Dickie Love

[SFHoya99]

Wallace can sink a shot but he's not reliable to be able to create it -- that was Jeff's role most of the time. Wallace is more of an opportunistic creator, though that stutter step and floater is getting very good. I'm not asking who hits the wide open three, I'm asking who created the double team that opened Wallace up and dished to him?

[sleepy]

Last year there were three games that we were down by one with under thirty seconds left and we needed a basket to win. All three games Jeff was the guy who made the basket, but only one of those games was the play designed specifically for Jeff. That was the Notre Dame game. Villanova, the play was for Roy, Jeff and Jon to run a triangle offense together and create something, Jeff was the guy that was open. Vanderbilt the play was actually designed for Ewing to cut and make the easy layup, and IF that wasn't open let Jeff create.(actually i was mad at him while it was happening because Jon was WIDE open for three, but obviously I was extremely happy with the results.) The point I'm trying to make is that even last year, Jeff wasn't our sole go-to guy, it was the plays that JTIII drew up and our offense that caused us to win those close games.

Secondly, I disagree that Wallace isn't the kind of guy to create his own shot. He did it in the Vanderbilt game with about a minute left to keep us up by three, with his pull back jump shot at the top of the key with a defender in his face.

[GIGAFAN99]

sfhoya99 said:

Giga, no disagreement on DaJuan's potentail.

On the other hand, I do think we're going to need him to step up. He doesn't have to be Jeff, because I think increased focus on Roy and some added offense from the frosh will help pick it up, but I do think he will play a larger role than Pat. Pat's skillset, to me, screams complementary player. That's not an insult, but you don't give him the ball with seven seconds left on the shot clock.

What I'd like to see out of DaJuan this year that we didn't see a lot of last year:

1) Drive to the hoop and finish
2) Drive and pass out of the coming double team/collapsing zone
3) Take that role at the free throw line versus the 2-3
4) Rebound

I'd take #1, #4, better shooting and D and be extremely happy.

Honestly, I like driving and dishing as much as the next guy but I want Dajuan to finish plays at the rim. As for the 2-3, that would be a bonus but I really think Ewing might be more adept at that role in the 2-3 at this point and if Dajuan doesn't become that guy, we'll still be fine.

[hoyalove4ever]

Sleepy- I hear your point about not all of the big plays that Jeff converted being designed for him. Nonetheless, Jeff was the guy who made those huge plays. JT III can draw up plays for anyone. It takes special players to convert when the game is on the line. Dajaun may welcome that role, but we'll have to see how he and other Hoyas welcome the challenge of having to make it happen under pressure.

[sleepy]

No, Hoyalove, I completely understand that, I was just trying to say that we will still be able to make big baskets at the end of games because last year it wasn't as if the play was give it to Jeff and watch him score. Hopefully last year we used up all the game-winning shot games and won't have to deal with more than one game decided by one possesion this year.

[GIGAFAN99]

sleepy said:

No, Hoyalove, I completely understand that, I was just trying to say that we will still be able to make big baskets at the end of games because last year it wasn't as if the play was give it to Jeff and watch him score. Hopefully last year we used up all the game-winning shot games and won't have to deal with more than one game decided by one possesion this year.

That's the thing, we really had 4 end of game clutch baskets the whole year (Nd, Vandy, 'Nova, and UNC). We blew out a lot of teams too. Maybe we'll need a go to guy a lot, but maybe we won't. And for the record, we also had Jeff's efforts versus Oregon, Duke, Villanova #1, and OSU. Go to guy is tough and even the #5 NBA draft pick had his share of success and failure.

I'd much rather Dajuan learn to have the game Jeff had against BC where he shot terribly but gave us a boost on the boards and defense. That's where Jeff made his mark last year versus the previous season. Yes he hit game-winners but he also helped win games even when he couldn't buy one.

[prhoya]

sfhoya99 said:

Wallace can sink a shot but he's not reliable to be able to create it -- that was Jeff's role most of the time. Wallace is more of an opportunistic creator, though that stutter step and floater is getting very good. I'm not asking who hits the wide open three, I'm asking who created the double team that opened Wallace up and dished to him?

Wallace can create it and it can be set up for him too by JTIII.

He's such a great story. In my book (of opinions), he has gone from a capable Ivy League guard but not in the BE league to one of GU's go-to guys next year. He'll probably end up as GU's most prolific 3-point shooter. I just hope next season he shoots it (the 3) more than last season... say around 6 times a game.

[SFHoya99]

I love Jon, and he can create, certainly, but it's not one of his strengths. He opportunistic in his ability to get a shot off. I do agree we have a staff that isn't likely to send him out and say "break down you opponent" without any help. But sometimes you need that. I think DaJuan has a wider arsenal of weapons (post up, off the dribble, etc) even if his accuracy is much lower. Summers will eventually be the type of player who has a mismatch in some way on whoever is guarding him. And that creates open shots.

Jon is already the best three point shooter GU has had in the 19'9" era, in terms of percentage and number of three made. With the extra foot coming on once he leaves, I think someone will have to be amazing to beat him in percentage, and can only really pass him in terms of shooting in volume, kind of how Redick and Lofton are better shooters than Jon who take many more (ill-advised) shots.

Jon's 2007 was only fourth in GU history in terms of 3 pointers made, but that was entirely pace and shot selection. He made a record 49% from the field, something no one will get close to while making 73 3s anytime soon, I don't think. Dwayne Bryant shot 48% in 1989, but he made less than 40 3s, I think. No one is really close in % with that many made. Maybe I'm being a bit premature because many of the most impressive seasons are Thompson III seasons (Cook, Owens, Wallace), but with the line moving back...

More impressive is Jon's place in the career records. If he has a similar year to last year, he will be the first Hoya over 200 for his career and be over 50 3s past Kevin Braswell, who was more of a volume shooter. Wallace's career % is 48.8%. Only Pat Ewing, in limited shots, is anywhere close. No one else is above 40%. Braswell isn't even in the Top 25 in % (why did he shoot 600+ 3s???).

Georgetown has rarely had shooters since Thompson, Jr. took over. In fact, a strong argument can be made that Jon is the first great shooter of the 3 point era for the Hoyas. I hope there's more.

[TrueHoyaBlue]

I think there might be a slight error on the hoyabasketball site re: Wallace's 3pt percentage. I think Wallace shot 49% in 2006-07, but that his career average is more like 43% (still the best among Hoyas outside PEJr).

[prhoya]

SF, nice breakdown, but I still pick Wallace over DaJuan. Maybe by the end of the season it will be Freeman, Wright or Ewing. Nice problem to have! Maybe we don't need a go-to guy, but a go-to play to be practiced every day, but used only in the event we go down to the wire in a game. The play would be so effective that it would have a nickname.

Last year Wallace took 149 3-point shots in 37 games played, averaging four 3-point attempts per game. That is not a good number for a 49% shooter. He needs to increase it to at least 6 per game, even at the cost of lowering his %. He is too good a shooter to be too safe.

[SFHoya99]

PR, I see what you are saying in terms of attempts. I would never want to see Jon pass up an open three.

But I don't want to see him forcing anything with men on him. It's not like if he attempts 6 threes and makes 40% that all six threes have a 40% probability of going in. It's more like four of those threes at 50% and two at 20% -- and if those extra two are at 20%, they aren't good shots.

[prhoya]

;D

Anyway, I haven't seen Jon force that many shots, so I don't think he's going to start forcing it. Next year, with all the talent, all the athleticism and another year under JTIII's system, I don't see the need for any player to force anything (other than Roy enforcing his will ). On the contrary, I expect more flow from our offense, even with Freeman and Wright whose bball I.Q.'s are supposed to be very high.

That said, JTIII should take advantage of Wallace's accuracy, his leadership and experience to design/create plays where Wallace has the opportunity to put up more than 4 3-pointers per game, and Wallace should be looking for the kill with more threes.

[GIGAFAN99]

More flow indeed. Hoyas will shoot 60% from two-point range as a team this year. Sounds crazy but I think it will happen.

[sleepy]

What did we shoot this year ? I want us to decrease the turnovers this year. As i remeber we had quite a few last year.

[prhoya]

50.5%

guhoyas.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2006-2007/teamcume.html

[SFHoya99]

We shot 57.8% from 2 point range.