Wake Ken Pom Thread: 2014-15 Preaseason = 104, Currently = 125 Season Over

[DCDeac]

That was a good adjustment, but why did we have to wait for so many inbound passes to start setting double screens for CJ when we knew that teams are going to focus on denying him the ball.

Yeah, we either realized it and UVA was just playing good defense - that happens... The Moto pass happened at the end of the 5 second count, so maybe CJ just couldn't get free. CJ did get the next one, then Cav, then CJ again.

Either the adjustment was late or the execution was off. I'm ok leaving the better defender in when we're still 2 possessions up.

 

[ChrisL68]

That said, we are getting better, particularly on defense. The last several games we have played like a top 100 defense.

If we can improve our defensive rebounding, we could be a pretty good defensive team.

 

[DCDeac]

I just mentioned this in the game thread, but I wonder if we could trust someone other than Travis to throw the inbounds pass in those situations. Having CJ, Chase and Travis all as options to receive the pass would make me more comfortable.

I agree with RJ that we don't want to get stuck in the corners/on the sidelines, but the D is doing everything they can to take the middle away, and, when UVA really started fouling, we had 3 TOs left, so if we got stuck, we could have easily used one. Inbounding to the corner or sideline to a decent FT shooter is much better than getting a 5-second call, a TO, or inbounding to a bad FT shooter (granted, we did the last one on one possession).

Hmmm. Maybe. Travis made a great pass on that last inbound play actually. Tree might be the only other guy. Problem is if you put a bad free throw shooter as the inbounder, sometimes you get the no-foul double team, the pass immediately has to go back to the inbounder and he gets fouled.

 

[mattwfu99]

Hmmm. Maybe. Travis made a great pass on that last inbound play actually. Tree might be the only other guy. Problem is if you put a bad free throw shooter as the inbounder, sometimes you get the no-foul double team, the pass immediately has to go back to the inbounder and he gets fouled.

Yeah, I was thinking CMM or Cav as the other possible inbounders. Decent FT shooters but not first-choice guys.

 

[myDeaconmyhand]

I think we will finish better than 200. I actually don't think it will be very close either.

We are quite obviously improving this year and have played much better basketball as of late (even though the schedule was a bit easier).

I think we will finish somewhere around where we are now, maybe even a little better.

I base this off of what I've seen the past 4-5 games and also my everlasting blind optimism.

Since when has a [Redacted] team ever really improved? Does anybody here remember our first game this season? We played better against UConn on day 1 then we did beating a shitty Xavier team 2 weeks ago.

With this provided context, I do think that our team is playing much better now then it was earlier this season. Without the pessimism that Bzz has tethered me with, I would traditionally believe that our team was genuinely trending upwards. The last two seasons have shown us all how easily we can get blown out by terrible teams, completely randomly, and that's why it's difficult for me to label our current trend as general improvement. What are we to make of the team if we lose to Boston College by 20? I'd rather just remain skeptical instead of prematurely marking us down for 5 or 6 more ACC wins.

 

[TexasDeac10]

Is there any doubt that we lose to BC by 20? It's going to be Iona 2.0, there will be much gnashing of teeth on these boards, and then we'll bounce back to play pretty well against Clemson.

 

[Wakeforest22890]

Really anything could happen against BC this weekend. It's a tossup on a neutral court. KenPom us winning 71-68 at 62%. We're 141 and BC is 131. Both teams jumped a bit after last night. VPI meanwhile continued their suckitude and fell to 161.

 

[DCDeac]

I'll be shocked if we lose by 20 to BC.

 

[freakadeac]

The flip side to this is all the people biting their lips to not be happy we won so they won't have to be wrong that [Redacted] can win at Wake. Is it not progress to go from a bottom feeder to maybe a mid pack team when you have 6 Fr and 1 Sr in a rotation of 9 players? That's the definition of progress IMO. Before this game, UVA was definitely viewed as a solid mid level ACC team. It's happening. I feel bad for those who can't embrace it.

The progress is undeniable. People are just pissed at Wellman and his antics. They know Wellman will announce at the end of the season [Redacted] is staying because of the "progress" from unwiped ass to partially wiped ass, when in reality there are a lot of coaches out there who can bring us back to wiped ass.

 

[marquee moon]

The progress is undeniable. People are just pissed at Wellman and his antics. They know Wellman will announce at the end of the season [Redacted] is staying because of the "progress" from unwiped ass to partially wiped ass, when in reality there are a lot of coaches out there who can bring us back to wiped ass.

To fully wiped ass!!!!???????

HEAVENS YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RJKarl]

When we have a lead, are going to get fouled and are throwing the ball in our squad should be:

Tree -throwing the ball in
CJ
Travis
Cav -good FT shooter-good hands - sets good picks
Codi or Chase- I lean a little towards Codi due to his strength

 

[Wakeforest22890]

I'm really baffled why Moto was not only in with under a minute left, but was one of the guys cutting to get the basketball. He should not be in there. I agree with RJ's lineup. Tree is more than capable throwing the ball in. I like having Chase in more than Codi. Let Cav and Travis screen in the middle to have CJ and Chase cut to grab the ball.

 

[WFUtoUSC]

The progress is undeniable. People are just pissed at Wellman and his antics. They know Wellman will announce at the end of the season [Redacted] is staying because of the "progress" from unwiped ass to partially wiped ass, when in reality there are a lot of coaches out there who can bring us back to wiped ass.

This. Bz will win 12 or more games this year, and I think 12 is Wellman's threshold - more than 12 wins and Bz stays, less than 12 and Wellman cans Bz. The sad part in my opinion is that pretty much any other coach in the country could probably coach this team to the middle of the ACC this year

 

[RJKarl]

I'm really baffled why Moto was not only in with under a minute left, but was one of the guys cutting to get the basketball. He should not be in there. I agree with RJ's lineup. Tree is more than capable throwing the ball in. I like having Chase in more than Codi. Let Cav and Travis screen in the middle to have CJ and Chase cut to grab the ball.

Travis a really good FT shooter, but his shot is really flat and looks horrible.

 

[RJKarl]

I'm really baffled why Moto was not only in with under a minute left, but was one of the guys cutting to get the basketball. He should not be in there. I agree with RJ's lineup. Tree is more than capable throwing the ball in. I like having Chase in more than Codi. Let Cav and Travis screen in the middle to have CJ and Chase cut to grab the ball.

The problem I have with Chase is he can be bullied and stripped. Also codi can set picks for CJ or Travis. With his bulk someone is going to be open enough to get the ball.

 

[Neurodeac]

I'm really baffled why Moto was not only in with under a minute left, but was one of the guys cutting to get the basketball. He should not be in there. I agree with RJ's lineup. Tree is more than capable throwing the ball in. I like having Chase in more than Codi. Let Cav and Travis screen in the middle to have CJ and Chase cut to grab the ball.

Just to highlight possible counterpoints to your argument: Tree is a freshman, Travis an experienced Junior. Tree is good passer but he doesn't have experience with inbounds plays in a tight ACC game. Chase is the guy who panicked and screwed up against Seton Hall and made a couple of poor decisions late in this game. Moto was the 3rd option on that inbounds play. Bennett switched the coverage to have the inbound passer defender to fake defending the pass and then turn around and cover the man who was freed on the pick play. Good strategy by Bennett because it kept us from using our first two options. Glad that Bz had a 3rd option that worked. Moto in that position may have been a mistake but several of our other options are not as "ball strong" as Moto and may have gotten stripped.

 

[Atlanta Deacon]

Moto also got the start last night. He must be at the top of Bz list for the freshman (other than CMM). He's strong and has a decent handle. I assume he's out there as the third or fourth option but also as a guy that Bz trusts if the play is busted. The play was busted and he went back to the inbounder to receive the pass, something that can't be taken for granted.

 

[stevewhite14]

Moto didn't get a single board last night though. Kindof disappointing. If he goes and plucks away 5 of the O-Rebs that UVA got, then that game is awfully close to a blowout and the rebounding disparity doesn't look so bad.

I am picking on Moto about rebounding because he should be a good rebounder.

 

[myDeaconmyhand]

I'll be shocked if we lose by 20 to BC.

The specific team isn't the fucking point. Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech. Whatever. We're playing well right now, but it's still foolhardy to forget the very recent past and suddenly believe that we're a capable team. My faith doesn't come that cheap.

 

[bmoneydeac]

in response to the posts a page or so ago about whether we played better against uconn or xavier, i'm all about using ORtg and DRtg over the course of the season, but for one game it far from tells the story, imo. you can play a lot better and miss some open shots or give up some tough shots and that can skew the rating from bad to good or good to bad pretty quickly. that stuff evens out over the course of the year, but the eye test means a lot when looking at just one or two games. there are no stats that definitively say a team moved well without the ball or took good shots or closed out on shooters, etc in a one game sample.

not making an opinion on which game was better (not sure if i watched enough of either one to say), just putting this out there.