Best Guards in the Big East

Amaseinyourface

Amaseinyourface

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The most depth in the conference lies with its guard play. I figured just one list would leave too many good player out so I'm gonna do SG's and PG's separately.

SHOOTING GUARDS: The top three are easy choices in my mind and I couldn't disagree with anyone's order of them, here's mine.

1.) Darrun Hilliard NOVA - I think the most complete player in the conference. Good at all stages of the game and makes winning plays consistently.

2.) D'Angelo Harrison SJU - Explosive scorer who has yet to make his mark on the national scene. Very good rebounder and underrated passer. Ive seen plenty of people call him a bad defender but that is far from the truth. Can be inconsistent.

3.) D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera GTOWN - Admittedly I haven't seen him play as much as Hilliard or Harrison. Similar to Harrison in that he is a bigger, stronger guard and is very capable of hitting from distance. Not as explosive a scorer as DLO, not as good a play maker as Hilliard IMO.

4.) Isaiah Whitehead HALL - The lone freshman on my list. Two things I know for sure he wont be lacking this year; Talent and opportunities.

5.) Phil Greene IV SJU - I'm not a very big Greene fan but there wasnt anyone else who stood out to me. I had Dunham and Trawick as more of SF's. Greene is a capable shooter from deep and has plenty of experience. Doesnt make anyone around him better.


POINT GUARDS: Again I could see this list in a few different orders and there's more depth here so a few real good players were left off.

1.) Rysheed Jordan SJU - Most explosive guard in the big east. Great size and athleticism and has good form on his jumper. Could be the best perimeter defender in the league if commits to it.

2.) Ryan Arcidiacono NOVA - I love this kids game. Knows how to play and makes winning plays (common theme for the nova guys). Pesky defender and always seems to draw fouls which drive me crazy lol!

3.) Sterling Gibbs HALL - Very solid all around game. Doesnt wow you but always puts together a very solid performance. Not as explosive as Rysheed, not as savvy as Arcidiacono.

4.) Billy Garrett JR DePaul - Had a very good freshmen year on a team that no one talks about. Solid in all aspects. Should only get better, hope he gets some help.

5.) Kris Dunn PROV - Has had awful luck with injuries but I believe he has the talent to be as good as any guard on the list. Very big, very strong, very athletic. Hope he can stay healthy.

*Austin Chatman and Dee Davis - Both very good guards and gives credence to the depth of the league. Chatman the better shooter, Davis the better defender.
 
SG
Harrison
Smith-Rivera
Hilliard
Whitehead
Brooks

-Davis
PG
Archie - until proven otherwise
Jordan - most potential
Gibbs - underrated
Chatman
Dunn
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
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I, too, like Branch. I wonder if they will ask him to redshirt? There really isn't too many minutes for him.
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

I, too, like Branch. I wonder if they will ask him to redshirt? There really isn't too many minutes for him.
Click to expand...
I was going to mention on here that that was not possible, because he's going in to his fifth year, as a transfer. However, his transfer was midseason, so I think I would be wrong on that.

Still, doubt he would be willing to redshirt, since he's already sat out one year (albeit from mid-season to mid-season).
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

I, too, like Branch. I wonder if they will ask him to redshirt? There really isn't too many minutes for him.
Click to expand...

I think this season is too critical. He has great chemistry with Harrison and Obekpa. He just needs to be more aggressive and Lavin needs to open up the style of play. Branch excels in the open court. He has a good looking jumper too...he's just far too timid across the board.

I'd love to see a consistent three-guard lineup with Dom and Keith Thomas splitting time at the four with Obekpa back as a goaltender in the press. Three guards and Dom would be an insane amount of quickness and Obekpa 2-1 v. Obekpa close to the basket is not an advantage for the offense.
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

Trust me, if I was confident enough in Lavin to give Branch the minute she deserves than I would have mentioned him. Nobody likes that kid more than I do.
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

Trust me, if I was confident enough in Lavin to give Branch the minute she deserves than I would have mentioned him. Nobody likes that kid more than I do.
Click to expand...

That's the key here. I'm hopeful that this is the year it changes but the sample size is substantial enough now to fear that it will not. Branch only played 54 more minutes last year than he did his first year when he sat 15 games due to transfer and the knee injury. That's as telling as it is confusing.

Branch is not a one-man answer to every issue we have, but he's better than the opportunity he's been given here, particularly last year. He has an opportunistic style and the downside in that (turnovers) seems to make Lavin nervous such that he ignores the upside (play-making). Unfortunately the net result was that Branch played less confidently last year than he did his first year, afraid to make a mistake instead of aggressively making plays. Nobody can play to their ability under those circumstances.

Lavin needs to realize he has nothing to lose by freeing Branch up. If he wanted a conservative back-up PG to cautiously manage the offense for 5 minutes each half, those are a dime a dozen and he should have recruited one. We have not been good enough, and likely are still not good enough, to only get 50-60% of what this (or any) kid can give production-wise. Kentucky can recruit back-end Top 50 kids and carve them into role players if they want. Clearly, we need to turn that same kid loose and maximize his ability.

Great write-up overall Mase.
 
If I remember correctly, we played our best last year with the three guard lineup of Branch, Sheed and D'Lo. I also don't understand why Lavin doesn't give Branch an opportunity. He has a good looking stroke but is more of a pure point guard that can run this offense.
 
If I remember correctly, we played our best last year with the three guard lineup of Branch, Sheed and D'Lo. I also don't understand why Lavin doesn't give Branch an opportunity. He has a good looking stroke but is more of a pure point guard that can run this offense.
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For whatever reason, Lav loves Phil. Don't see that changing. Hopefully Branch will get quality time & produce.
 
I think we play well in the three guard offense with Pointer when we are aggressive on D. This lineup can create a ton of turnovers and easy shots. I am hoping that Keith Thomas runs the floor well. On another note, Obekpa and Pointer need to keep their person fouls in check. The second half of the Georgia Tech game and the first half of the Georgetown game were good examples of how I hope we can play.
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

I, too, like Branch. I wonder if they will ask him to redshirt? There really isn't too many minutes for him.
Click to expand...

I think this season is too critical. He has great chemistry with Harrison and Obekpa. He just needs to be more aggressive and Lavin needs to open up the style of play. Branch excels in the open court. He has a good looking jumper too...he's just far too timid across the board.

I'd love to see a consistent three-guard lineup with Dom and Keith Thomas splitting time at the four with Obekpa back as a goaltender in the press. Three guards and Dom would be an insane amount of quickness and Obekpa 2-1 v. Obekpa close to the basket is not an advantage for the offense.
Click to expand...

Like others, I like Branch at his best far more than I like Greene. He is consistent, doesn't take as many bad shots, and actually moves the ball. It's too bad he is at best a 4th guard.
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

I, too, like Branch. I wonder if they will ask him to redshirt? There really isn't too many minutes for him.
Click to expand...

I think this season is too critical. He has great chemistry with Harrison and Obekpa. He just needs to be more aggressive and Lavin needs to open up the style of play. Branch excels in the open court. He has a good looking jumper too...he's just far too timid across the board.

I'd love to see a consistent three-guard lineup with Dom and Keith Thomas splitting time at the four with Obekpa back as a goaltender in the press. Three guards and Dom would be an insane amount of quickness and Obekpa 2-1 v. Obekpa close to the basket is not an advantage for the offense.
Click to expand...

Like others, I like Branch at his best far more than I like Greene. He is consistent, doesn't take as many bad shots, and actually moves the ball. It's too bad he is at best a 4th guard.
Click to expand...

Agree completely why Branch is not the third guard and receiving at least 20 minutes a game is mind boggling. Unfortunately Lavin has little confidence in Branch and too much confidence in others. This team could be better with the right match ups.
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

I, too, like Branch. I wonder if they will ask him to redshirt? There really isn't too many minutes for him.
Click to expand...

I think this season is too critical. He has great chemistry with Harrison and Obekpa. He just needs to be more aggressive and Lavin needs to open up the style of play. Branch excels in the open court. He has a good looking jumper too...he's just far too timid across the board.

I'd love to see a consistent three-guard lineup with Dom and Keith Thomas splitting time at the four with Obekpa back as a goaltender in the press. Three guards and Dom would be an insane amount of quickness and Obekpa 2-1 v. Obekpa close to the basket is not an advantage for the offense.
Click to expand...

Like others, I like Branch at his best far more than I like Greene. He is consistent, doesn't take as many bad shots, and actually moves the ball. It's too bad he is at best a 4th guard.
Click to expand...

You have to play to your strengths. Our strength is our guard play--both depth and ability. Lavin needs to run three-guard sets to take advantage of this. It's not like they are tiny either. Branch and Harrison are both 6'3. Harrison is strong enough and tough enough to defend the three without any problem. Pointer can give us 20 minutes at the four and be a menace pressing alongside three guards.

With Obekpa at the five, that five would be bigger than Nova's four-guard offense that made the Final Four.
 
Doesn't seem to be in the "buzz," but I'm expecting a big year from Jamal Branch.
Click to expand...

Trust me, if I was confident enough in Lavin to give Branch the minute she deserves than I would have mentioned him. Nobody likes that kid more than I do.
Click to expand...

That's the key here. I'm hopeful that this is the year it changes but the sample size is substantial enough now to fear that it will not. Branch only played 54 more minutes last year than he did his first year when he sat 15 games due to transfer and the knee injury. That's as telling as it is confusing.

Branch is not a one-man answer to every issue we have, but he's better than the opportunity he's been given here, particularly last year. He has an opportunistic style and the downside in that (turnovers) seems to make Lavin nervous such that he ignores the upside (play-making). Unfortunately the net result was that Branch played less confidently last year than he did his first year, afraid to make a mistake instead of aggressively making plays. Nobody can play to their ability under those circumstances.

Lavin needs to realize he has nothing to lose by freeing Branch up. If he wanted a conservative back-up PG to cautiously manage the offense for 5 minutes each half, those are a dime a dozen and he should have recruited one. We have not been good enough, and likely are still not good enough, to only get 50-60% of what this (or any) kid can give production-wise. Kentucky can recruit back-end Top 50 kids and carve them into role players if they want. Clearly, we need to turn that same kid loose and maximize his ability.

Great write-up overall Mase.
Click to expand...

Great post, could not agree more with everything you said. Particularly your last sentence :)
 
Pointer and Branch were both overrated coming out of high school and after three years of opportunity and playing time are what they are. D'ont expect any improvement this year unless they get more scoring opportunities because they get more minutes and shots because of Sampson leaving. Greene has actually performed well because he was nowhere near as high rated as the other two.
SJU would be better off if Felix, Amir or Jones plays good enough in practice to earn minutes in Nov and Dec and by league play can play significant minutes.
 
Pointer and Branch were both overrated coming out of high school and after three years of opportunity and playing time are what they are. D'ont expect any improvement this year unless they get more scoring opportunities because they get more minutes and shots because of Sampson leaving. Greene has actually performed well because he was nowhere near as high rated as the other two.
SJU would be better off if Felix, Amir or Jones plays good enough in practice to earn minutes in Nov and Dec and by league play can play significant minutes.
Click to expand...

I'm a little confused by this. So you're saying that SJU would be better off by not recruiting top 50 and 100 players and should recruit kids that are barely looked at by other division 1 schools?
 
I am sorry my message was confusing . Of course you recruit the highest rated recruits you can. It was just unfortunate that Pointer and Branch were overrated
 
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