Lavin needs to get a point guard

[austour]

Branch will be the starting PG. We will be fine as soon as the starting lineup is finalized. The starting PG job was Greene's to lose, and I believe that Branch is showing that the job will be his. My guess is its only a matter of time before Branch starts and this thread will look silly.

As I pointed out a week ago, in the aftermath of the G'Town loss, that Branch would be starting PG, and that once Lavin establishes the starting team and playing rotation that we'd be fine. I didn't know it would happen this fast. I was also correct that one week later, this thread looks silly.

Patience. Patience. Patience.

Earlier I believed that this team was good for 7-11 conference wins, 11 if we exceed expectations, and 7 if we fall below. I think 9-9 would be a good season, and I'd certainly hope for more.

LOL!
7 wins, 9 wins, 11 wins.........your arithmetic progression of primes with a difference of 2 should begin with the number 5 because that is also a possibility.

My guess is 6 with 8 being a good possibility.........staying with a progression difference of 2.......LOL!

You do realize they're tied for sixth in the BE standings and have beaten two of the teams ahead of them, right? Has it been pretty? Heck no but they're at .500 in the BE and look at the other teams. No one has had it really pretty except Louisville, Marquette and Syracuse. While I appreciate that we should all be well trained to be pessimisitic I think we shouldn't knock those that are looking on the bright side of the season.

 

[cappy105]

found one......Branch....more to come.....go johnnies

 

[Moose]

found one......Branch....more to come.....go johnnies

I like Branch.

But I don't think 13 assists and 15 TO's in 6 games is a Point Guard.

 

[redmanwest]

True, Moose, but I think right now (esp. with Harrison's slump), the team needs more of another scorer as opposed to a playmaker. He's filled that bill the past 2 games. I have seen flashes of him being a good playmaker, but I agree more of that will be necessary going forward.

 

[beast of the east]

found one......Branch....more to come.....go johnnies

I like Branch.

But I don't think 13 assists and 15 TO's in 6 games is a Point Guard.

I think that its only been two games as a starter (both wins), and that as it becomes clear that the ball belongs to him, assists will go up. 2 assists per game from a starting point is anemic, though.

In terms of turnovers, every point guard we've had the past five years has been above 2 per game. I'd hope that number for Branch goes down also. The most startling turnaround from Norm's last year to Lavin's first was that every player getting significant time under Norm averaged more than 2 TO's per game - abysmal.

6 games, 2 as a starter is not statistically significant to project overall performance in a 33 game season. Let's see how the rest goes. My vote says we are better with Branch in the starting lineup than not.

 

[Moose]

found one......Branch....more to come.....go johnnies

I like Branch.

But I don't think 13 assists and 15 TO's in 6 games is a Point Guard.

I think that its only been two games as a starter (both wins), and that as it becomes clear that the ball belongs to him, assists will go up. 2 assists per game from a starting point is anemic, though.

In terms of turnovers, every point guard we've had the past five years has been above 2 per game. I'd hope that number for Branch goes down also. The most startling turnaround from Norm's last year to Lavin's first was that every player getting significant time under Norm averaged more than 2 TO's per game - abysmal.

6 games, 2 as a starter is not statistically significant to project overall performance in a 33 game season. Let's see how the rest goes. My vote says we are better with Branch in the starting lineup than not.

Never thought for a second we aren't better with him getting the burn. I've been the biggest proponent of sitting down Dribbles in favor of Branch. But more I see him more I see a combo again. Yes he is light years a better distributor than Greene. But still there is something still missing there in terms of within the halfcourt set. In transition its a pleasure to watch.

Also I have no problems with TO's. I mentioned last true PG we had in Omar had 8 apg but also 4 TO's to go with it. Gotta take the bad with the good.

 

[beast of the east]

found one......Branch....more to come.....go johnnies

I like Branch.

But I don't think 13 assists and 15 TO's in 6 games is a Point Guard.

I think that its only been two games as a starter (both wins), and that as it becomes clear that the ball belongs to him, assists will go up. 2 assists per game from a starting point is anemic, though.

In terms of turnovers, every point guard we've had the past five years has been above 2 per game. I'd hope that number for Branch goes down also. The most startling turnaround from Norm's last year to Lavin's first was that every player getting significant time under Norm averaged more than 2 TO's per game - abysmal.

6 games, 2 as a starter is not statistically significant to project overall performance in a 33 game season. Let's see how the rest goes. My vote says we are better with Branch in the starting lineup than not.

Never thought for a second we aren't better with him getting the burn. I've been the biggest proponent of sitting down Dribbles in favor of Branch. But more I see him more I see a combo again. Yes he is light years a better distributor than Greene. But still there is something still missing there in terms of within the halfcourt set. In transition its a pleasure to watch.

Also I have no problems with TO's. I mentioned last true PG we had in Omar had 8 apg but also 4 TO's to go with it. Gotta take the bad with the good.

I think I'd have to agree with everything you said. Branch can supply more offense than the typical point, and hasn't settled in to run the show like a true point. In the old days, Carnesecca preferred PGs that would protect the ball, shoot sparingly, and run the show flawlessly without flash.

With an early review i'd say he prob is a better PG than anything we've had in a long time, but is likely more a combo.

 

[fuchsia]

Branch may appear as more of a true point who can score if Dom continues to improve on the offensive end. Without Sanchez we are stuck in a "where's the beef" halfcourt offense with no one to space the court or hit the open J off the pass as a pointguard takes advantage of a defense over playing DeAngelo.

 

[jrhoops1949]

found one......Branch....more to come.....go johnnies

I like Branch.

But I don't think 13 assists and 15 TO's in 6 games is a Point Guard.

I think that its only been two games as a starter (both wins), and that as it becomes clear that the ball belongs to him, assists will go up. 2 assists per game from a starting point is anemic, though.

In terms of turnovers, every point guard we've had the past five years has been above 2 per game. I'd hope that number for Branch goes down also. The most startling turnaround from Norm's last year to Lavin's first was that every player getting significant time under Norm averaged more than 2 TO's per game - abysmal.

6 games, 2 as a starter is not statistically significant to project overall performance in a 33 game season. Let's see how the rest goes. My vote says we are better with Branch in the starting lineup than not.

Never thought for a second we aren't better with him getting the burn. I've been the biggest proponent of sitting down Dribbles in favor of Branch. But more I see him more I see a combo again. Yes he is light years a better distributor than Greene. But still there is something still missing there in terms of within the halfcourt set. In transition its a pleasure to watch.

Also I have no problems with TO's. I mentioned last true PG we had in Omar had 8 apg but also 4 TO's to go with it. Gotta take the bad with the good.

Ball was always in Cooks hands, and some of the guys were just not up to handling his passes. Thus the 4 to's a game. No knock on Branch, but we could use a PG that gets to the rim, and gets to the line at the end of games. Can Branch dribble through double teams? I know not every player can be Kyrie or Wall, but when we get those kind of players, we arrived. Hey, my goal every year is getting a buy in the BE tourny, and then making the Friday nite semi's. Last chance I guess.