I think most would agree that, up to this point, this team has exceeded expectations. The last 2 games have been victories over teams that are better than ours "on paper". What this team needs, to take it to the next level, and have a chance to make some post-season noise is to get positive contributions from either Hammonds or Carroll.
Ford currently has a legit 8 man rotation, along with 3 bit players. The problem is that 4 of the 8 are little guys, and Ford needs to have one more option with some height.
Rotation: Hickey, Forte, Newberry, Nash, Cobbins, Shine, Solomon, Griffin
Bit Players: Hammonds, Carroll, Allen
Buried on the Bench: Soucek, Burton, Sager
If you pay close attention to the NBA, you know that they use the stat of plus/minus when evaluating players. Plus being points scored with that player on the floor, minus being points given up with that player on the floor.
My guess is that the 8 guys I listed in the rotation are all "plus" players (at least in recent games), while the 3 bit players are "minus" players. If one of those guys (I don't hold out much hope for Allen) were to gain confidence and move into the plus category, I think it would really jump start this team. My understanding is that both Carroll and Hammonds shoot the ball well in practice. I think each of them had a 3 against KU that looked like it just barely rimmed out. Either of those go down and OSU is only down 8 at half time. There is a big difference between an 8 point half time deficit and an 11 point halftime deficit.
If 1 of those two guys could just shoot 33% from 3, defend a bit, take care of the ball, and rebound a bit, this team would have much more margin for error.
Ford currently has a legit 8 man rotation, along with 3 bit players. The problem is that 4 of the 8 are little guys, and Ford needs to have one more option with some height.
Rotation: Hickey, Forte, Newberry, Nash, Cobbins, Shine, Solomon, Griffin
Bit Players: Hammonds, Carroll, Allen
Buried on the Bench: Soucek, Burton, Sager
If you pay close attention to the NBA, you know that they use the stat of plus/minus when evaluating players. Plus being points scored with that player on the floor, minus being points given up with that player on the floor.
My guess is that the 8 guys I listed in the rotation are all "plus" players (at least in recent games), while the 3 bit players are "minus" players. If one of those guys (I don't hold out much hope for Allen) were to gain confidence and move into the plus category, I think it would really jump start this team. My understanding is that both Carroll and Hammonds shoot the ball well in practice. I think each of them had a 3 against KU that looked like it just barely rimmed out. Either of those go down and OSU is only down 8 at half time. There is a big difference between an 8 point half time deficit and an 11 point halftime deficit.
If 1 of those two guys could just shoot 33% from 3, defend a bit, take care of the ball, and rebound a bit, this team would have much more margin for error.
