VUGrad1314 wrote:I brought up rebounding because Freeman-Liberty rebounds very well for a guard and is in fact our leading rebounder. Since it could be used to bolster my head to head argument against Green (which I have since backed off of a bit somewhat) I used it and thought it was relevant. I think it should be considered relevant that JFL plays a similar spot on the floor to Green and is our team's leading rebounder (we don't really have a frontcourt to speak of though McMillan was good against ISU last time out) so we need guys lik JFL to step up in the rebounding department. I do agree that it's probably too early for this discussion anyway and it's best to relax and enjoy the season. There's a ton of basketball left and plenty of time for this discussion later. However, that is what this discussion thread is for is it not? Now go out and keep the multibid hopes alive and get yourselves ranked UNI. Would love to see a ranked team come to the ARC. (Yes I am openly rooting for UNI except against Valpo as I would for any MVC team with a shot at an at large.
JFL is asked to attack the glass. As you noted, Valpo has literally no one else to rebound. AJ isn't. UNI has Dahl, Phyfe, Brown, Berhow, Pickford and then Betz and Carter when they are on the floor. Completely different systems being run. Even at that the difference in rebounds is something like 1.2 rebounds per game in conference play? Hardly a significant difference.
There is .3 assist per game difference between JFL and AJ for the season. AJ is at 3 and JFL is at 3.3 - 7th and 9th in the conference respectively. Wow. What a horrible team play AJ is compared to JFL. If you want to compared ATO it's 1.3 for JFL and 1.1 for AJ - 8th and 9th in the conference respectively. What a horrible ball handler AJ is compared to JFL. Conferece only games there is still less than 1 assist per game different between AJ and JFL.
The one area JFL has a real advantage is steals. That's a result of the style of play between the two. UNI runs a packline defense and doesn't gamble on the ball. Valpo realizes if they try to go man to man and run a set defense they aren't going to stop many. They gamble all over. Get beat for backdoors. They also win some gambles, especially JFL. Is AJ an all conference defender? No. He's adequate, and in a pack-line defense you can have one of those. He's also on the court with Brown and Berhow. He doesn't need to be that lock-down guy.
So far you are at essentially equal everywhere except steals. Then you look at the offensive production and it's not even close.
AJ is second in the conference in total FG percent at 52.7. JFL is at 41.2
AJ is shooting 48% from deep, JFL is shooting 26%
AJ is 32-32 from the FT line in conference play - and at 94% on the season
AJ is scoring near 26 points per game in conference play to JFL's 19
AJ is doing so while taking less shots than JFL has - 102-93
IIRC the point per shot taken by AJ is something like 1.3 and for JFL it is like .9.
In terms of total offensive point production it's not even close between the two of them.
Rebounding, when looking at systems, is essentially equal. Plus UNI is second in the conference in rebounding at over 36 per game, and leads the conference in rebound margin. UNI isn't dependent on one person going to get the ball.
JFL gets more steals, which isn't how UNI plays defense. Go look at the stats. The leader in steals for UNI in conference play is Isaiah Brown with 6. UNI is 9th in the Valley in steals. It's simply not how pack-line works.
