Top PG's This Year

[CBB_Fan]

How many guys are in the "will play PG, but isn't a PG" camp? For Wichita State, I think Baker is definitely a guy that will get minutes at the position, but he is definitely a SG. Good enough ballhandling skills to bring it up against Louisville anyway, but he's wired to shoot first and pass second. Cotton may play PG some this year as well for a minute or two a game.

Outside of WSU, it seems like the biggest guy I can think of is Walt Lemon Jr., but there are surely others. It seems like coaches with 3 or 4 guard lineups tend to have less of a set PG and more of a PG by committee approach. Several different people bring up the ball, depending on what the defense does and if the main PG is resting.

[Aargh]

How many guys are in the "will play PG, but isn't a PG" camp? For Wichita State, I think Baker is definitely a guy that will get minutes at the position, but he is definitely a SG. Good enough ballhandling skills to bring it up against Louisville anyway, but he's wired to shoot first and pass second. Cotton may play PG some this year as well for a minute or two a game.

Outside of WSU, it seems like the biggest guy I can think of is Walt Lemon Jr., but there are surely others. It seems like coaches with 3 or 4 guard lineups tend to have less of a set PG and more of a PG by committee approach. Several different people bring up the ball, depending on what the defense does and if the main PG is resting.

That's an interesting POV. It brings up something that Marshall dearly loves. I'm certain other Valley coaches share his love of having more than one guy on the court who is capable of running the point.

When the SG knows the sets and plays from the PG position, knows where everybody else is going to be based on what sets are being run, and has the mentality to get the ball to another shooter, good things happen.

Lemon and Baker obviously fit the role of combo/shooting guard. What other combinations might we see where both guards are at least "decent" as a PG.

[uniftw]

Mitchell...

No?


Really?


Okay.

[2livewu]

Mitchell...

No?


Really?


Okay.

No doubt any discussion of best PG has to include Deon. Not sure why he's been left off the list.

[Wufan]

Deon is somewhere between the 2nd and 4th best returning PG.

[Ali]

Deon is somewhere between the 2nd and 4th best returning PG.

I think he is going to have a big year.

[Wufan]

Deon is somewhere between the 2nd and 4th best returning PG.

I think he is going to have a big year.

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

[Bradleyfan1]

Ka Bell.......out right now cuz of shoulder finished super strong last season........My pick to be starting PG for BU......Walts gonna play mostly 2 but have the ball a lot!

[achrist70]

Deon has shown signs of brilliance over the last two years, and more as a sophomore than a freshman as expected. If he can be consistent this year he could easily put himself into the conversation as best point guard in the league. It will be interesting to see how his new role as leader of the backcourt this year affects him.

[Aargh]

This is Odum's year. Actually, almost every year has been Odum's year. WSU has had some pretty decent PG's during Odum's tenure, but I'll still give most valuable PG in the Valley to Odum. That includes last year, when Armstead was named the MVP of the first-round NCAA regional.

Fred VanVleet is right behind Odum and will give him a run this year. We've seen Odum's skill at getting into the D. VanVleet is little different. He's been described as "crafty" and "deceptive" by WSU players who've tried to guard him in summer games.

VanVleet has the ability to make defenders look bad because he can make them defend one direction while he goes another direction. He also has enough court vision to dish to another player if his move to the hoop is covered. VanVleet is a "how did we let him do that" guy. You'd have to be on the court to realize "how you let him do that".