Stat!

[MHettel]

How about this stat.

In 567 minutes over the course of 24 games, Isiah Philmore has blocked ZERO shots.

I can't even comprehend that.

I wonder what his block differential is this year? By that I mean the difference bewteen the number of time's he get his shot blocked vs. the number of times he's blocked a shot. I would guess that it's got to be -50 at least. Expressed as a percentage, it's INFINITE.

[Kahns Krazy]

Since shots he's taken and shots he's blocked come from discrete populations, it would be inappropriate to express it as a percentage regardless, but in this case, the correct answer would be "undefined" as opposed to "infinite".

[paulxu]

I guess that's a pretty bad stat.
But, the National Player of the Year candidate at Creighton had 2 blocks all of last year, and only 3 this year in the same number of games.
So...who knows.

[xu82]

Since shots he's taken and shots he's blocked come from discrete populations, it would be inappropriate to express it as a percentage regardless, but in this case, the correct answer would be "undefined" as opposed to "infinite".

Doc Webb?

[MHettel]

Since shots he's taken and shots he's blocked come from discrete populations, it would be inappropriate to express it as a percentage regardless, but in this case, the correct answer would be "undefined" as opposed to "infinite".

Oh, well nevermind then.

[MHettel]

I guess that's a pretty bad stat.
But, the National Player of the Year candidate at Creighton had 2 blocks all of last year, and only 3 this year in the same number of games.
So...who knows.

McDermott probably makes up for it with the 15 or so extra points he scores per game.

Honestly I dont have that much of a problem if a guy has a weakness when compared to his peers. But a starting PF that has zero blocks. Thats almost impossible. And 5 steals for the season. And 12 assists for the season. But 35 turnovers...

Seriously. How do you think the opposing coach game plans for Philmore? Basically you tell your big men to try to isolate Philmore defensively down low and back him down. Thats it. Won't get blocked. Won't alter your shot.

Philmore shoots 51% from the field which is pretty decent. But this group of 5 guys shoots 53.5% as a group and the next lowest guy is Stainbrook at 53.2%. Farr, Stenger and Reynolds are shooting 55.8% as a group.

Farr and Reynolds combined have played 10 more minutes than Philmore. In those 10 minutes they have 16 more baskets. And 23 more offensive rebounds. And 61 more total rebounds. Farr and Reynolds have 15 steals compared to 5 for Philmore. They have 28 blocks compared to zero. They only have 27 turnovers compared to 35. Philmore does have the edge in assists (a not very impressive 12 vs. an even less impressive 8), and doesnt commit fouls at the same rate (71 vs. 98). Philmore is unquestionably better at getting to the line (91 vs. 44) and making the FT (64 vs. 26).

Bottom line is simple. Philmore is limited at this level. His athleticism is woefully low vs the competition, and a size advantage that he may have had at Towson was negligble in the A-10 and is really a disadvantage in the Big East.

I do not understand the point of starting Stenger each game, but then taking him out within 2 minutes and he doesnt see the floor again. Does anyone see the point in that? Thats happened like 2 games in a row, and it's not like we've seen some positive response in Philmore's play.

And, what the hell with Farr. That guy puts up great numbers. He stretches the floor (a HALLMARK of the best XU teams from the mid 2000s, and can play defense and rebound).

I think we need to cut Isiah down to about 15-16 minutes a game at most, primarily near the end where his ability to get fouled can help.

I realize that Farr and Reynolds foul too much, but seriously, if you are only playing very limited minutes then it doesn even matter. I think an increase in their minutes will naturally result in a little better decision making for those guys.

Happens every year. Old guys give way to the new guys. Now is the time.

[xu82]

I believe Dee Davis has a block..... ok, just one. And I seem to recall a game where he had more rebounds than Philmore. You'd think there'd be a block at least once for a forward with so many minutes, but sometimes the numbers are funny. Do what you do well and contribute the best you can. Trust the coaches to decide minutes. They're kinda smart about hoops stuff. I know I am not approaching a million per year with my basketball expertise. And they're the ones with the opportunity to double their income or lose the gig and scramble for a new job. I wondered early this year why JMart got so much time, but they know things I don't. (It's fun to watch and have an opinion and a place to vent though!)

[MHettel]

Yeah I get it. I realize what Philmore does. He can rebound a little and gets to the line. But thats not enought. He probably would have been a really solid contributor on some other XU teams. But the competition level has changed, and it's time to dish out more minutes to 2 guys that have shown flashes...

[xu82]

And I get that.

[XU 87]

Yeah I get it. I realize what Philmore does. He can rebound a little and gets to the line. But thats not enought. He probably would have been a really solid contributor on some other XU teams. But the competition level has changed, and it's time to dish out more minutes to 2 guys that have shown flashes...

Farr has played terrible defense as of late. He's not going to get anymore minutes until his defense gets better. Jalen Reynolds has played well lately, but let's not act as though he's putting up double doubles.

Philmore is limited athletically. And he leaves you shaking your head when misses some easy inside shot. But when the game is over, he usually has about 7-10 points and 5-6 rebounds. Right now, he's the best we got.

In 23.5 minutes per game, Philmore has averaged 8.5 points per game and 5 boards.

In 10.5 minutes per game Reynolds has averaged 3 ppg and 3 boards per game.

Philmore is at least starting to take, and make, a 15 foot jump shot.

[Emp]

There is no stat for monster picks set for Semaji. Chris Mack surely has a place in his heart for big blocks of granite after two years with Crews at Evansville. He's not as wide as Marty Simmons, but he gets that job, and much more of the systemic defense that Mack wants.

Obsessing about one stat leads to bad decision making. Cf Guys who take walks.

[UCGRAD4X]

I believe Dee Davis has a block..... ok, just one.

I think I remember Brad Redford getting a block his last year. :jawdrop2:

[XUFan09]

I think I remember Brad Redford getting a block his last year. :jawdrop2:

http://fromstaaktomack.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/brad-redford-monster-block/

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Philmore also has the most important missed lay-ups (on the men's side...sorry Dee Dee) at Xavier in the last few years. The one in the A-10 was crushing, and obviously Saturday's was really painful as well.

He is so grounded it is crazy, and that is exacerbated by the fact that Stain is attached to the floor as well.

I'm ready to be finished with the Towson / Monmouth / NKU / Hillsdale transfers for a while......now the Oklahoma / Indiana transfers, not surprisingly, they have worked out a little bit better.

[The_Mack_Pack]

I'm ready to be finished with the Towson / Monmouth / NKU / Hillsdale transfers for a while......now the Oklahoma / Indiana transfers, not surprisingly, they have worked out a little bit better.

Agreed. Not sure why we're taking transfers from lesser programs and actually playing them substantially. Bring us more Jordan Crawfords and Drew Lavenders.

[GoMuskies]

Travis Taylor, CJ Anderson and Big Stain all really suck (or sucked, as the case may be).

Or maybe, just maybe, that's ridiculous.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Travis Taylor, CJ Anderson and Big Stain all really suck (or sucked, as the case may be).

Or maybe, just maybe, that's ridiculous.

Did I mention Manhattan or Western Michigan? Travis Taylor had an atrocious Junior year but everyone forgets that because he was okay his senior year. He also was a turd off the court, for the record.

CJ was awesome, provided just what this team needed, and I'd love another one. Matt is okay, but the point remains we've had more success in the transfer world taking kids from big programs than we have from small / D-II / D-III programs.

Nice extrapolation of my point though...and sophomoric name calling (ridiculous).

[GoMuskies]

So you put Manhattan and Western Michigan in with the Indianas and Oklahomas and not in with the Monmouths and Towsons?

Interesting (is that too sophomoric for you?)

[XUFan09]

I don't know why NKU is even mentioned. Stenger was brought on as a privileged walk-on. If a player needed a scholarship, his was the first to be taken.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

So you put Manhattan and Western Michigan in with the Indianas and Oklahomas and not in with the Monmouths and Towsons?

Interesting (is that too sophomoric for you?)

I didn't know I had to include them anywhere. CJ is a special case in my opinion because he is a local kid who came home (wish Hite would have joined him), and Matt is okay. Not a world-beater, not underachieving...so I didn't feel the need to include him in either group.

[GoMuskies]

I think maybe generalizations as a whole are unwarranted on this particular point.

But that's just me.

[XUFan09]

I didn't know I had to include them anywhere. CJ is a special case in my opinion because he is a local kid who came home (wish Hite would have joined him), and Matt is okay. Not a world-beater, not underachieving...so I didn't feel the need to include him in either group.

On the Holy Land of Hoops, fans of our conference foes are talking about Stainbrook as a possible member of one of the all-conference teams, but apparently here he is just "okay."

[MHettel]

Stainbrook is very good. Honestly, take the post Brian Grant era and list all of the PF/C (true bigs) in order. David West is #1, then I think you've got Stainbrook and Love fighting for that #2 spot. Other guys like McLean, Freese, Taylor and CJ were decent but I think Stain is better than all of them

As far as transfers go, the thing that is overlooked is how they affect your roster. Most transfers come over as Juniors. Given that all transfers have to sit out (unless you are Dez Wells), they essentially take up 3 years of "roster spots" to play for 2 years. That a steep price. Compare that to a redhirt freshman where you have 5 years of roster consumed, but 4 years to play.

That off year for transfers is often overlooked. And by the way, we've had ALOT of transfers in (Remy Abell, Stainbrook, Philmore, Travis Taylor, McLean, Crawford, CJ, Lavender, others?)

[XUFan09]

I'm not too concerned about scholarship space when we have the scholarship to give. The D1 average transfer rate is more than one transfer per year per school, and Xavier is no different. The ideal would be oversigning on recruits (and Xavier at least only oversigns if it's a can't-miss, like Bluiett) to prepare for that, but transfers are a nice alternative. They also are good for class balance, when transfers do screw that up. The 2010 class was a bust (with Martin joining the 2011 class in terms of when his eligibility ends), but the team has at least one scholarship senior in Philmore (technically three with Stenger and Amos). They were really close to picking up a 5th-year transfer too.

[markchal]

Stainbrook is very good. Honestly, take the post Brian Grant era and list all of the PF/C (true bigs) in order. David West is #1, then I think you've got Stainbrook and Love fighting for that #2 spot. Other guys like McLean, Freese, Taylor and CJ were decent but I think Stain is better than all of them

So basically bigs that can't shoot, ruling out Duncan/Doellman, right? I agree Stainbrook is very good and love his passing, but I'd definitely take Love and even Anthony Myles over Stain. Myles gets overlooked a lot but he could play. And even though he wasn't on great teams, I'd have Thornton in the discussion, although probably right behind Stain.

[THRILLHOUSE]

Philmore just blocked a shot!

[ammtd34]

THERE IT IS! Great timing on this thread.

[Retire33]

So basically bigs that can't shoot, ruling out Duncan/Doellman, right? I agree Stainbrook is very good and love his passing, but I'd definitely take Love and even Anthony Myles over Stain. Myles gets overlooked a lot but he could play. And even though he wasn't on great teams, I'd have Thornton in the discussion, although probably right behind Stain.

If your talking post 33 era, you guys missed a few name. Torraye Braggs, Larry Sykes, and TJ Johnson. I think all the names are in the discussion for top 2 thru 5 since The General left.

[TUclutch]

McDermott probably makes up for it with the 15 or so extra points he scores per game.

Honestly I dont have that much of a problem if a guy has a weakness when compared to his peers. But a starting PF that has zero blocks. Thats almost impossible. And 5 steals for the season. And 12 assists for the season. But 35 turnovers...

Seriously. How do you think the opposing coach game plans for Philmore? Basically you tell your big men to try to isolate Philmore defensively down low and back him down. Thats it. Won't get blocked. Won't alter your shot.

Philmore shoots 51% from the field which is pretty decent. But this group of 5 guys shoots 53.5% as a group and the next lowest guy is Stainbrook at 53.2%. Farr, Stenger and Reynolds are shooting 55.8% as a group.

Farr and Reynolds combined have played 10 more minutes than Philmore. In those 10 minutes they have 16 more baskets. And 23 more offensive rebounds. And 61 more total rebounds. Farr and Reynolds have 15 steals compared to 5 for Philmore. They have 28 blocks compared to zero. They only have 27 turnovers compared to 35. Philmore does have the edge in assists (a not very impressive 12 vs. an even less impressive 8), and doesnt commit fouls at the same rate (71 vs. 98). Philmore is unquestionably better at getting to the line (91 vs. 44) and making the FT (64 vs. 26).

Bottom line is simple. Philmore is limited at this level. His athleticism is woefully low vs the competition, and a size advantage that he may have had at Towson was negligble in the A-10 and is really a disadvantage in the Big East.

I do not understand the point of starting Stenger each game, but then taking him out within 2 minutes and he doesnt see the floor again. Does anyone see the point in that? Thats happened like 2 games in a row, and it's not like we've seen some positive response in Philmore's play.

And, what the hell with Farr. That guy puts up great numbers. He stretches the floor (a HALLMARK of the best XU teams from the mid 2000s, and can play defense and rebound).

I think we need to cut Isiah down to about 15-16 minutes a game at most, primarily near the end where his ability to get fouled can help.

I realize that Farr and Reynolds foul too much, but seriously, if you are only playing very limited minutes then it doesn even matter. I think an increase in their minutes will naturally result in a little better decision making for those guys.

Happens every year. Old guys give way to the new guys. Now is the time.

LOL at the bold if you're saying Farr can play defense. Farr is terrible on defense. Stenger starts because he has earned the minutes with hard work defense and hustle/energy. He also starts to basically get Philmore to the first tv timeout with zero fouls

[PM Thor]

Stainbrook is very good. Honestly, take the post Brian Grant era and list all of the PF/C (true bigs) in order. David West is #1, then I think you've got Stainbrook and Love fighting for that #2 spot. Other guys like McLean, Freese, Taylor and CJ were decent but I think Stain is better than all of them

As far as transfers go, the thing that is overlooked is how they affect your roster. Most transfers come over as Juniors. Given that all transfers have to sit out (unless you are Dez Wells), they essentially take up 3 years of "roster spots" to play for 2 years. That a steep price. Compare that to a redhirt freshman where you have 5 years of roster consumed, but 4 years to play.

That off year for transfers is often overlooked. And by the way, we've had ALOT of transfers in (Remy Abell, Stainbrook, Philmore, Travis Taylor, McLean, Crawford, CJ, Lavender, others?)

Listen to this man. He has wisdom coming out of his ocular cavities.

[MHettel]

The streak is broken! Althought he did get blcoked 4 times in the first half.

Farr is trying too hard. You can see it tonight. Over-rotating to try and make a play, resulting in his man being open for the J.

This is similar to a hitter helping teh pitcher by swinging at balls out of the strike zone. Plate discipline can help.

good game tonight.

[Emp]

Bump