Shields best true frosh since _______________

[Concrete]

Did you know ...

 

People are citing stats for players during their freshman seasons and that's all well and good but you're including stats from the cupcake part of the schedule when Nebraska is winning more games and scoring more points.  Oftentimes, a player's stats will drop during conference play.

 

So, Shavon is averaging 7.9 ppg on the season, BUT ...

 

He's averaging 11.5 ppg during conference games (against mostly those RPI top 100 teams we've been playing).

 

He's also shooting .531 from the floor and .500 from beyond the arc in conference games.  

 

He's also been grabbing 7.2 boards per game during conference play.

 

So ... comparing his 7.9 ppg to Joe McCray's 15.5 ppg freshman season isn't necessarily apples to apples.

shavon also didn't get the benefit of an entire non conf slate of tune up/adaptation games due to his elbow injury.  there's no question Shavon's season stats would be much more impressive if he was healthy all year.

 

and I agree with LK1.  You can analyze the stats all you want, but at the end of the day, my eyes tell me that Shavon is better at this stage than Anderson, McCray, etc.

[Silverbacked1]

Think how many points Jerry Fort would have had if the 3 point line was around then.

 

Saw where the stat guy from LSU looked up the shot charts on Pete Maravich, and according to the chart he would have averaged 13 made 3 pointers a game in his career.

 

That's way when people want to say so ans so was the greatest ever in a sport, I want to know by what rules are they going to be able to play buy. 

 

Think of Jordan without the extra step or push off, or allow Oscar Robertson to have the palming.

 

What would Wilt have been like if he was allowed to push guys around like the they do now.

[Norm Peterson]

If Maravich would have had a 3 pt line, he would have shot fewer layups, too.  More of his attempts would have come from beyond the arc.  Pete was amazing.  Even by today's standards, his highlight films are impressive.  Ironic he dies of a heart attack while playing basketball.  At the age of 40!  (Better keep my fat butt away from any basketball courts.)

[hhcmatt]

Did you know ...

 

People are citing stats for players during their freshman seasons and that's all well and good but you're including stats from the cupcake part of the schedule when Nebraska is winning more games and scoring more points.  Oftentimes, a player's stats will drop during conference play.

 

So, Shavon is averaging 7.9 ppg on the season, BUT ...

 

He's averaging 11.5 ppg during conference games (against mostly those RPI top 100 teams we've been playing).

 

He's also shooting .531 from the floor and .500 from beyond the arc in conference games.  

 

He's also been grabbing 7.2 boards per game during conference play.

 

So ... comparing his 7.9 ppg to Joe McCray's 15.5 ppg freshman season isn't necessarily apples to apples.

 

A good point...he definitely would have a lot more points and rebounds to his name with a full healthy season.

[hhcmatt]

and I agree with LK1.  You can analyze the stats all you want, but at the end of the day, my eyes tell me that Shavon is better at this stage than Anderson, McCray, etc.

 

My eyes are telling me he might be the Ryan Anderson's brain trapped in Toney McCray's body player that we wished we had for 5 years.

[MandRHusker]

So, how tall is Shavon really?

 

I think he's listed at 6'6" but he's seriously only a couple inches shorted than Brandon Ubel and Brandon is supposed to be a legit 6'10".  He's got to be at least, really, 6'7".  He's perhaps not explosive enough to be a top shelf 3, but if he was 6'8" and added some weight and strength, he could be a really top notch 4.

I've been wondering this too Norm. Can we bulk him up a bit, get him to 230-235 lbs and use him as a face up 4? I don't want to make too much of height but if he is 6'8" the transition is a lot easier. But one related question, isn't Shavon already playing a lot of face up 4 now, when Rivers rotates out?

[Fullbacksympathy]

So, how tall is Shavon really?

 

I think he's listed at 6'6" but he's seriously only a couple inches shorted than Brandon Ubel and Brandon is supposed to be a legit 6'10".  He's got to be at least, really, 6'7".  He's perhaps not explosive enough to be a top shelf 3, but if he was 6'8" and added some weight and strength, he could be a really top notch 4.

I've been wondering this too Norm. Can we bulk him up a bit, get him to 230-235 lbs and use him as a face up 4? I don't want to make too much of height but if he is 6'8" the transition is a lot easier. But one related question, isn't Shavon already playing a lot of face up 4 now, when Rivers rotates out?

 

This is what intrigues me so much as well.  I think he's easily strong enough and long enough to play the 4 on D and be an absolute nightmare to match up to deal with on the other end.  He's already an excellent rebounder.  That could be a huge advantage down the road, and give us the chance to put a crazy shooting/athletic team on the floor next season.

[Badgett Fan]

Maric, but he was an old true Freshman.  JBD had a really nice Freshman campaign, too, and was not a typical redshirt, due to his 2nd semester admission.

 

I don't watch near the Husker hoops as most of you guys, but based on my viewing of the Purdue and Penn State games, I'm not sure who was the last Huskers Freshman to show the combination of skill, scoring ability and desire as Shields.  Another thread could be "Shields, best two conference game display by underclassman since __________"  I get that Minnesota is better than Purdue and PSU, but Shields should have been named conference player of the week instead of Hardaway, Jr., who only played the 1 game.

[cozrulz]

Forgot just how good Muhleisen was before breaking his pelvis.

[Norm Peterson]

Coming out of HS, Rivals had Shields listed at 6'4" and 200.  No one would think of a kid with those dimensions as a future star at PF.  But he's easily 6'6" now and, I'm guessing, maybe even taller.  Twenty pounds of muscle and work on his explosiveness, and if he happens to be 6'7" (and maybe, fingers crossed, grows to 6'8") then I think we have a pretty solid option to put out there at the 4 who's also athletic enough to be a swingman.  You basically have a guy who can play guard but also would have the size to play the 4.  That presents a pretty intriguing set of matchup problems for opposing teams to face.

[uneblinstu]

Coming out of HS, Rivals had Shields listed at 6'4" and 200.  No one would think of a kid with those dimensions as a future star at PF.  But he's easily 6'6" now and, I'm guessing, maybe even taller.  Twenty pounds of muscle and work on his explosiveness, and if he happens to be 6'7" (and maybe, fingers crossed, grows to 6'8") then I think we have a pretty solid option to put out there at the 4 who's also athletic enough to be a swingman.  You basically have a guy who can play guard but also would have the size to play the 4.  That presents a pretty intriguing set of matchup problems for opposing teams to face.

Well, McDermott was 6'7" 185 coming out of HS and was coming off the bench his JR year.  

[hhcmatt]

Coming out of HS, Rivals had Shields listed at 6'4" and 200.  No one would think of a kid with those dimensions as a future star at PF.  But he's easily 6'6" now and, I'm guessing, maybe even taller.  Twenty pounds of muscle and work on his explosiveness, and if he happens to be 6'7" (and maybe, fingers crossed, grows to 6'8") then I think we have a pretty solid option to put out there at the 4 who's also athletic enough to be a swingman.  You basically have a guy who can play guard but also would have the size to play the 4.  That presents a pretty intriguing set of matchup problems for opposing teams to face.

Well, McDermott was 6'7" 185 coming out of HS and was coming off the bench his JR year.  

 

Shields was also outshined in high school by teammate and probably first round NBA pick Willie Cauley Stein

[TheKamdyMan]

So, how tall is Shavon really?

 

I think he's listed at 6'6" but he's seriously only a couple inches shorted than Brandon Ubel and Brandon is supposed to be a legit 6'10".  He's got to be at least, really, 6'7".  He's perhaps not explosive enough to be a top shelf 3, but if he was 6'8" and added some weight and strength, he could be a really top notch 4.

 

hes shorter than me and I'm "technically" 6'6 3/4''.  I'd say a good inch shorter but thats not short my any means.

[Norm Peterson]

Kamdy, are you SURE he's shorter than you?  I saw him standing next to Ubel and he doesn't give up too much height to Ubes who is supposed to be a legit 6'10".  I was just really hoping Shavon could make it to 6'7" or 6'8".  I think that kind of size would give him the needed stature to be an elite PF.  He's obviously good at 6'6" but a couple more inches would be nice.

[TheKamdyMan]

Kamdy, are you SURE he's shorter than you?  I saw him standing next to Ubel and he doesn't give up too much height to Ubes who is supposed to be a legit 6'10".  I was just really hoping Shavon could make it to 6'7" or 6'8".  I think that kind of size would give him the needed stature to be an elite PF.  He's obviously good at 6'6" but a couple more inches would be nice.

 

Ubel wasnt 3 inches taller than me either.  I am very positive as when I was talking to them I sized myself up to each guy to see their true height.

[Norm Peterson]

Kamdy, are you SURE he's shorter than you?  I saw him standing next to Ubel and he doesn't give up too much height to Ubes who is supposed to be a legit 6'10".  I was just really hoping Shavon could make it to 6'7" or 6'8".  I think that kind of size would give him the needed stature to be an elite PF.  He's obviously good at 6'6" but a couple more inches would be nice.

 

Ubel wasnt 3 inches taller than me either.  I am very positive as when I was talking to them I sized myself up to each guy to see their true height.

Kamdy, there's clearly only one logical explanation:  You're taller than you thought.

[FredsSlacks]

Kamdy, 6'6 3/4 with shoes on or off? bball players have their heights measured with shoes on. So if Shields is 6'5 3/4 without shoes, he is really 6'7. I also thought I remembered reading Shields and Nick fuller are both young for their grade and could keep growing. It would be huge for this team if one of those guys had a growth spurt.

[TheKamdyMan]

Kamdy, 6'6 3/4 with shoes on or off? bball players have their heights measured with shoes on. So if Shields is 6'5 3/4 without shoes, he is really 6'7. I also thought I remembered reading Shields and Nick fuller are both young for their grade and could keep growing. It would be huge for this team if one of those guys had a growth spurt.

 

mines without.  When I was drafted that was my measurement by the doctors.  I know they do both with and without for hoops in the draft but usually go with shoes.  

[Red Rum]

Shields best true frosh since....

 

Jesus, he came here right?

[uneblinstu]

So, I was doing some poking around looking at some stats of freshmen in the Big Ten.  And Shields rebounding numbers stuck out to me.  He had 133 boards, which by itself puts him fourth in the conference for freshmen.  But, consider that he missed five of the first six this season and think where he could be!  

 

After the Oregon game, where he only had 2 rebounds, he had no fewer than 3 the rest of the way, averaging 5.86/gm after that game in Eugene.  Even with the outlier of 13 vs. Michigan St, he averaged 5.5/gm.  If he had been able to play all season at that pace, he would have had been in the 170 rebound range for the season.  If you include the MSU game, it jumps to 180 ish.  That'd put him right around Deshaun Thomas and Glenn Robinson III on the conference charts, not just freshmen.  

 

I know you can't cleanly extrapolate stats like that, but consider what he did in the last 22 games of the season is pretty impressive.  I'm not sure how that compares with other PF's in Husker history, but it rates fairly favorably with other big men of the past 15ish years.

 

As freshmen go in Husker history:

Maric - 169/6.3 (27 gms)

Turek - 162/6.2 (26)

Hamilton - 161/5 (32)

 

I'm sure I should include some others on this list...