My question to you cynics is this...what would your response to Tadric avg. 16.8ppg on 40% shooting on a .500 team sound like....how bout Q at 15.7ppg,4.7 rpg @ .400 same record...Heath at 11ppg with 5.2apg...what is the actual language you'd use to explain outputs like that...what would have to happen personally and as a team to achieve personal bests like that?
At a high level, I'd use language like impressed, surprised, and happy. I would also have to give a major tip of the cap to the kids for putting in the work and the coaching staff for significant improvement in all three kids. (The type of cross-year player improvement we haven't seen under CPH or CBG.)
On a player-by-player basis, I see it like this
Tadric: 40 % shooting wouldn't surprise me. (38.5% last year) If his FTA per min (1 FTA per 9 mins) & FTA (61%) stay the same, but his mins go up a lot (30 min per game), that would mean he's shooting roughly 7 for 19 on average. He's capable of creating his own shot, so I think he will be our go to guy when we need to put something up, but I doubt he'll hoist up that many every game. Some games, but not across the season.
Q: Last two years, he's scored 6.0 and 5.0 in 20 mins per game. In order for him to triple his scoring in roughly 50% more PT, he will need to shoot significantly more often and also improve his shooting %. Given his generally passive approach, I don't see how he'll get many more shots per minute. He's essentially a catch-and-shoot guy and he's really struggled with putting it on the floor in the past. I also don't expect a big improvement in shooting % since he's been extremely consistent across three years (37 / 34/ 36)
Heath: In two years, he's been very consistent... 1 assist for every 6.5 - 7 minutes on the court. With fewer scoring options this year, I don't see that rate improving. At 35 mpg, he could average 5 - 6 apg. Just not sure he'll get that many minutes. Scoring-wise, he's a 40% shooter who hasn't shown he can create his own shot. If his minutes double to 35, I can see him scoring 6 ppg. I think quadrupling his ppg and doubling his apg would require more minutes than I think he could expect
The biggest stretch IMO is the .500 record. I don't think that's in the realm of likelihood. I don't know a lot about most of the OOC teams (most appear to be typical pay-for-pummel fodder), so I'll guess they finish non-conf slate at 8-4 or 9-3. I'm counting UGA, Tennessee, Penn State and VCU as the most likely losses. In conference, I believe they'll finish with 2 - 4 wins. I assume they will lose in first round of ACC tourney. That puts the record somewhere between 10 - 21 and 13 - 18. Completely understand I haven't seen any of these teams play this year, but going 16-15 would really shock me this year
