I don't usually like starting a new post like this... but I get the feeling that people are being too nice in the other thread as the grades make little sense...
I've ranked these in order of Least Debatable to Most Debatable.. season and conference PERs provided
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
JT - F --- (8.0/4.0) this isn't one of those 59% F's that barely missed a D... JT followed up one of the worst statistical conference seasons in history with an even worse conference, despite shooting better ... that's almost impossible... He's also a terrible fit for this offense... i posted about the Mavericks going through the same thing with Rondo and i think it applies here.. the HCBW system creates shots, so the team has little value with a PG who can't shoot and can (sometimes) create shots because the system will get them..... Add in getting kicked off the team, and you have a clear-cut F season
Malek - F --- (3.4/3.5) Malek turned in one of the all-time worst seasons in big12 history.... he can't score, can't shoot, doesn't rebound well, doesn't block shots, doesn't steal the ball, and turns the ball over..... I keep reading about how he "has talent" but i think that's merely the default reaction to try and find something nice to say... add in his suspension, coupled with his senior year suspension, and then add Wade next year, and there is pretty much 0 reason to keep Malek around.. in fact, I maybe should have Malek even higher than JT, he was that bad
HCBW - F --- This is not calling for HCBW to be fired this year... because I think he earned 2 As the previous seasons.... It's actually a mind-F#$K that he can pull together 2 elite coaching seasons with one of the worst... This team never bought in, never believed HCBW as a leader, didn't run what is actually a damn good offensive system.... HCBW also made many incorrect personnel moves, like playing Hurt at the 5, playing JT so many minutes, not playing Edwards enough at the 2, giving into foster (not sure he had much choice there but still)... Add in throwing players randomly under the bus and you have a man who's lost control....
Foster - F --- (14.7/13.0) It's sad he bought into the hype and listened to his "advisors".... he had become a deep sleeper for the NBA last year by being an elite shooter... he just needed to show he could do other things... instead, he doubled down on shooting, which the NBA already knew about it... so he shoots worse, and drags his PER down to almost non-starter levels, gets suspended, and achieved one of the greatest underachieving years in recent K-State history
Training and Strength/Conditioning --- What's lower than an F?
DEBATABLE
Wes - D+/C- --- (9.8/10.8) absolutely backtracked this year.... only possible bumps up to a C- because of his defense at the end of games.... but he shot worse, drew less fouls, rebounded less, and turned the ball over more over last year.... and yes, as one of the biggest Wes fans out there, it hurts to write this... If I had to pick one grade, it would probably a C-
Nigel - C+/B- --- (14.8/12.2) decently efficient enough (season long PER is ok).. it would be great to know the inside scoop on him and HCBW so we could figure out if he literally can't figure anything out, or if that's partially HCBW making excuses to cover his own ass with how he handled JT.. there is little doubt this season he didn't get enough minutes to grow, and that falls on both him and HCBW in some fashion.... Overall, he's a much better system fit than JT, and HCBW needs to figure that out... One grade, B- (3rd best win shares per 40 on the team..)
Gip - B --- (18.0/15.9) Would have liked to see more passing and more rebounding... and more leadership.... but had off the charts shooting numbers and was most only motivated to get "his"... but this team needed "his" more than not...
Nino - A --- (18.4/17.6) as a 6 4 PF, he was able to put up PERs like that... pretty impressive... you would like to see much more leadership out of a 5th year senior, but considering what appears to be the behind the scenes issues with multiple players and coaching in general, maybe that's too big of an ask... either way, the highest PER on the team of the major minute guys probably deserves the only A that i'm going to give
Justin Edwards - B --- (15.1/15.5) this may surprise some... but Edwards really actually turned out pretty decent on the year and looks poised to breakout if he can improve his shooting... He had the highest non-pg assist rate, can rebound, and actually creates stats on defense... he's our best chance at being a "star" next year
FREE FOR ALL DEBATE
Hurt - C --- (11.9/10.2) I'm on record stating I think he can be an above-average big next year... His two biggest issues this year are correctable... It was stupid to push hurt to the 5 and be Gip's backup to partner with Malek when it should have been Hurt at the 4 and bolden at the 5.... that's on HCBW... the other is he was out-of-shape at an embarrassing level... I'm not sure if he tried to bulk up because of the decision.. either way, you can see he has some talent
Bolden - B/INC --- (11.1/21.7) Really should just give an INC and go from there... his non-con was not impressive... his (very) limited minutes in conference were very impressive... He looks like a rim protector and elite rebounder... a massive, massive mistake by HCBW to not play him more (even dumber to give those minutes to malek) so that we could figure out what he actually is
Tre Harris - B+/INC --- (16.7/14.7) Has hope... can shoot, can't play D... but actually tries to contribute elsewhere... near the end of conference season, he started to dribble-drive a bit.. could add quite a bit..
I've ranked these in order of Least Debatable to Most Debatable.. season and conference PERs provided
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
JT - F --- (8.0/4.0) this isn't one of those 59% F's that barely missed a D... JT followed up one of the worst statistical conference seasons in history with an even worse conference, despite shooting better ... that's almost impossible... He's also a terrible fit for this offense... i posted about the Mavericks going through the same thing with Rondo and i think it applies here.. the HCBW system creates shots, so the team has little value with a PG who can't shoot and can (sometimes) create shots because the system will get them..... Add in getting kicked off the team, and you have a clear-cut F season
Malek - F --- (3.4/3.5) Malek turned in one of the all-time worst seasons in big12 history.... he can't score, can't shoot, doesn't rebound well, doesn't block shots, doesn't steal the ball, and turns the ball over..... I keep reading about how he "has talent" but i think that's merely the default reaction to try and find something nice to say... add in his suspension, coupled with his senior year suspension, and then add Wade next year, and there is pretty much 0 reason to keep Malek around.. in fact, I maybe should have Malek even higher than JT, he was that bad
HCBW - F --- This is not calling for HCBW to be fired this year... because I think he earned 2 As the previous seasons.... It's actually a mind-F#$K that he can pull together 2 elite coaching seasons with one of the worst... This team never bought in, never believed HCBW as a leader, didn't run what is actually a damn good offensive system.... HCBW also made many incorrect personnel moves, like playing Hurt at the 5, playing JT so many minutes, not playing Edwards enough at the 2, giving into foster (not sure he had much choice there but still)... Add in throwing players randomly under the bus and you have a man who's lost control....
Foster - F --- (14.7/13.0) It's sad he bought into the hype and listened to his "advisors".... he had become a deep sleeper for the NBA last year by being an elite shooter... he just needed to show he could do other things... instead, he doubled down on shooting, which the NBA already knew about it... so he shoots worse, and drags his PER down to almost non-starter levels, gets suspended, and achieved one of the greatest underachieving years in recent K-State history
Training and Strength/Conditioning --- What's lower than an F?
DEBATABLE
Wes - D+/C- --- (9.8/10.8) absolutely backtracked this year.... only possible bumps up to a C- because of his defense at the end of games.... but he shot worse, drew less fouls, rebounded less, and turned the ball over more over last year.... and yes, as one of the biggest Wes fans out there, it hurts to write this... If I had to pick one grade, it would probably a C-
Nigel - C+/B- --- (14.8/12.2) decently efficient enough (season long PER is ok).. it would be great to know the inside scoop on him and HCBW so we could figure out if he literally can't figure anything out, or if that's partially HCBW making excuses to cover his own ass with how he handled JT.. there is little doubt this season he didn't get enough minutes to grow, and that falls on both him and HCBW in some fashion.... Overall, he's a much better system fit than JT, and HCBW needs to figure that out... One grade, B- (3rd best win shares per 40 on the team..)
Gip - B --- (18.0/15.9) Would have liked to see more passing and more rebounding... and more leadership.... but had off the charts shooting numbers and was most only motivated to get "his"... but this team needed "his" more than not...
Nino - A --- (18.4/17.6) as a 6 4 PF, he was able to put up PERs like that... pretty impressive... you would like to see much more leadership out of a 5th year senior, but considering what appears to be the behind the scenes issues with multiple players and coaching in general, maybe that's too big of an ask... either way, the highest PER on the team of the major minute guys probably deserves the only A that i'm going to give
Justin Edwards - B --- (15.1/15.5) this may surprise some... but Edwards really actually turned out pretty decent on the year and looks poised to breakout if he can improve his shooting... He had the highest non-pg assist rate, can rebound, and actually creates stats on defense... he's our best chance at being a "star" next year
FREE FOR ALL DEBATE
Hurt - C --- (11.9/10.2) I'm on record stating I think he can be an above-average big next year... His two biggest issues this year are correctable... It was stupid to push hurt to the 5 and be Gip's backup to partner with Malek when it should have been Hurt at the 4 and bolden at the 5.... that's on HCBW... the other is he was out-of-shape at an embarrassing level... I'm not sure if he tried to bulk up because of the decision.. either way, you can see he has some talent
Bolden - B/INC --- (11.1/21.7) Really should just give an INC and go from there... his non-con was not impressive... his (very) limited minutes in conference were very impressive... He looks like a rim protector and elite rebounder... a massive, massive mistake by HCBW to not play him more (even dumber to give those minutes to malek) so that we could figure out what he actually is
Tre Harris - B+/INC --- (16.7/14.7) Has hope... can shoot, can't play D... but actually tries to contribute elsewhere... near the end of conference season, he started to dribble-drive a bit.. could add quite a bit..
