Year over year improvment

[braveatheart]

We had 5 guys play in 2008/2009 who played the year before. Lets look at how they all improved from 2007/2008 and then lets speculate on how the 9 returning players might improve over the summer for next year.

SM- Saw his minutes go up from 27.2 to 32.8. His scoring went up from 7.7 to 12.6. The scoring went up faster than the minutes. His 3 point % went down from .367 to .345 but his ft percentage went way up from .726 to .836. In the 18 MVC reg season games he shot .891 from the line. One negative is turnovers went up from 54 to 74. Overall a huge pick up from 07/08.

DC-His minutes almost doubled from 9.1 to 17.3. Rebounding and scoring went up but not in proportion to the minutes. Least improvement of the 5.

WE-Will didn't play a lot either year so the stats don't tell much but those who watched the 3 or 4 games he started saw vast improvement.

SS-Sam's minutes doubled from 8.9 to 18.6. His rebounding and scoring numbers didn't double but did go up about 50%. His assists went from 10 to 27, steals went from 5 to 33 and turnovers only increased slightly from 29 to 33.
Sam got much better.

TW- Theron went from out 3rd or 4th scoring option to our first. His minutes went from 30.0 to 30.4 but his rebounding increased from 6.2 to 7.3 and scoring went from 11.7 to 14.0. All this while being the focus of the other teams defense. One area that really stands out is Theron improved his freethrow % from .670 to .729. With as often as he went to the line, that was huge. Going from below average to above average. Great job going from good player to first team MVC.


Looking at this makes you wonder how much better the 9 returning players will be next year. I don't want to focus on negatives but I will list areas I think each player should focus on this summer so the BU Braves are better next winter. I am sure the coaches have already met with the guys to discuss areas in need of improvement. Here is my 2 cents worth on the subject.

SS- I would like to see Sam loose another 5 or 10 lbs. His weight loss last year made all the difference in the world. I would take even a little more. Also would like to see Sam get lights out on that turn around J from the top of the key.

DD- Would like to see Dodie improve his freethrows. He only shot .697 from the stripe for the year and only .617 in the 18 MVC games. He looks capable of getting up to .800 if he works at it. He will need to improve if he want to finish close games.

CR- Chris needs to learn how to jump. Just kidding. Would like to see Chris improve his 3pt and ft %'s by 3 or 4 % each.

SM- Would love to have Sam increase his 3 point % from.345 to .390 or better. What a threat that would make him. Also needs to cut down on the turnovers tho I am not sure how you work on that.

AW- If this guy improves on his sophmore year, he will be all-mvc. Just hope he gets healthy.

WE- Get that leg in shape.

AT- Anthony needs to hit the weight room hard and find whatever WE found.

EM- Eddrin needs to work on this 3 point shot. He needs to improve on the .296 and make the other teams guard him. His ft % was only .613 for the year but was .778 in conference. Keep that up. Needs to cut down on turnovers.

TB- Can't wait to see what this guy does with the extra minutes he is going to get next year.
Would like to see him get stronger in the weight room and work on that free throw shot. 57.4% just doesn't cut it from the line if he wants to finish games.

JL- I hope Jim figures out how to avoid the technical fouls. Seems like Jim picks up T's at just the wrong time.

Can't wait to see what all the hard work over the summer brings this fall. Work hard boys.

[BradleyBrave]

Statistical improvements by individuals are all fine and good, but ultimately the team's record is what matters, and it's been consistently mediocre for the past few years. Above average? Yes. But not by a whole lot. It's time for that to make a big jump.

[romar]

Statistical improvements by individuals are all fine and good, but ultimately the team's record is what matters, and it's been consistently mediocre for the past few years. Above average? Yes. But not by a whole lot. It's time for that to make a big jump.

I agree completely, barring multiple injuries & looking at the players onboard over the next 3 years there has to be an attitude of "just win baby". Talent, depth, experience, all the components are now in place - time to turn it up a couple of notches. Over the last two years I've credited JL with making the best with what he had to deal with (injuries, disciplinary susp's, defections, etc.). I want a few years where there is nothing to deal with but basketball and stacking up W's, then the accolades will follow.

[braveatheart]

Statistical improvements by individuals are all fine and good, but ultimately the team's record is what matters, and it's been consistently mediocre for the past few years. Above average? Yes. But not by a whole lot. It's time for that to make a big jump.

True. I just hope that if they all get better, the wins will follow. Just sippin on Kool-aid.

[real fan]

If we can keep everybody healthy these next 4 seasons then I think all of us will be satisfied on what happens as far as wins and losses. The only thing is keeping our players healthy has not happened in quite sometime.

[braveatheart]

If we can keep everybody healthy these next 4 seasons then I think all of us will be satisfied on what happens as far as wins and losses. The only thing is keeping our players healthy has not happened in quite sometime.

I agree. Injuries are the wild card.

Even if all the major players stay healthy we still will be a young team. Only five of our players will be upperclassmen. Eight will be freshman/sophmores. Youth can be a wild card too.

All that said, I think the results will be better next year. Our nine returners will have to step it up to make that happen though.

[Stryker]

All Les has to do is give me less than 10 losses a year and I will be happy. At least for now...

[Braves4Life]

All Les has to do is give me less than 10 losses a year and I will be happy. At least for now...

I can live with that, too. That, to me, is a successful season

[Out of Balance]

SS-Sam's minutes doubled from 8.9 to 18.6. His rebounding and scoring numbers didn't double but did go up about 50%. His assists went from 10 to 27, steals went from 5 to 33 and turnovers only increased slightly from 29 to 33.
Sam got much better.

I knew Sam was playing good ball the last 10 or so games but looking at his #'s, he did get much better I look for more improvement next year. Sam's not a quieter or a whinny. I just hope we can re frame from a common saying on this site by some posters (Sam will be Sam or something in those lines) I know there is no harm intended but I think with his the improved play shown this year it is not the same old injured/hurt Sam. This team will need him next year both on the court and off
One last thing that has been bothering me since I read a post in another thread about two A__holes yelling BS remarks at him while he was in a game after he had announced he was coming back. First someone hearing this should of called them out and put a stop to it It's to late for that now but for the future send them to Sec. 16 Lower Bowl please
Looking forward to having you back Sam

[BradleyBrave]

True. I just hope that if they all get better, the wins will follow. Just sippin on Kool-aid.

It's the offseason. Sip away!

[braveatheart]

SS-Sam's minutes doubled from 8.9 to 18.6. His rebounding and scoring numbers didn't double but did go up about 50%. His assists went from 10 to 27, steals went from 5 to 33 and turnovers only increased slightly from 29 to 33.
Sam got much better.

I knew Sam was playing good ball the last 10 or so games but looking at his #'s, he did get much better I look for more improvement next year. Sam's not a quieter or a whinny. I just hope we can re frame from a common saying on this site by some posters (Sam will be Sam or something in those lines) I know there is no harm intended but I think with his the improved play shown this year it is not the same old injured/hurt Sam. This team will need him next year both on the court and off
One last thing that has been bothering me since I read a post in another thread about two A__holes yelling BS remarks at him while he was in a game after he had announced he was coming back. First someone hearing this should of called them out and put a stop to it It's to late for that now but for the future send them to Sec. 16 Lower Bowl please
Looking forward to having you back Sam

We should also point out that SS doubled his blocked shots (8 to 16) and shot 80.4% from the free throw line. 88.0% in the MVC regular season. He was the 2nd best free throw shooter on the team.

That gives us three guys we can expect 80% or better from the line, AW, SM and SS. We need 2 more guys we can count on at the end of a close game. I would think we need one more gaurd and one more big who can close out games. Wish EM would be the gaurd, but if not him, maybe JE. Maybe WE or JP will be the other big.

[lefty]

You can almost bet there will be a few injuries. Hopefully none too serious where somebody's season is over. That's one of the reasons you have 12-13 guys on a team....It seems like there is plenty of talent and we should be able to get through some adversity(if we have to) this year to compete for a title.

[romar]

Also SS increased his dunk quotient 100% last year - he had no dunks in the previous years and had one last year - (BTW - warm-ups don't count).

[Out of Balance]

We should also point out that SS doubled his blocked shots (8 to 16) and shot 80.4% from the free throw line. 88.0% in the MVC regular season. He was the 2nd best free throw shooter on the team.

That gives us three guys we can expect 80% or better from the line, AW, SM and SS. We need 2 more guys we can count on at the end of a close game. I would think we need one more guard and one more big who can close out games. Wish EM would be the guard, but if not him, maybe JE. Maybe WE or JP will be the other big.

I agree with you we need some guys to step up. I hope WE comes back and is a big help. JP, MK, TB and lets not forget AT should help at the 4 and 5. EM is going to have to step up his offense play, he needs to improve his shot. You have to have a PG that shoots for a high % from the FT line and has a low turnover %. If there isn't much improvement in his offense than with the loaded guards we have look for SM or DD to move into the that spot.
Also as Lefty points out our luck is bad when it comes to injury's but if WE and AW can come back we should be loaded with help when they happen. Better than in years past. Thanks for the information.

[Out of Balance]

Also SS increased his dunk quotient 100% last year - he had no dunks in the previous years and had one last year - (BTW - warm-ups don't count).

That was 6'9, 245lbs of a run away taking off from the FT line for a sky dunk He never got credit for it as JL had it put in the record book as just a hard shot