Barnes on JJJ and JP - "it's up to them“

[mtvols]

You earn that trust in practice, not SEC play.

We won 11 games by 20+ points including some by more than 40 points yet BJE has played 48 total minutes for the year. It’s on Barnes for not getting him experience in these blowouts so we could have a backup PG for ZZ. At some point Barnes needs to recruit and play players for offense over defense. We can’t hold every opponent under 60.

 

[CAVPUT]

They’ve played him, and the only thing that’s been hot is his hot trash defense.

And that's on Barnes. He got spooked with the tampering claims with Collins and chose to ride with what he had. It's done, but let's see if an old dog can learn new tricks. What's he gonna do at PG for next season? Will he ride with ZZ and Edwards or dip his toes into the portal again?

 

[wtmvol]

Anybody know the +/- with BJE?

+/- in college isn’t very useful, but +/- on a player that’s played a total of 46 minutes? That isn’t going to tell you much of anything.
The site Sports-reference calculates a BPM (Box Plus Minus) and has BJE at 3.9. The stat is defined as “A box score estimate of the points per 100 possessions a player contributed above a league-average player, translated to an average team.” 3.9 is the 2nd lowest on the team of the scholarship players.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

We won 11 games by 20+ points including some by more than 40 points yet BJE has played 48 total minutes for the year. It’s on Barnes for not getting him experience in these blowouts so we could have a backup PG for ZZ. At some point Barnes needs to recruit and play players for offense over defense. We can’t hold every opponent under 60.

I suppose that there is no need to work on various combinations and giving work to the 3 newcomers that can actually play defense during those early season, lopsided wins.

 

[Yeiser10]

Meet Julian Phillips.

Or Kennedy Chandler

 

[cncchris33]

Defense doesn't matter if you can't score. Look at the past 10 national champions. All of them were top 10 in Kenpom offensive efficiency. You can't win every tournament game 55-54. Some team you're playing is going to shoot 50% from the field and 40% from 3 and then you are screwed.

You're missing the point, though. I'd be on board with the idea if Edwards was capable of going out and getting 20 ppg while giving up 10 due to poor defense. But he isn't that kind of offensive player. The gap between his offense and defense is a net zero or worse. Vescovi and ZZ are both capable of scoring 15, or more, and won't be a defensive liability. Edwards was barely a top-100 player. Those guys aren’t generally expected to come in and have a significant role as freshmen on a top-10 team.

 

[cncchris33]

Fine, don't play him. Then, just don't complain we we shoot 2 of 21 from 3 in the 1st or 2nd round and get bounced early,

If we get bounced early shooting 2 for 21, it won't be because we didn't play BJ Edwards. Get real.

 

[SGidds]

Meet Julian Phillips.

Or ZZ last year.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Trainers know that adrenaline and game excitement make players want to believe they’re healed. They agree on baseline tests to make it easier to know when they’ve gotten well enough to play. They don’t walk by a player, listen to their heart, and “clear” them. They test them against an agreed metric.

You mean they don't just use the eye test based on the pre-game layup line?!?!

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Source?

Crickets from @AthensVol2007

I guess it was more than debatable

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

You earn that trust in practice, not SEC play.

It is amazing to me you even have to make this obvious point ESPECIALLY when said player doesn't perform very well on the court when he has played

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

They’ve played him, and the only thing that’s been hot is his hot trash defense.

And a few bad turnovers on offense...1 in particular was getting his pocket picked at the timeline for a dunk on the other end

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Or Kennedy Chandler

Or Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer

 

[Creeker]

The fan base IQ is nearing rock bottom when the argument being made is BJ Edwards will somehow provide enough offense to catapult us in the post season and that will outweigh is literal inability to guard anyone on the floor. Then make the argument people are fine with Key playing because he’s from Celina and ignore the fact Edwards is from Knoxville…

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Barnes doesn't give young players the playing time to learn and grow defensively. If you don't let him play through mistakes, then he will never be given the opportunity to improve. He's like this with guards. He'll let Maishak and Awaka play through mistakes, but not Edwards.

Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Santi, Josiah, Keon, Jaden, Chandler, and ZZ all say "hi"

Other freshman frontcourt players: Kyle Alexander, Admiral, Grant, BHH, JP

 

[Volanooga2521]

Jordan Bone, Jordan Bowden, Santi, Josiah, Keon, Jaden, Chandler, and ZZ all say "hi"

Other freshman frontcourt players: Kyle Alexander, Admiral, Grant, BHH, JP

I’m just saying on this particular team, we need anyone who can create their own shot. Currently, Phillips is unwilling to drive and take over and ZZ is not able to finish over size in the lane, due to being 5-7.

 

[cncchris33]

I’m just saying on this particular team, we need anyone who can create their own shot. Currently, Phillips is unwilling to drive and take over and ZZ is not able to finish over size in the lane, due to being 5-7.

But what makes you think that Edwards can do that, yet, especially at the SEC level? And what good is it if he could find a way to score 10 ppg, but he gives up 15 ppg? Your desire just seems to suggest you want something to change, the actual net results be damned.

 

[whobethis16]

I'm saying we should find more time for Edwards. His assist to turnover rate is better than Key, and he shoots it much better. Key isn't a very good defender. I know he's from Celina and people like him, but Edwards has a much higher ceiling as a player.
View attachment 537836

Ummm... Edwards has fewer assists (0.3) than turnovers (0.4). Key has more assists (1.4) than turnovers (1.1). That means Key's ratio is better.

 

[Volanooga2521]

Ummm... Edwards has fewer assists (0.3) than turnovers (0.4). Key has more assists (1.4) than turnovers (1.1). That means Key's ratio is better.

Whatever, the point is Key was supposed to be a scorer and he’s not. Key can’t create his own shot and he can’t beat anyone off of the dribble. Too slow, that’s why he was at Indiana State. Give Edwards Key’s minutes and see if he can score.

 

[Volanooga2521]

But what makes you think that Edwards can do that, yet, especially at the SEC level? And what good is it if he could find a way to score 10 ppg, but he gives up 15 ppg? Your desire just seems to suggest you want something to change, the actual net results be damned.

Yes, because we’ve lost like 6 of the last 8 games and need an offensive spark. Our offense sucks right now.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Yes, because we’ve lost like 6 of the last 8 games and need an offensive spark. Our offense sucks right now.

Ahh, so the guy who’s been worse offensively and defensively is said spark, makes sense. Maybe we should try some of the walk ons too while we’re at it?!

 

[cncchris33]

Yes, because we’ve lost like 6 of the last 8 games and need an offensive spark. Our offense sucks right now.

But what makes you think Edwards is the answer? You’ve yet to answer that fundamental question in favor of just demanding change for the sake of change. You do realize that it is far more likely that benching ZZ or Vescovi in favor of Edwards leads to worse offense AND worse defense over the course of time, right? You just haven’t presented any case evidence that Edwards is a better option. Your entire argument is built on hope. Hope is not a plan.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I think the latter….we’re aren’t very good

Wow, that would make Coach a game planning genius to beat #1 with such a roster. Oh well.

 

[HalfullVol]

But what makes you think Edwards is the answer? You’ve yet to answer that fundamental question in favor of just demanding change for the sake of change. You do realize that it is far more likely that benching ZZ or Vescovi in favor of Edwards leads to worse offense AND worse defense over the course of time, right? You just haven’t presented any case evidence that Edwards is a better option. Your entire argument is built on hope. Hope is not a plan.

Reduce Key's minutes for Edwards.

What does Key bring that Edwards can't do?

 

[cncchris33]

Reduce Key's minutes for Edwards.

What does Key bring that Edwards can't do?

That’s the one move I would at least understand experimenting with, BUT, that is based solely on what I’ve seen in games. What no one is seeing is what is done in practice. We’ve also seen Key be capable of going on a heater, albeit few and far between. Maybe Edwards is capable of that, too, but the coaches obviously see Key as the safer option, right now. They have all the information on these guys.