Let's examine the selfish claim

[Pete108K11]

FG attempts plus assists, what is the player's percentage of assists, how many FT did he attempt. Now this is not a perfect formula because there are so many variables, such as type of offense, how good were the teams both their own and opponents, etc. it does point out "selfish", as I would define it----- a ball hog. Comparing only fresh and soph
FG+A. %A. FT
Brandin. 366 42%. 78
406. 42. 115
Sean. 366. 49. 67
380. 47. 81
Carl. 229. 40. 70
522. 28. 179
Trey W. 263. 40 46
301. 41. 81
James. 287. 40. 77
357. 41. 109
X. 532. 28. 149
211. 34. 49
Trey M. 326. 17. 165
168. 22. 64

While it is unfair to compare Trey M to point guards, it is certainly fair to compare X to Carl. Because unlike the other point guards these guys dominate the play rather than mostly facilitate it. Carl went on to play with 496 and 550 FG + A in Jr and Sr with a % of assists of 34% and 29%. So X is essentially Carl as a sophomore, although less so this year. These numbers match the eye test when comparing these players. I remember the same complaints about Carl being out of control and street ball like (essentially he didn't play the same way as Sean or Brandin).

X dominates the ball but look how much his FTs are down he is not driving to the hoop as much. Give X credit he did have 149 assists last year surpassed as Frosh on this list by only Sean and Brandin. Should he garner a higher percentage of assists? yes I think so. Do I want Capel to put shackles on him to turn him into any of these other point guards? No not unless it is to be like Carl. It only takes a modest tweak to get his assists up, also helps if teammates make shots.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

They aren't selfish. They just have low basketball IQ's which make them appear selfish because they are making the wrong plays. Capel says their mistakes "come from a good place" which I agree with. They are trying their best, they just dont have that inherit bball IQ and they are still inexperienced to an extent.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

They aren't selfish. They just have low basketball IQ's which make them appear selfish because they are making the wrong plays. Capel says their mistakes "come from a good place" which I agree with. They are trying their best, they just dont have that inherit bball IQ and they are still inexperienced to an extent.

That is 100% accurate and maybe one of your most accurate posts ever!

 

[Chescat]

SMF answered this pretty well IMO. Actually X has improved his floor game
since the first game or two. The early part of the WF game saw him
distributing the ball and leading us to a large lead. When he got in
foul trouble the lead diminished. If he's guilty of anything, it's coming
back on the floor and trying to do too much. That really was magnified
on our last possession when he drove and failed to give it up, and
forced up a terrible shot.
When it happens at crunch time, it's magnified. Was he selfish?....IMO, no
he wasn't. Poor decision?....Definitely. Trying to do too much....Definitely.
He's trying to win the game the way he thinks is best. Ok, he's wrong about
that, but that isn't necessarily being selfish. He's a sophomore. He's talented,
but he ain't perfect. Let's give Capel some room to continue developing his game
in what's best for this team.

 

[wbrpanther]

They aren't selfish. They just have low basketball IQ's which make them appear selfish because they are making the wrong plays. Capel says their mistakes "come from a good place" which I agree with. They are trying their best, they just dont have that inherit bball IQ and they are still inexperienced to an extent.

When you insist on making the play all by yourself despite the fact there is nothing there but trouble and you have other guys wide open. Sorry but I don't know what else to call it but selfish.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

When you insist on making the play all by yourself despite the fact there is nothing there but trouble and you have other guys wide open. Sorry but I don't know what else to call it but selfish.

Lack of experience .

Both X and Trey are aggressive players , as most guys who end up playing D1 ball they were probably far and away the best players at every level of ball they played at . Neither are shy about putting the ball up they just need to learn at this level they actually have teammates who are talented and can help .

 

[Pittisit4me]

They aren't selfish. They just have low basketball IQ's which make them appear selfish because they are making the wrong plays. Capel says their mistakes "come from a good place" which I agree with. They are trying their best, they just dont have that inherit bball IQ and they are still inexperienced to an extent.

It is most certainly not low basketball IQ. These kids have played ball all their lives. They are smart enough to know what the right play is! There is an ongoing struggle within, where Capel has told X and Trey I trust you. Last year these guys represented our best chance with the game on the line.

Fast forward to this season. There are more options on this team, maybe not great ones, but guys who could hit a game winner. They have not come to grips with this yet. However, losing to Wake at home is a great lesson that should provoke thought from both Coach Capel and Trey and X. Capel especially needs to coach these guys. He, more than anyone, knows this team has to play together. It is on him to see to a change in X's and Trey's games, especially at the end of a close game.

Everyone including our opponents know X and trey are our top options. I want Capel working on these scenarios in practice. He should have a play where option one, option 2, and option three are clearly defined. It isn't low basketball IQ, they need more from the head coach, not because they can't think for themselves. They are just sophomores who have alot of pressure on them to bring this team back from the abyss.

I am hoping the next time we are in a tight one, we get a little more coaching from Capel. Dixon always had upper-classmen and yet he seemed to micro-manage everything. These guys need leadership and since at this time, there are not really any players to provide it, they need to get it from the head coach and staff.

There is so much pressure on the players and staff to get Pitt on the road to recovery. I think Capel is the ultimate leader and has to take charge. Calling X and or Trey selfish or low IQ players is foolish. They were not 5 star recruits. Capel needs to be the man now, X and Trey will have their junior and senior seasons to lead and leave their imprint on Pitt basketball.

From now on, in a close game, give me a timeout and draw something up for these kids. Take charge coach, lead these young men.

 

[TWPitt]

When you insist on making the play all by yourself despite the fact there is nothing there but trouble and you have other guys wide open. Sorry but I don't know what else to call it but selfish.

Go back and watch Jordan / Lebron / Kobe -- they all made boneheaded plays and took bad shots. It it part of the learning process. Time allows us to forget those and just remember the game winners like the play X made against K State to help us win that one.

Calling these two 19-20 year olds seflish is just being a lazy ignorant fan.

 

[Chescat]

Reality...if he makes the shot he wouldn't be called selfish on here.
There would be posts about how he comes through in the clutch.

Now, did he make a bad decision?.....I say yes. Selfish?.....nobody on
here knows if he's selfish. I don't care what you saw or didn't see. He
might very well be selfish, we have no idea.
To me it's rather simple....he's trying to do too much. That isn't a
definition of "selfish."

 

[wbrpanther]

Lack of experience .

Both X and Trey are aggressive players , as most guys who end up playing D1 ball they were probably far and away the best players at every level of ball they played at . Neither are shy about putting the ball up they just need to learn at this level they actually have teammates who are talented and can help .

I hope that is what it is. But they are half way thru their sophomore year and they aren't improving and in X's case getting worse. Driving and kicking are things that good PGs do instinctively. It isn't something you learn on the go. After Saturday's performance there is only one way to go for X and that is up. We shall see.

 

[wbrpanther]

Go back and watch Jordan / Lebron / Kobe -- they all made boneheaded plays and took bad shots. It it part of the learning process. Time allows us to forget those and just remember the game winners like the play X made against K State to help us win that one.

Calling these two 19-20 year olds seflish is just being a lazy ignorant fan.

If that is all the learning X has done midway thru his sophomore year then Houston, we have a problem. If you watched that Wake game and didn't think X hogged the ball and didn't even look at wide open team mates then you shouldn't be calling other people ignorant lazy fans.

The kid is talented and has the ability to do great things. But it's time to start doing what he can do and stop tying to impress NBA scouts.

 

[TWPitt]

If that is all the learning X has done midway thru his sophomore year then Houston, we have a problem. If you watched that Wake game and didn't think X hogged the ball and didn't even look at wide open team mates then you shouldn't be calling other people ignorant lazy fans.

The kid is talented and has the ability to do great things. But it's time to start doing what he can do and stop tying to impress NBA scouts.

My opinion X played way above his grade last year and other coaches didn't expect his play early on. Then we hit ACC play and they started figuring him out. The book is out on him and he hasn't adjusted yet or doesn't have the talent or the talent around him to adjust. I think him and Trey are more victims of trying to carry the team then be selfish. I was at the game on Saturday and felt for most of the game X played the right game and took what Wake gave him. Down the stretch the difference between Saturday and other games was our shots didn't fall including Trey's two free throws that if he makes one or both it is a different game.

X and Trey didn't make all the right plays but who does and expecting 19/20 year olds too all the time isn't fair either. That is why they are in college, not the pros.

 

[NTOP]

Reality...if he makes the shot he wouldn't be called selfish on here.
There would be posts about how he comes through in the clutch.

Now, did he make a bad decision?.....I say yes. Selfish?.....nobody on
here knows if he's selfish. I don't care what you saw or didn't see. He
might very well be selfish, we have no idea.
To me it's rather simple....he's trying to do too much. That isn't a
definition of "selfish."

My view is that these 2 guys were lauded big time last year, with NBA talk, etc. They know that. And they're trying to do too much. Both are used to controlling the ball. They just aren't pass first players who haven't progressed much, if at all. When 3 guys surround you, 2 teammates are unguarded....pass the ball. Capel said after the game they had plays for others but X & Trey "didn't look for them". I hope they'll learn from that game.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I’ll quibble
It’s not a lack of basketball iq-
The success and failure is due to their reckless style .

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I’ll quibble
It’s not a lack of basketball iq-
The success and failure is due to their reckless style .

OK but I think part of the basketball IQ thing is knowing when are the right times to drive, to try to finish over length or look for a teammate, etc.

Look at a guy like Krauser. He did force some stuff and had a similar "free" style as Johnson and McGowens but he mostly made the correct reads. Now he had much better teammates and was playing in a system which didnt allow a ton of offensive freedom but still.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

OK but I think part of the basketball IQ thing is knowing when are the right times to drive, to try to finish over length or look for a teammate, etc.

Look at a guy like Krauser. He did force some stuff and had a similar "free" style as Johnson and McGowens but he mostly made the correct reads. Now he had much better teammates and was playing in a system which didnt allow a ton of offensive freedom but still.

Not as a frosh and sophomore
We was a backup

 

[Ski11585]

It is most certainly not low basketball IQ. These kids have played ball all their lives. They are smart enough to know what the right play is! There is an ongoing struggle within, where Capel has told X and Trey I trust you. Last year these guys represented our best chance with the game on the line.

Fast forward to this season. There are more options on this team, maybe not great ones, but guys who could hit a game winner. They have not come to grips with this yet. However, losing to Wake at home is a great lesson that should provoke thought from both Coach Capel and Trey and X. Capel especially needs to coach these guys. He, more than anyone, knows this team has to play together. It is on him to see to a change in X's and Trey's games, especially at the end of a close game.

Everyone including our opponents know X and trey are our top options. I want Capel working on these scenarios in practice. He should have a play where option one, option 2, and option three are clearly defined. It isn't low basketball IQ, they need more from the head coach, not because they can't think for themselves. They are just sophomores who have alot of pressure on them to bring this team back from the abyss.

I am hoping the next time we are in a tight one, we get a little more coaching from Capel. Dixon always had upper-classmen and yet he seemed to micro-manage everything. These guys need leadership and since at this time, there are not really any players to provide it, they need to get it from the head coach and staff.

There is so much pressure on the players and staff to get Pitt on the road to recovery. I think Capel is the ultimate leader and has to take charge. Calling X and or Trey selfish or low IQ players is foolish. They were not 5 star recruits. Capel needs to be the man now, X and Trey will have their junior and senior seasons to lead and leave their imprint on Pitt basketball.

From now on, in a close game, give me a timeout and draw something up for these kids. Take charge coach, lead these young men.

You can spend your life playing basketball and still have bad basketball IQ.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

You can spend your life playing basketball and still have bad basketball IQ.

Instincts. Maybe that's a better way to describe it. Brandin Knight had natural instincts. He didn't have half of the athletic ability as Xavier Johnson but had great instincts. Always made the right play.

You cant "learn" instincts.

 

[FireballZ]

My view is that these 2 guys were lauded big time last year, with NBA talk, etc. They know that. And they're trying to do too much. Both are used to controlling the ball. They just aren't pass first players who haven't progressed much, if at all. When 3 guys surround you, 2 teammates are unguarded....pass the ball. Capel said after the game they had plays for others but X & Trey "didn't look for them". I hope they'll learn from that game.

Haha - this is the nicest way of saying they are 'selfish' that I've ever seen, but I agree, like it and say let's go with it.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Instincts. Maybe that's a better way to describe it. Brandin Knight had natural instincts. He didn't have half of the athletic ability as Xavier Johnson but had great instincts. Always made the right play.

You cant "learn" instincts.

He wasn’t also the offense -
Brandin didn’t have to generate points- he was a complimentary player .

Trey and x are already ahead of the curve of - say brad wannamaker - at the same stage . That’s the more relevant comparison .

 

[levance2]

Instincts. Maybe that's a better way to describe it. Brandin Knight had natural instincts. He didn't have half of the athletic ability as Xavier Johnson but had great instincts. Always made the right play.

You cant "learn" instincts.

I disagree. Guys learn instincts when they don't have the natural ability.

The simple answer is Pitt is generally its best offensively when the ball is in XJ's hands. What is difficult for a coach to convey to him is that by making the right passes and taking fewer shots then he can actually be a more dangerous scorer.

Another thing people need to consider is that Pitt was pretty awful last year. Most teams could afford to let XJ or TM score 20 and we'd still lose. It was easy enough to neutralize everyone else on the floor.