...OK --- to a more pleasant subject. A few season stats:
When I did this wrap-up post last season, frankly there were some ugly numbers. They were all mostly much prettier this season. A sampling:
- Here's the one that JUMPS off the page. This UNC team's 1.65/1 Assist/TO ratio was nothing short of astounding, especially for a team that runs at our tempo! Hell, some programs almost never even get into "positive" territory (1/1), but this blows away anything since these numbers have been kept in Tar Heel history! By comparison '93 was 1.20/1, '05 was 1.19/1, and even '09's impressive 1.45/1 is nowhere close. Wow. Now, I would love to see Dean's private numbers on the '77 team --- they might've been in that ballpark, I dunno --- but again, wow.
- Speaking of which, last season we only had 2 regulars (Marcus and JB) who surpassed the magic 2/1 "winning" number for Guards/Wings. This season? Marcus (3.02/1), JB (2.46/1), JJ (2.58/1), Theo (2.35/1)... even Nate knocked on the door (1.97/1)
Why? More mature team? Sure. Bigger reason? Roy started two natural PGs at the 1 and 2. Moreover, JB took the heavy lifting away from the others for 30+ minutes/game, handling the rock and running the show.... and his numbers were actually skewed downward (see below).
- I posted pre-season that in our shot-clock-era title seasons we have an average victory margin just over 13 PPG. This season we finished in good territory at 12.8.
- Here's the glaring bad number --- 3-pt pct. There's no doubt that the weird slumps by JJ and Marcus stunted us at times (and it's frightening how good we could have been). Our team season pct of 32.7% was certainly a disappointment, and considering the kind of shooters we have, an anomaly. JB led the way with 38.2% and Marcus had a helluva late run to reach 35.6%, and JJ's sub-30% season was a huge surprise. Fact is (as we saw Monday) they are ALL way better shooters than that.
- Just think what our scoring margin and even Assist/TO ratio would have been had we shot better from deep. Also in general, there were too many Blown Assists in several games this season. Amazingly, in 5 separate games JB alone had double-digit Assists blown. By all numerical rights, his Assist/Game average should have been above 5. And think what his ratio could have been, especially considering Berry set a Carolina season record for lowest rate of TOs/Game by a PG... and by a pretty good margin. Berry (1.55), Braddock (1.86) Lawson (1.89) are the best three numbers (again, since TOs have been officially kept).
- Finally --- damn, we're gonna miss Brice and Marcus --- but here are a couple more good indicators on players who we're reasonably sure are coming back:
1. Obviously Brice had a stellar season, in which he shot 61.4% from the floor and 78.3% from the line.
Ah, but don't forget though that his back-up Hicks shot 61.4% from the floor and 75.6% from the line!
Now, the thing with Hicks is the fouling (led the ACC with 6.7 fouls/40 minutes). So... if he can just learn to stay outta foul trouble... his positive stats projected to 40 minutes? 19.8 pts and 10.2 rebounds.
2. Theo's full season of health was a blessing, and his slashing, defending and play-making abilities from the wing are only gonna get better --- now if he can just get that stroke more consistent..........
3. Joel F***ing Berry. I posted pre-season that not starting JB would be a "mistake of biblical proportions". Well, Roy wasn't about to make that one after last season. Contrary to what some mediots still like to invent, Roy knew what he had (and BTW the Paige injury had zero to do with JB being our PG). What we saw when Marcus returned is what we were gonna start with anyway --- it's just a shame Marcus wasn't able to run all 40 games with him --- and that backcourt served us well. The same formula that made Phil Ford and Jon Kuester so formidable a tandem --- two natural Points who could both shoot, play-make and defend.
So how bout our Nasty Dog a.k.a. "Strongman"? Damn fine Sophomore season I'd say.
UNC record-low PG TO rate. Everett Case Award at the ACC Tourney. 10 Dimes in the NCAA Semis, 20 pts in the NCAA Finals (sprained foot notwithstanding)....
Season numbers: 12.8 PPG, 3.8 Assists, 3.3 Rbs, 1.5 Steals, 44.4% FGs (almost 50% from 2) 38.2% 3-pt, 86.7% FTs. and defending... (and along with his roommate Theo, the ring-leaders of a fun locker room).
JB led the team in Assists, Steals, 3-pt % and FT %. Thing is, these numbers are all likely to just get better...
I've been fortunate enough to get direct reports from summer pick-up games the past few years, and word has been that what we've seen is just scratching the surface of what JB can bring. I believe it was our friend @Steat who said it a little while ago: As long as JB comes back I'm not too worried about next season.
Until then....
-----
When I did this wrap-up post last season, frankly there were some ugly numbers. They were all mostly much prettier this season. A sampling:
- Here's the one that JUMPS off the page. This UNC team's 1.65/1 Assist/TO ratio was nothing short of astounding, especially for a team that runs at our tempo! Hell, some programs almost never even get into "positive" territory (1/1), but this blows away anything since these numbers have been kept in Tar Heel history! By comparison '93 was 1.20/1, '05 was 1.19/1, and even '09's impressive 1.45/1 is nowhere close. Wow. Now, I would love to see Dean's private numbers on the '77 team --- they might've been in that ballpark, I dunno --- but again, wow.
- Speaking of which, last season we only had 2 regulars (Marcus and JB) who surpassed the magic 2/1 "winning" number for Guards/Wings. This season? Marcus (3.02/1), JB (2.46/1), JJ (2.58/1), Theo (2.35/1)... even Nate knocked on the door (1.97/1)
Why? More mature team? Sure. Bigger reason? Roy started two natural PGs at the 1 and 2. Moreover, JB took the heavy lifting away from the others for 30+ minutes/game, handling the rock and running the show.... and his numbers were actually skewed downward (see below).
- I posted pre-season that in our shot-clock-era title seasons we have an average victory margin just over 13 PPG. This season we finished in good territory at 12.8.
- Here's the glaring bad number --- 3-pt pct. There's no doubt that the weird slumps by JJ and Marcus stunted us at times (and it's frightening how good we could have been). Our team season pct of 32.7% was certainly a disappointment, and considering the kind of shooters we have, an anomaly. JB led the way with 38.2% and Marcus had a helluva late run to reach 35.6%, and JJ's sub-30% season was a huge surprise. Fact is (as we saw Monday) they are ALL way better shooters than that.
- Just think what our scoring margin and even Assist/TO ratio would have been had we shot better from deep. Also in general, there were too many Blown Assists in several games this season. Amazingly, in 5 separate games JB alone had double-digit Assists blown. By all numerical rights, his Assist/Game average should have been above 5. And think what his ratio could have been, especially considering Berry set a Carolina season record for lowest rate of TOs/Game by a PG... and by a pretty good margin. Berry (1.55), Braddock (1.86) Lawson (1.89) are the best three numbers (again, since TOs have been officially kept).
- Finally --- damn, we're gonna miss Brice and Marcus --- but here are a couple more good indicators on players who we're reasonably sure are coming back:
1. Obviously Brice had a stellar season, in which he shot 61.4% from the floor and 78.3% from the line.
Ah, but don't forget though that his back-up Hicks shot 61.4% from the floor and 75.6% from the line!
Now, the thing with Hicks is the fouling (led the ACC with 6.7 fouls/40 minutes). So... if he can just learn to stay outta foul trouble... his positive stats projected to 40 minutes? 19.8 pts and 10.2 rebounds.
2. Theo's full season of health was a blessing, and his slashing, defending and play-making abilities from the wing are only gonna get better --- now if he can just get that stroke more consistent..........
3. Joel F***ing Berry. I posted pre-season that not starting JB would be a "mistake of biblical proportions". Well, Roy wasn't about to make that one after last season. Contrary to what some mediots still like to invent, Roy knew what he had (and BTW the Paige injury had zero to do with JB being our PG). What we saw when Marcus returned is what we were gonna start with anyway --- it's just a shame Marcus wasn't able to run all 40 games with him --- and that backcourt served us well. The same formula that made Phil Ford and Jon Kuester so formidable a tandem --- two natural Points who could both shoot, play-make and defend.
So how bout our Nasty Dog a.k.a. "Strongman"? Damn fine Sophomore season I'd say.
UNC record-low PG TO rate. Everett Case Award at the ACC Tourney. 10 Dimes in the NCAA Semis, 20 pts in the NCAA Finals (sprained foot notwithstanding)....
Season numbers: 12.8 PPG, 3.8 Assists, 3.3 Rbs, 1.5 Steals, 44.4% FGs (almost 50% from 2) 38.2% 3-pt, 86.7% FTs. and defending... (and along with his roommate Theo, the ring-leaders of a fun locker room).
JB led the team in Assists, Steals, 3-pt % and FT %. Thing is, these numbers are all likely to just get better...
I've been fortunate enough to get direct reports from summer pick-up games the past few years, and word has been that what we've seen is just scratching the surface of what JB can bring. I believe it was our friend @Steat who said it a little while ago: As long as JB comes back I'm not too worried about next season.
Until then....
-----
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