HOYAS-American RECAP

PLAYER EVALUATIONS

Chris Wright: 12 points, 4-9 FG (1-2 3pt), 3-3 FT, 2RB, 3A, 1TO

Which is the litmus test?

Is it the jump shooting? I would consider Clark and Freeman the primary three point threats in the starting lineup, but Wright isn’t a slouch from long-range. The issue is shot selection and streakiness. I think Wright more than others settles for questionable looks from three and long two range. In halfcourt, if we’re running a certain kind of standard play, he’s going to get a look at the top of the key behind a big man screen at some point in the possession—and that’s the look I’m most comfortable with him taking. At the same time, he can be very good when on a hot streak, since he’s bold enough to take a transition three and talented enough to make it with regularity. You certainly don’t want to lose any of the spontaneity, because if we’re going to spark a run from the offensive end first, he’s a likely suspect. If he’s hitting in transition and selecting good jumpers in the half-court, that’s a good sign.

Is it getting to the rim? There are three common outcomes this season when Chris goes to the basket off the dribble. He gets to the rim and scores a fair amount—he was a one-man offense in the second half of the Tulane game because he took the free lane off screens and rocked the dribble drive. He get to the line a fair amount—he was a one-man offense for part of the second half of the Temple game because he could get into the lane and draw contact (he’s the hidden reason we won that game). But at least a few times a game it seems, Chris bites off more than he can chew—he’s had some ugly looking layup attempts because he gets off balance or surrounded and has nowhere to go.

He fairly streaky and it’s not predictable, so it’s impossible to know what the current game is going to bring. He can look bad for a half and turn it on later in the game, or do the opposite.

I’m not sure which of the two skills is his dominate one, or which more accurately mirrors the fortunes of the team as a whole. What I am proposing is that his decision-making is key. Equally as important as pushing the right button and building momentum is shutting things down when they aren’t working.

One move I haven’t seen a lot from Chris this season—the drive-and-dish. He’s fairly adept at getting into the paint, drawing traffic, and making some nice acrobatic passes out of the mess, even going crosscourt or the length of the baseline. I think about the 2008 Big East Quarterfinals against Villanova as the type of game Chris could bring more often when he isn’t able to get to the rim—we shredded the Wildcats in the first half of that game on the drive and dish.

Austin Freeman: 9 points, 3-7 FG (1-3 3pt), 2-3 FT, 2RB, 1A, 1TO

Not the most spectacular stat line in the world, but he’s doing the right things with the basketball. Last time I wrote about him, I called him the curveball. He breaks in places you don’t expect. He’d be the one on the other end of one of Wright’s drive and dish plays. He’d have the three point attempt from the unexpected angle. And he’d be the one most likely to take a pass on the perimeter, shot fake it, and go to the rim.

His mid-range game is a great asset many on the team don’t possess, but like Wright he has to select his spots and not settle.

Jason Clark: 9 points, 4-7 FG (1-4 3pt), 0-1 FT, 3RB, 2A, 1TO, 5 STL

I wasn’t surprised by the defensive performance today. The high number of steals and general mischief cause by Mr. Clark is a reflection of the type of defensive work he puts in on the perimeter for most games. This, and freakishly long arms that gobble up lazy passes. AU is a young team and showed some shaky nerves on the perimeter, so it was probably easier pickings today than most other games. As good as the steals and trapping are, denying dribble penetration and closing out on shooters become more important as the competition level increases.

An important note about today’s performance—his coach and Chris Wright both singled out Jason’s defensive effort in the first half as providing a needed spark to a team that came out flat. Without an “energy guy” in the mold of Patrick Ewing, Jr. it’s likely the “spark” this season is going to come from a player doing something more basic—playing solid perimeter defense or knocking down a few tough shots. Clark isn’t a screamer, but the energy transfers to his teammates when he’s performing at a high level.

Julian Vaughn: 11 points, 5-6 FG (1-1 3pt), 7RB, 0A, 2TO, 2BLK, 1STL

One of the not-so-secret reasons Hoyatalk loves Barker Davis is that he very clearly reads Hoyatalk. This produces a solid body of fan-influenced articles, insights into team dynamics written with a wink and a nudge, and stating-what-everyone-suspects features like this week’s on Julian Vaughn’s development over the off-season.

Most Hoya fans could see it on the court—Julian has become a different player in 2009. Barker has helpfully chronicled how that transition came about and the improvements Julian is making as he becomes a key member of the team on both ends of the court. The article notes this has been a rapid transition, but it probably doesn’t go far enough even then. Julian has made huge strides in the past three weeks. He’s far and away improved from the first time I saw him against Temple, when he was still shot putting basketballs at the backboard.

Hoyatalk has been clamoring for a post presence in a gray uniform—well, maybe Julian reads Hoyatalk as well (must be looking over Henry’s shoulder). The Mount St. Mary’s game was a revelation—the best part of Julian’s new game is that he works hard in the lane and gets great deep post position. Against MSM on several occasions he’d almost backed his defender out of bounds and slid himself under the rim. That someone in a Hoya uniform is willing to go the blue-collar route adds another dimension to the offense that isn’t there otherwise , plain and simple. He’s also a plus-rebounder, in that he goes and gets missed shots rather than sit around and wait for the rebound to arrive.

Today I wanted more of Vaughn in that post role, to be honest. It wasn’t to be (and since those minutes went largely to Henry Sims, one can’t complain) and too often when Julian was in the game, he was playing the facilitator role to Monroe’s center, rather than the reverse which I think is more effective. I did like seeing Julian confidently nail a three-pointer, but he still struggled when asked to be the facilitator at the top of the key—wasn’t making enough happen with the passing.

Once he got down low, he was doing quite well and battling. I actually like a pairing with Vaughn at the 5 and Sims at the 4, which was featured a few times. I’ll address one of Henry’s strengths that came into play here later on.

Greg Monroe: 9 points, 3-9 FG (0-1 3pt), 3-5 FT, 13 RB, 3A, 2TO, 4BLK

Great on the boards and defensively.

Long way to go working on his finishing on the interior. It’s well known that Greg is more comfortable using his left hand to finish. Hoya fans have been clamoring since last season for him to work on becoming more ambidextrous on the court. Well, from what we were able to see during the summer league games he was giving that an honest effort. And so far this season in regular games, he doesn’t lack for right-handed attempts (although in the crucial final play of the Temple game, he went right and finished with his left hand).

But he just is not making the shots.

A soft touch is difficult to come by. I throw this out there—with Greg’s shot attempts today, would Mike Sweetney be 7 or 8 for 9 from the field? Big Mike had the softest touch of any Hoya in my era. He wasn’t near the passer or dribbler as Greg is…but man it makes you appreciate how special a skill he had in that feathery touch around the rim when you watch Greg struggle on the inside.

I’m not entirely sure what the issue is—some combination of lack of strength and lack of comfort finishing with the off-hand. Both are workable problems of course, and may turn out to be fine as the season wears along.

But think about Barker’s article on Julian. We whine all the time about finding players that fit “the system” or finding a “big man” or a “banger” through the recruiting process. We probably don’t focus enough energy on evaluating which current players can grow into a different role or expand their game.

Perhaps the most important benefit of Julian Vaughn’s evolution is that it potentially eases the burden on Greg Monroe to be a post threat. Not to say Greg shouldn’t be hurting opponents down low, but rather having the additional option is crucial because Greg alone—what we had last season essentially—wasn’t going to do it.

Henry Sims: 12 points, 4-7 FG (0-1 3pt), 4-5 FT, 4RB, 1A, 1BLK, 1STL

Big leap today for Henry and hopefully a confidence booster. The basic evaluation here is that he brought his normal energy (and the obligatory tomahawk block) while also looking far more comfortable on the court. Most importantly, he didn’t look lost or stray out of position much.

Two interesting subtleties to his game today that impressed:

1. He was very fluid in his movement. I’m thinking in particular of two transition plays that resulted in layups where Henry made athletic plays on the move. In one case he took a cross court pass while driving to the basket, and on another he took a hand-off from Austin Freeman on a 4-on-1 and switched from a dunk to a layup finish while stepping through a defender and being fouled.

2. He is a very good passer. There was one astute poster who on Saturday night noted that the Hoyas had a number of good opportunities with players getting good position in the post, but the guards couldn’t get the ball inside. When Henry came in during the first half, he hit Vaughn with about 3 good, crisp passes into tight quarters that his teammates had not even attempted on other possessions, and it left Julian in very good scoring position. In another case, Henry grabbed a defensive board in the corner near the AU bench. A guard (I believe Clark) broke down the sideline, and Sims hit him with a quick overhead outlet pass on a line that cleared a retreating defender and perfectly led the guard down the sideline in stride. Think of it like a QB dropping a ball in to a receiver between a corner and safety on a sideline pattern. This is why he always plays well against Syracuse—precise passing on the interior of a zone is priceless.

Hollis Thompson: 5 points, 1-1 3pt, 2-2 FT, 1RB, 1TO, 1BLK

Not a ton new to add today on Hollis. If he can provide a spark off the bench and some instant offense, he’ll be so valuable to the team. Just stay at home defensively in a zone and keep the open three point looks down for the man you’re guarding.

Jerrelle Benimon: 4 points, 2-3 FG, 1RB, 1TO, 1BLK, 1STL

Good to see him getting minutes—the injury obviously set him back in terms of opportunities for on-court experience. He’s a lot more mobile and athletic for someone who looks like he does—and more than I remember from Kenner League. He still moves around the offense almost like someone learning a new dance and counting his way through the timing and the steps—but that’s purely inexperience.

The interesting thing—this is almost certainly due to the lineup Coach Thompson was playing during the latter stages of the game while resting starters vice a coherent strategy—was that Jerrelle appeared to play many of his minutes at the three spot.

I don’t think we’ll see him a ton in Big East play beyond spot duty, but he’ll do no harm in that role.

Vee Sanford: 0 points, 0-1 3pt, 2RB, 2STL

Neither will he.

Nikita Mescheriakov: 2 points, 1-4 FG (0-2 3pt), 1RB, 1TO

Him…maybe.

(AHEAD: More animal mascots: sure, why the heck not? Nobody’s going to point out he signed the shirt in pen…that’s gonna wash right out in the laundry. New Hoya swag for your wallet and keys. And our musical guest, Michael McDonald.)

Thanks again FL. Your thoughtful and thorough write-ups provide a lot of insight -- and entertainment too!

The "Deck the Halls with Boughs of Hollis" poster held by the guy with Christmas attire that showed up on the videocast was creative.

Caught me, Coast.

Shout-out to the 2013 guys I met in line for a drink who asked "Are you 'Deck the Halls With Boughs of Hollis'?!" While my initial thought was "no, I'm the other guy with joker face paint," talking to y'all for a bit convinced me the Georgetown college experience is in good hands.

Did anyone else notice that the Verizon scoreboard kept screwing up? It would have the wrong players in. For example, Greg would be shooting a FT, but the scoreboard wouldn't even have him listed as in the game.

I dunno, maybe a one game thing, or maybe just the first time I've noticed, we'll see on December 23 vs. Harvard.

Side note: jeez, over two weeks until the next game at Verizon Center? Well, I'll still take our two games this week and Old Dominion at McDonough. ;D