Walker vs Freeman: First Season

[Just Sayin]

2018-19 Freeman

GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
33   31.2   45.2   69.3   4.3   2.0   0.4   1.8   2.2   1.6   11.0

2014-15 Walker
2014-15
GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
34   27.1   44.4   71.8   3.4   1.7   0.1   1.1   1.8   1.5   10.3

[M]

Neither guy has (had) much of a deep ball. I could see JFL developing one. Walker also kindve lost his springs, although I'll never forget being at Milwaukee when he destroyed their big guy at the rim, and I don't think that'll happen to Freeman barring an injury. If JFL can put up Walker type ppg in MVC play I think that'd be a pretty good place to start.

[VULB#62]

And your point is.....

Just kidding. That's good stuff. The difference, IMO, is that Tevonn was an unknown when he came aboard and he did not need to see 31+ minutes a game because the cast was comparatively better (and actually more cohesive).  But both are pretty close. I know I really respect Walker and how he brought his game to every game. He never took a day off when he was on the court. He was super quiet - almost without facial emotion. But he was so intense. I was at there when he postered that 6'10 center on a break. I will NEVER forget that moment.

Just my feeling, but JFL is gonna wind up being better at the end of his 4 years. More length. He will learn to be as good as TW in man-on D and with his wing span he will create all sorts of problems for MVC  teams.

I somehow recall and thought that one of the reasons that we lost Zion in their recruitment was that we got an earlier commit from JFL so Zion took his game elsewhere (I'm probably very mistaken?). Well now we have both of them in the same backcourt. And they both play DEFENSE. But is either a PG?

So now we have to have someone to field general the O, with two shut down guards who can also score, some good (young and more experienced) outside shooting on the wings and a void in the middle.

Ugh. TIME TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX BOYS. WE CAN DO THIS.

Dang, we now have so many puzzle pieces for a 5 piece puzzle. This looks like a role for  ......... Rim Protector. He's a blocking machine. He's a rebounding machine - at both ends. He scores every now and then but when he does the rim rattles. He kicks out quickly and  he is pretty good at pick and rolls. [Vashil, certainly you must have a younger brother] 

[VULB#62]

All that aside, Matt has rebuilt his team. It is his. No question. In 2019-20, how does he employ these assets? I am both excited and very anxious.

[wh]

I know I really respect Walker and how he brought his game to every game. He never took a day off when he was on the court. He was super quiet - almost without facial emotion. But he was so intense. I was at the Resch when he postered UWm'd  6'10 center on a break. I will NEVER forget that moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXcGMHpctGM&feature=share

[EddieCabot]

2018-19 Freeman

GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
33   31.2   45.2   69.3   4.3   2.0   0.4   1.8   2.2   1.6   11.0

2014-15 Walker
2014-15
GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
34   27.1   44.4   71.8   3.4   1.7   0.1   1.1   1.8   1.5   10.3

As guys like vu72 have pointed out, the knock on Freeman is he shoots under 29% from 3.  I'd like to read FWAlum's opinion, but it seems to me that Freeman's form is fairly solid, so maybe he can improve this off-season by putting in extra time with his jumper. 

[vu72]

2018-19 Freeman

GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
33   31.2   45.2   69.3   4.3   2.0   0.4   1.8   2.2   1.6   11.0

2014-15 Walker
2014-15
GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
34   27.1   44.4   71.8   3.4   1.7   0.1   1.1   1.8   1.5   10.3

As guys like vu72 have pointed out, the knock on Freeman is he shoots under 29% from 3.  I'd like to read FWAlum's opinion, but it seems to me that Freeman's form is fairly solid, so maybe he can improve this off-season by putting in extra time with his jumper. 

Agreed.  Tevonn shot 34.2% from the three and his ppg is slightly lower because he took 30 fewer shots.  Apples and oranges.  Tevonn was surrounded by guys like Peters, Carter, Skara and Jubril.  Javon?  not so much, thus, he was called on to be more of a scorer.

[FWalum]

As guys like vu72 have pointed out, the knock on Freeman is he shoots under 29% from 3.  I'd like to read FWAlum's opinion, but it seems to me that Freeman's form is fairly solid, so maybe he can improve this off-season by putting in extra time with his jumper. 

I would give a couple of reasons for the lower percentage.  Most of the time he is not catching a pocket pass and shooting in rhythm, he first was thinking about doing something else with the ball and this was probably because he had to be thinking like a first option player.  Hopefully that won't be the case this coming year and he will be able to choose the proper times to drive and the times to just catch the ball in rhythm and shoot.  For the most part I like his form when he pushes the ball and gets good arc, then it goes in.  When he is rushed or has not made a committed decision he has a tendency to get too much elbow fling into the shoot and it gets flat. I think he has the potential to raise his percentage considerably next year.

[JD24]

Anecdotally I think the struggles from 3 point range for a number of players was the post play slowing things down and getting the offense overall out of rhythm. Thus the shots from 3 were not in rhythm or were coming too late in the possession.

[wh]

Anecdotally I think the struggles from 3 point range for a number of players was the post play slowing things down and getting the offense overall out of rhythm. Thus the shots from 3 were not in rhythm or were coming too late in the possession.

I think we have officially come full circle. Our molasses-speed center play was due to opposing defenses collapsing inside. Opposing defenses collapsed inside because they didn't have to stay with our poor shooting perimeter players. Our poor shooting perimeter players were poor shooters because they were always rushed. They were always rushed because our bigs ate up most of the shot clock positioning to get the ball and finishing after they got it.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

[justducky]

I think we have officially come full circle. Our molasses-speed center play was due to opposing defenses collapsing inside. Opposing defenses collapsed inside because they didn't have to stay with our poor shooting perimeter players. Our poor shooting perimeter players were poor shooters because they were always rushed. They were always rushed because our bigs ate up most of the shot clock positioning to get the balloon and finishing after they got it.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Exactly! Nothing worked because nothing worked. I certainly am glad all of that is now history! 

[Just Sayin]

2018-19 Freeman
GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
33   31.2   45.2   69.3   4.3     2.0   0.4   1.8   2.2   1.6   11.0

2014-15 Walker
GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
34   27.1   44.4   71.8   3.4     1.7   0.1   1.1   1.8   1.5   10.3

Bryce Drew 1994-1995 Frosh
GP  MPG    FG%   FT%   REB    AST   BLK  STL   PF   TO    PTS
27   34.9   43.8    75.4     2.4    6.0     0.1   1.4  2.2   2.6   13.4

[valpopal]

2018-19 Freeman
GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
33   31.2   45.2   69.3   4.3     2.0   0.4   1.8   2.2   1.6   11.0

2014-15 Walker
GP   MPG   FG%   FT%   REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
34   27.1   44.4   71.8   3.4     1.7   0.1   1.1   1.8   1.5   10.3

Bryce Drew 1994-1995 Frosh
GP  MPG    FG%   FT%   REB    AST   BLK  STL   PF   TO    PTS
27   34.9   43.8    75.4     2.4    6.0     0.1   1.4  2.2   2.6   13.4

An additional factor to consider is the quality level of conference competition each player faced for most season games: Bryce, Mid-Continent; Tevonn, Horizon; Javon, Missouri Valley.