Central Arkansas thoughts

[Shooter McGavin]

Stop living in the past.  Last season, the National Champion Virginia Cavaliers played KenPom #342 Coppin State, #293 George Washington, #291 Towson, and #333 Morgan State.

Playing crappy teams is what contenders do.

I agree with you.  However, that is the only point of reference for some of our 70s fan base.

[BM1090]

You mean the guy with the worst efg and the second worst turnover percentage on the team?

Or is it the same guy who continues to throw up awful/dumb shots to try and shoot himself out of a slump or the guy who sulked for two straight games because of his poor performance?

But leadership!!! Swagger! C'mon cheeks be better. I'm not advocating taking all of his minutes away, but there are more deserving players in line.

He's been bad lately but he's also one of only three guys capable of running the PG position. And he is the best defender of those three guys.

He'll get better.

[Jay Bee]

Symir is better than Dawson was.  However, arguing that he should be starting over Koby is severe Dawson-itis.

#2 KenPom comp for Symir is... John Dawson.

lol

[Cheeks]

You mean the guy with the worst efg and the second worst turnover percentage on the team?

Or is it the same guy who continues to throw up awful/dumb shots to try and shoot himself out of a slump or the guy who sulked for two straight games because of his poor performance?

But leadership!!! Swagger! C'mon cheeks be better. I'm not advocating taking all of his minutes away, but there are more deserving players in line.

I mean the guy that willed us to victory over Purdue, which apparently that game didn't exist in your mind.

I mean the guy that the other players have rallied around, who plays tough defense, rock solid from the free throw line, despite not shooting well is finding his teammates (2nd in assists) and goes in with the trees to get rebounds...that's the guy.

Yes, he is frustrated, he wants to do better...I'll take those kind of guys on my team all day and all night.  He hasn't given up, he is doing well in other areas to help his team win.  That guy.

[Cheeks]

Call me crazy but I don't think a shoot first 2guard with minimal distribution skills is the best option for the team with an All-American ball dominant off guard.

Skill wise, Koby is obviously further along, but this team will run much more efficiently with a pass first PG.

We are fortunate to have Koby and Symir on this team with two different skill sets.  Koby is better defender, better rebounder, better free throw shooter, Symir better passer.

Looking forward to watching them both play for MU.

McEwen is currently having career high in assists, FT % (94%).  His 3 point shooting % is career low, but not that far off his last year at Utah State. 

Scored 23 vs Purdue.  Scored 19 vs Wisconsin....two high level teams...shot 7-11 from 3 in those games.  He has struggled since.  Symir has put up good numbers against teams that couldn't hold Purdue or Wisconsin's jock....he also hasn't had the opportunity.  I'm happy with both guys.

[The Sultan]

Call me crazy but I don't think a shoot first 2guard with minimal distribution skills is the best option for the team with an All-American ball dominant off guard.

Skill wise, Koby is obviously further along, but this team will run much more efficiently with a pass first PG.

Symir stinks defensively and is more limited than Koby offensively. You think that's a good change to make?

[The Sultan]

Regarding the walk-ons, I too think more time would have been called for.  2-3 minutes. 

Frankly I don't care if they ever play.

[Cheeks]

Frankly I don't care if they ever play.

There is a bit of history here.  Some of the walk-ons last year not thrilled with Wojo and left the team.  He's a hard ass on them in practice, demands a bunch...personally, that's the deal of being a walk-on...don't like it, don't do it...a decision some of them made. 

This is hardly a Wojo thing.  One had to attend a few practices with other MU (other schools) coaches and Walk-one often not treated with kid gloves.

[The Sultan]

There is a bit of history here.  Some of the walk-ons last year not thrilled with Wojo and left the team.  He's a hard ass on them in practice, demands a bunch...personally, that's the deal of being a walk-on...don't like it, don't do it...a decision some of them made. 

Fine by me.

[Cheeks]

Fine by me.

Agree

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Walkons only ones that also signed the letter?

[Elonsmusk]

Symir is better than Dawson was.  However, arguing that he should be starting over Koby is severe Dawson-itis.

Yea.  Koby is definitely struggling, but let's get real:  Koby is miles beyond Derrick Wilson as a player, so far from comparable situations.

#2 KenPom comp for Symir is... John Dawson.

lol

Funny...and we have people salivating over Symir.  Let's just call him who he is:  Magic Symir.  I mean that bounce pass to Ed Morrow on the break was Magic Johnson-esque which clearly is saying Symir will be as good as Magic Johnson.

[The Sultan]

Call me crazy but I don't think a shoot first 2guard with minimal distribution skills is the best option for the team with an All-American ball dominant off guard.

Skill wise, Koby is obviously further along, but this team will run much more efficiently with a pass first PG.

You know what a "pass first point guard" is?  A guard who can't score and limits your offense. Symir can pass and I think will develop nicely, but playing him over Koby is an insane idea.

[tower912]

I have always said that I think Symir is going to be very good, that I have no worries about the PG position while he is here.   Koby is bigger, stronger, a better defender and rebounder and is doing everything right except hit jumpers.    The Big East is a big strong guard league.
   I love what Symir is doing.  It is what I expected.   But if healthy, Koby starts.  And if he isn't in foul trouble, Koby plays more minutes. 

[tower912]

Call me crazy

You're crazy.

[PGsHeroes32]

You know what a "pass first point guard" is?  A guard who can't score and limits your offense. Symir can pass and I think will develop nicely, but playing him over Koby is an insane idea.

Honestly both sides are insane.

People thinking Koby shouldn't play. And you calling Symir playing over koby at times insane as well.

Symir was a difference maker vs Kstate until Koby got his head outta his ass with 5 min left.

Both contribute. Koby is essential down the stretch to close out games with his D, rebounding and free throw shooting. But there have absolutely been stretches where the guy has needed to sit for a bit and get his head on straight.

[panda]

You're crazy.

We'll find out a lot in the next two games. I hope I'm wrong for the sake of the team's success.

[The Sultan]

Honestly both sides are insane.

People thinking Koby shouldn't play. And you calling Symir playing over koby at times insane as well.

Symir was a difference maker vs Kstate until Koby got his head outta his ass with 5 min left.

Both contribute. Koby is essential down the stretch to close out games with his D, rebounding and free throw shooting. But there have absolutely been stretches where the guy has needed to sit for a bit and get his head on straight.

What do mean both sides are crazy?  Who said Symir should not play at all?

[panda]

Honestly both sides are insane.

People thinking Koby shouldn't play. And you calling Symir playing over koby at times insane as well.

Symir was a difference maker vs Kstate until Koby got his head outta his ass with 5 min left.

Both contribute. Koby is essential down the stretch to close out games with his D, rebounding and free throw shooting. But there have absolutely been stretches where the guy has needed to sit for a bit and get his head on straight.

Just to be very clear. I'm not saying Koby shouldn't play. My point is Torrence is a much better PG for this team and Koby is better served playing off the ball as I have not seen much PG capabilities from him up to this point.

[The Sultan]

Just to be very clear. I'm not saying Koby shouldn't play. My point is Torrence is a much better PG for this team and Koby is better served playing off the ball as I have not seen much PG capabilities from him up to this point.

Yeah I just think this is wrong. Symir is used best in the role he plays now.

[PGsHeroes32]

What do mean both sides are crazy?  Who said Symir should not play at all?

"Playing him over Koby is an insane idea"

There have absolutely been times where that was far from insane.

Maybe you meant, "Starting Symir over Koby ever game and giving him more minutes every game than Koby is an insane idea". That could be.

[tower912]

Then good news is that Symir is showing enough flashes for someone to be championing him.  Versatility is one of the defining characteristics of this team.
Pick any one of these three:. Theo, Jayce, Ed.
Any one of these two:. Brendan, Jamal.
Any three of these 5:. Markus, Sacar, Koby, Greg, Symir.
Whatever 5 you pick, they can compete at a high level.  That is a gift

To borrow a cliche from last year, the strength of this team is the team.   Hopefully, it holds up better than last year.

[The Sultan]

"Playing him over Koby is an insane idea"

There have absolutely been times where that was far from insane.

Maybe you meant, "Starting Symir over Koby ever game and giving him more minutes every game than Koby is an insane idea". That could be.

Oh great. Pedantic bullsh*t.

[Cheeks]

Just to be very clear. I'm not saying Koby shouldn't play. My point is Torrence is a much better PG for this team and Koby is better served playing off the ball as I have not seen much PG capabilities from him up to this point.

The team leader in assists hasn't shown much PG capabilities.....uhm, ok.

[PGsHeroes32]

Oh great. Pedantic bullsh*t.

A quote is a quote