Jajaun 2017 vs. 2016

[Silkk the Shaka]

Jajuan's 2017 season has been the biggest disappointment to me.

2016 ORTG

Full year: 109.6
Big East play: 107.7
Tier A&B: 109.2
Tier A: 116.2
February 1 on (11 games): 117

2017 ORTG

Full year: 102.8
Big East play: 94
Tier A&B: 93.1
Tier A: 87.4


Not only did he not improve, he regressed significantly while his utilization rate increased. If he simply plateaued from junior year, some of those close losses (Pitt, @SH, Providence) could have easily been wins and we'd be talking about seeding right now rather than wringing our hands wondering if we'll even make the dance for the first time during his tenure. Hopefully he can finish this year the way he did last year, the team needs it big time.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

JJJs offense has been one of my biggest disappointments as well. Thought he finally turned the corner at the end of last season. Not sure how it can be fixed. Maybe adding a pull up to his game? When he drives he's either going to the hole or dishing. I feel like he could get a lot of open shots in the mid range.

[Silkk the Shaka]

JJJs offense has been one of my biggest disappointments as well. Thought he finally turned the corner at the end of last season. Not sure how it can be fixed. Maybe adding a pull up to his game? When he drives he's either going to the hole or dishing. I feel like he could get a lot of open shots in the mid range.

Agreed. The time to add that in was the off-season though. That's when most juniors polish off their games heading into senior year and deliver their best season yet. Alas, that did not appear to happen. I see nothing new or polished up to this point.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

JuJuan has kind of sucked this season, especially since BE play started. Super disappointing. 

[Stretchdeltsig]

I like JJ even though he hasn't matured into a dominating player.

[ecompt]

JJJ's regression has been the deepest disappointment of this season. In three years here he has not learned a single thing about how to develop his talents. Hard to comprehend. 

[RJax55]

JJJs offense has been one of my biggest disappointments as well. Thought he finally turned the corner at the end of last season. Not sure how it can be fixed. Maybe adding a pull up to his game? When he drives he's either going to the hole or dishing. I feel like he could get a lot of open shots in the mid range.

Its too late. Adding things to his game needed to happen this summer.

Also, I know I have been harping on this, but JJJ only goes right. Everyone in the league knows this. Even though he's our best athlete and has really good body control, he's predictable and easy to defend.

[dw3dw3dw3]

The right hand drive coming from the hand-off I think is easily one of the most scouted things about him. Seemed to be able to get all the way to the rim or pull up for a 15 footer early in the year a few times a game. Can't remember one in the last month. Between that and HCs left hand, opponents have shut down a lot a large portion of their games. Both of them have tried adding the spin to counter the overplays, but those are hit or miss. HC at least will have time to improve. Not sure JJJ can add much offensively at this point in the game. Must be super frustrating for him. I wish he would focus on become a defensive stopper like DJ did when his offensive limitations were evident. He has the athletic ability to, but he just seems to want to reach for everything and play all or nothing style.

[Goose]

HE being on the court made things much easier for HC and JJJ to run a bit wild last year. There is no one player that demands the attention that teams put on HE. IMO that is one of the things we miss most about HE being gone this year.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

HE being on the court made things much easier for HC and JJJ to run a bit wild last year. There is no one player that demands the attention that teams put on HE. IMO that is one of the things we miss most about HE being gone this year.

There is a lot of truth to this. HC and JJJ both moved up the scouting report when Henry left.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

This is a overly simplistic statement that is difficult to quantify, but IMO JJJ isn't playing as intelligently as he did at the end of last season.

In the back half of the BE schedule last year JJJ seemed to finally understand how to play in control.  He seldom forced a shot, rarely lunged for the steal on defense and left his man wide open, and I don't remember him driving into the lane and getting stripped constantly.  In all these areas he's regressed to Frosh/Soph era JJJ. It's inexplicable to me.

[Goose]

TAMU

The lack of having HE has hurt HC big time. Last year he could slash or take the three, regardless of limitations athletically because the lanes or shots were there. HC's big Frosh year had a great deal to do with Henry opening things up.

[BM1090]

TAMU

The lack of having HE has hurt HC big time. Last year he could slash or take the three, regardless of limitations athletically because the lanes or shots were there. HC's big Frosh year had a great deal to do with Henry opening things up.

Don't think this is true. We have far more spacing/open lanes this year with our shooting. Last year it was clogged with 2 big guys.

I think HC has just been scouted. He needs to get better going right and hitting open shots. I don't know that Henry had much to do with that.

I could also be 100% wrong.

[Lennys Tap]

Don't think this is true. We have far more spacing/open lanes this year with our shooting. Last year it was clogged with 2 big guys.

I think HC has just been scouted. He needs to get better going right and hitting open shots. I don't know that Henry had much to do with that.

I could also be 100% wrong.

JJJ and HC (and everyone else who drove the ball) got to the basket a whole lot easier with Henry on the court. Sometimes it was because he sealed the lane, other times it was just that his man couldn't leave him to double. And sometimes he set a devastating pick. Believe me, EVERYONE knew by the beginning of the Big East season last year that JJJ couldn't go left and HC couldn't go right, but HE made stopping them easier said than done.

[BM1090]

JJJ and HC (and everyone else who drove the ball) got to the basket a whole lot easier with Henry on the court. Sometimes it was because he sealed the lane, other times it was just that his man couldn't leave him to double. And sometimes he set a devastating pick. Believe me, EVERYONE knew by the beginning of the Big East season last year that JJJ couldn't go left and HC couldn't go right, but HE made stopping them easier said than done.

I think his sealing ability is a valid argument. HE did that really well especially for a freshman.

This year though, teams can't leave Rowsey, Howard, Hauser, or Reinhardt. 3 of which are usually on the floor with HC/JJ and Luke. I just can't accept the "can't leave him to double" argument when I think that's actually more true in 2017. Henry got a decent amount of open mid-range shots because opponents DID leave him to double. This year, nobody is leaving our 3 shooters on the outside, so theoretically there should be more space.

For whatever reason though, HC and JJ seem to be less effective in the paint this year. So there could be some merit to the argument, I just don't see it.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TAMU

The lack of having HE has hurt HC big time. Last year he could slash or take the three, regardless of limitations athletically because the lanes or shots were there. HC's big Frosh year had a great deal to do with Henry opening things up.

Yep. That's why I agreed with it.

[tower912]

Both moved up in the scouting report and neither expanded their game in the offseason.     JjJ has improved his jumper under Wojo.    Go back to his freshman year, Buzz's last.    A certain poster (now posting under the moniker ExcuseMaker on the Scout board) railed against Buzz for not giving JjJ and Dawson more play.    Why wouldn't Buzz give JjJ more play?    Because he didn't understand his defensive responsibilities and kept doing stupid stuff outside of the offense.     I have clear memories (though I can't remember the opponent) of JjJ coming off of the bench cold, while the opponent was in the midst of the run, and hoisting up a one-touch 3 from about 5 feet behind the arc.    He sat the rest of the season.   
    Wojo runs sets to get JjJ the ball.   Then the adventure begins.   Sometimes, he makes really good plays that no one else on the team can make.   Frequently, though, he drives out of control and creates a turnover through traveling, a push off, a stupid wrap-around pass to Luke when he has an open lay-up or forces up a bad shot.    HIS DECISION MAKING IS BARELY BETTER THAN IT WAS AS A FRESHMAN.    On offense or defense.  And therein lies the problem.    Not his shot, (better) not his athleticism (best on the team) not his instincts to get a steal, but his decision making.    Understanding time, score, situation.    And as much as ners wants to blame this on Wojo's mind games, it is on JjJ.     And now, with a steady 9 man rotation, Wojo doesn't have to put up with poor decisions.   

[Lennys Tap]

For whatever reason though, HC and JJ seem to be less effective in the paint this year. So there could be some merit to the argument, I just don't see it.

Blessed are those who have not seen but still believe, Thomas.

[MU82]

JJJ's regression has been the deepest disappointment of this season. In three years here he has not learned a single thing about how to develop his talents. Hard to comprehend.

While I agree he has regressed, I disagree strongly that he has not learned a single thing. His outside shot was a disaster his freshman year. It now looks like an actual shot. He's not horrible from 3, he is quite accurate from the elbows and he is a good FT shooter.

He was notably improved across the board in his second semester junior year, both offensively and defensively. Those improvements were pretty significant and obvious.

Why has he regressed as a senior? I'm guessing some of it is because he now puts pressure on himself to be "the man" (or at least one of the main men), and/or to impress NBA scouts. Also, I agree with others on the lack of HE on the court. It would seem he should have more driving lanes this year, with our 3-point shooting, but in reality those lanes have not materialized as often as we thought they might.

It's all a shame because I really like JJJ. He has made some big shots for us and some very nice plays. He just hasn't been very good this season overall.

[jesmu84]

This is a overly simplistic statement that is difficult to quantify, but IMO JJJ isn't playing as intelligently as he did at the end of last season.

In the back half of the BE schedule last year JJJ seemed to finally understand how to play in control.  He seldom forced a shot, rarely lunged for the steal on defense and left his man wide open, and I don't remember him driving into the lane and getting stripped constantly.  In all these areas he's regressed to Frosh/Soph era JJJ. It's inexplicable to me.

When Duane says things about players not playing to the scouting report or not following coaching instruction, I am 99% sure he's talking about JJJ, in addition to others.

having said that, we should definitely have JJJ play PG the rest of the season

[willie warrior]

JJJ's regression has been the deepest disappointment of this season. In three years here he has not learned a single thing about how to develop his talents. Hard to comprehend.

Hmmmm...You may be on to something there...JJJ regressing....Duane regressing....Luke regressing(according to some here)...Cheatham regressing.......regressing...Traci regressing...All under Wojo....could this be a pattern.

[Galway Eagle]

Hmmmm...You may be on to something there...JJJ regressing....Duane regressing....Luke regressing(according to some here)...Cheatham regressing.......regressing...Traci regressing...All under Wojo....could this be a pattern.

Traci isn't here anymore...

[Jay Bee]

We needed JjJ to d-rebound more.  How has that gone?

(Pretty well!)

[willie warrior]

Traci isn't here anymore...

know that, but he went from a starter to about 9th man..that could be regression. And then there is Cohen...more regression??

[BM1090]

Don't know how many times this has to be said but Cheatham hasn't really regressed. His efficiency scoring the ball is down but he's improved in virtually every other area.

Luke hasn't regressed. Duane hasn't regressed. Rowsey has one of the best Oratings in the country. Howard and Hauser are good freshman.

JJ has regressed. He literally may be the only one. You can make arguments every other person has improved