Jimmy Chitwood

[Snipe]

Here are the stats for Ryan Wellage through 14 games:


From 3 point range:

Game 1 (1 game)
6-13 for 46%

Games 2 through 6 (5 games)
6-21 for 29%

Games 7 through 14 (8 games)
22-43 for 51%

I am working on a theory that I would like Jimmy Chitwood to shoot the ball as much as humanly possible. I would like to advise our other players that they should get the ball to Jimmy Chitwood in rhythm when possible. Whether in transition or in the half court, we need to constantly focus on getting Jimmy the ball.

While some may want to focus on inadequacy, I would like to focus on adequacy. Jimmy Chitwood has a serious adequacy is shooting the basketball. This team seems to be on a trend that is warming to that adequacy.

[bleedXblue]

44% is pretty darn good.

Agreed, the kid needs to play 25-30 MPG

[drudy23]

44% is pretty darn good.

Agreed, the kid needs to play 25-30 MPG

Or more.

[Muskie]

Do his defensive metrics allow for 30 minutes per game?


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[bleedXblue]

Do his defensive metrics allow for 30 minutes per game?


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No, but this team has no other options at this point. He gives us exactly what this team desperately needs, a consistent outside threat who can knock down shots.

[xu82]

We should run him off the double picket fence.



(Even though he looks like he’s doing it wrong.)

[JTG]

Kyle Korver and Doug McDermott can't guard a lamp post, but they knock down 3s and spread the floor. The positive outweighs the negative. Steele, open your eyes, play Welage and give him the green light.

[IM4X]

Count me in as being onboard with more 3 attempts for RW.

Scruggs is shooting from 3 quite well too. Also above 40%

I think it was obvious from the start who should be shooting more 3s and who shouldn’t from the begining. At the beginning of the year Steele specifically mentioned Scruggs being much improved and the need to get the ball to Ryan... but somehow Q and Naji (both shooting below 30%) didn’t get the memo.

Not exactly hard to understand the better strategy is “Players who shoot best from 3 should be shooting more 3s. Players who are better at driving and drawing contact should be doing that more often.

In case anyone is wondering: Q and Marshall have both shot quite a few more 3s than Scruggs thus far this season - Bad strategy.

Let’s get that fixed coach.

[profson]

The Welage question depends on the opponent. He has a good skill on offense that works best with certain opponents and defensive deficiencies that can be exploited heavily by others. DePaul may be the best situation - slow, does not close out well, style of defense, players he can be matched up against. SHU may also be good. By contrast SJU could be a nightmare - fast, athletic, quick hands, close out well, 5 out style, stretch 4 and wings such as Clark and Simon and Heron (which one does he guard and defend screens or dribble drives from near the 3-point line?). Marquette is probably also a problem. Which of the Hausers do you want him to guard and to try to get open 3s against?

[UCGRAD4X]

I have been saying for a while that Welage needs to shoot more. I'm not sure if TS is telling him to and he isn't - it does seem to me that Ryan himself seems to have a lot more opportunities than he is taking. My guess is that coaches are telling him to shoot and he is reluctant at times.

My caveat is that he needs to to pump fake and drive enough to slow the closeouts just a tad. He doesn't seem to have the quickest release and needs to be set a certain way which takes time.

[bleedXblue]

I have been saying for a while that Welage needs to shoot more. I'm not sure if TS is telling him to and he isn't - it does seem to me that Ryan himself seems to have a lot more opportunities than he is taking. My guess is that coaches are telling him to shoot and he is reluctant at times.

My caveat is that he needs to to pump fake and drive enough to slow the closeouts just a tad. He doesn't seem to have the quickest release and needs to be set a certain way which takes time.

Welage shoots quite a bit. Its not often hes open and doesn't shoot. He just needs more playing time.

[drudy23]

The Welage question depends on the opponent. He has a good skill on offense that works best with certain opponents and defensive deficiencies that can be exploited heavily by others. DePaul may be the best situation - slow, does not close out well, style of defense, players he can be matched up against. SHU may also be good. By contrast SJU could be a nightmare - fast, athletic, quick hands, close out well, 5 out style, stretch 4 and wings such as Clark and Simon and Heron (which one does he guard and defend screens or dribble drives from near the 3-point line?). Marquette is probably also a problem. Which of the Hausers do you want him to guard and to try to get open 3s against?

The fact is, most Big East teams are going to be more athletic than us this year. Someone still has to score and be able to knock down shots. He needs to play 30+ minutes a game. He's our only consistent outside threat.

[bleedXblue]

The fact is, most Big East teams are going to be more athletic than us this year. Someone still has to score and be able to knock down shots. He needs to play 30+ minutes a game. He's our only consistent outside threat.

Agreed AND again....... Hardin, Kennedy and Castlin have all had to opportunity to do more and contribute on the offensive end. All 3 have not delivered.

[Xuperman]

The stats for all BE players are a bit surprising and put this 3 ball discussion in perspective. RW is just outside the top 10 in triples attempted. He comes in at 11. Among those 11 he is tied for SECOND in percentage at .442 on 77 attempts. There are 4 guys with over 100 launched....Howard leads with 121.

So, technically he IS getting looks at a high rate but a few more can't hurt. He should produce nicely somewhere in the middle at about 8 attempts pg.

[drudy23]

Not sure why this seems to be an issue with some. Welage and Scruggs have been our two best offensive weapons. Hopefully, Naji and Tyrique join the conversation in the second half of the season.

[Xuperman]

Now here is what irks me more. Paul Scruggs is FOURTH among ALL BEast players in 3 ball percentage, making his at a eye popping .463 clip, however he has managed only 41 attempts. I agree that Welage has somewhat a slow release and has some difficulty creating space, but that's certainly not an issue with Scruggs. He needs to be shooting a lot more!

[GoMuskies]

I don't remember Scruggs taking a lot of bad threes, either. They have mostly come in rhythm. I don't want him forcing bad 3s just to get more shots off. Now, I DO want him to take every single open, in-rhythm 3 he has the opportunity to take. He's passed up a few in the flow of the offense, and those possessions do not usually turn out well.

[MHettel]

Are people even considering the possibility that Scruggs and Welage are shooting at such a high clip because they are using good judgement in their shot selection?

Welage and Scruggs obviously can hit open 3's. They tend to resist the urge when the defense is closing or there is too much traffic in the area, and instead they look for someone to pass to.

Defenses are NOT going top leave either of these guys open. They get open on the break (Welage in the corner), on offensive rebounds that get kicked out, or when a defense collapses to stop a drive.

Steele shouldn't just tell welage to shoot more. That wont work. What WOULD work is if Steele desugned more plays that resulted in an open look for Welage, and then then called those plays more often. Lots of screens and a good ballhandler can deliver shots to Welage. Scruggs not as much, because he would be one of the ballhandlers in that situation...

I think the shot selection has been great. i dont see any reason to have Welage force 4 more shots per game, and just hit one of them.

Contract these ideas with what we are seeing from Q and Naji. Defenses are taunting them by providing open looks from 3, knowing that they both have struggled to capitalize.

Bottom line is that forced 3 point shots are among the worst decision to make offensively, and collectively our guys have stayed away from forced 3's. However 2 of the 4 are nailing them, while the other 2 are struggling.

[Xuperman]

I don't remember Scruggs taking a lot of bad threes, either. They have mostly come in rhythm. I don't want him forcing bad 3s just to get more shots off. Now, I DO want him to take every single open, in-rhythm 3 he has the opportunity to take. He's passed up a few in the flow of the offense, and those possessions do not usually turn out well.

It’s all up to coach of course, but Paul Scruggs is just a soph. He is still getting a feel for what kind of scorer he will become. I would like him to play more like Myles Powell. There’s a guy that forces a lot of 3’s, and misses a lot, but is still very effective because it’s a numbers game. Powell exudes confidence and determination ala Ponds/Howard/Diallo.....Paul needs more of that. He plays a bit timid at times IMO.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Kyle Korver and Doug McDermott can't guard a lamp post, but they knock down 3s and spread the floor. The positive outweighs the negative. Steele, open your eyes, play Welage and give him the green light.

Not that I dont think Welage should get some more minutes with his shooting but to even put him in the same sentence as Korver and Dougie McBuckets is laughable. They were All Americans who not only were amazing shooters but could drive as well. And Korver is a much better defender than most people realize.

[drudy23]

Welage has the green light. He's always had the green light.

But it's much easier to guard him knowing you don't have to guard Q and Naji on the perimeter. There's a reason why Q and Naji are always open from 3.

[scoscox]

It’s all up to coach of course, but Paul Scruggs is just a soph. He is still getting a feel for what kind of scorer he will become. I would like him to play more like Myles Powell. There’s a guy that forces a lot of 3’s, and misses a lot, but is still very effective because it’s a numbers game. Powell exudes confidence and determination ala Ponds/Howard/Diallo.....Paul needs more of that. He plays a bit timid at times IMO.

Scruggs just isn't the same type of player as Myles Powell offensively and probably never will be. He's not anywhere near as good or confident a shooter yet. It could happen, but he's just not a gunner like Powell and I don't think it's wise to force him into that. Paul is more of a jalen brunson type of player in that he's very good in the post and an efficient scorer at all levels, but he's not a shot hunter like Powell or Trevon Bluiett.

Like you said though he's still feeling out what he will be offensively. His shooting is already greatly improved.

[scoscox]

Not that I dont think Welage should get some more minutes with his shooting but to even put him in the same sentence as Korver and Dougie McBuckets is laughable. They were All Americans who not only were amazing shooters but could drive as well. And Korver is a much better defender than most people realize.

You're telling me he's not as good as one of the greatest college players of all time and a 17 year NBA vet? Outrageous! Welly is clearly better than McBuckets

One of the biggest differences is that both of those guys, especially Korver, know how to get their shots off quickly. Welage's shot is extremely deliberate. He'll need to improve that to be more effective. Also, those guys were better ball-handlers, defenders, and rebounders than Welage by a significant margin based on what I've seen so far.

[scoscox]

That said, Welly's O/Drtg splits are pretty ridiculous
131.3/108.6

131.3 is spectacular for a non-post player

[drudy23]

You're telling me he's not as good as one of the greatest college players of all time and a 17 year NBA vet? Outrageous! Welly is clearly better than McBuckets

One of the biggest differences is that both of those guys, especially Korver, know how to get their shots off quickly. Welage's shot is extremely deliberate. He'll need to improve that to be more effective. Also, those guys were better ball-handlers, defenders, and rebounders than Welage by a significant margin based on what I've seen so far.

Welage is a spot-up shooter. He will always be that. He's a taller Brad Redford.

He's never going to be the "get your own shot" guy.

[paulxu]

They get open....or when a defense collapses to stop a drive.

Paging Q.

[whopper]

I love Welage (and all our transfers) but you can't feed anyone anymore..the defenses are too sophisticated. Last year against Providence and Florida State we went to Kanter in key situations 3 consecutive times..he got the basket the first two times (and we held the lead) the third time a miss in the deep post due to double let to run outs for Providence and Florida state and turned the game. I remember both times they tied it after the miss(it would have helped if we made a stop after Kanter first two baskets but we didn't). Feed Welage in rhythm and get the 12-15 points. Good luck X my daughters will be at game and I will watch from Conn