they don't, all the behind the back passes, and chest pumping after alley-oops will be fun to see but won't lead to actual wins.

Now conversely I think Paul Scruggs might be the one that emerges and is recognized as the best player on that roster. The kid has the most complete game, and he might be the most underappreciated of their core 4 IMO.

Lastly, as much as some want to sh!t on Gillespie, he had better scoring numbers, definitely better shooting #'s (not even close), better asst. to TO #'s and comparable rebs. as Q. So there's that... But I know he's not flashy, just effective. Personally I'll take fundamental efficiency over flash as Gillespie and Nova care less about posters and more about banners.

If you look at Naji's shooting from the creighton game until he got hurt at Butler, when we won 6 in a row, he shot 19/48 from deep. Small sample size, but I think a sign of an improved shot. I expect him to be in the mid-30's from 3 this year. No idea what to expect from Q. He improved a little bit towards the end of the year and people have raved about how improved his shot is this summer (including some NBA scouts at the pro combine he went to), so maybe we'll see a better shooting Q. I don't think it's something we're relying on either way.

You're not alone in thinking Paul is maybe our best player. I was of that opinion for most of last year, until Naji exploded at the end of the year. The big east tournament game he had against Nova where he put up 28/11/7 and held gillespie to 2 points, 1 assist, and 4 fouls was probably the best single game performance of anyone on the team last year.

And I said Gillespie probably shouldn't have been voted preseason second team Big East. You'll notice I didn't advocate for Quentin either.

[Jet915]

The AP preseason All-America first-team has been announced:

◇ Cassius Winston (Consensus)
◇ Markus Howard
◇ Myles Powell
◇ Jordan Nwora
◇ James Wiseman

Looks like only one league has 2 representatives....

[GumbyDamnit!]

Projecting 2nd team BE for Samuels is clearly projecting potential that's within reach. But most Nova fans know the breakout season is coming if Samuels can lose the jitters. How valuable is a versatile defender who can rebound well for his size? He'll play in the league if he can shoot the 3 adequately. His raw stats from last season is irrelevant, as this doesn't look like a linear progression. Not sure if he'll get the 2nd team nod as Nova's stacked with forwards that can score.

I think that's reasonable, but I also think that there are other guys who are more proven that could've easily been given that spot. E.g. both honorable mentions, yurtseven and scruggs among others. Same goes for gillespie, although the case for his potential isn't as strong as samuels. TBH i probably have more of a problem with gillespie than samuels, because, as i said, his potential is so much greater.

Yeah I hear you about Gillespie. Coaches love him because he's solid, heady and doesn't make many mistakes. He's always where he's suppose to be, but he's not the guy you should worry about beating you. Best case scenario for Nova is the CG is the 5th option on offense, if he's 2 or 3 then we're in deep trouble.

WB36 did you catch the games this weekend? Any thoughts on Gillespie's importance to this team after the first handful of games (and now that he's lost that stupid mask)?

His averages in the weekend tournament:
Min - 32
Pts. - 20.3
Assts - 7.3
Rebs - 1.7
FG% - 56%
3FG% - 43%
eFG% - 68%
FT% - 86%

[Savannah Jay]

As the season winds down, i scrolled through some of the older threads and found a few gems...i thought I would bump this one.

[kayako]

If Samuels is unproven, Gillespie is a proven mediocrity as a pg.

Found this gem! Okay I was dead wrong. Gillespie's only flaw is that he isn't Brunson... but seriously he's improved a ton since last season. At least a 2nd team all BE now. Probably too many great guards in this league to crack the 1st team.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Gtmo being called a lunatic ass for suggesting CU was a top 3 team over X. Gillespie being referred to as below average guard who will be abused (by guys that I don’t even think play much for their team anymore). A poster suggesting that no Nova player deserved to be chosen for either 1st or 2nd team all BE bit 3 X guys did.

Man, there are some really questionable analyses in this one. Good bump.

[GumbyDamnit!]

I know still one game to go but would think the All-BE 6th player on the first team is up in the air. I believe the following are locks: Powell, Howard, Baldwin, Alexander and Bey. Diallo, Zegarowski, maybe Jones will battle for that last spot.

Add 2 of those 3 to the 2nd team, along with Marshall, Reed and then a battle between Gillespie, McClung/Yurtseven, Figgy for last spot IMO.

Hon mention candidates (in addition to above): Mitch B, C Moore, McDermott, McKnight or Mamu?, Pipkens or Duke?,

POY? Prob Powell.
FOY? Prob JRE
COY? Big Mac.

[LMS]

I don’t know everyone’s roster top to bottom, but Denzel Mahoney has been an awesome 6th man for Creighton.

[Westbrook#36]

Yeah looking back I didn't see Gillespie's leap coming, thought he would improve, but not as much as he has. Man did I miss it with that, "we're in deep trouble if he's our 2nd or 3rd option" statement. LOL, big time whiff on that one.

[Savannah Jay]

I know still one game to go but would think the All-BE 6th player on the first team is up in the air. I believe the following are locks: Powell, Howard, Baldwin, Alexander and Bey. Diallo, Zegarowski, maybe Jones will battle for that last spot.

Add 2 of those 3 to the 2nd team, along with Marshall, Reed and then a battle between Gillespie, McClung/Yurtseven, Figgy for last spot IMO.

Hon mention candidates (in addition to above): Mitch B, C Moore, McDermott, McKnight or Mamu?, Pipkens or Duke?,

POY? Prob Powell.
FOY? Prob JRE
COY? Big Mac.

Agree with your first team, with Diallo. 2nd team: Zegarowski, Jones, Gillespie, Marshall, and Reed.

I agree with your "OY" but i think it's interesting in your comment above from October about "29% from 3 is just not good enough for a guard or a wing," yet Powell sits at 30% on the season from 3. As others have said, something seems off since his concussion (or perhaps another reason). His shooting stats are similar to his freshman year, not his soph or junior years. He is clearly the motor of that team...the energy guy...the one everyone looks up to but would not be shocked to see Bey (or even Tyshon) sneak in as POY just because Powell's shooting numbers are "off."

I did not understand it then, and still do not, the assertion that Howard, as winner of last year's POY, should have been preseason POY. The votes that were taken were for 2 different basketball seasons. Doesn't seem that complex. Howard is a terrific player, clearly all BE, but won't win player of the year because of Marquette under performing so significantly (if you look thru early threads, some national writers had them in the top 10).