Choose: Which Guard Sits--Stats by ESPN for Games Played(long)

[arbitragegls]

Debate as to which guard should receive minutes and which should play at end of a game is a hot topic on the board...if we can agree that among 'Cuse's 4 guards, we have an abundance of positive to choose from...each guard brings something to the party...these stats are through our 16 games...are the offensive stats only (can do defensive also if you like)...but some stats are very telling and do point up strenghts among each guard Vs. other. Here is a summary of stats as well as actual stat line from today's ESPN team stats by player...(BE game stats are at bottom of post)

• Minutes are nearly equal for Waiters, Scoop and Triche--21.7 to 21.6 to 21.6
• Waiters is leading scorer at 12.6 followed by Triche at 10.3 and Scoop at 8.7
• MCW is leader on TO ratio with 3.25 followed by Triche at 2.21 then Scoop at 2.15 and Waiters at 2.0
• FG% overall favor significantly Scoop and Waiters and may indicate that going to bucket is major reason for this...Scoop at .543; Waiters at .537; Triche at .442 and MCW at .378
• Triche is significant leader on 3pt %...Triche at .424; Waiters at .366; Scoop at .306 and MCW at .250
• Triche is significant leader at FT%..Triche at .862; Dion at .683; MCW at .529 and Scoop at .519

The take away from above is that we have very good guards...the discussion of who should be on floor and get most minutes if DIFFICULT TO ANSWER as in different scenerios you may want a certain skill level on the floor at that time...For example:
1. Close game 'Cuse leads have Triche on floor because of significant better Foul shooting--and ball must be in his hands...for every 10 FT taken he makes 2-4 more than any other guard
--think of Stanford, VT, NCState---Triche on floor at end
2. Offensive battle where we need creative scoring...have Waiters and Scoop on floor
--think Providence
3. Games with 10 point leads or more...makes no difference who is on floor

Stat line (Ave per game played) by ESPN
note italics shows significant difference
PLAYER MN PPG ASST TO FG% 3PT% FT%
Waiters 21.7 12.6 2.8 1.4 .537 .366 .683
Scoop 21.6 8.7 4.3 2.0 .543 .306 .519
Triche 21.6 10.3 3.1 1.4 .442 .424 .862
MCW 13.1 3.1 2.6 .8 .378 .250 .529

Now lets look at the first 3 BE games...Ave per game played

Waiters 22.3 13.7 2.3 1.3 .615 .50 .60
Scoop 22.3 6.3 6.0 2.0 .50 .20 .50
Triche 22.3 12.3 3.0 1.67 .542 .55 100.0
MCW 10.6 3.0 1.3 .33 .67 .5 ----

JB must have a clock in his head on his three lead guards insofar as time played per game...the BE games have seen terrific shooting by all guards with Waiters (due to # shots taken vs. very few for MCW) leading the way...with both Scoop and Triche over 50%...on 3 pt % Triche remains highest with Waiters second...Scoop should not shoot 3s...and from a FT% Triche remains out front. Scoop continues to lead in assts with Triche a close second.

SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN...we have 3 veteran guards who are very good...each brings something better than the others to the game...Scoop has become a facilitator, Triche has been the better 3 pt shooter and FT shooter, while Waiters is more creative...better scorer...MCW is learning quickly...I think we are in terrific shape and in game decision on who plays is based on JB's eval of what is going on....now the season is 16 games and BE only 3...but enough data to begin seeing a trend...as indicated. Your Thoughts?

 

[IthacaMatt]

The big breakthrough in Boeheim's thinking this season is finally understanding that when you have players who are not "complete" players, that it doesn't make sense to keep them on the floor for nearly the whole game. His really short rotations of the past (6.5, 7 guys) worked when 4 or 5 of those guys were "complete" players in terms of what was required for their position and role on the team.

When you have guys who are limited in some way, have some piece of their game that's not up to snuff, rather than burying the kid on the bench for the entire season until that develop that missing skill in practice, he's taking what he can get from guys, and if something's not working, he realizes he has options on the bench and actually uses them.

If Scoop or Dion were playing 36 minutes, they would feel more compelled to be "the man", and likely play more selfishly. With Brandon, he is a streaky shooter, but gets down on himself. If he was playing 36 minutes, we would have too many dry spells for the guy who is our scoring guard.

 

[SoBristol]

"Which guard sits . . ." is a negative spin on this.

JB is playing the top 3 guards in a rotation, each with "starters' minutes". MCW gets an opportunity (usually first half) to develop and show what he can do.

The tread might have been inspired by the Providence game, where Triche had a good 12 minutes in the second half (JB extended his normal rotation), then sat while Scoop and Dion closed out the game. A slight variation on the normal, but still effective.

 

[arbitragegls]

...actually, done to demonstrate that each guard has positives and the game scenario is important as to who to have on the floor. I find it interesting that JB has split minutes with Scoop, Triche and Waiters dead equal at this point...that is really something to behold.

 

[Oakland]

In a close game, it has to be Triche and then Dion based on FT%.

 

[Cusefannotindc]

Waiters 121.3 Offensive Rating 7.1 Roland avg (Plus Minus on the floor minus Plus Minus on the bench)
Triche 120.9 ORtg 5.1 Roland avg
Scoop 113.8 ORtg -4.9 Roland avg

I think these numbers may be biased towards Waiters though since, like Luke Winn pointed out a few weeks ago, he is more likely to face nonstarters than Triche or Scoop is.

 

[orange2win]

Last game Trihe was absolutely super, but it was Scoop who got the double-double. It was Dion who lit the fuse when Providence started rallying. Getting the best from our guys.

JB has found a new way of coaching - finally. Come March with this approach, we will avoid the anticipated collapse. Somebody much better will have to beat us and that is not going to be easy with this squad.