[SuperJon]

Tonight at the game, two of our top players, scoring wise, were BJ Jenkins and Rell Porter. This got me thinking about how much those two have improved offensively, and I decided to look up the difference in last year and so far this year for everyone, and some the improvement in some of the guys is great.

Code: Select all

Player	Last Year	This year	Difference of
McLean		14.5		15.3			+0.8		
Smith		 11.4		13.5			+2.1
Jenkins	   4.8		11.6			+6.8
Porter		 2.7		 6.9			+4.2
Ohman		  1.8	 	6.4		   +4.6

The question coming into this year was, "Who's going to replace the scoring from Blair and Brew?" We said that either someone had to step up, or the entire team had to step up. The increase in production of those five players, combined with Teejay, equal out to an extra 28.2 points per game. Brew and Larry averaged 35.1 points per game. We're 7 points away from equaling the output of those two players. At the same time, we're giving up 7 points less than we did last year. Lastly, the schedule this year so far has been tougher than through this point last season.


What am I saying with this post? A couple things:

a) I really like this team.
b) BJ has surprised that crap out of me. I love watching him play.
c) This is the big one: I think we could be better than last year's team.


This year has the chance to get really fun. I'm not claiming Big South titles or anything like that, but it's going to be a fun ride from here to February.

[Schfourteenteen]

Hello Ewing Factor

[Stevev]

I will have to agree that I am impressed with what Coach McKay has done with this program so far. We beat a very good mid-major program last night. I like our starting 5 a lot. TJ is no doubt the best point guard we have had at LU since Marcus White. BJ and Rell Porter are so much improved over last year. It is a team effort this year since, amoungst the starting 5 anyone has the ability to step up if Alex and Anthony have off nights and that is a good thing. I am very concerned about the bench as other than Kyle Ohlman we have vertually nothing. With Kyle "busting his tail off" you think that that would rub off on some of the others. Ty Baker's return would be a plus if he ever recovers. I just hope that the starters don't run out of gas late in the year due to playing so many minutes early on. Other than that I think that LU is putting a quality team out there on the floor and I hope that the students that arn't showing up for the game realize what they are missing.

[TIMSCAR20]

Tonight at the game, two of our top players, scoring wise, were BJ Jenkins and Rell Porter. This got me thinking about how much those two have improved offensively, and I decided to look up the difference in last year and so far this year for everyone, and some the improvement in some of the guys is great.

Code: Select all

Player	Last Year	This year	Difference of
McLean		14.5		15.3			+0.8		
Smith		 11.4		13.5			+2.1
Jenkins	   4.8		11.6			+6.8
Porter		 2.7		 6.9			+4.2
Ohman		  1.8	 	6.4		   +4.6

The question coming into this year was, "Who's going to replace the scoring from Blair and Brew?" We said that either someone had to step up, or the entire team had to step up. The increase in production of those five players, combined with Teejay, equal out to an extra 28.2 points per game. Brew and Larry averaged 35.1 points per game. We're 7 points away from equaling the output of those two players. At the same time, we're giving up 7 points less than we did last year. Lastly, the schedule this year so far has been tougher than through this point last season.


What am I saying with this post? A couple things:

a) I really like this team.
b) BJ has surprised that crap out of me. I love watching him play.
c) This is the big one: I think we could be better than last year's team.


This year has the chance to get really fun. I'm not claiming Big South titles or anything like that, but it's going to be a fun ride from here to February.

BJ should not be a surprise. If you look at the numbers he put up this time last year they are similar. His point production went down when his minutes went down considerably after Dwight Brewington entered the lineup. BJ is a big time player. He is young and will only get better. The chemistry with that 1st group plus Kyle is getting better by the minute. The lack of bench could be costly near the end of the season but getting Baker back will help. Russ and J Holland need to make coach believe in them and get more minutes. Those 2 will be the ones if any that extend their bench and reduce the minutes being logged by the starters. Good win though last night!!! Niagara is a tough mid major. If we can start filling the Vines Center consistently, it will be tough for anyone to come in here and win.

[Cider Jim]

Russ and J Holland need to make coach believe in them and get more minutes.

I thought several people "in the know" stated during preseason that Russ would be one of our most improved players. Considering how much playing time he got last year vs. how little playing time he is getting this year, I wonder what the problem is. Isn't one of our asst. coaching an expert in coaching/teaching post players? If so, why has Russ been a non-factor for most of the season thus far?

[Cider Jim]

oops (deleted double posting)

[ToTheLeft]

Russ does not game as hard as he practices.

I was watching him in pregame and he was strong and aggressive, but in the game he is timid on offense and looks to pass out of the paint when he gets it.

[TDDance234]

Russ and J Holland need to make coach believe in them and get more minutes.

I thought several people "in the know" stated during preseason that Russ would be one of our most improved players. Considering how much playing time he got last year vs. how little playing time he is getting this year, I wonder what the problem is. Isn't one of our asst. coaching an expert in coaching/teaching post players? If so, why has Russ been a non-factor for most of the season thus far?

He plays scared. Realistically, he can't contribute anything to this offense because outside of 10 feet, he's worthless--nor does he have the footwork to make something happen one-on-one.

Basically, he's a statue under the basket.

[timhoughton]

imo this team is better than last years, no superstars but better players
I am not surprised at BJ's performance
Coach evidently was right when he said we were only 6 or 7 deep,
at least I think that is all that played

[Hold My Own]

You just watch how this team finishes...I promise you our record down the stretch will be solid

[Ed Dantes]

Hello Ewing Factor

Yes and no. The Ewing Theory, by definition, included two factors -- that the team received a lot of attention and praise because of a player, even though they never won anything with that player -- and that everyone wrote off the team the year after that player left.

Larry Blair can't qualify for the "Ewing Theory" because he won the championship in 2004. And -- we were never really the favorites during Blairs term. Winthrop was -- in fact, I don't think we were ever preseason favs.

[kel varson]

First, good post SJ.

I've not watched a game but based on our wins I think we've seen improvement from all 6 players. BJ was a talent to begin with and will continue to get better. I'm shocked that we are making so many 3's this year. It's a product of our offensive attack I believe.

Rell is finally giving us some offense. WOW!!

[ToTheLeft]

Rell is also hitting the offensive glass well so far this year.