How Haanif actually improved his game last season

[Marcus92]

This is meant as a follow-up to one of Jay Bee's earlier posts. Glancing at Haanif's raw stats for his freshman and sophomore seasons, it's hard to imagine that he improved in any way as a player:

Playing time
29.5 mpg (2015-16) vs. 25.4 mpg (2016-17)

Field goal percentage
48.9% (2015-16) vs. 45.8% (2016-17)

Three-point percentage
38.7% (2015-16) vs. 32.5% (2016-17)

Free throw percentage
82.0% (2015-16) vs. 76.7% (2016-17)

Scoring
11.8 PPG (2015-16) vs. 8.7 PPG (2016-17)

Yet his offensive rating actually increased (from 101.1 his freshman year to 106.7 this past season). How is that possible?

For starters, effective field goal percentage is only one of the four factors in offensive efficiency. And while Haney's shooting numbers were down, the difference wasn't a big one.

Turnover rate
Where Haanif improved dramatically was in taking better care of the ball. His turnover rate as a freshman was 24.4% — in other words, for every 100 possessions, he turned the ball over 24.4 times. That was the 3rd worst TO% on a team that was an absolute turnover machine.

But during the 2016-17 season, Haanif cut his turnover rate to 18.5% — or 18.5 turnovers for every 100 possessions. That difference of 5.9 fewer turnovers per 100 possessions more than makes up for missing a handful of shots. A 24% reduction in TO% is huge. A turnover is a completely wasted possession. No shot attempt. No offensive rebound attempt. Worse, there's a good chance it's going the other way for an easy score by the opponent. Haney helped MU's offense by giving away far fewer possessions.

Offensive rebounding
The third factor in ORtg is offensive rebounding. Haanif showed a big improvement there, as well — more than doubling his offensive rebounding percentage from 1.6% to 3.4%. Not a big contributing factor, but a positive one nonetheless. BTW, as Jay Bee mentioned, Haanif improved his DR%, as well (from 10.8% to 14.5%).

Free throw rate
Finally, Haanif improved his FTRate — from 45.5% as a freshman to 50.7% as a sophomore (165th best in the country per KenPom). In fact, Haney led MU in free throw attempts and was second in makes last season. He knows how to get to the line.

Haanif's struggles during the conference season are a legitimate concern. But he has shown some clear positives that I think he can build on.

[CAGASS24]

Nice work - obvious he didn't become a go to offensive guy by any stretch but he did become a more reliable all around player - if anything his 'regression' was more a matter of perception as Sam Markus and rousey all started lighting up the backcourt and he doesn't really fit that mold -

[bilsu]

The decrease in turnover rate is partially, because he did not play any point as a sophomore.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Some good stuff there.  One other thing I'd point out is that the options around HC git better.  MU was the 95th best team per KP his first year.  They were 32nd (iirc)  the next year. His raw numbers went down because there were better options around him even through his advanced numbers mostly went up

[Marcus92]

Absolutely 100% yes to the points made above. Haanif was the team's best 3-point shooter before the addition of Markus, Andrew, Katin and Sam. Huge upgrade in shooting ability, likely opening driving lanes for Haney (his greatest strength on offense). The team also had much better ball handlers in Markus, Andrew and Katin.

[oldwarrior81]

the falloff in PT really accelerated the final stretch of this season

last 10 games of 2015-16
min   336
FG   48/95   50.5%
3PT  13/35   37.1%
FT   35/38   92.1%
REB   35     
AST   20     
TO    21
STL   10
PTS   147

last 10 games of 2016-17
min   164
FG   14/31   45.1%
3PT   2/ 7   28.6%
FT   15/17   88.2%
REB   26
AST    9     
TO    16
STL    4
PTS   45

[Marcus92]

The drop off is undeniable. But I think it's most valuable to compare an entire season in evaluating his play, rather than focus solely on less than 1/3 of the schedule.

[Lennys Tap]

Massage the stats anyway you want, but down the stretch (as we battled to get off the bubble) Haanif played himself into being the last scholarship player off of our bench. Markus, Rowsey, JJJ, Katin and Duane were all better options at the position(s) he plays - by a wide margin. Three of the guys he was behind are gone so he gets another chance and we're all rooting for him. But if he puts up his 3rd consecutive sub 100 Ortg in conference play he'll either be on the sidelines or the team will be in trouble.

[Marcus92]

I also give Wojo credit for adjusting the offense and rotation throughout the season to make the most of the players we had.

In 2015-16, Marquette averaged 76.3 points a game with a very inside-focused offense — including 690 made 2-pointers (54th in Division I), 194 made threes (279th) and 555 made free throws (65th).

Compare that to 2016-17. MU averaged 82.2 points a game with a much more perimeter-focused offense — including 583 made 2-pointers (201st), 336 made threes (14th) and 457 made free throws (208th). We made 10.5 threes a game, a 78% increase over 5.9 the year before. Total transformation. And we won 2 more conference games in a year the Big East sent 70% of its teams to the NCAA tournament. That's the stat I care most about.

It can't have been easy for a player like Haanif adjusting to a different role. Hopefully he's doing all he can in the offseason to further improve his game and help the team. We'll need him.

[Boozemon Barro]

Does he transfer before the season, mid-year, or after next season?

[jsglow]

Does he transfer before the season, mid-year, or after next season?

Or works hard to make himself a better player and contributor at Marquette.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Or works hard to make himself a better player and contributor at Marquette.

C'mon Glow! This is Scoop! Everyone is ALWAYS transferring!

[barfolomew]

Hanni needs to work on three things this summer:

1) His
2) Right
3) Hand

He's a smart kid and very self-aware, based on his comments during and after the season.
I agree with Marcus that he had to adjust to a new role as the season went on and that can be difficult.

I see his role next year being more like his freshman season. TO% may clip back up a bit because he'll be one of our few slashers from the guard position. But being able to finish with the right hand means he'll have more options once he hits the lane.

[Clam Crowder]

With Haanif so far I am reminded of Sandy's progression...Sandy showed some flashes of greatness in Non-Con (albeit not to Haanif's level of flashes) and then went invisible in Conference play.

Haanif has a chance to be a leader this year...If he can't do that I fully expect him to be relegated to a supporting role this year and transfer after the season.

Won't be a popular opinion but I see that as how this shakes out

[muwarrior69]

Hanni needs to work on three things this summer:

1) His
2) Right
3) Hand

He's a smart kid and very self-aware, based on his comments during and after the season.
I agree with Marcus that he had to adjust to a new role as the season went on and that can be difficult.

I see his role next year being more like his freshman season. TO% may clip back up a bit because he'll be one of our few slashers from the guard position. But being able to finish with the right hand means he'll have more options once he hits the lane.

...or mid-range jumper.

[Dawson Rental]

The short answer; he stopped playing the point.

This is meant as a follow-up to one of Jay Bee's earlier posts. Glancing at Haanif's raw stats for his freshman and sophomore seasons, it's hard to imagine that he improved in any way as a player:

Playing time
29.5 mpg (2015-16) vs. 25.4 mpg (2016-17)

Field goal percentage
48.9% (2015-16) vs. 45.8% (2016-17)

Three-point percentage
38.7% (2015-16) vs. 32.5% (2016-17)

Free throw percentage
82.0% (2015-16) vs. 76.7% (2016-17)

Scoring
11.8 PPG (2015-16) vs. 8.7 PPG (2016-17)

Yet his offensive rating actually increased (from 101.1 his freshman year to 106.7 this past season). How is that possible?

For starters, effective field goal percentage is only one of the four factors in offensive efficiency. And while Haney's shooting numbers were down, the difference wasn't a big one.

Turnover rate
Where Haanif improved dramatically was in taking better care of the ball. His turnover rate as a freshman was 24.4% — in other words, for every 100 possessions, he turned the ball over 24.4 times. That was the 3rd worst TO% on a team that was an absolute turnover machine.

But during the 2016-17 season, Haanif cut his turnover rate to 18.5% — or 18.5 turnovers for every 100 possessions. That difference of 5.9 fewer turnovers per 100 possessions more than makes up for missing a handful of shots. A 24% reduction in TO% is huge. A turnover is a completely wasted possession. No shot attempt. No offensive rebound attempt. Worse, there's a good chance it's going the other way for an easy score by the opponent. Haney helped MU's offense by giving away far fewer possessions.

Offensive rebounding
The third factor in ORtg is offensive rebounding. Haanif showed a big improvement there, as well — more than doubling his offensive rebounding percentage from 1.6% to 3.4%. Not a big contributing factor, but a positive one nonetheless. BTW, as Jay Bee mentioned, Haanif improved his DR%, as well (from 10.8% to 14.5%).

Free throw rate
Finally, Haanif improved his FTRate — from 45.5% as a freshman to 50.7% as a sophomore (165th best in the country per KenPom). In fact, Haney led MU in free throw attempts and was second in makes last season. He knows how to get to the line.

Haanif's struggles during the conference season are a legitimate concern. But he has shown some clear positives that I think he can build on.

[brewcity77]

...or mid-range jumper.

Or both.

I know his overall stats were better, but Cheatham was bad in conference play. His numbers were definitely bolstered by some of the cupcakes. He was over 100 ORtg in 8/8 games against sub-100 opponents per Pomeroy and 8/22 games against top-100. He had two top-100 games with fewer than 10 minutes so he wasn't rated.

Right hand, midrange jumper, and consistency.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Hanni needs to work on three things this summer:

1) His
2) Right
3) Hand

He's a smart kid and very self-aware, based on his comments during and after the season.
I agree with Marcus that he had to adjust to a new role as the season went on and that can be difficult.

I see his role next year being more like his freshman season. TO% may clip back up a bit because he'll be one of our few slashers from the guard position. But being able to finish with the right hand means he'll have more options once he hits the lane.

"Either do it, or gimme your right hand, that's what you said."

-Damien

"I can see now, ain't nothin' but trouble ahead."

-DMX

[Dr. Blackheart]

In conference play:

Player A:  Ortg of 96.8, eFG% of 42.7, DR rate of 11.9, TO rate of 21.7, FT rate of 36.0

Player B: Ortg of 93.8, eFG% of 43.3, DR rate of 14.3, TO rate of 25.0, FT rate of 65.2

Derrick Wilson meet Haanif Cheatham.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Does he transfer before the season, mid-year, or after next season?

I think the parade of talent has passed HC.  Unless he improves dramatically he is the last guy on the bench.

[tower912]

No.   That assumes Sacar has made a huge leap and all of the frosh are Big East ready.
I am optimistic about the freshmen, but that is simply too big a leap.  Haanif will get starter minutes early, even if he doesn't actually start.

[Jay Bee]

In conference play:

Player A:  Ortg of 96.8, eFG% of 42.7, DR rate of 11.9, TO rate of 21.7, FT rate of 36.0

Player B: Ortg of 93.8, eFG% of 43.3, DR rate of 14.3, TO rate of 25.0, FT rate of 65.2

Derrick Wilson meet Haanif Cheatham.

One was a senior, one a sophomore

Also, Derrick.. usage of 13.3%; %Shots 10.7%; his #'s were bolstered by a high assist rate (which no matta)

Hanni usage 19.0%, %Shots 17.0%

#BadComp

[Lennys Tap]

I am optimistic about the freshmen, but that is simply too big a leap.  Haanif will get starter minutes early, even if he doesn't actually start.

Agree.

[Dr. Blackheart]

One was a senior, one a sophomore

Also, Derrick.. usage of 13.3%; %Shots 10.7%; his #'s were bolstered by a high assist rate (which no matta)

Hanni usage 19.0%, %Shots 17.0%

#BadComp

Let's get back to conference and apples to apples as you compared Derrick's conference stats with Haani's all season stats filled with cupcake fluff.

Conference: Haani (who was a starter most of two years) 17.9% of usage and 13.7% of shots. Derrick is 13.3 and 10.7. Haani was getting the Derrick Wilson sag off treatment by conference foes by year's end. Shrinking violets.

This board was apoplectic over Derrick's numbers. Let's hope Haani diversifies his game. I will be cheering for him. Make no mistake, Elliott and Cain await his playing time.

[Jay Bee]

Conference: Haani 17.9% of usage and 13.7% of shots. Derrick is 13.3 and 10.7.

Dis are seeming different. #badcomp