Is Reggie Smith a point guard?

[Dawson Rental]

Posters speculating about the point guard position next year usually assume that Reggie Smith will be a point guard, and that he will backup Cadougan there.  Some also put Buycks in competition for that spot, and fewer still mention Blue (me included).

IMHO, the PG competition will be between Cadougan and Blue with Cadougan winning a close contest to start the season, but with Blue getting more and more time as the season goes on.

Anyway, back to Reggie.  I think that many are incorrectly pigeon holing him into the point guard position because of his height.  He primarily played SG in HS, although he got some opportunity to play the point in AAU (at least that's what I remember him saying in an interview shortly after he signed with MU).  I think that Buzz sees him as more of a change of pace guy causing havoc with his speed at SG, particularly when a taller player like Blue (or Buycks) is playing the point with Reggie guarding the other team's PG on defense.

The two players Reggie reminds me of from the past are Aaron Hutchins who may have been listed at PG but played more like a scoring guard, and the 5'11" guy that Crean got from EWill's old HS Cypress Springs.  I can't remember the guy's name, but he stayed a year before transferring to Wichita State.  He was a huge scorer in HS, but apparently wasn't making a successful switch to the point at MU.

I think that the fact that MU is definitely trying to get a top PG in this year's class supports this view of Reggie's potential role on the team.

[reinko]

PG Depth Chart for 2010-2011:

1: Cadagoun
2: Buycks

~Noticeable Dropoff~

3. Smith
4. Blue

[Dawson Rental]

Exceptionally nice use of the tilde, I must say.


Is the dropoff for Smith and Blue really so big that they only rate a period, rather than a semicolon like Cadougan and Buycks?

[GGGG]

PG Depth Chart for 2010-2011:

1: Cadagoun
2: Buycks

~Noticeable Dropoff~

3. Smith
4. Blue

Agreed.  Blue turns the ball over too much.

[Dawson Rental]

Agreed.  Blue turns the ball over too much.

Okay, but what about Smith?  Is he really a point guard?

[reinko]

Exceptionally nice use of the tilde, I must say.


Is the dropoff for Smith and Blue really so big that they only rate a period, rather than a semicolon like Cadougan and Buycks?

Indeed.  I hope I won't need to edit this post because I thought of something more clever 18 seconds from now.

[Dawson Rental]

Indeed.  I hope I won't need to edit this post because I thought of something more clever 18 seconds from now.

No need to worry, you won't, even if you take 18 minutes.

[ErickJD08]

Agreed.  Blue turns the ball over too much.

Is this 2011?  Did I miss a season?  Blue hasn't played a minute and he is turning the ball over too much?  

We will just have to wait and see for your assessment on Reggie.  If he can handle the ball well, and pass, I want him at point.  From what I read, he is not much of a sharp shooter.  So I don't want him at shooting guard.  And his size is an issue, not only for defending a SG but for going against a SG on offense.  

[Dawson Rental]

The player from Cypress Springs I was thinking about was Karon Bradley who actually was at Marquette for two years before his transfer to Wichita State. 2001 to 2002 and 2002 to 2003.

[LAMUfan]

Wouldn't the idea of playing Smith at the 2 guard only work with Blue on the floor due to his size?  I would not want to see Smith come in for DJO and end up with Smith and Junior in at the same time (unless we are playing a really short team).  Is the other player from EWill's high school Karon Bradley perhaps?

[LAMUfan]

oh, you beat me to it 

[HoopsMalone]

I hope that Buycks can handle the ball this year.  Having a senior playing pg will be nice for us.  If Buzz can start the season with confidence in Cadougan and Buycks as returning players, it makes things that much easier.

If Blue and Smith do not need to be assigned a position/role right away because the experienced players have them, then Buzz can just let them develop into whatever suits them best in November and December.  MU has not had that kind of luxury in a while.  Maybe Smith will play the 2, but his size suggests pg at this level. 

[NersEllenson]

The two players Reggie reminds me of from the past are Aaron Hutchins who may have been listed at PG but played more like a scoring guard, and the 5'11" guy that Crean got from EWill's old HS Cypress Springs.  I can't remember the guy's name, but he stayed a year before transferring to Wichita State.  He was a huge scorer in HS, but apparently wasn't making a successful switch to the point at MU.

I think that the fact that MU is definitely trying to get a top PG in this year's class supports this view of Reggie's potential role on the team.

Other than the fact that maybe Hutchins was a shoot first type point guard, and Karon Bradley was a 2 guard in a 1's body - don't see any resemblence to Smith and these players.  Reggie is FAR more athletic/explosive than Hutch or Bradley.  Personally, I feel Reggie will be the biggest surprise on the team this year.  LOVE his talent.  If Buzz can harness him slightly, but not take away his agressiveness - think he would be a GREAT point guard.  Is he a pure point guard - no..but I don't see that there is anything wrong with that.  I believe Reggie is possibly the most explosive athlete..maybe ever at MU - and more so than Dominic James..and that's saying a lot.

[Dawson Rental]

Other than the fact that maybe Hutchins was a shoot first type point guard, and Karon Bradley was a 2 guard in a 1's body - don't see any resemblence to Smith and these players.  Reggie is FAR more athletic/explosive than Hutch or Bradley.  Personally, I feel Reggie will be the biggest surprise on the team this year.  LOVE his talent.  If Buzz can harness him slightly, but not take away his agressiveness - think he would be a GREAT point guard.  Is he a pure point guard - no..but I don't see that there is anything wrong with that.  I believe Reggie is possibly the most explosive athlete..maybe ever at MU - and more so than Dominic James..and that's saying a lot.

MAYBE?  I think that Hutch was also a SG in a PG's body.  He could and did bring the ball up, but I don't think he really ran the offense.  I'm pretty sure that his recruiting didn't become competitive until the spring signing period because almost all the Div I programs saw him as a too short SG in the fall.

I agree with you on Smith's athleticism.  I'm pretty sure that he'll be the fastest player at MU in getting the ball up the court in transition, and he'll put a lot of pressure on the opposing team's defense that way.  But, I don't see him running a half court offense or creating shots for others.  I think his game will most resemble DJOs.  He's a great driver to the basket, and when he gets there his hops are unreal.  No problem dunking for this guy.  I hope that he's a good free throw shooter because I can see him getting to the line a lot.

[wadesworld]

Agreed.  Blue turns the ball over too much.

So does Buycks.  He was a turnover machine last year.  We will see if he has fixed this problem when the season starts.  I wouldn't take too much stock in what you're seeing at the Pro-Am.

[NersEllenson]

MAYBE?  I think that Hutch was also a SG in a PG's body.  He could and did bring the ball up, but I don't think he really ran the offense.  I'm pretty sure that his recruiting didn't become competitive until the spring signing period because almost all the Div I programs saw him as a too short SG in the fall.

Agree that Hutch was an SG in a PG's body - but he was recruited as a point.  He was also Ohio state player of the year (about 95% sure of this), and believe he was a highly regarded recruit...though I don't know when his recruiting became "competitive."  He was a good dude too - a nice guy..pretty down to earth...I had some fun with he and Zack McCall while on campus

[Dawson Rental]

I think that the biggest surprise regarding Smith next year will be blocked shots.  I can see him ranking as high as third on the team in blocks (per 40 minutes played) on next year's team.  When he does guard taller players which will be most of the time,  I think that when they try to shoot over him, they will find it much harder than they expected.

[Dawson Rental]

So does Buycks.  He was a turnover machine last year.  We will see if he has fixed this problem when the season starts.  I wouldn't take too much stock in what you're seeing at the Pro-Am.

Except that its very impressive that the USA coaches decided to start Vander at point guard over Kyrie Irving.

[ErickJD08]

I think that the biggest surprise regarding Smith next year will be blocked shots.  I can see him ranking as high as third on the team in blocks (per 40 minutes played) on next year's team.  When he does guard taller players which will be most of the time,  I think that when they try to shoot over him, they will find it much harder than they expected.

Two things...
One, how effect was james at blocking shots?  
Two, you mentioned that you don't see Smith creating shots for others.  That's why we pay a coach tons of money.  If Smith doesn't create shots for others well, even though he can break down the defense and create fast breaks, Buzz better teach him.  Plus, it would be an incredible injustice for Smith.  I am sure he has some aspirations to go to the next level and so he should learn to play the point.

[wadesworld]

Except that its very impressive that the USA coaches decided to start Vander at point guard over Kyrie Irving.

Agreed.  I was just speaking about Buycks.  Last year he was as careless with the ball as Jerel McNeal.  To say Blue turns it over too much without having seen what he can do in college basketball while saying Buycks is the 2nd best option at PG is interesting.

[bilsu]

Cadougan is the perfect point guard for a half court offense. He is an excellent passer and handles the ball well. Smith is a point guard for a fast break offense. Although at this point he is not as good of a shooter, he plays like Kyrie Irving of Duke, who is another blazing shoot first point guard. Cadougan is more like Gady of Washington. If you watched the 17 and under US team, that Blue was on, the team was very good offensively when Irving was pushing the ball. The team seemed to bog down when Gady was in. Now part of the reason may have been that Gady was often in with the second string. The point guard's job is to get the offense in gear by either pushing the ball up court or passing it in the half court game. With all the scoring potential MU now has should they be a half court team or should they look for the quick score. The quick score heavily favors Smith. A half court game heavily favors Cadougan. The other thing I noticed about Smith at the pro am is he is very quick to get to loose balls. Based on last year's offense MU relied heavily on every player passing the ball vs Crean's teams where the point guard controlled the ball. Right now I am not sure if Buzz is a point guard dominated coach. Crean certainly was with is 100 to 200 different plays. Cadougan is stronger which will help him on defense, but Smith is quicker which will also help him on defense. It probably really comes down to turnovers, I am pretty sure Buzz has a low tolerance for them.

[bma725]

Except that its very impressive that the USA coaches decided to start Vander at point guard over Kyrie Irving.

Except they didn't.  Vander wasn't a PG on the FIBA team.  He played off the ball the entire time, often as the third guard with Irving and Rivers.  

For all this talk about Reggie not being a PG...Vander isn't one yet either.  He may want to play there, but it's not something he's done a ton of prior to college.  

[NotAnAlum]

Agree that Hutch was an SG in a PG's body - but he was recruited as a point.  He was also Ohio state player of the year (about 95% sure of this), and believe he was a highly regarded recruit...though I don't know when his recruiting became "competitive."  He was a good dude too - a nice guy..pretty down to earth...I had some fun with he and Zack McCall while on campus

I don't know where you guys are getting the idea that Hutch wasn't a pg or didn't run the team.  Yes he scored a lot but he drove to set up others and did all the things I'd expect a pg to do.  In the two full years he actually played (before getting into it with Deane) he averaged 6+ assists per game.  I'd call that a point guard.  Diener scored a lot too and you wouldn't call him a shooting guard in a point guard body.

[Big Papi]

When Buzz was asked about the point guard position, he mentioned Junior and then Reggie as the back up.  Blue will see very little if anytime as point guard this year.  Buycks will see more time at point than Blue this year.   

[lab_warrior]

Would much rather bank on the experience of Cadougan and Buycks than try to rely too much on the incoming freshmen like Vander and Reggie.  I think Junior gets the bulk of the minutes, perhaps Reggie gets some bench minutes, but come crunch time, I'd rather have Cadougan/Buycks handling the point.  Let Vander develop at the 2 without having to worry too much about distributing the ball, turnovers, etc.