Is Sandy the best frosh since Novak?

[brewcity77]

Here are all freshmen (and Butler) sorted by ORtg. Cohen ranks #5

Good post, Henry. I agree that I wouldn't have Novak as the best. I think there's more value when you look at guys who played a lot of minutes. Jajuan's ORtg last year was somewhat fool's gold because he had some big games early and saw his minutes drop significantly in conference play. Sandy and Duane have been playing as well or better in conference play and doing it with increased minutes.

Usage is important, but if a guy comes in for 4 minutes and has 3 shots, it will overinflate his usage. The more minutes you log the more accurate the usage stat becomes. That's why I think Cubillan had a particularly impressive freshman year. He may not have shot a ton, but he picked his spots well and was a reliable sniper. Lower usage, but because he was out there 58% of the time you know the numbers you get from him are actually accurate. The more a guy plays, the more accurate the picture becomes. That's why Dom was so impressive as a freshman and why I'd also put Duane second behind him.

[MuMark]

Kid has a great attitude....http://wbay.com/2015/02/02/cohen-making-impression-freshman-year/

[wadesworld]

Kid has a great attitude....http://wbay.com/2015/02/02/cohen-making-impression-freshman-year/

Great video, thanks for sharing.

Didn't Cohen have some trouble in his household?  Wasn't he raised in a single mother household and his mother was struggling to support him, so he moved in with his coach for the last 2 or 3 years of high school?  Not trying to say the situations are the same, but maybe (hopefully) Noskowiak will be better off when he gets to Marquette.

[MerrittsMustache]

Kid has a great attitude....http://wbay.com/2015/02/02/cohen-making-impression-freshman-year/

"I've been ok with [the decrease in minutes since early in the season] because Coach Wojo has been around the game for a really long time and I know he knows whats best for me and my teammates and he's just trying to put our team in the best position to win so if I'm not playing a lot one game its probably not best for the team so I believe in his coaching strategies," said Cohen.

Classic Wojo mind games.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Wouldn't surprise me. His best attribute, in my opinion, is he would appear to be supremely confident in his ability, while not be self absorbed as a player.

This is probably the best way to qualitatively describe Sandy's disposition on the court. Really like what I see out of him skill-wise and BBIQ-wise

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Kid has a great attitude....http://wbay.com/2015/02/02/cohen-making-impression-freshman-year/

Wow, I think Cohen just became my new favorite player.

[Earl Tatum]

I hope Sandy does great. Hope his shot starts to fall. Will be an asset. The best freshman in the state this year
is Redshirting--his name is ETHAN HAPP at UW. We will have to contend with him next year. Gives Kaminsky, Dekker and Hayes fits in practice. This is MU, but have to admit, we missed him. Also, Trevor Anderson of
Stevens Point, Hauser's teammate is nothing fancy just plays hard, excellent shooter, sets people teammates
up, plays the point and defense. If Nick has a problem, Anderson would be a find.

[tower912]

"I've been ok with [the decrease in minutes since early in the season] because Coach Wojo has been around the game for a really long time and I know he knows whats best for me and my teammates and he's just trying to put our team in the best position to win so if I'm not playing a lot one game its probably not best for the team so I believe in his coaching strategies," said Cohen.

Classic Wojo mind games.

Wojo slurper.   He's received more minutes than many anticipated going into the season.   JJJ has received less.   Cohen is the response to everyone who says that it isn't fair that JJJ isn't getting more minutes.   The formula is simple.   Work hard in practice every day.   Know your defensive assignment.   Take smart shots within the offense.    Hustle when you get in the game.   Earn your minutes. 

[GGGG]

"I've been ok with [the decrease in minutes since early in the season] because Coach Wojo has been around the game for a really long time and I know he knows whats best for me and my teammates and he's just trying to put our team in the best position to win so if I'm not playing a lot one game its probably not best for the team so I believe in his coaching strategies," said Cohen.

Classic Wojo mind games.

Wojo just sees more of himself in Sandy...or Wojo is sticking it to the administration...or Wojo got to Dickey Simpkins who is actually the one who determines playing time.

[MerrittsMustache]

I hope Sandy does great. Hope his shot starts to fall. Will be an asset. The best freshman in the state this year
is Redshirting--his name is ETHAN HAPP at UW. We will have to contend with him next year. Gives Kaminsky, Dekker and Hayes fits in practice. This is MU, but have to admit, we missed him. Also, Trevor Anderson of
Stevens Point, Hauser's teammate is nothing fancy just plays hard, excellent shooter, sets people teammates
up, plays the point and defense. If Nick has a problem, Anderson would be a find.

Yep, if he could only get some shots to fall he'd be much better than 4th in the BE in 3P%

Perhaps you're right about Happ, but a 3-star recruit who chose UW over GB and UWM? Really? If he was really that ready to contribute, why is he redshirting as opposed to taking Duje Dukan's minutes?

[MUfan12]

Dickey Simpkins who is actually the one who determines playing time.

HASHTAG DERBRICK

[GGGG]

Perhaps you're right about Happ, but a 3-star recruit who chose UW over GB and UWM? Really? If he was really that ready to contribute, why is he redshirting as opposed to taking Duje Dukan's minutes?

I have learned to never really question what comes out of Madison in this regard.  Say what you want, but Bo does a good job of getting much more out of player than is to be expected.

[brewcity77]

I have learned to never really question what comes out of Madison in this regard.  Say what you want, but Bo does a good job of getting much more out of player than is to be expected.

Happ may be forced into action earlier than most due to all the guys likely leaving Madison this year, but I'd guess he'll be that typical Bo guy that doesn't do much for a couple years then becomes another annoying Leuer/Kaminsky type that goes from role-player to quality starter on a top-25 team.

Either that or he'll get BOned like Ian Markolf.

[wadesworld]

Happ may be forced into action earlier than most due to all the guys likely leaving Madison this year, but I'd guess he'll be that typical Bo guy that doesn't do much for a couple years then becomes another annoying Leuer/Kaminsky type that goes from role-player to quality starter on a top-25 team.

Either that or he'll get BOned like Ian Markolf.

Hey, man, quit making stuff up!  Don't you know, the guy just lost his love for the game of basketball and quit the team, there is no such thing as BOned!

He just hates the game and no longer wanted to play (which is why he is currently playing at the University of The Incarnate Word).

[TSmith34, Inc.]

HASHTAG DERBRICK

Classic.  The guy shooting .456/.296 is "Derbrick", but he should be replaced by the guy shooting .401/.156.

[BrewCity83]

I have learned to never really question what comes out of Madison in this regard.  Say what you want, but Bo does a good job of getting much more out of player than is to be expected.

Brian Butch.

[NersEllenson]

Wojo slurper.   He's received more minutes than many anticipated going into the season.   JJJ has received less.   Cohen is the response to everyone who says that it isn't fair that JJJ isn't getting more minutes.   The formula is simple.   Work hard in practice every day.   Know your defensive assignment.   Take smart shots within the offense.    Hustle when you get in the game.   Earn your minutes. 

Could you please enlighten the board as to what Cohen's and every other player on the team's "defensive assignment" is/are - as well as what "smart shots within the offense," are?

"Hustle when you get in the game."  Priceless.

[GGGG]

Brian Butch.

Very good college player who was overrated coming out of high school.

[wadesworld]

Very good college player who was overrated coming out of high school.

I'm not sure I'd even say he was a very good college player. His senior year was by far his best season and he was 12 and 6. Solid? Definitely. But very good is overhyping his college career.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I'm not sure I'd even say he was a very good college player. His senior year was by far his best season and he was 12 and 6. Solid? Definitely. But very good is overhyping his college career.

You'd have to look at secondary stats as well. I seem to recall those teams playing SUPER SLOW, thus, his point totals would partially be attributed to tempo... but maybe I'm just mis-remembering.

Bo actually has been a very good recruiter, and has landed some high level talent (butch, Krabby, dekker, Steinsma, Harris, etc.), but he's really scored with some of his mid-level recruits that he's turned into REALLY good players (Frank, Leuer, Kam Taylor, etc.)

I think some people automatically think of the Badgers as creating players from nothing, but they have good recruits. For whatever reason, it just FEELS like these dudes come from nowhere.

[Nukem2]

You'd have to look at secondary stats as well. I seem to recall those teams playing SUPER SLOW, thus, his point totals would partially be attributed to tempo... but maybe I'm just mis-remembering.

Bo actually has been a very good recruiter, and has landed some high level talent (butch, Krabby, dekker, Steinsma, Harris, etc.), but he's really scored with some of his mid-level recruits that he's turned into REALLY good players (Frank, Leuer, Kam Taylor, etc.)

I think some people automatically think of the Badgers as creating players from nothing, but they have good recruits. For whatever reason, it just FEELS like these dudes come from nowhere.

Those mid-level recruits were borderline Top 100.  Difference between being Top 100 and borderline is rather meaningless after the Top 25 or so.  Identifying guys thaT fit your system is probably more important.

[Earl Tatum]

Where was Happ going to get his minutes from? With Hayes, Dekker, Kaminsky, Dukan (a senior, seniors always
get minutes) and Vitto Brown. Happ probably would have Brown's minutes from the way Brown is playing.
So why waste a year. Has 4 years left after this season.

[HutchwasClutch]

Jerel was an awful offensive player and a good defensive player as a freshman.

That statement couldn't be farther from the truth.  He averaged 11.1 for the season, 21 double digit scoring games, 19 pts against No. 2 UConn the night Novak went off (how many remember how solid he was that night?), shot 44% FG, and 75% FT.   He was a poor 3pt shooter and I don't think really improved that aspect of his game until late junior season.  He and James were great complements to Novak's perimeter shooting in that they both penetrated and created offense and shots for themselves. 

[HutchwasClutch]

I would be very happy if all our incoming frosh would do so little their first year.

Start from day 1 and deliver 25 MPG/9 PPG/4 RPG/100.1 Ortg for the season, despite missing 8 games in the middle of the season?  Nah, not impressive at all.

Did you watch any of his freshman season?  I guess you just looked up a few stats to debunk my opinion and that's gospel to you.  I seriously doubt you watched him much at all that year.    He was very spotty his freshman year, James and McNeal clearly shined more.   Anyone that watched games that year would agree with that.  That team was dominated by Novak, McNeal, James, and everyone else a dime a dozen.  Most of that season's high points for him were non- conference.  His whole MU career was very ordinary until his senior year, when he was sensational.  

[wadesworld]

Where was Happ going to get his minutes from? With Hayes, Dekker, Kaminsky, Dukan (a senior, seniors always
get minutes) and Vitto Brown. Happ probably would have Brown's minutes from the way Brown is playing.
So why waste a year. Has 4 years left after this season.

I guess that's the point.  If he can't find minutes over Duje Dukan and Vitto Brown then maybe he's not the best freshman in the state.