Greg Whittington

[ottomatic]

I just wanted to start this thread to discuss Greg. I think he will be our X-Factor next year and can take this team to great heights when he is shooting well. I also wonder what you guys think his ceiling is?

[SirSaxa]

I think his ceiling is at least as high as anyone on the team currently.

Last year was a HUGE step up for a kid who did not play at the top level HS hoops.
He acquitted himself very well and made significant progress during the season.
His D was apparent early, but his shooting and overall poise came later.

Given even an average "jump" from frosh to soph, GW is going to have an excellent season next year. He and Otto are a great pair of tall, long cats who can play 2-3-4 spots. It would be incredible to add Devonta to the mix.

[DanMcQ]

For reference, 2 prior threads on him here and here.

[lichoya68]

he will BREAK whatever ceiling is there next year ypu break it.

[MCIGuy]

Apr 14, 2012 17:44:17 GMT -5 ottomatic said:

I just wanted to start this thread to discuss Greg. I think he will be our X-Factor next year and can take this team to great heights when he is shooting well. I also wonder what you guys think his ceiling is?

Before this thread is rolled up and moved....what do you mean "shooting well"? Is that supposed to indicate if he is knocking down outside shots? If so screw that. Even if his jumpshot isn't falling he could still be a huge factor in a game by driving the ball to the hole and dunking it over somebody (or at least picking up a foul). Have we forgotten that possibility after all these years of relying on the three?

[ottomatic]

Apr 14, 2012 20:52:19 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Apr 14, 2012 17:44:17 GMT -5 ottomatic said:

I just wanted to start this thread to discuss Greg. I think he will be our X-Factor next year and can take this team to great heights when he is shooting well. I also wonder what you guys think his ceiling is?

Before this thread is rolled up and moved....what do you mean "shooting well"? Is that supposed to indicate if he is knocking down outside shots? If so screw that. Even if his jumpshot isn't falling he could still be a huge factor in a game by driving the ball to the hole and dunking it over somebody (or at least picking up a foul). Have we forgotten that possibility after all these years of relying on the three?

But when he is shooting well we beat teams by a lot i.e. Notre Dame. And yes I think we should expect more of those cuts to the basket and ending with a dunk/and one.

[MCIGuy]

Apr 14, 2012 21:05:41 GMT -5 ottomatic said:

But when he is shooting well we beat teams by a lot i.e. Norte Dame. And yes I think we should expect more of those cuts to the basket and ending with a dunk/and one.[/

Cuts to the basket? That suggests running to a spot for a backdoor play? That's fine and all but I'm thinking more about him putting the ball on the floor and taking it to hoop. I am more impressed by his pull-up mid-range jumpshots off drives to the basket than I am with his ever improving three-point range. I also want him scoring off of postups and off of putbacks thanks to his long arms. Sometimes your jumper isn't working which is why you need to have the other elements included in your game.

What I don't want is what Hollis settled for during most of his time at Gtown (although he did better at varying his game this past season): standing beyond the arc to take three-point shots all game long. Michael Wilbon used to have a dismissive nickname for Reggie Miller during his early years with the Pacers : prissy little jumpshooter. Obviously Miller is on a different level but still I don't want Greg becoming something like that. Hollis often came across that way. Darrell Owens was exclusively that way during his last two seasons at Georgetown. Even if Greg becomes a great three-point threat I don't want him mimicking that style

[HoyaJake]

Apr 14, 2012 20:52:19 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Have we forgotten that possibility after all these years of relying on the three?

I don't necessarily disagree with the crux of your post, but we did not rely on the three this past year. Our 3PA% was 9th/16 in the Big East and 225th/345 in Division I.

It's true that we have taken a lot of threes most years under III, but not in 2012 or in 2010.

[ottomatic]

In the years we didn't rely on the 3 we were 3 seeds. I don't believe we relied on the 3 in 2007 either...hmm.
And in reply to MCIGuy, GW doesn't finish well through contact, that's why he missed so many layups. He needs to add muscle

[MCIGuy]

GW started finishing a whole lot better as the year progressed. Especially once he started dunking. I'm not worried. I think many of his teammates should actually follow his lead by taking it strong to the rim.

[ottomatic]

GW is a player with a huge ceiling. As of right now he is a 2 guard and I think we can all agree that more driving and kicking would be fantastic.

[gahoya]

Dunking is easily what I love most about him. It's just refreshing to watch him dunk an open lay up instead of finesse it in off the backboard. The one he had against Syracuse was my favorite, even though he missed the dunk. Would have been just crazy if he had finished, glad to see that he tried to be that aggressive.

[lichoya68]

ah the whole handle and outside shooting thing. he just STARTED to show what he could do at the end of the season just started.. outside threes.. AND on the floor going to the hoop to add to the d and rebbies coach asked him to get and he did.. remember HE WAS A SIX TWO GUARD BEGINNING HIGH SCHOOL. sounds a little like junk yard dog with a GREAT OUTSIDE SHOT TOO. go hoyas go baby greg. yup gonna be fun and then there IS ottomatic too and alll the guys CANT WAIT.

[michaeldm9]

We need Greg to be a staff stuffer. I think he needs to play like he did last year but add about 7 point average to his game.

Stat Line should be: 8 pts 6 rebs 1.5 stls

Don't want Greg to Change his role. He is the defensive stopper. That how he should approach next year. The X factor will be the center position. We need one of the biggs to be able to facilitate while being a threat to score. Nate needs to work on his post game and looked to score. Nate can't be a liability on offence while on the floor next year.. He need to either be a double digit rebounding or increase his post offence.

[MCIGuy]

Apr 15, 2012 11:08:04 GMT -5 michaeldm9 said:

We need Greg to be a staff stuffer. I think he needs to play like he did last year but add about 7 point average to his game.

Stat Line should be: 8 pts 6 rebs 1.5 stls

Don't want Greg to Change his role. He is the defensive stopper. That how he should approach next year. .

Disagree to an extent. The Hoyas need him to be a consistent offense threat. It wasn't as if the team's offense was great last season and considering that the Hoyas lose their three leading scorers from that subpar offensive team suggests that the team will need a few folks to really pick up the slack. Your scoring average is acceptable for Greg if he is still coming off the bench. But if he is starting the team will need more than 8 per game from him, especially since he has the ability to score in double figures.

[idhoya]

need him to move those feet on D and stop reachin so much.

[gtowndynasty]

Apr 15, 2012 11:08:04 GMT -5 michaeldm9 said:

We need Greg to be a staff stuffer. I think he needs to play like he did last year but add about 7 point average to his game.

Stat Line should be: 8 pts 6 rebs 1.5 stls

Don't want Greg to Change his role. He is the defensive stopper. That how he should approach next year. The X factor will be the center position. We need one of the biggs to be able to facilitate while being a threat to score. Nate needs to work on his post game and looked to score. Nate can't be a liability on offence while on the floor next year.. He need to either be a double digit rebounding or increase his post offence.

With next year's roster and the obvious need to find offensive production, I think Greg needs to be in the 13-15ppg range, but I do agree that 6 or so rebs will be a good number.

Im not as sold on Otto being able to lead guy. He scored a bunch this year but those were as an X factor type guy. Defenses keyed on Jason/Henry/Hollis so I saw Otto getting wide open looks. Next year he will be the focal point. He is gonna have to play a completely different game, but I believe he can rise to the occasion, just dont see it as a foregone conclusion.

Needless to say, next year's success will revolve primarily on Otto/Greg, assuming the roster as is with DSR and Bolden is what we will have. They should push each other all summer and get in someone's weightroom.

[prhoya]

I see Greg taking over the Hollis soring load (12 ppg), but I would like a more balanced production from one game to the other.