Semester grades

[Warrior of Law]

In honor of exams week, let's issue some grades (highest to lowest):

A. Nigel James, Jr. (averaging over 12 points; 3.5 assists)
B. Adrien Stevens (joining the starting line-up; getting better)
C. Chase Ross (leading scorer; turnover machine/lays eggs when it matters)
C. Ben Gold (shooting percentage decline; 3rd leading scorer)
D. Royce Parham (shooting percentage decline)
D. Josh Clark (made 2 FTs vs Valpo)
D. Michael Phillips (limited opportunities but good shooting form; could move up)
D. Zaide Lowery (shooting percentage decline; replaceable)
F. Tre Norman, Damarious Owens, Caeden Hamilton, Sean Jones, General Manager/Coaching*

*In only 12 months, MU has gone from being ranked #6 in the nation to 164th in the NET rankings competing with average MAC schools.

[Billy Hoyle]

In honor of exams week, let's issue some grades (highest to lowest):

A. Nigel James, Jr. (averaging over 12 points; 3.5 assists)
B. Adrien Stevens (joining the starting line-up; getting better)
C. Chase Ross (leading scorer; turnover machine/lays eggs when it matters)
C. Ben Gold (shooting percentage decline; 3rd leading scorer)
D. Royce Parham (shooting percentage decline)
D. Josh Clark (made 2 FTs vs Valpo)
D. Michael Phillips (limited opportunities but good shooting form; could move up)
D. Zaide Lowery (shooting percentage decline; replaceable)
F. Tre Norman, Damarious Owens, Caeden Hamilton, Sean Jones, General Manager/Coaching*

*In only 12 months, MU has gone from being ranked #6 in the nation to 164th in the NET rankings competing with average MAC schools.

Phillips gets an incomplete/IP. The same with Clark. Royce getting a D is harsh, I'd give him a B or a BC (using the old MU grading scale).

[HutchwasClutch]

In honor of exams week, let's issue some grades (highest to lowest):

A. Nigel James, Jr. (averaging over 12 points; 3.5 assists)
B. Adrien Stevens (joining the starting line-up; getting better)
C. Chase Ross (leading scorer; turnover machine/lays eggs when it matters)
C. Ben Gold (shooting percentage decline; 3rd leading scorer)
D. Royce Parham (shooting percentage decline)
D. Josh Clark (made 2 FTs vs Valpo)
D. Michael Phillips (limited opportunities but good shooting form; could move up)
D. Zaide Lowery (shooting percentage decline; replaceable)
F. Tre Norman, Damarious Owens, Caeden Hamilton, Sean Jones, General Manager/Coaching*

*In only 12 months, MU has gone from being ranked #6 in the nation to 164th in the NET rankings competing with average MAC schools.

Gold is not a C. He's been generally terrible and nowhere to be found when a basket or play is really needed.  And he's a senior.  He's terrible and is an F if not for a good 2nd half to avoid an embarrassing home loss to Valpo.  He's a D or D-

[HutchwasClutch]

No one is an A on a 5-5 team with zero wins against other high major schools.  James has shown potential, but has many areas improve. Stevens is a C.  He's flashed potential and upside, but can't give a B on that since you're grading performance to date.

Ross and James are probably B or B-

[Jay Bee]

You guys are jagz

[willie warrior]

Gold is not a C. He's been generally terrible and nowhere to be found when a basket or play is really needed.  And he's a senior.  He's terrible and is an F if not for a good 2nd half to avoid an embarrassing home loss to Valpo.  He's a D or D-

And he gets torched on switches/drives to the basket.

[Jay Bee]

Ben has been great in a lot of ways.

Others have not, but get starts and PT. I don't understand, at all.

[HutchwasClutch]

Ben has been great in a lot of ways.

Others have not, but get starts and PT. I don't understand, at all.

I don't know what the hell you're watching.  If this were true, we wouldn't be 5-5 without a high major win. As you say, #Fake News #Lies

[Jay Bee]

I don't know what the hell you're watching.  If this were true, we wouldn't be 5-5 without a high major win. As you say, #Fake News #Lies

If you think we're 5-5 because of Ben, well, there you go. No reason to converse more on the topic - u dum

[Markusquette]

What are the many ways he's been great? Genuinely curious. Maybe I've missed something. He improved his rebounding numbers.

Overall his trajectory has been disappointing. He's a serviceable bench big man at best for a potential contender. The bigger issue is the sorry state of the other guys up front.

[HutchwasClutch]

If you think we're 5-5 because of Ben, well, there you go. No reason to converse more on the topic - u dum

I think we'd have a couple more wins if he played better.  OU being one. Just two or three of his many 3 misses find the net we win that game.

You're such a pompous ass sometimes.

[Jay Bee]

I think we'd have a couple more wins if he played better.  OU being one. Just two or three of his many 3 misses find the net we win that game.

You're such a pompous ass sometimes.

You're the guy/girl claiming we lost the OU game because of Ben Gold missing two or three missed field goals. FOH

[DoctorV]

Whatever the grades are, and they aren't good, I'm just glad we can put to bed the "Shaka doesn't play freshmen" dogma

It'll pay dividends when Coach starts bringing in top 50 talent the next few years

[HutchwasClutch]

You're the guy/girl claiming we lost the OU game because of Ben Gold missing two or three missed field goals. FOH

As one of our two seniors, he scored 3 on 1-7 shooting and 0-3 from 3.  We lost by a point.  Many open looks.  So yeah, FOH.

Why don't you answer Markusquette what only you're seeing in Gold and how he's been "great in a lot of ways"

[Jay Bee]

As one of our two seniors, he scored 3 on 1-7 shooting and 0-3 from 3.  We lost by a point.  Many open looks.  So yeah, FOH.

Why don't you answer Markusquette what only you're seeing in Gold and how he's been "great in a lot of ways"

Sure 114 ORtg, 53% eFG%, insane 23% DR%, does NOT foul (unreal 1.6 FC/40), etc.

On THIS team, he's incredible.

[Markusquette]

Sure 114 ORtg, 53% eFG%, insane 23% DR%, does NOT foul (unreal 1.6 FC/40), etc.

On THIS team, he's incredible.

Look, Ben seems like a great kid. Even you know this is an exaggeration. His efficiency is decent but at a very low usage rate. His shooting overall is regressing. He spends too much time around the perimeter shooting poorly when he's actually shooting a good % from inside the arc.

Rebounding numbers (not counting today's 2 boards) look better until you see how terrible MU is rebouding defensively as a team. Would argue NOT fouling isn't really a good thing; it confirms he's too passive. How's he going to get his block rate up??

[Jay Bee]

Look, Ben seems like a great kid. Even you know this is an exaggeration. His efficiency is decent but at a very low usage rate. His shooting overall is regressing. He spends too much time around the perimeter shooting poorly when he's actually shooting a good % from inside the arc.

Rebounding numbers (not counting today's 2 boards) look better until you see how terrible MU is rebouding defensively as a team. Would argue NOT fouling isn't really a good thing; it confirms he's too passive. How's he going to get his block rate up??

His %shots has risen almost 4% compared to last year, and the teams DR has improved markedly — its the best we've seen since before covid hit

[79Warrior]

I don't know what the hell you're watching.  If this were true, we wouldn't be 5-5 without a high major win. As you say, #Fake News #Lies

Wow. There are so many reasons beyond BG why this team is a mess. How about if the players made a few more layups we would have several more wins. Never seen so many missed bunnies in my life by this group. This is not a one player fail, this is a whole team fail.

[HutchwasClutch]

His %shots has risen almost 4% compared to last year, and the teams DR has improved markedly — its the best we've seen since before covid hit

What a load of crap for a player shooting the worst he's shot since freshman year.  But increased usage explains that, right? Or just maybe, he simply isn't good enough for increased usage. 

His EFG is always going to look better because he makes quite a bit more 3's than two point FG. 

Even advanced stats can't tell nearly the whole story. If they did, why would we need to bother to watch the games to provide commentary. 

Enjoy being probably last person here defending his performance.  #Skol

[The Sultan]

What a load of crap for a player shooting the worst he's shot since freshman year.  But increased usage explains that, right? Or just maybe, he simply isn't good enough for increased usage. 

His EFG is always going to look better because he makes quite a bit more 3's than two point FG. 

Even advanced stats can't tell nearly the whole story. If they did, why would we need to bother to watch the games to provide commentary. 

Enjoy being probably last person here defending his performance.  #Skol

I don't really have a problem with Ben. He's just not good enough to be the second option on a contending team. If there was more talent around him, like last year, he can be effective in a more limited role.

[HutchwasClutch]

Wow. There are so many reasons beyond BG why this team is a mess. How about if the players made a few more layups we would have several more wins. Never seen so many missed bunnies in my life by this group. This is not a one player fail, this is a whole team fail.

There sure are many reasons, but sorry to break this, a senior who sucks is going to be held to a higher standard.  RGV ring a bell at all?

Anyone who is pleased or even fine with Gold so far this year on one of the worst teams in recent memory, I don't know what to tell you other than you truly don't get it.  But fantastic, he's a pretty good rebounder actually.

[panda]

There sure are many reasons, but sorry to break this, a senior who sucks is going to be held to a higher standard.  RGV ring a bell at all?

Anyone who is pleased or even fine with Gold so far this year on one of the worst teams in recent memory, I don't know what to tell you other than you truly don't get it.  But fantastic, he's a pretty good rebounder actually.

He was surrounded by a lot of talent last year and was still mediocre. He's the least of our problems this season, but another concerning tick in the development category.

[HutchwasClutch]

I don't really have a problem with Ben. He's just not good enough to be the second option on a contending team. If there was more talent around him, like last year, he can be effective in a more limited role.

I'm overly critical of Norman too according to you.  You don't have a problem with Ben.  I think you scolded someone yesterday for being too harsh on Hamilton.  "It's Caedin". I believe you said. 

So whose performance are you actually bothered by then?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'm overly critical of Norman too according to you.  You don't have a problem with Ben.  I think you scolded someone yesterday for being too harsh on Hamilton.  "It's Caedin". I believe you said. 

So whose performance are you actually bothered by then?

He was commenting on an incorrect spelling of Caedin's name.

[HutchwasClutch]

He was surrounded by a lot of talent last year and was still mediocre. He's the least of our problems this season, but another concerning tick in the development category.

No, a senior who stinks is not "the least of our problems"!  RGV is not supposed to be seniors who are lousy.  I'm not blaming Gold alone either. Many, many issues have contributed to this mess so far. Gold is at least in the top 5. He's improved a little overall, but not nearly enough for what this team needs from him.