SWC75
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Three are three things that have a big impact on how much better or worse one college basketball team is than its predecessor: (1) Who they lost; (2) Who they gained and (3) How much better the players coming back are. College basketball fans tend to focus on the first two and under-rate the third.
Since the Melo Center Opened we seem to have at least one player come back every year as a different player than we remember. This past season there were two: Rakeem Christmas and Michael Gbinije. People are already guesstimating what we’ll be like next year. Those analyses rarely include any significant improvement from returning players. With the scholarship limits we are now under, the improvement of returning players is going to be vital to continuation of the program’s success.
I thought it would be interesting to look back at players who had improved markedly from season to the next and to see how Rak's and Mike's improvements compare to their predecessors. Using the Net Points” system, here are the top 25 improvements from one year to the next in SU players since 1982-83:
1) Glenn Sekunda +11.8
Freshman: 8.0m 13.6p 6.6r 1.8a 1.6s 0.2b +23.8 9.3mfg 1.1mft 2.7to 7.3pf -20.4 = 3.4NP 3.2OE 0.2FG
Sophomore: 12.2m 15.9p 9.1r 2.2a 2.5s 0.9b +30.6 7.1mfg 0.8mft 3.3to 4.2pf -15.4 = 15.2NP 8.0OE 7.2FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls.
2) Dave Siock +11.4
Freshman: 7.1m 3.7p 10.0r 3.0a 0.3s 0.7b 17.7+ 6.7mfg 1.3mft 3.0to 7.3pf 18.3- = -0.6NP -.3OE 3.7FG
Sophomore: 9.3m 11.1p 8.2r 2.1a 1.8s 0.0b +23.2 4.6mfg 1.4mft 1.8to 4.6pf -12.4 = 10.8NP 5.1OE 5.7FG Improvements: Scoring, steals, fewer turnovers and fouls
3) Dave Johnson +10.5
Sophomore: 18.0m 14.6p 5.2r 2.4a 1.0s 0.4b +23.6 8.2mfg 2.0mft 1.7to 3.9pf -15.8= 7.8NP 4.4OE 3.4FG
Junior: 34.9m 22.2p 7.2r 2.7a 1.8s 0.1b +34.0 8.1mfg 2.4mft 2.4to 2.8pf -15.7 = 18.3NP 11.7OE 6.6FG Improvements: Scoring, (Dave grew a jump shot), rebounding, assists, steals, fewer fouls
4) LeRon Ellis +9.5
Junior: 21.3m 11.3p 7.6r 1.4a 2.1s 1.5b +23.9 5.6mfg 1.5mft 1.3to 5.6pf -14.0 = 9.9NP 5.7OE 4.2FG
Senior: 29.0m 15.3p 10.6r 1.9a 2.7s 3.4b +33.9 5.9mfg 2.0mft 1.9to 4.7pf -14.5 = 19.4NP 7.4OE 12.0FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks and fewer fouils..
5) Terrence Roberts +8.9
Freshman: 7.6m 9.3p 9.0r 0.8a 1.9s 1.7b 22.7+ 6.4mfg 1.9mft 2.7to 7.6pf 18.6- = 4.1NP 1.0OE 3.1FG
Sophomore: 18.5m 15.6p 8.5r 1.3a 2.4s 1.8b 29.6+ 4.7mfg 2.4mft 3.0to 6.5pf 16.6- = 13.0NP 8.5OE 4.5FG Improvements: Scoring, assists, steals, fewer missed free throws and fouls.
6) Fab Melo +8.7
Freshman: 9.9m 9.4p 7.8r 1.0a 1.2s 3.1b 22.5+ 2.7mfg 2.0mft 3.1to 7.3pf 15.1- = 7.4NP 4.7OE 2.7FG
Sophomore: 25.4m 12.3p 9.2r 1.1a 0.8s 4.6b = 28.0+ 3.9mfg 1.2mft 2.3to 4.5pf = 11.9- = 16.1NP 7.2OE 8.9FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, blocks, fewer missed free throws, turnovers and fouls.
7) Jason Cipolla +8.4
Junior: 23.5m 13.1p 3.3r 2.3a 1.7s 0.2b +20.6 7.6mfg 0.8mft 2.1to 2.3pf -12.8 = 7.8NP 4.7OE 3.1FG
Senior: 33.4m 15.8p 4.2r 3.3a 1.8s 0.3b +25.4 4.8mfg 0.3mft 2.2to 1.9pf -9.2 = 16.2NP 10.7OE 5.5FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls.
8) Kris Joseph +8.0
Freshman: 12.1m 10.1p 7.1r 1.5a 2.6s 0.7b 22.0+ 5.2mfg 2.7mft 2.4to 3.1pf 13.4- = 8.6NP 2.2OE 6.4OE
Sophomore: 27.8m 15.6p 8.0r 2.5a 2.0s 0.6b 28.7+ 5.4mfg 1.6mft 2.5to 2.6pf 12.1- = 16.6NP 8.6OE 8.0FG +8.0 Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer missed free throws, fewer fouls
9) Derrick Coleman +7.8
Freshman: 30.6m 15.6p 11.4r 1.5a 1.5s 2.3b 32.3+ 4.7mfg 1.7mft 2.3to 4.1pf 12.8- = 19.5NP 8.1OE 11.4FG
Sophomore: 32.3m 16.7p 13.6r 2.7a 1.6s 2.0b 36.6+ 4.4mfg 2.5mft 0.8to 1.6pf 9.3- = 27.3NP 9.8OE 17.5FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, missed free throws, far fewer turnovers and fouls.
9) Rakeem Christmas +7.8
Junior: 23.6m 9.8p 8.6r 1.1a 0.8s 3.3b +23.6 2.4mfg 0.8mft 1.3to 5.3pf -9.8 = 13.8NP 6.6OE 7.2FG
Senior: 34.3m 21.6p 10.6r 1.8a 1.1s 2.9b = 36.7+ 6.2mfg 2.1mft 2.9to 3.9pf = 15.1- = 21.6NP 12.0OE 9.6FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, fewer fouls.
10) Eric Williams +7.5
Freshman: 8.4m 14.3p 11.4r 2.9a 1.7s 1.0b +30.3 3.8mfg 2.9mft 6.0to 5.0pf -17.7 = 12.6NP 7.6OE 5.0FG
Sophomore: 12.5m 17.8p 10.9r 3.2a 2.3s 0.9b +35.1 5.9mfg 0.7mft 4.1to 4.3pf -15.0 = 20.1NP 11.2OE 8.9FG Improvements: Scoring, assists, steals, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer turnovers and fouls.
10) Scoop Jardine +7.5
Freshman: 19.6m 11.2p 3.1r 5.1a 2.4s 0.2b 22.0+ 5.0mfg 0.4mft 3.7to 3.9pf 13.0- = 9.0NP 5.8OE 3.2FG
Sophomore: 22.2m 16.3p 3.5r 7.8a 2.1s 0.1b 29.8+ 6.1mfg 1.2mft 3.4to 2.6pf 13.3- = 16.5NP 9.0OE 7.5FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer turnovers and fouls..
11) Stevie Thompson +6.9
Freshman: 12.2m 16.6p 6.0r 2.4a 0.6s 1.9b 27.5+ 7.2mfg 3.4mft 3.8to 4.0pf 18.4- = 9.1NP 6.0OE 3.1FG
Sophomore: 30.6m 18.4p 6.4r 2.5a 1.5s 0.4b 29.2+ 5.7mfg 2.6mft 1.8to 3.1pf 13.2- = 16.0NP 10.1OE 5.9FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, steals, fewer missed field goals and free throws, far fewer turnovers and fewer fouls.
12) Etan Thomas: +6.6
Freshman: 16.3m 14.0p 10.3r 0.3a 0.9s 4.7b +30.2 4.7mfg 3.7mft 3.2to 5.7pf -17.3 = 12.9NP 5.6OE 7.3FG
Sophomore: 28.8m 15.7p 9.1r 0.6a 1.1s 5.5b +32.0 3.6mfg 2.7mft 2.3to 3.9pf -12.5 = 19.5NP 9.4OE 10.1FG Improvements: More scoring, assists, steals and blocks, fewer missed field goals and free throws, turnovers and fouls.
13) Sean Kerins +6.5
Junior 12.1m 14.1p 7.1r 1.2a 1.0s 0.7b 24.1+ 6.9mfg 1.0mft 1.5to 6.2pf 15.6- = 8.5np 6.2oe 2.3fg
Senior 28.3m 15.7p 7.9r 1.4a 1.0s 0.5b 26.5+ 6.4mfg 0.4mft 1.7to 3.0pf 11.5- = 15.0np 8.9oe 6.1fg Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer missed field goals and free throws, far fewer fouls.
14) Craig Forth: +6.3
Sophomore: 17.7m 8.5p 7.5r 1.9a 1.0s 2.7b +21.6 3.8mfg 1.3mft 2.5to 5.8pf -13.4 = 8.2NP 3.4OE 4.8FG
Junior: 23.2m 9.8p 10.0r 1.2a 1.0s 3.5b 25.5+ 3.3mfg 0.7mft 2.2to 4.8pf 11.0- = 14.5NP 5.8OE 8.7FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, blocks, missed field goals and free throws, turnovers and fouls.
14) Otis Hill +6.3
Sophomore: 20.3m 12.8p 8.7r 1.4a 2.0s 0.9b +25.8 4.6mfg 1.4mft 2.6to 6.6pf -15.2 = 10.6NP 6.8OE 3.8FG
Junior: 24.3m 20.8p 9.0r 0.9a 1.5s 1.4b +33.6 6.3mfg 1.9mft 2.8to 5.8pf -16.8 = 16.8NP 12.6OE 4.2FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, blocks, avoiding fouls.
15) Pearl Washington +6.1
Sophomore: 34.1m 18.0p 3.4r 7.1a 2.3s 0.1b 30.9+ 6.4mfg 1.4mft 5.3to 3.0pf 16.1- = 14.8NP 10.2OE 4.6FG
Junior: 32.2m 21.5p 3.1r 9.7a 3.2s 0.0b 37.5+ 7.3mfg 1.8mft 4.1to 3.4pf 16.6- = 20.9NP 12.4OE 8.5FG Improvement: Scoring, assists, steals, fewer turnovers. He had to take over when Addison and Seikaly got hurt.
16) Adrian Autry +5.9
Sophomore: 32.7m 13.5p 5.0r 4.9a 1.9s 0.2b +25.5 7.5mfg 1.5mft 4.0to 3.8pf -16.8 = 8.7NP 4.5OE 4.2FG
Junior: 31.8m 17.2p 4.6r 7.0a 2.5s 0.2b +31.5 8.0mfg 0.9mft 4.4to 3.6pf -16.9 = 14.6NP 8.3OE 6.3FG Improvements: Scoring, assists, steals, missed free throws
17) Greg Monroe +5.7
Sophomore: 21.4m 7.6p 2.0r 5.2a 1.4s 0.1b 16.3+ 4.1mfg 0.4mft 2.0to 1.5pf 8.0- = 8.3NP 3.1OE 5.2FG
Junior: 16.4m 11.1p 3.3r 6.8a 1.9s 0.2b 23.3+ 5.1mfg 1.0mft 2.1to 1.1pf 9.3- = 14.0NP 5.0OE 9.0FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, fewer fouls.
17) Trevor Cooney +5.7
Freshman: 11.2m 12.2p 2.9r 2.1a 2.6s 0.3b +20.1 9.1mfg 0.4mft 1.7to 3.0pf -14.2 =
5.9NP 3.1OE 2.8FG
Sophomore: 32.1m 15.0p 2.6r 1.4a 2.3s 0.2b +21.5 7.2mfg 0.4mft 1.0to 1.3pf -9.9 =
11.6NP 7.4OE 4.2FG Improvements: Scoring, fewer missed shots, fewer turnovers and fouls.
18) Andre Hawkins +5.6
Sophomore: 20.0m 11.0p 6.8r 1.2a 1.4s 1.2b 21.6+ 2.8mfg 1.0mft 2.3to 6.9pf 13.0- = 8.6np 7.2oe 1.4fg
Junior: 28.3m 14.8p 8.4r 2.1a 1.5s 1.2b 28.0+ 4.4mfg 1.2mft 2.6to 5.6pf 13.8- = 14.2np 9.2oe 5.0fg Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, assists, fewer fouls, (but still too many).
18) Josh Wright +5.6
Freshman: 8.5m 6.5p 3.0r 8.2a 2.0s 0.0b 19.7+ 6.2mfg 1.0mft 4.5to 3.2pf 14.9- = 4.8NP -0.7OE 5.5FG
Sophomore: 12.5m 13.4p 4.2r 5.1a 2.8s 0.0b 25.5+ 5.5mfg 2.6mft 4.4to 2.6pf 15.1- = 10.4NP 5.3OE 5.1FG Improvements: Scoring, (assists went sharply down), steals, missed field goals, fewer fouls.
19) Rony Seikaly +5.4
Sophomore: 27.3m 14.8p 11.4r 0.7a 1.1s 4.4b 32.4+ 4.6mfg 2.8mft 2.8to 5.2pf 15.4- = 17.0NP 7.4OE 9.6FG
Junior: 27.1m 22.2p 12.0r 1.4a 1.1s 3.0b 39.7+ 6.4mfg 3.7mft 2.9to 4.3pf 17.3- = 22.4NP 12.1OE 10.3FG Improvement: Scoring, rebounding, fewer fouls.
19) Scott McCorkle +5.4
Sophomore: 7.2m 10.2p 4.1r 2.3a 0.8s 0.0b +17.4 4.1mfg 0.9mft 1.8to 3.5pf -10.3= 7.1NP 5.2OE 1.9FG
Junior: 7.2m 13.9p 8.0r 2.4a 2.4s 0.0b +26.7 6.6mfg 0.7mft 2.4to 4.5pf -14.2 = 12.5NP 6.6OE 5.9FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, steals
19) Demetris Nichols +5.4
Sophomore: 12.9m 12.1p 6.5r 1.5a 1.3s 0.9b 22.3+ 7.3mfg 0.6mft 2.9to 3.7pf 14.5- = 7.8NP 4.2OE 3.6FG
Junior: 33.3m 16.0p 7.0r 1.7a 1.5s 1.1b 27.3+ 7.6mfg 1.0mft 2.2to 3.3pf 14.1- = 13.2NP 7.4OE 5.8FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, turnovers, fouls
20) Michael Gbinije +5.3
Sophomore: 14.6m 9.3p 4.8r 3.3a 2.0s 0.6b +20.0 4.6mfg 1.4mft 1.4to 4.5pf -11.9 = 8.1NP 3.3OE 4.8FG
Junior: 35.0m 14.5p 5.7r 4.1a 2.1s 0.4b = 26.8+ 6.2mfg 1.6mft 2.4to 3.2pf = 13.4- = 13.4NP 6.7OE 6.7FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer fouls
21) Conrad McRae +5.1
Junior: 29.4m 11.8p 8.4r 1.2a 2.0s 3.3b +26.7 3.6mfg 2.5mft 1.3to 5.3pf -12.7 = 14.0NP 5.7OE 8.3FG
Senior: 30.0m 16.4p 9.2r 0.6a 1.6s 3.6b +31.4 4.9mfg 1.0mft 2.1to 4.3pf -12.3 = 19.1NP 10.5OE 8.6FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, blocks, fewer missed free throws, fewer fouls
21) James Thues +5.1
Freshman: 7.7m 8.4p 2.4r 6.7a 2.6s 0.4b +20.5 4.1mfg 3.0mft 3.2to 4.1pf -14.4= 6.1NP 1.3OE 4.8FG
Sophomore: 31.3m 7.2p 3.7r 6.3a 3.6s 0.4b +21.2 3.5mfg 1.0mft 3.1to 2.4pf -10.0 = 11.2NP 2.7OE 8.5FG Improvements: Rebounding, steals, missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls
22) Rony Seikaly+5.0
Freshman: 25.0m 12.9p 10.2r 0.7a 0.6s 3.0b 27.4+ 4.2mfg 2.4mft 2.6to 6.2pf 15.4- = 12.0NP 6.3OE 5.7FG
Sophomore: 27.3m 14.8p 11.4r 0.7a 1.1s 4.4b 32.4+ 4.6mfg 2.8mft 2.8to 5.2pf 15.4- = 17.0NP 7.4OE 9.6FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks, fewer fouls.
22) Hakim Warrick +5.0
Freshman: 17.4m 14.0p 11.0r 1.2a 1.3s 1.4b +28.9 5.0mfg 2.4mft 2.6to 4.7pf -14.7 = 14.2NP 6.6OE 7.6FG
Sophomore: 32.7m 18.1p 10.4r 2.0a 1.7s 1.5b +33.7 5.8mfg 2.2mft 3.2to 3.3pf -14.5 = 19.2NP 10.1OE 9.1FG Improvements: scoring, assists, fewer fouls
22) Dion Waiters +5.0
Freshman:16.3m 16.1p 3.8r 3.6a 2.7s 0.3b 26.5+ 8.1mfg 0.6mft 2.2to 3.3pf 14.2- = 12.3NP 7.4OE 4.9FG
Sophomore: 24.1m 21.0p 3.8r 4.1a 3.0s 0.5b = 32.4+ 8.4mfg 1.4mft 2.2to 3.1pf = 15.1- = 17.3NP 11.2OE 6.1FG Improvements: points, assists, steals, blocks
23) James Southerland +4.9
Sophomore: 14.1m 13.7p 6.4r 1.3a 1.4s 1.6b 24.4+ 7.0mfg 0.3mft 0.6to 3.5pf 11.4- = 13.0NP 6.4OE 6.6FG
Junior: 16.0m 17.0p 7.8r 0.9a 2.1s 2.3b = 30.1+ 7.4mfg 0.7mft 0.8to 3.3pf = 13.7- = 17.9NP 8.9OE 9.0FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks.
24) Jerami Grant +4.8
Freshman: 14.3m 10.8p 8.3r 1.3a 1.2s 1.2b +22.8 4.5mfg 2.2mft 1.8to 3.8pf -12.3 = 10.5NP 4.1OE 6.4FG
Sophomore: 31.4m 15.4p 8.6r 1.8a 1.0s 0.7b +27.5 5.4mfg 2.3mft 1.5to 3.0pf -12.2 = 15.3NP 7.7OE 7.6FG Improvements: scoring, fewer fouls
25) Rafael Addison +4.4
Freshman: 18.5m 18.3p 6.9r 2.6a 1.3s 0.7b 29.8+ 7.1mfg 1.5mft 2.8to 4.6pf 16.0- = 13.8np 9.7oe 4.1fg
Sophomore: 34.5m 20.5p 7.0r 2.6a 1.5s 0.7b 32.3+ 6.6mfg 0.8mft 2.8to 3.9pf 14.1- = 18.2np 13.1oe 5.1fg Improvements: scoring, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls
25) Rodney Walker +4.4
Freshman: 12.6m 10.5p 9.9r 0.6a 0.9s 0.4b 22.3+ 4.9mfg 1.5mft 1.7to 7.1pf 15.2- = 7.1NP 4.1OE 3.0FG
Sophomore: 12.9m 13.7p 12.2r 0.9a 0.9s 0.2b 27.9+ 6.2mfg 1.5mft 2.7to 6.0pf 16.4- = 11.5NP 6.0OE 5.5FG Improvements: points, rebounds, assists, fewer fouls
Comments: There are 36 guys on this list due to ties.19 of the improvements were between freshman and sophomore seasons, 12 between sophomore and junior seasons and only 5 between their junior and senior years. Of those, Rakeem Christmas’ improvement was the third best behind LeRon Ellis and Jason Cipolla. A few of these guys were transfers so I don’t have data on their earlier seasons.
Some of these guys were career reserves, where the numbers can jump all over the place as the sample size is smaller and the caliber of opposition they personally faced is questionable, both in terms of the team and the point of the game in which they played. Some guys were reserves and became starters. You could argue that being a starter enabled them to get their confidence and timing and improved their spirits or that they became starters because their game had improved. Perhaps the most interesting improvements are by the guys who were already starters. I decided to define a starter as a guy who averaged 20 minutes a game. There are 11 such guys on the list. 16 guys were reserves and became starters. 8 guys were reserves in both years. One guy, (Greg Monroe) saw him minutes decline from over 20 to under 20. Of the guys who were already starters, Rakeem Christmas’ improvement is 4th best, behind LeRon Ellis, Jason Cipolla and Derek Coleman.
Some guys played more than one positon. Some guys were playing out of position. Some guy’s skill sets didn’t fit snuggly into a positon description but using the traditional classifications, based primarily on how ty were used, I’d call 12 of these centers, 14 of them forwards and 10 of them guards, so there’s no pattern of who improves the most in a season. Rak’s year was also the 4th best improvement by a center, behind Dave Siock, LeRon Ellis and Fab Melo.
We often hear how long it takes a big man to develop. Of the 12 centers, 5 had their big jump between their freshman and sophomore seasons, 4 between their sophomore and junior seasons and 3 between their junior and senior seasons. 8 forwards jumped between their freshman and sophomore seasons, 5 between their sophomore and junior seasons and 1 between his junior and senior seasons. With the guards it’s 6-3-1. So it takes centers a bit longer than forwards and forwards a bit longer than guards- in some cases. Overall 19 players had the big jump as sophomores, 12 as juniors and 5 as seniors. It would be a very general but not totally inaccurate statement to say that for most players, if they haven’t established themselves by the end of their sophomore year, the half-way point in their college career, they are probably not going to.
Here is a catalog of the areas of significant improvement, (I didn’t have a mathematical formula for determining “significance”- just the look test. Michael Grinije improving from 3.3 assists to 4.1 seemed significant: going form 2.0 steals to 2.1 did not):
Points: 35 players
Rebounds: 24
Assists: 21
Steals: 19
Blocks: 10
Missed Field Goals:11
Missed Free Throws: 15
Turnovers: 10
Personal Fouls: 31
Improving players score more, commit fewer fouls, rebound better and share the ball more. It’s really all about having a better awareness of what’s going on around them.
FOUR YEAR PLAYERS
Here is a chart of all the players who have played, (entire), four year careers here, just listing their “Net Points” and the net improvement from their freshman to their senior seasons. My records are limited to scholarship players who played 100 minutes in a season so some four year guys are not listed here because they had a season where they played less than that.
Rafael Addison 7.1 18.2 17.7 18.9 +11.8
Wendell Alexis 14.7 12.9 16.2 20.3 +5.6
Greg Monroe 8.6 8.3 14.0 14.5 +5.9
Rony Seikaly 12.0 17.0 22.4 21.1 +9.1
Herman Harried -0.3 7.7 10.7 11.8 +12.1
Sherman Douglas 20.7 21.1 19.1 20.3 -0.4
Derrick Coleman 19.5 27.3 28.5 26.7 +7.2
Stevie Thompson 9.1 16.0 19.9 15.6 +6.5
Dave Johnson 6.7 7.8 18.3 14.1 +7.4
Dave Siock -0.6 10.8 3.8 -0.8 -0.2
Michael Edwards 9.5 6.5 6.4 3.2 -6.3
Conrad McRae 10.6 14.9 14.0 19.1 +8.5
Adrian Autry 8.4 8.7 14.6 16.8 +8.4
Scott McCorkle 14.1 7.1 12.5 13.2 -0.9
Lawrence Moten 18.7 17.4 19.6 16.6 -2.1
Luke Jackson 6.1 8.4 11.8 12.8 +6.7
John Wallace 16.0 20.3 22.7 22.6 +6.6
Lazarus Sims 2.8 7.7 10.3 11.8 +9.0
Otis Hill 13.1 10.6 16.8 17.8 +4.7
Todd Burgan 10.9 13.1 13.9 16.2 +5.3
Jason Hart 10.6 8.9 12.8 12.7 +2.1
Etan Thomas 12.9 19.5 21.9 21.8 +8.9
Alan Griffin 5.8 8.0 10.7 10.7 +4.9
Preston Shumpert 11.8 14.1 17.5 18.3 +6.5
Kueth Duany 10.9 9.0 13.3 12.6 +1.7
Jeremy McNeill 8.0 12.0 11.8 11.6 +3.6
Craig Forth 10.7 8.2 14.5 14.4 +3.7
Hakim Warrick 14.2 19.2 19.3 20.5 +6.3
Josh Pace 13.5 15.4 13.5 16.2 +2.7
Gerry McNamara 12.9 13.6 13.3 14.2 +1.3
Demetris Nichols 5.7 7.8 13.2 17.9 +12.2
Terrence Roberts 4.1 13.0 14.5 14.5 +10.4
Arinze Onukau 13.5 17.3 17.4 18.5 +5.0
Andy Rautins 8.3 8.9 11.6 15.4 +7.1
Rick Jackson 14.7 19.2 20.3 22.1 +7.4
Scoop Jardine 9.0 16.5 13.0 15.3 +6.3
Kris Joseph 8.6 16.6 15.8 14.0 +5.4
Brandon Triche 12.4 11.1 13.9 11.3 -1.1
James Southerland 15.7 13.0 17.9 16.4 +0.7
C. J. Fair 15.5 14.8 16.3 12.8 -2.7
Baye Moussa Keita 11.1 10.5 11.7 8.1 -3.0
Rakeem Christmas 12.1 12.2 13.8 21.6 +9.5
comments: Demetris Nichols wins the award as the player who improved the most from his freshman to the his senior season. Of the 42 players who have played at least 100 minutes for four years here since 1986, 34 of them have improved from their freshmen to their senior years. Of the eight others four were career reserves and the others were Sherman Douglas, Lawrence Moten, Brandon Triche, CJ Fair and James Southerland, who was a reserve until late in his career. Douglas and Moten were so good as freshmen they had little room for improvement. Moten also was not well-served by a switch from small forward, his natural position, to shooting guard. Triche was good, not great from the beginning and remained that was for the rest of his career. Fair struggled in his senior year with being the focus of the defense. The players on the list averaged 10.7 as freshmen, 13.1 as sophomores, (+2.4), 15.2 as juniors, (+2.1), and 15.6 as seniors, (+0.4) so in this sample, the biggest improvement comes between the freshman and sophomore years. The average improvement over the course of a player’s career is +4.9NP. Rakeem Christmas has the biggest improvement form his junior to this senior year, (7.8). Dave Johnson had the best improvement from sophomore to juni9or, (10.5). Rafael Addison had the best from freshman to sophomore, (11.1)
Since the Melo Center Opened we seem to have at least one player come back every year as a different player than we remember. This past season there were two: Rakeem Christmas and Michael Gbinije. People are already guesstimating what we’ll be like next year. Those analyses rarely include any significant improvement from returning players. With the scholarship limits we are now under, the improvement of returning players is going to be vital to continuation of the program’s success.
I thought it would be interesting to look back at players who had improved markedly from season to the next and to see how Rak's and Mike's improvements compare to their predecessors. Using the Net Points” system, here are the top 25 improvements from one year to the next in SU players since 1982-83:
1) Glenn Sekunda +11.8
Freshman: 8.0m 13.6p 6.6r 1.8a 1.6s 0.2b +23.8 9.3mfg 1.1mft 2.7to 7.3pf -20.4 = 3.4NP 3.2OE 0.2FG
Sophomore: 12.2m 15.9p 9.1r 2.2a 2.5s 0.9b +30.6 7.1mfg 0.8mft 3.3to 4.2pf -15.4 = 15.2NP 8.0OE 7.2FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls.
2) Dave Siock +11.4
Freshman: 7.1m 3.7p 10.0r 3.0a 0.3s 0.7b 17.7+ 6.7mfg 1.3mft 3.0to 7.3pf 18.3- = -0.6NP -.3OE 3.7FG
Sophomore: 9.3m 11.1p 8.2r 2.1a 1.8s 0.0b +23.2 4.6mfg 1.4mft 1.8to 4.6pf -12.4 = 10.8NP 5.1OE 5.7FG Improvements: Scoring, steals, fewer turnovers and fouls
3) Dave Johnson +10.5
Sophomore: 18.0m 14.6p 5.2r 2.4a 1.0s 0.4b +23.6 8.2mfg 2.0mft 1.7to 3.9pf -15.8= 7.8NP 4.4OE 3.4FG
Junior: 34.9m 22.2p 7.2r 2.7a 1.8s 0.1b +34.0 8.1mfg 2.4mft 2.4to 2.8pf -15.7 = 18.3NP 11.7OE 6.6FG Improvements: Scoring, (Dave grew a jump shot), rebounding, assists, steals, fewer fouls
4) LeRon Ellis +9.5
Junior: 21.3m 11.3p 7.6r 1.4a 2.1s 1.5b +23.9 5.6mfg 1.5mft 1.3to 5.6pf -14.0 = 9.9NP 5.7OE 4.2FG
Senior: 29.0m 15.3p 10.6r 1.9a 2.7s 3.4b +33.9 5.9mfg 2.0mft 1.9to 4.7pf -14.5 = 19.4NP 7.4OE 12.0FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks and fewer fouils..
5) Terrence Roberts +8.9
Freshman: 7.6m 9.3p 9.0r 0.8a 1.9s 1.7b 22.7+ 6.4mfg 1.9mft 2.7to 7.6pf 18.6- = 4.1NP 1.0OE 3.1FG
Sophomore: 18.5m 15.6p 8.5r 1.3a 2.4s 1.8b 29.6+ 4.7mfg 2.4mft 3.0to 6.5pf 16.6- = 13.0NP 8.5OE 4.5FG Improvements: Scoring, assists, steals, fewer missed free throws and fouls.
6) Fab Melo +8.7
Freshman: 9.9m 9.4p 7.8r 1.0a 1.2s 3.1b 22.5+ 2.7mfg 2.0mft 3.1to 7.3pf 15.1- = 7.4NP 4.7OE 2.7FG
Sophomore: 25.4m 12.3p 9.2r 1.1a 0.8s 4.6b = 28.0+ 3.9mfg 1.2mft 2.3to 4.5pf = 11.9- = 16.1NP 7.2OE 8.9FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, blocks, fewer missed free throws, turnovers and fouls.
7) Jason Cipolla +8.4
Junior: 23.5m 13.1p 3.3r 2.3a 1.7s 0.2b +20.6 7.6mfg 0.8mft 2.1to 2.3pf -12.8 = 7.8NP 4.7OE 3.1FG
Senior: 33.4m 15.8p 4.2r 3.3a 1.8s 0.3b +25.4 4.8mfg 0.3mft 2.2to 1.9pf -9.2 = 16.2NP 10.7OE 5.5FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls.
8) Kris Joseph +8.0
Freshman: 12.1m 10.1p 7.1r 1.5a 2.6s 0.7b 22.0+ 5.2mfg 2.7mft 2.4to 3.1pf 13.4- = 8.6NP 2.2OE 6.4OE
Sophomore: 27.8m 15.6p 8.0r 2.5a 2.0s 0.6b 28.7+ 5.4mfg 1.6mft 2.5to 2.6pf 12.1- = 16.6NP 8.6OE 8.0FG +8.0 Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer missed free throws, fewer fouls
9) Derrick Coleman +7.8
Freshman: 30.6m 15.6p 11.4r 1.5a 1.5s 2.3b 32.3+ 4.7mfg 1.7mft 2.3to 4.1pf 12.8- = 19.5NP 8.1OE 11.4FG
Sophomore: 32.3m 16.7p 13.6r 2.7a 1.6s 2.0b 36.6+ 4.4mfg 2.5mft 0.8to 1.6pf 9.3- = 27.3NP 9.8OE 17.5FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, missed free throws, far fewer turnovers and fouls.
9) Rakeem Christmas +7.8
Junior: 23.6m 9.8p 8.6r 1.1a 0.8s 3.3b +23.6 2.4mfg 0.8mft 1.3to 5.3pf -9.8 = 13.8NP 6.6OE 7.2FG
Senior: 34.3m 21.6p 10.6r 1.8a 1.1s 2.9b = 36.7+ 6.2mfg 2.1mft 2.9to 3.9pf = 15.1- = 21.6NP 12.0OE 9.6FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, fewer fouls.
10) Eric Williams +7.5
Freshman: 8.4m 14.3p 11.4r 2.9a 1.7s 1.0b +30.3 3.8mfg 2.9mft 6.0to 5.0pf -17.7 = 12.6NP 7.6OE 5.0FG
Sophomore: 12.5m 17.8p 10.9r 3.2a 2.3s 0.9b +35.1 5.9mfg 0.7mft 4.1to 4.3pf -15.0 = 20.1NP 11.2OE 8.9FG Improvements: Scoring, assists, steals, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer turnovers and fouls.
10) Scoop Jardine +7.5
Freshman: 19.6m 11.2p 3.1r 5.1a 2.4s 0.2b 22.0+ 5.0mfg 0.4mft 3.7to 3.9pf 13.0- = 9.0NP 5.8OE 3.2FG
Sophomore: 22.2m 16.3p 3.5r 7.8a 2.1s 0.1b 29.8+ 6.1mfg 1.2mft 3.4to 2.6pf 13.3- = 16.5NP 9.0OE 7.5FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer turnovers and fouls..
11) Stevie Thompson +6.9
Freshman: 12.2m 16.6p 6.0r 2.4a 0.6s 1.9b 27.5+ 7.2mfg 3.4mft 3.8to 4.0pf 18.4- = 9.1NP 6.0OE 3.1FG
Sophomore: 30.6m 18.4p 6.4r 2.5a 1.5s 0.4b 29.2+ 5.7mfg 2.6mft 1.8to 3.1pf 13.2- = 16.0NP 10.1OE 5.9FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, steals, fewer missed field goals and free throws, far fewer turnovers and fewer fouls.
12) Etan Thomas: +6.6
Freshman: 16.3m 14.0p 10.3r 0.3a 0.9s 4.7b +30.2 4.7mfg 3.7mft 3.2to 5.7pf -17.3 = 12.9NP 5.6OE 7.3FG
Sophomore: 28.8m 15.7p 9.1r 0.6a 1.1s 5.5b +32.0 3.6mfg 2.7mft 2.3to 3.9pf -12.5 = 19.5NP 9.4OE 10.1FG Improvements: More scoring, assists, steals and blocks, fewer missed field goals and free throws, turnovers and fouls.
13) Sean Kerins +6.5
Junior 12.1m 14.1p 7.1r 1.2a 1.0s 0.7b 24.1+ 6.9mfg 1.0mft 1.5to 6.2pf 15.6- = 8.5np 6.2oe 2.3fg
Senior 28.3m 15.7p 7.9r 1.4a 1.0s 0.5b 26.5+ 6.4mfg 0.4mft 1.7to 3.0pf 11.5- = 15.0np 8.9oe 6.1fg Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer missed field goals and free throws, far fewer fouls.
14) Craig Forth: +6.3
Sophomore: 17.7m 8.5p 7.5r 1.9a 1.0s 2.7b +21.6 3.8mfg 1.3mft 2.5to 5.8pf -13.4 = 8.2NP 3.4OE 4.8FG
Junior: 23.2m 9.8p 10.0r 1.2a 1.0s 3.5b 25.5+ 3.3mfg 0.7mft 2.2to 4.8pf 11.0- = 14.5NP 5.8OE 8.7FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, blocks, missed field goals and free throws, turnovers and fouls.
14) Otis Hill +6.3
Sophomore: 20.3m 12.8p 8.7r 1.4a 2.0s 0.9b +25.8 4.6mfg 1.4mft 2.6to 6.6pf -15.2 = 10.6NP 6.8OE 3.8FG
Junior: 24.3m 20.8p 9.0r 0.9a 1.5s 1.4b +33.6 6.3mfg 1.9mft 2.8to 5.8pf -16.8 = 16.8NP 12.6OE 4.2FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, blocks, avoiding fouls.
15) Pearl Washington +6.1
Sophomore: 34.1m 18.0p 3.4r 7.1a 2.3s 0.1b 30.9+ 6.4mfg 1.4mft 5.3to 3.0pf 16.1- = 14.8NP 10.2OE 4.6FG
Junior: 32.2m 21.5p 3.1r 9.7a 3.2s 0.0b 37.5+ 7.3mfg 1.8mft 4.1to 3.4pf 16.6- = 20.9NP 12.4OE 8.5FG Improvement: Scoring, assists, steals, fewer turnovers. He had to take over when Addison and Seikaly got hurt.
16) Adrian Autry +5.9
Sophomore: 32.7m 13.5p 5.0r 4.9a 1.9s 0.2b +25.5 7.5mfg 1.5mft 4.0to 3.8pf -16.8 = 8.7NP 4.5OE 4.2FG
Junior: 31.8m 17.2p 4.6r 7.0a 2.5s 0.2b +31.5 8.0mfg 0.9mft 4.4to 3.6pf -16.9 = 14.6NP 8.3OE 6.3FG Improvements: Scoring, assists, steals, missed free throws
17) Greg Monroe +5.7
Sophomore: 21.4m 7.6p 2.0r 5.2a 1.4s 0.1b 16.3+ 4.1mfg 0.4mft 2.0to 1.5pf 8.0- = 8.3NP 3.1OE 5.2FG
Junior: 16.4m 11.1p 3.3r 6.8a 1.9s 0.2b 23.3+ 5.1mfg 1.0mft 2.1to 1.1pf 9.3- = 14.0NP 5.0OE 9.0FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, fewer fouls.
17) Trevor Cooney +5.7
Freshman: 11.2m 12.2p 2.9r 2.1a 2.6s 0.3b +20.1 9.1mfg 0.4mft 1.7to 3.0pf -14.2 =
5.9NP 3.1OE 2.8FG
Sophomore: 32.1m 15.0p 2.6r 1.4a 2.3s 0.2b +21.5 7.2mfg 0.4mft 1.0to 1.3pf -9.9 =
11.6NP 7.4OE 4.2FG Improvements: Scoring, fewer missed shots, fewer turnovers and fouls.
18) Andre Hawkins +5.6
Sophomore: 20.0m 11.0p 6.8r 1.2a 1.4s 1.2b 21.6+ 2.8mfg 1.0mft 2.3to 6.9pf 13.0- = 8.6np 7.2oe 1.4fg
Junior: 28.3m 14.8p 8.4r 2.1a 1.5s 1.2b 28.0+ 4.4mfg 1.2mft 2.6to 5.6pf 13.8- = 14.2np 9.2oe 5.0fg Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, assists, fewer fouls, (but still too many).
18) Josh Wright +5.6
Freshman: 8.5m 6.5p 3.0r 8.2a 2.0s 0.0b 19.7+ 6.2mfg 1.0mft 4.5to 3.2pf 14.9- = 4.8NP -0.7OE 5.5FG
Sophomore: 12.5m 13.4p 4.2r 5.1a 2.8s 0.0b 25.5+ 5.5mfg 2.6mft 4.4to 2.6pf 15.1- = 10.4NP 5.3OE 5.1FG Improvements: Scoring, (assists went sharply down), steals, missed field goals, fewer fouls.
19) Rony Seikaly +5.4
Sophomore: 27.3m 14.8p 11.4r 0.7a 1.1s 4.4b 32.4+ 4.6mfg 2.8mft 2.8to 5.2pf 15.4- = 17.0NP 7.4OE 9.6FG
Junior: 27.1m 22.2p 12.0r 1.4a 1.1s 3.0b 39.7+ 6.4mfg 3.7mft 2.9to 4.3pf 17.3- = 22.4NP 12.1OE 10.3FG Improvement: Scoring, rebounding, fewer fouls.
19) Scott McCorkle +5.4
Sophomore: 7.2m 10.2p 4.1r 2.3a 0.8s 0.0b +17.4 4.1mfg 0.9mft 1.8to 3.5pf -10.3= 7.1NP 5.2OE 1.9FG
Junior: 7.2m 13.9p 8.0r 2.4a 2.4s 0.0b +26.7 6.6mfg 0.7mft 2.4to 4.5pf -14.2 = 12.5NP 6.6OE 5.9FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, steals
19) Demetris Nichols +5.4
Sophomore: 12.9m 12.1p 6.5r 1.5a 1.3s 0.9b 22.3+ 7.3mfg 0.6mft 2.9to 3.7pf 14.5- = 7.8NP 4.2OE 3.6FG
Junior: 33.3m 16.0p 7.0r 1.7a 1.5s 1.1b 27.3+ 7.6mfg 1.0mft 2.2to 3.3pf 14.1- = 13.2NP 7.4OE 5.8FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, turnovers, fouls
20) Michael Gbinije +5.3
Sophomore: 14.6m 9.3p 4.8r 3.3a 2.0s 0.6b +20.0 4.6mfg 1.4mft 1.4to 4.5pf -11.9 = 8.1NP 3.3OE 4.8FG
Junior: 35.0m 14.5p 5.7r 4.1a 2.1s 0.4b = 26.8+ 6.2mfg 1.6mft 2.4to 3.2pf = 13.4- = 13.4NP 6.7OE 6.7FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, assists, fewer fouls
21) Conrad McRae +5.1
Junior: 29.4m 11.8p 8.4r 1.2a 2.0s 3.3b +26.7 3.6mfg 2.5mft 1.3to 5.3pf -12.7 = 14.0NP 5.7OE 8.3FG
Senior: 30.0m 16.4p 9.2r 0.6a 1.6s 3.6b +31.4 4.9mfg 1.0mft 2.1to 4.3pf -12.3 = 19.1NP 10.5OE 8.6FG Improvements: Scoring, rebounds, blocks, fewer missed free throws, fewer fouls
21) James Thues +5.1
Freshman: 7.7m 8.4p 2.4r 6.7a 2.6s 0.4b +20.5 4.1mfg 3.0mft 3.2to 4.1pf -14.4= 6.1NP 1.3OE 4.8FG
Sophomore: 31.3m 7.2p 3.7r 6.3a 3.6s 0.4b +21.2 3.5mfg 1.0mft 3.1to 2.4pf -10.0 = 11.2NP 2.7OE 8.5FG Improvements: Rebounding, steals, missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls
22) Rony Seikaly+5.0
Freshman: 25.0m 12.9p 10.2r 0.7a 0.6s 3.0b 27.4+ 4.2mfg 2.4mft 2.6to 6.2pf 15.4- = 12.0NP 6.3OE 5.7FG
Sophomore: 27.3m 14.8p 11.4r 0.7a 1.1s 4.4b 32.4+ 4.6mfg 2.8mft 2.8to 5.2pf 15.4- = 17.0NP 7.4OE 9.6FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks, fewer fouls.
22) Hakim Warrick +5.0
Freshman: 17.4m 14.0p 11.0r 1.2a 1.3s 1.4b +28.9 5.0mfg 2.4mft 2.6to 4.7pf -14.7 = 14.2NP 6.6OE 7.6FG
Sophomore: 32.7m 18.1p 10.4r 2.0a 1.7s 1.5b +33.7 5.8mfg 2.2mft 3.2to 3.3pf -14.5 = 19.2NP 10.1OE 9.1FG Improvements: scoring, assists, fewer fouls
22) Dion Waiters +5.0
Freshman:16.3m 16.1p 3.8r 3.6a 2.7s 0.3b 26.5+ 8.1mfg 0.6mft 2.2to 3.3pf 14.2- = 12.3NP 7.4OE 4.9FG
Sophomore: 24.1m 21.0p 3.8r 4.1a 3.0s 0.5b = 32.4+ 8.4mfg 1.4mft 2.2to 3.1pf = 15.1- = 17.3NP 11.2OE 6.1FG Improvements: points, assists, steals, blocks
23) James Southerland +4.9
Sophomore: 14.1m 13.7p 6.4r 1.3a 1.4s 1.6b 24.4+ 7.0mfg 0.3mft 0.6to 3.5pf 11.4- = 13.0NP 6.4OE 6.6FG
Junior: 16.0m 17.0p 7.8r 0.9a 2.1s 2.3b = 30.1+ 7.4mfg 0.7mft 0.8to 3.3pf = 13.7- = 17.9NP 8.9OE 9.0FG Improvements: scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks.
24) Jerami Grant +4.8
Freshman: 14.3m 10.8p 8.3r 1.3a 1.2s 1.2b +22.8 4.5mfg 2.2mft 1.8to 3.8pf -12.3 = 10.5NP 4.1OE 6.4FG
Sophomore: 31.4m 15.4p 8.6r 1.8a 1.0s 0.7b +27.5 5.4mfg 2.3mft 1.5to 3.0pf -12.2 = 15.3NP 7.7OE 7.6FG Improvements: scoring, fewer fouls
25) Rafael Addison +4.4
Freshman: 18.5m 18.3p 6.9r 2.6a 1.3s 0.7b 29.8+ 7.1mfg 1.5mft 2.8to 4.6pf 16.0- = 13.8np 9.7oe 4.1fg
Sophomore: 34.5m 20.5p 7.0r 2.6a 1.5s 0.7b 32.3+ 6.6mfg 0.8mft 2.8to 3.9pf 14.1- = 18.2np 13.1oe 5.1fg Improvements: scoring, fewer missed field goals and free throws, fewer fouls
25) Rodney Walker +4.4
Freshman: 12.6m 10.5p 9.9r 0.6a 0.9s 0.4b 22.3+ 4.9mfg 1.5mft 1.7to 7.1pf 15.2- = 7.1NP 4.1OE 3.0FG
Sophomore: 12.9m 13.7p 12.2r 0.9a 0.9s 0.2b 27.9+ 6.2mfg 1.5mft 2.7to 6.0pf 16.4- = 11.5NP 6.0OE 5.5FG Improvements: points, rebounds, assists, fewer fouls
Comments: There are 36 guys on this list due to ties.19 of the improvements were between freshman and sophomore seasons, 12 between sophomore and junior seasons and only 5 between their junior and senior years. Of those, Rakeem Christmas’ improvement was the third best behind LeRon Ellis and Jason Cipolla. A few of these guys were transfers so I don’t have data on their earlier seasons.
Some of these guys were career reserves, where the numbers can jump all over the place as the sample size is smaller and the caliber of opposition they personally faced is questionable, both in terms of the team and the point of the game in which they played. Some guys were reserves and became starters. You could argue that being a starter enabled them to get their confidence and timing and improved their spirits or that they became starters because their game had improved. Perhaps the most interesting improvements are by the guys who were already starters. I decided to define a starter as a guy who averaged 20 minutes a game. There are 11 such guys on the list. 16 guys were reserves and became starters. 8 guys were reserves in both years. One guy, (Greg Monroe) saw him minutes decline from over 20 to under 20. Of the guys who were already starters, Rakeem Christmas’ improvement is 4th best, behind LeRon Ellis, Jason Cipolla and Derek Coleman.
Some guys played more than one positon. Some guys were playing out of position. Some guy’s skill sets didn’t fit snuggly into a positon description but using the traditional classifications, based primarily on how ty were used, I’d call 12 of these centers, 14 of them forwards and 10 of them guards, so there’s no pattern of who improves the most in a season. Rak’s year was also the 4th best improvement by a center, behind Dave Siock, LeRon Ellis and Fab Melo.
We often hear how long it takes a big man to develop. Of the 12 centers, 5 had their big jump between their freshman and sophomore seasons, 4 between their sophomore and junior seasons and 3 between their junior and senior seasons. 8 forwards jumped between their freshman and sophomore seasons, 5 between their sophomore and junior seasons and 1 between his junior and senior seasons. With the guards it’s 6-3-1. So it takes centers a bit longer than forwards and forwards a bit longer than guards- in some cases. Overall 19 players had the big jump as sophomores, 12 as juniors and 5 as seniors. It would be a very general but not totally inaccurate statement to say that for most players, if they haven’t established themselves by the end of their sophomore year, the half-way point in their college career, they are probably not going to.
Here is a catalog of the areas of significant improvement, (I didn’t have a mathematical formula for determining “significance”- just the look test. Michael Grinije improving from 3.3 assists to 4.1 seemed significant: going form 2.0 steals to 2.1 did not):
Points: 35 players
Rebounds: 24
Assists: 21
Steals: 19
Blocks: 10
Missed Field Goals:11
Missed Free Throws: 15
Turnovers: 10
Personal Fouls: 31
Improving players score more, commit fewer fouls, rebound better and share the ball more. It’s really all about having a better awareness of what’s going on around them.
FOUR YEAR PLAYERS
Here is a chart of all the players who have played, (entire), four year careers here, just listing their “Net Points” and the net improvement from their freshman to their senior seasons. My records are limited to scholarship players who played 100 minutes in a season so some four year guys are not listed here because they had a season where they played less than that.
Rafael Addison 7.1 18.2 17.7 18.9 +11.8
Wendell Alexis 14.7 12.9 16.2 20.3 +5.6
Greg Monroe 8.6 8.3 14.0 14.5 +5.9
Rony Seikaly 12.0 17.0 22.4 21.1 +9.1
Herman Harried -0.3 7.7 10.7 11.8 +12.1
Sherman Douglas 20.7 21.1 19.1 20.3 -0.4
Derrick Coleman 19.5 27.3 28.5 26.7 +7.2
Stevie Thompson 9.1 16.0 19.9 15.6 +6.5
Dave Johnson 6.7 7.8 18.3 14.1 +7.4
Dave Siock -0.6 10.8 3.8 -0.8 -0.2
Michael Edwards 9.5 6.5 6.4 3.2 -6.3
Conrad McRae 10.6 14.9 14.0 19.1 +8.5
Adrian Autry 8.4 8.7 14.6 16.8 +8.4
Scott McCorkle 14.1 7.1 12.5 13.2 -0.9
Lawrence Moten 18.7 17.4 19.6 16.6 -2.1
Luke Jackson 6.1 8.4 11.8 12.8 +6.7
John Wallace 16.0 20.3 22.7 22.6 +6.6
Lazarus Sims 2.8 7.7 10.3 11.8 +9.0
Otis Hill 13.1 10.6 16.8 17.8 +4.7
Todd Burgan 10.9 13.1 13.9 16.2 +5.3
Jason Hart 10.6 8.9 12.8 12.7 +2.1
Etan Thomas 12.9 19.5 21.9 21.8 +8.9
Alan Griffin 5.8 8.0 10.7 10.7 +4.9
Preston Shumpert 11.8 14.1 17.5 18.3 +6.5
Kueth Duany 10.9 9.0 13.3 12.6 +1.7
Jeremy McNeill 8.0 12.0 11.8 11.6 +3.6
Craig Forth 10.7 8.2 14.5 14.4 +3.7
Hakim Warrick 14.2 19.2 19.3 20.5 +6.3
Josh Pace 13.5 15.4 13.5 16.2 +2.7
Gerry McNamara 12.9 13.6 13.3 14.2 +1.3
Demetris Nichols 5.7 7.8 13.2 17.9 +12.2
Terrence Roberts 4.1 13.0 14.5 14.5 +10.4
Arinze Onukau 13.5 17.3 17.4 18.5 +5.0
Andy Rautins 8.3 8.9 11.6 15.4 +7.1
Rick Jackson 14.7 19.2 20.3 22.1 +7.4
Scoop Jardine 9.0 16.5 13.0 15.3 +6.3
Kris Joseph 8.6 16.6 15.8 14.0 +5.4
Brandon Triche 12.4 11.1 13.9 11.3 -1.1
James Southerland 15.7 13.0 17.9 16.4 +0.7
C. J. Fair 15.5 14.8 16.3 12.8 -2.7
Baye Moussa Keita 11.1 10.5 11.7 8.1 -3.0
Rakeem Christmas 12.1 12.2 13.8 21.6 +9.5
comments: Demetris Nichols wins the award as the player who improved the most from his freshman to the his senior season. Of the 42 players who have played at least 100 minutes for four years here since 1986, 34 of them have improved from their freshmen to their senior years. Of the eight others four were career reserves and the others were Sherman Douglas, Lawrence Moten, Brandon Triche, CJ Fair and James Southerland, who was a reserve until late in his career. Douglas and Moten were so good as freshmen they had little room for improvement. Moten also was not well-served by a switch from small forward, his natural position, to shooting guard. Triche was good, not great from the beginning and remained that was for the rest of his career. Fair struggled in his senior year with being the focus of the defense. The players on the list averaged 10.7 as freshmen, 13.1 as sophomores, (+2.4), 15.2 as juniors, (+2.1), and 15.6 as seniors, (+0.4) so in this sample, the biggest improvement comes between the freshman and sophomore years. The average improvement over the course of a player’s career is +4.9NP. Rakeem Christmas has the biggest improvement form his junior to this senior year, (7.8). Dave Johnson had the best improvement from sophomore to juni9or, (10.5). Rafael Addison had the best from freshman to sophomore, (11.1)
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