[Cracked Sidewalks] Gardner about to crack top 100 players in the country

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Gardner about to crack top 100 players in the country

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (bamamarquettefan1)

We are planning a national release of the Value Add stats early next week, but we can preview the Marquette rankings before the rest are public and on www.valueaddbasketball.com.

Many were surprised when I wrote preseason that I just didn't believe MU had a top 100 player, and now I may be wrong.  Davante Gardner has shot up 141 spots to 114th - putting him in the top 3% of all basketball players and in a spot where he could give Marquette an All-Big East selection.

I realize Chris Otule is playing great defense and Davante let a big man that Otule had contained go baseline on him verses LSU, but Gardner is getting so dominant in just 20 minutes a game that I almost believe you need to start Chris but perhaps go to a 15/25 minute rotation to get Davante a few more minutes.  In addition to unbelievably efficient numbers including the only 270-pound or better player hitting over 75% of his free throws (81% to be exact), he is truly a force.  His two 5-steal games make up for a few defensive lapses - the guy is just clever.  Who would believe he would be one of only a few players in the country to be among the national leaders in both blocked shots and steals.

RnkMarquette playerHtYrOffDefPG/PerTotal[/tr]

114	Davante Gardner	6' 8"	Jr	4.40	-1.55		5.95
332	Jamil Wilson	6' 7"	Jr	3.12	-0.82		3.93
713	Junior Cadougan	6' 1"	Sr	1.17	0.24	1.50	2.43
1051	Chris Otule	6' 11"	Sr	1.38	-0.25		1.63
1179	Juan Anderson	6' 6"	So	0.17	-1.23		1.39
1194	Derrick Wilson	6' 1"	So	0.35	-0.53	0.50	1.38
1196	Vander Blue	6' 4"	Jr	1.00	0.12	0.50	1.37
1261	Steve Taylor	6' 7"	Fr	0.99	-0.29		1.29
1327	Jake Thomas	6' 3"	Jr	0.96	-0.22		1.18
1542	Trent Lockett	6' 5"	Sr	0.16	-0.74		0.90
1881	Jamal Ferguson	6' 4"	Fr	0.18	-0.38		0.56

Overall, the story continues to be incredibly balances as everyone on the roster is in the top half of all players, except for Todd Mayo who doesn't have enough minutes but was projected to be the 4th best player on the team behind Gardner, J. Wilson, Blue.

Despite fluctuations from game-to-game, Jamil Wilson has been very consistent over every few game stretches.  He was projected at 329th, was 366th early this month, and is now 332nd, always in the top 10% of all players.

Despite the bad outing verses Green Bay, Junior Cadougan held very steady as the third best player due to dominating Wisconsin and second most valuable player against LSU.

Chris Otule's defensive presence cannot be measured, and when you account for that on top of him already ranking as the 4th most valuable on the team, you can see why it is a tough choice for Buzz to decide which of his four most valuable players to play.

While certainly we see the key moments from Vander Blue and Trent Lockett, missed shots and turnovers have them both below the average 1.00 overall offensive rating in www.kenpom.com as doing a little more to hurt the offense than help it - but we can see they could take off.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2012/12/gardner-about-to-crack-top-100-players.html

[Silkk the Shaka]

Am I reading this correctly in that Davante has been our best offensive AND defensive player?  Whadda beast.  Feed the Ox!

[bilsu]

Am I reading this correctly in that Davante has been our best offensive AND defensive player?  Whadda beast.  Feed the Ox!

Statistics do not always tell the truth on defense.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Statistics do not always tell the truth on defense.

I agree - but it looks like according to this the team plays better defense overall when he's on the court.  That could have something to do witht the fact that we make more baskets, therefore teams are able to fast break far less frequently and have to play against a set defense more often.  Either way, it points to his value on both sides of the court.  But just by using the eye test it seems like Davante has improved over last year on that side of the court, and without a doubt he has DRASTICALLY improved on that end vs. his frosh year.  With Chris less than 100% and the team struggling to score in the half court, I think Davante's minutes need to start approaching 30/game.

[Lennys Tap]

Time for the few who were wildly bullish (not me) on Gardner to take a bow. He is BY FAR our best offensive player (UWGB beat us by triple teaming him) and his defensive play (5 steals vs LSU?) is much improved.

[Dr. Blackheart]

The players on this team are wildly inconsistent from game to game...even within a game.  The Big Sheesh is the bedrock...and the game should start there from the inside out. While someone steps down this season, someone else seems to step up. We tend to dwell on the down, but plenty of good news too with a very experienced roster.  Very different from past MU teams, especially Buzz's. It may take us a while to adjust to that.

I just note that teams improve in efficiency the most after finals historically. I think the LSU win will look very good by February.  Other than Florida, the SEC is very bad this season.  Kentucky is very young and will improve but they don't have the experienced players to go with the one and dones this season.  MSU is putrid and just lost some mid-season tranfers.  UT is nothing without Jmay.  Ole Miss looks okay but not great.  LSU has maybe a lottery pick and strong shooting guards.  MU needs a good BE start at home, but there is a rosy outlook some where in the stats...with a easier road schedule than in the past at the end of the BE season.

[Badgerhater]

When in recent memory has MU's best player been a big man?   Previously it has always been guards or wings who could shoot from outside.  Teams have to fundamentally change their approach on both ends when that is the case.

It will take awhile, but this team will click just like all the other ones under Buzz.

[Dawson Rental]

This team's problem in a nutshell; Cadougan is its third ranked player in value add.

[esotericmindguy]

Statistics do not always tell the truth on defense.

Only when it's convenient to justify other player's minutes. How this guy only plays half the game is beyond me.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I saw in Pomeroy, that of heavy possession players (at least 28%), the Ox is 4th in the nation in offensive efficiency....right below McDermott.  Feed the Sheesh!

Link if you have a membership:
http://kenpom.com/playerstats.php

[Marqevans]

Only when it's convenient to justify other player's minutes. How this guy only plays half the game is beyond me.

If you are ranked that high and only play half the game, your coach must know something.