| Saul Good |
02-20-2013 01:46 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by saphojunkie
(Post 9419009)
Plus/minus might be the worst statistic in sports. All it factors in is whether or not a player was on the floor. Not A) who was on the floor with him, B) Who was on the floor opposite him, C) what he did on the floor.
I could have a shitty plus/minus because my teammates can't guard Markel Brown. Then both Markel Brown and I sit on the bench. Now my team starts clicking. Then I come back in with Markel Brown and we're outscored. Yay, I got a shitty plus/minus.
Ben McLemore has been the best player on this team, the most complete, the biggest playmaker, the ONLY go-to scorer and a clutch defender.
Withey is by far the best shot defender, releford the best man defender, Young has outclassed the entire league in hustle plays.
But no one has done what McLemore has done. Come on, people, let's not get silly here.
His third game in uniform he dropped 25 points. He isn't as consistent as the four seniors, but he has been the best player.
That's a good question. Is most valuable the same as most outstanding or "best"? You could make an argument there. I think I might still put McLemore as more valuable than withey. If withey comes out, you can do things to make up for his production and defense. You can't replace them - certainly not the defense - but you can change your scheme to cover for the void.
You cannot replace what McLemore does.
|
Withey is the best player on the team so far this year. Ben has the higher upside and will become the better player, but Withey as a senior is better than Ben as a freshman.
Withey is on another level defensively. He completely changes the game, and he does it without fouling. It's pretty incredible. He's also an underrated scorer. He shoots a higher percentage that Ben, and he has more points per attempt than Ben. Obviously, he doesn't create like Ben, though.
McLemore is incredibly talented, but he isn't dominant yet. There are times when he does things that nobody else in college basketball can do, but there are other times where he just kind of stands sound and blends into the background. He isn't the defender Withey is. He isn't the rebounder Withey is. You wouldn't expect a guard to be, but he isn't a guy who creates for his teammates particularly well, and he has more turnovers than assists. He really doesn't even score much more than Withey despite the fact that he shoots 26% more often.
Don't get me wrong, I'm being hyper-critical in order to illustrate Withey's relative value. Ben is an amazing player, and it wouldn't shock me to see him go Carmello Anthony in the tournament. So far, though, Withey is the much better player. I don't think Kansas fans appreciate just how good he is.
Withey averages 13.2 ppg while shooting 55% from the field and 70% from the line, 8.4 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 1.6 fouls per game.
Last year, Anthony Davis won NPOTY with numbers that were very similar. They were better, but not by all that much. |
