Starting PG for 20-21

[Drew]

Threw Johnson in there because he is sort of an unknown to me but at 6'1" has probably played some point.

[sirthought]

I get why someone might say Johnson, but I think he's here to score and play defense. Everyone should be sharing and setting up others to score, but that's not the same thing as the floor general.

Coaches will want the younger guards to learn the point guard position, as they will hopefully be running the offense for a longer period of time.

I'm hoping either Tandy or Odom will move into those minutes more and more, but I really think Scruggs will take this season as a challenge to prove he can lead and play the point, as that is his best shot at a roll in the pro ranks. I can see the team having guys sort of playing point in tandem, but it's Scruggs team this year. He'll be the point guard.

[D-West & PO-Z]

For the sake of our team being as successful as possible I hope Odom is the real deal right away and can either start at PG right away or take over shortly in the season (hoping there is a season obviously). Scruggs is so much better off the ball. Maybe that changes with Naji gone and he feels more free even with the ball but I still think he will be most effective off the ball. KyKy was a lot better off the ball last year as well but I get he could make a jump and feel a lot more comfortable as the PG but I have reservations about it.

I am not one to hype freshman or usually have unrealistic expectations about them and I have concerns Odom would be able to start at PG right away but I think best case scenario for the team is he is able to do so. So I voted for him.

[atljar]

Please correct me if wrong, but wasnt Tandy playing point the majority of the minutes that he and Scruggs shared? I dont see why Scruggs is getting any love in this poll based on that point alone.

Kyky will be our PG to start the year. Hopefully by conference start Odom gets some meaningful minutes

[bleedXblue]

KyKy isn't a PG. That was pretty clear to see last year.

I hope we see Odom emerge quickly.

[atljar]

KyKy isn't a PG. That was pretty clear to see last year.

I hope we see Odom emerge quickly.

I agree that Tandy isnt a true PG. I also agree Odom will be our guy, eventually, and hopefully sooner than later. But as much as Scruggs wants to play PG and has played some in the past, hes a turn over machine and IMO makes more mental mistakes than anyone else on the team. That cant be our main PG early on

[Muskie]

I think Scruggs will start the season at PG and as Odom develops he will give way.

[Lloyd Braun]

I know others have said Odom is a true PG but I have some reservation on that ... As long as there is good motion and ball movement as a team I don’t put much stock into a specific position assuming those making the plays are sound decision makers. The mental errors have been exhausting to watch at times.

I want to see a LOT more PNR with Tandy or Scruugs/Freemantle. Free is a legit threat from inside and out which is a nightmare to try and contain with a legit guard/wing.

[Masterofreality]

I know others have said Odom is a true PG but I have some reservation on that ... As long as there is good motion and ball movement as a team I don’t put much stock into a specific position assuming those making the plays are sound decision makers. The mental errors have been exhausting to watch at times.

I want to see a LOT more PNR with Tandy or Scruugs/Freemantle. Free is a legit threat from inside and out which is a nightmare to try and contain with a legit guard/wing.

1,000% agree with this whole post. Hopefully the scheme will be more organized, clearer and simpler for those players to make the correct decisions.
I just don't think that as good as Dwon may be, that he can just step in as PG. Scruggy is much better off the ball. KyKy, at least, has some D1 PG game experience. I would hope that there will be O sets developed where the term PG in reality only is referring to which player brings the ball across the mid-court line then becomes basically irrelevant after that.

Besides Lloyd's PNR comment, I really need to see more off-ball screens- especially on the wings, to open guys up for potential back door cuts. That high ball screen offense last year was disgusting to behold- and pulled Tyrique away from the basket too much.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I get PG can be a fluid term or position but it is a little concerning to me we apparently have a team with no "true" PG on it.

I have some concerns at the PG spot in general. You either have a frosh running it or two guys who seem better off the ball who had some major turnover problems last year.

[Masterofreality]

I get PG can be a fluid term or position but it is a little concerning to me we apparently have a team with no "true" PG on it.

I have some concerns at the PG spot in general. You either have a frosh running it or two guys who seem better off the ball who had some major turnover problems last year.

See, I'm not. I would actually prefer the term "PC" for Play Caller.
Scruggy can be that on or off the ball to make sure that guys are at, and get to the right spots. It's really not a big deal who initiates the play with the ball, as long as the play is well designed and guys know where to go and what to do. Scruggy can be the director.

[xavierj]

1,000% agree with this whole post. Hopefully the scheme will be more organized, clearer and simpler for those players to make the correct decisions.
I just don't think that as good as Dwon may be, that he can just step in as PG. Scruggy is much better off the ball. KyKy, at least, has some D1 PG game experience. I would hope that there will be O sets developed where the term PG in reality only is referring to which player brings the ball across the mid-court line then becomes basically irrelevant after that.

Besides Lloyd's PNR comment, I really need to see more off-ball screens- especially on the wings, to open guys up for potential back door cuts. That high ball screen offense last year was disgusting to behold- and pulled Tyrique away from the basket too much.

The only thing I Disagree with Is that they pulled Ty away from the basket too often. That was a problem last year on that he was always stuck near the lane clogging it up for guys to drive or back cut, because they couldn’t with a clogged lane. It’s the reason they didn’t want to add a Tyrique type player that has to be close to the basket to score. Look back at the days prior to the last two years with shooters and how the offense was run. Travis designed that offense and that is what you will are going forward. If anyone believes the offense Xavier ran the last two years was what Travis wanted, you just are not paying attention.

[XUGRAD80]

See, I'm not. I would actually prefer the term "PC" for Play Caller.
Scruggy can be that on or off the ball to make sure that guys are at, and get to the right spots. It's really not a big deal who initiates the play with the ball, as long as the play is well designed and guys know where to go and what to do. Scruggy can be the director.

Villanova probably runs maybe two actual “plays”. The rest of their offense is based on positionless ball and concepts as to where players move on the floor and what they do based on what others are doing. Other great offenses were based much more on getting the bill out and breathing the opposition down the floor for easy baskets.

Just saying that there are many ways to skin a cat.

[D-West & PO-Z]

See, I'm not. I would actually prefer the term "PC" for Play Caller.
Scruggy can be that on or off the ball to make sure that guys are at, and get to the right spots. It's really not a big deal who initiates the play with the ball, as long as the play is well designed and guys know where to go and what to do. Scruggy can be the director.

Just curious what you saw last year from Scruggs and Kyky that make you feel confident that can initiate the plays effectively the majority of the time? They both turned it over a lot.

I think Scruggs is in for a big year next year being the lead dog without Naji around but I think he will be best off the ball.

KyKy I would expect to improve and be better but he looked a lot better off the ball as well.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Villanova probably runs maybe two actual “plays”. The rest of their offense is based on positionless ball and concepts as to where players move on the floor and what they do based on what others are doing. Other great offenses were based much more on getting the bill out and breathing the opposition down the floor for easy baskets.

Just saying that there are many ways to skin a cat.

Nova has also had great PG after great PG and obviously great shooters at every position.

[XUGRAD80]

Nova has also had great PG after great PG and obviously great shooters at every position.

So you’re saying that if a team doesn’t have a great PG and doesn’t have great shooters, it should run more structured plays?

[D-West & PO-Z]

So you’re saying that if a team doesn’t have a great PG and doesn’t have great shooters, it should run more structured plays?

I'm not saying anything other than any offense you run is way easier when you have players as good as Villanova. Great PGs and great shooters.

[XUGRAD80]

I'm not saying anything other than any offense you run is way easier when you have players as good as Villanova. Great PGs and great shooters.

No disagreement there. In fact, I’d say that IF Xavier had those elements over the last 2 years that there would be no negative comments being made about the coaching or the efficiency of its offense. I’ll also say that if a team has great shooters, they will make any PG look better.

As a coach once said....”great shooting makes up for a multiple of sins.”

[Muskie]

No disagreement there. In fact, I’d say that IF Xavier had those elements over the last 2 years that there would be no negative comments being made about the coaching or the efficiency of its offense. I’ll also say that if a team has great shooters, they will make any PG look better.

As a coach once said....”great shooting makes up for a multiple of sins.”


See Q's first two seasons versus his last two.

[xudash]

Odom. Call me silly.

Here's my overriding "thought": to hell with the "freshman" dynamic. He comes in immediately and proves that he belongs, and that opens up chess pieces to Steele in a good way.

We "Nova Up" a little, or a lot, hopefully.

[UCGRAD4X]

I agree with the Scruggs to start and Odom moving in. How far into the season...? How much practice time do they get before the season?
I also agree that the best scenario is Odom from the get-go.

Biggest factor: Freshman. Period.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

1,000% agree with this whole post. Hopefully the scheme will be more organized, clearer and simpler for those players to make the correct decisions.
I just don't think that as good as Dwon may be, that he can just step in as PG. Scruggy is much better off the ball. KyKy, at least, has some D1 PG game experience. I would hope that there will be O sets developed where the term PG in reality only is referring to which player brings the ball across the mid-court line then becomes basically irrelevant after that.

Besides Lloyd's PNR comment, I really need to see more off-ball screens- especially on the wings, to open guys up for potential back door cuts. That high ball screen offense last year was disgusting to behold- and pulled Tyrique away from the basket too much.

Hard for me to disagree with MOR on anything. The man is a Genius and strong enough to nail his theses about Coach Steele to the doors of Bellermine Chapel while enduring the slings and arrows of this board's traditionalists.

But, while Scruggs may open up at the "1", everything I've read and what little I've seen tells me Odom is the truest P.G. we will have. It is extremely difficult for a true freshman to come in and start at any position in a tough conference like the B.E., much less at the point. But, Scruggs, as others have noted, is hugely more effective off the ball. Tandy is capable of playing point (I think he didn't get many minutes at that spot last season). But, to maximize his offensive capabilities, he also needs to be off the ball. And, based on last season, Tandy's minutes will be justified by his offensive production not his defensive skills.

let's hope we have a season!

[AviatorX]

Villanova probably runs maybe two actual “plays”. The rest of their offense is based on positionless ball and concepts as to where players move on the floor and what they do based on what others are doing. Other great offenses were based much more on getting the bill out and breathing the opposition down the floor for easy baskets.

Just saying that there are many ways to skin a cat.

Xavier has run wayyyyyyyyyyyy too many called sets the past few years to get where they ever want to go offensively. Travis would be the first to tell anyone that.

[Masterofreality]

Just curious what you saw last year from Scruggs and Kyky that make you feel confident that can initiate the plays effectively the majority of the time? They both turned it over a lot.

I think Scruggs is in for a big year next year being the lead dog without Naji around but I think he will be best off the ball.

KyKy I would expect to improve and be better but he looked a lot better off the ball as well.

I'm going to reignite a firestorm on here if I go into my rant again as to why there were so many turnovers over the last two years. I think that, again given a clearly designed overall scheme, that they will be fine.

[JEHARDI]

Good breakdown of Q”s career by Banners and how much more effective he was with shooters around him. Offense will be fine with some guys that can consistently knock down shots again.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Good breakdown of Q”s career by Banners and how much more effective he was with shooters around him. Offense will be fine with some guys that can consistently knock down shots again.

We have litigated (and re-litigated) the subject so many times on this board. But, I just cannot understand what happened to Q's game between his Sophomore and Junior seasons. It is just baffling to me that a young man with (seemingly) so much potential could regress so significantly. I agree there was a sharp decline in the talent around him in the second half of his career but there was still plenty of talent. Q was the player on the court in the best position to exploit the talent that was on the court with him. But, he didn't and his mental state seemed to decline precipitously in the latter half of his college hoops career.

Anyway, this is old news but I still wonder................

[Xville]

I love scruggs and I'm so glad he came back, he should bring some needed leadership to the team with naji and q off of it. However, he was pretty terrible last year when put in the pg position, he was not a good decision maker at all, and plays so much better off the ball. Now, maybe all of this will change with q and naji off the team, chemistry might have just affected a lot of things last year.

Odom hopefully will be good enough to be the starting pg by end of the season, but honestly I think kyky is our best option at the start of the year. He showed great flashes of being able to get to the rim last year, and though he had some freshmen mistakes, I thought he was pretty competent when asked to start the offense.

All of this is moot if odom is a stud from day one.

Odom-pg
Kyky-SG
Scruggs-3
Free-4
Miles maybe at the 5??

[xufan2020]

We have litigated (and re-litigated) the subject so many times on this board. But, I just cannot understand what happened to Q's game between his Sophomore and Junior seasons. It is just baffling to me that a young man with (seemingly) so much potential could regress so significantly. I agree there was a sharp decline in the talent around him in the second half of his career but there was still plenty of talent. Q was the player on the court in the best position to exploit the talent that was on the court with him. But, he didn't and his mental state seemed to decline precipitously in the latter half of his college hoops career.

Anyway, this is old news but I still wonder................
There were some perimeter players in the Prosser era that seemed to experience similar regressions: Lumpkin, Mo Mcafee, Lloyd Price. Does anyone with better recollection of that time remember what happened to those three?

[xudash]

We have litigated (and re-litigated) the subject so many times on this board. But, I just cannot understand what happened to Q's game between his Sophomore and Junior seasons. It is just baffling to me that a young man with (seemingly) so much potential could regress so significantly. I agree there was a sharp decline in the talent around him in the second half of his career but there was still plenty of talent. Q was the player on the court in the best position to exploit the talent that was on the court with him. But, he didn't and his mental state seemed to decline precipitously in the latter half of his college hoops career.

Anyway, this is old news but I still wonder................

Frankly, having a child does tend to add to one’s “schedule”.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I love scruggs and I'm so glad he came back, he should bring some needed leadership to the team with naji and q off of it. However, he was pretty terrible last year when put in the pg position, he was not a good decision maker at all, and plays so much better off the ball. Now, maybe all of this will change with q and naji off the team, chemistry might have just affected a lot of things last year.

Odom hopefully will be good enough to be the starting pg by end of the season, but honestly I think kyky is our best option at the start of the year. He showed great flashes of being able to get to the rim last year, and though he had some freshmen mistakes, I thought he was pretty competent when asked to start the offense.

All of this is moot if odom is a stud from day one.

Odom-pg
Kyky-SG
Scruggs-3
Free-4
Miles maybe at the 5??

Not to turn this thread into a starting lineup debate but I can't conceive any situation in my head where Carter isn't a starter. Definitely at least in the beginning. Miles or Ramsey would really have to make Steele start them by their play being so unexpected for me to see Carter not start at the 4.

[D-West & PO-Z]

There were some perimeter players in the Prosser era that seemed to experience similar regressions: Lumpkin, Mo Mcafee, Lloyd Price. Does anyone with better recollection of that time remember what happened to those three?

Lumpkin is especially the one that comes to mind. But I was only 13 his senior season so I cant say I have a clear memory of his issues.

[xukeith]

Lumpkin is especially the one that comes to mind. But I was only 13 his senior season so I cant say I have a clear memory of his issues.

Sherwin Anderson, Kenny Harvey, Tyson Brit, and Brien Hanley (at X between 1993-1995)
I believe Anderson and Brit played the most.

[MHettel]

Sherwin Anderson, Kenny Harvey, Tyson Brit, and Brien Hanley (at X between 1993-1995)
I believe Anderson and Brit played the most.

Brit played 2 years, maybe. Didn't see much time. Hanley didn't make it on the court ever (left before the season started, I think...).

Also, we were in the MCC, so talent expectations should be calibrated.

And, I don't think Lumpkin was even at XU from 93-95. He came in for the 95-96 season.

[Drew]

So seeing Odom as the expected starting PG when the season reaches full swing, I am guessing Scruggs will start at SF. He has the length and strength defend the 3 and I think it could play well to his strength backing it up in the post.

[Xuperman]

Sherwin Anderson, Kenny Harvey, Tyson Brit, and Brien Hanley (at X between 1993-1995)
I believe Anderson and Brit played the most.

Loved Sherwin Anderson! That guy was the quickest guy on the floor most days.....KyKy reminds me of him.

[Xuperman]

So seeing Odom as the expected starting PG when the season reaches full swing, I am guessing Scruggs will start at SF. He has the length and strength defend the 3 and I think it could play well to his strength backing it up in the post.

That is a unusual prediction. Don't think Scruggy would be comfortable operating in the frontcourt....his game is getting to the paint from the backcourt. I'm hoping Jones or Wilcher can get some traction at the 3.

[drudy23]

Best case scenario, Odom is good enough to start from the get go and we see a bunch of Scruggs, Odom and KyKy at the same time. I don’t care what positions they play.