PantherSigEp wrote:And for those who are discounting Washpun due to scoring stats here is why he is a better offensive and defensive player than Knight. I should mention that most of these stats are from the season as a whole, not just MVC (couldn't find overall stats for both players in just the conference season). However, considering that Wes has played significantly tougher opponents over the course of the season, in my opinion, makes his stats even more impressive.
Yes, Knight averages more points per game but he also takes twice as many shots (324 shots attempted on the season to Washpun's 163). Washpun is scoring 8 ppg while shooting 47% (Knight ~38%) including 39% from 3 (Knight ~31%). Wes grabs only 1 less rebound a game as well so I wouldn't necessarily tout Knight as a superior rebounder (they're also the same height and weight according to ESPN). At this point you could say that perhaps Knight has a slight advantage offensively, due strictly to scoring more points (remember he is also the focal point of ISU's offense where Wes is definitely not the Panthers go to guy...even at the guard position perhaps). Where I think Washpun really separates himself is at his ball handling and defense.
Whether its overall or just MVC stats, Wes is one of the top guards in the league in terms of assists and A/TO ratio (3.7 assists + 1.5 a/to overall; 4.1 assists + 1.7 a/to in MVC games), ranking in the Top 10, along with teammate Deon Mitchell, in both categories (both overall and MVC). Knight is getting only 2.3 assists a game and his A/TO ratio is a very mediocre 1.0 (67 assists to 66 TO's on the season). I don't believe Knight is the Redbirds main ball-handler but having watched him play a couple times I'd say he still gets a fair amount of touches that make this a relevant category to look at.
Washpun is also the Panther's best on-the-ball defender due to being an absolute freak, athletically. He doesn't get tons of steals (27 on the season to Knights 32) but just watching him you can see him frustrate opposing players, forces mistakes and poor shots and he plays in control, fouling far less than you'd expect from someone who regularly has to match up with an opponents best guard. I believe he's actually been called for a good number of fouls this year simply because refs assume he can't actually be that athletic and couldn't possibly have made that play without fouling the player. If you add in the Panthers #34 ranked non-con schedule, Washpun would actually crack the MVC's top 10 for blocked shots. He'd be the only guard to do so and at 6'1 (on a windy day and that flat-top isn't all that flat) no less. He should have a handful more but has been harshly whistled (referring back a few sentences) a couple times. The kid gets unbelievable air. His athleticism makes it very obvious as to why Cuonzo Martin wanted him at Tennessee.
Overall I believe Washpun to be the better guard and a better overall player. If Washpun were taking as many shots as Knight were, based on better shooting %'s he'd likely be averaging 16+ ppg. I don't think he should be penalized just because he isn't being asked to be the Panthers big offensive threat.
I won't argue about Washpun being a solid all around player - he certainly is. I will have to admit, I haven't seen him play much. But being an ISUr fan, I'm much more familiar with Knight. In the two games against eachother (where I do remember Washpun being on Knight on D when UNI ran man) Washpun was pretty absent.
Knight averaged 12 pts, 4 reb, 3 asst, 3.5 stl, 3 TO, and zero blocks while shooting 42% from the field, 33% from 3 and 100% at the line.
Washpun averaged 2.5 pts, 3.5 reb, 3.5 asst, 2 stl, 1.5 blocks, and 4.5 TO while shooting 20% from the field, 0% from 3, and 75% from the line. All while playing 3.5 min more per game.
I completely realize this is a comparison in a vacuum, but I do believe that when players that are essentially the same (height/weight/position/guarded each other a fair amount/etc.) player are seen as equal, that head to head becomes valid. In the two games I saw Washpun up close, although he was still solid and brought plenty of upside, he was not the better player.
The stats you have are compelling and I do agree that he has the ball as more of a distributor role than DK so his shot volume is less and his asst is more. However, I don't think its a completely accurate statement to say he's a better defender and ball handler. Clearly he's TO prone when facing an in your face D that presses and traps (6 TOs in the game at normal). He does get way more blocks than DK, but DK averages more steals, points, and rebs while playing less min. Plus, I have to give Knight the edge based on winning the newcomer of the week award 4 times to Washpun's 1.
I think its a pretty fair debate. HOWEVER, if Doyle is eligible for this award as someone else stated, then this is an argument for 2nd best NOY.
, can't find a place for Desmar, can't even find a place for Lemon who has worse numbers than Desmar.
