Howard Washington...

[Newhouser]

He's fine. Played well last night. Gets Joe rest so he's better in the second half. I think like a utility baseball player with too many at bats, more minutes may expose why he is a role player. We need ten minutes a night and he's been great giving that.

 

[OttoMets]

Howard Washington looks like a poor man's Tyler Ennis on this team.

The one that jumps out at me, and some will say I'm nuts, is a poor man's (dare I say a homeless man's) Michael Carter-Williams.

Always perceived Ennis as a little more of a game manager who wasn't shy about deferring but had a somewhat more rounded game and could score in every way.

Washington and Carter-Williams are/were both unabashedly pass-first players with great vision and a sense of angles. (Obviously the comparison ends there; Carter-Williams was more athletic and was relied upon to add a lot more to his offensive game pretty early on.)

 

[oTTo113445]

MCW ran the motion offense off the bounce more, ennis had more of a entry pass offense to three guys, with cooneys curl and a touch of iso as the season went along.

Tough call. Sometimes the offense is better or just as good with Howard. Other times its better to have the extra option in girard. Hes only been a difference maker in the games where we had mismatches though. Time to take the next step.

 

[SmilinBob]

While Howard is not assertive offensively he does what imo is the most important thing a PG can do on O, get the shooters/big man the ball where they do damage and not because he got stopped from scoring and then passes the ball. JG is very good and he is improving on O and D but Howard adds something different and that is a huge bonus for this team in the big picture.

On D he is by far the best Guard as he hustles and takes away passing lanes.

For this team to get better JG and BB need to improve on D (they are doing nice job on O) and Howard to get minutes and and blend in with confidence because then SU will be able to rest the starting 2 and not lose a step and as a matter of fact maybe improve when one goes to the bench.

 

[orangecuse]

Knowing the devestation a stroke can cause someone, especially at that age, I find Howard Washingtom to be an inspiration, and his situation gives me extra reason to root for him.

That said, it is not Geneseo1983 that has kept Howard on the bench most of the time. Some people on here talk to people in the organization and might have a better chance of their wish of seeing howard more if they told those people these things, and not some random guy on the internet. If these people don't feel comfortable asking, maybe they have have the board treasure, SWC75, ask Coach on his call in show.

Also, while some could find anything negative said about Howard to be insensitive, I do not think it's logical to think someone is necessarily being "cruel"(and certainly not intentionally) just because they don't share your opinions or understandings of Howard's play and/or situation. We see these claims laid in real life when people are simply disagreeing about policy. It's not right then, nor here. Calling something "inaccurate" is fine, because that is a matter of fact, not opinion.

Believe it or not, sometimes I will stick my neck out for strangers that I disagree with to try to smooth over what appears to be a misunderstanding, even if it's on a topic I am more familiar with than I ever wanted to be. There is some truth in what each of you have said, as well as some stuff that could be agued otherwise. Howard seems to have a great heart and spirit and will be fine. It's our charge to do right by each other.

Amen brother! I respect your post immensely, not just because of its accuracy, but more so due to your willingness to expose yourself in going ‘against the grain’ of being a patsy follower and potentially subjecting yourself to the ensuing typical ire by those usual suspects. That spirit is true leadership. Kudos!

 

[Trueblue25]

He’s proven he can be serviceable and even impactful as a spark plug on defense to transition offense.

i’d like him to see 5-8 minutes a game if even just to give Girard a breather.

Thought Goodine made some strides as well though he’s still making shaky freshman turnovers.

 

[NineOneSeven]

10 mpg is all I’m asking and it’s very reasonable and even more doable

 

[CuseMan4]

I truly do realize everything Howard has gone through and why people want the best for him...but, settling the team down? All he does is bring the the ball down the court, dribble between his legs 25 feet from the hoop and pass the ball around the peremeter. He's unathletic, can't penetrate and isn't a good
shooter. Unless it's a blowout, he shouldn't be playing. Unfortunately, with an aging coach and assistants who can't recruit with the upper echelon of college basketball, we won't have capable players who can come off the bench to provide a spark.

He’s quite literally the definition of a game manager. High IQ kid that runs the team almost as extension of the coach on the floor. He’s not gonna wow you with stats but he will get the job done. I can see him as a coach somewhere in the future and a GA here at Cuse once he’s done playing...book it.

 

[Millhouse]

I know I've said this before, but Howard is also a very likable human being who is well-liked by his team mates -- all of whom are rooting for him. Imagine having a stroke at age 20 --- and willing yourself to come back and play high-major D-1 basketball. And to play it extremely well.

I don't get it when someone is so gratuitously anti-Howard Washington. Are you also cruel to small animals?

we could do a lot worse than washington as a backup pg

 

[721Comstock]

we have done a LOT worse than washington as a backup pg

FIFY.

 

[hoopsupstate]

When the offense gets stagnant, I think Washington is a good option because he gets the ball moving. He gives us a little boost and like BC the other night he got our offense going. That’s his role. Play smart, take care of the ball, get the ball to shooters, and settle us down. If he does that he’s doing his job. Scoring would be a plus, but it’s not his purpose on the floor.

 

[kirbivore]

I think Washington is still way to hesitant offensively because hes afraid of the quick hook and he needs to provide a lot more on that side of the ball. That said defensively I thought he played very well and he hasn't been turning it over which is a massive positive. He had 2 or 3 steals in the second half today that we haven't seen the guards make in a while. If he can get any semblance of an offensive game going were in business.

I loved his F you three at the end of the first half

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I mean, yes we hoped Carey could run the PG position and play great defense. But before the season we also thought he’d be able to drive into the lane and score or dish and hit the mid range jumper. The hope was that he could score 8-10 ppg. Of course it’s not really fair to evaluate him. We don’t know what he might have turned into since he’s been injured since like the second or third game of the season.

Wash is and has been the best PG on the team since he got here, in that he understands the role of a PG and how to function as part of an offense.

 

[Gabjon]

Wash is and has been the best PG on the team since he got here, in that he understands the role of a PG and how to function as part of an offense.

Teams are going to make him shoot going forward

 

[orangeinnyc]

Teams are going to make him shoot going forward

Yup. He played well today but he was hurting us towards the end with his inability to shoot. VT would leave him wide open and double Hughes at the top of the key. He needs to be able to knock down an open 3 to keep this from happening otherwise we’ll be in trouble with him out there.

 

[Orangezoo]

Teams are going to make him shoot going forward

No doubt. He needs to get some shots up and get a rhythm. He is capable from 3. With that said it's hard to play every game with a red light to shoot then all the sudden have to pull it late in a game.

 

[Gabjon]

Yup. He played well today but he was hurting us towards the end with his inability to shoot. VT would leave him wide open and double Hughes at the top of the key. He needs to be able to knock down an open 3 to keep this from happening otherwise we’ll be in trouble with him out there.

It can be a 15 footer...the one shot he made was in the mid-range

 

[orangeinnyc]

It can be a 15 footer...the one shot he made was in the mid-range

He’s just gotta be able to keep the defense honest. We can’t be playing 4-5 and I hope he’s a smart enough player where he’ll adjust and make defenses pay for doing that.

 

[upperdeck]

he could also just attacked the basket when he got the ball in corner and took th 10-15 shot or pass off..

 

[CuseFaninVT]

It can be a 15 footer...the one shot he made was in the mid-range

This is the answer. If he has the chance, instead of the three, attack the basket. Score or look to dish.

 

[CaptainJ]

This is the answer. If he has the chance, instead of the three, attack the basket. Score or look to dish.

This. While improving his outside shot would be helpful, driving with the option to dish can be even more effective at times. I'm guessing the staff will help him address this. I'm glad he's finally getting his shot(no pun intended).

 

[orangehomer]

The one that jumps out at me, and some will say I'm nuts, is a poor man's (dare I say a homeless man's) Michael Carter-Williams.

Always perceived Ennis as a little more of a game manager who wasn't shy about deferring but had a somewhat more rounded game and could score in every way.

Washington and Carter-Williams are/were both unabashedly pass-first players with great vision and a sense of angles. (Obviously the comparison ends there; Carter-Williams was more athletic and was relied upon to add a lot more to his offensive game pretty early on.)

anyone that compares howard Washington to Michael carter Williams is either being purposefully misleading or has no idea what they are talking about.

 

[Newhouser]

He's a good player who has given us good minutes. That said the more he plays his shortcomings become clear to us and our opponents. Too many minutes for role players lead to diminishing returns. He gives us a calming spark.

 

[721Comstock]

He's a good player who has given us good minutes. That said the more he plays his shortcomings become clear to us and our opponents. Too many minutes for role players lead to diminishing returns.
He gives us a calming spark.

So, playing HoWash is like taking a bong hit?

 

[orangemass]

I actually think Howard Washington is a decent shooter. The more he plays I’d expect improvement. If he’s allowed to play through some misses he will start knocking some down