Naz has really stepped in the Tyrus role from last year. It takes a special player have the mentality to be immediately effective coming off the bench and doing the whole Vinnie Johnson microwave thing (if you are too young to remember Vinnie, go back to the Piston's two championships). Tyrus was a bit exposed when he played too many minutes, but his role coming off the bench was perfect. I think Naz fouls too much to start, and has the mentality to be effective off the bench. Having two guys off the bench like Naz and Monte are critical, thus starting Matt may still be the best option.
Thomas should not have been starting over Morris
- Thread starter BigCojones
- Start date
You are so positive he can't do it. So the game at BYU where he scored 12, and the games where he scored 10, 13, 12, and 14 just go completely out the window?
Did you watch Sullivan's years at ISU? Matt is already a more complete player than Jake. Jake was a great shooter, but no where near the athlete that Mattis, and he was shorter, which made him truly abused on defense. Matt didn't play man D in high school, so is learning on the job. However, he is bigger and a better rebounder than Jake. Shooting has been the role Matt has been placed in, but I would also say he has been better in transition than Jake. The think I loved about Jake is what a great competitor he was.
That was against awful teams. Even BYU hasn't really proven itself to be bottom of the big 12 quality.
No. But he hasn't scored more than 8 in the past nine games, had a nice game against BYU, but struggled vs Michigan, Iowa, northern IA......he feasted off some of the poor teams we played early IMO. His minutes are declining so at some level there is some recognition that AT THIS TIME.....he's not ready for this level of play.
I'm fully confident he will eventually...but it's not right now...and personally at 14-1 I'd prefer going all in, and not hoping one player we start comes around.
I'm not arguing who should start or not. I'm saying he should shoot the ball more... open or not.
Your graph there is pretty impressive though. Thanks.
What does that say about ISU then since we barely won there? If what Thomas did doesnt deserve credit because the teams were bad then people are way overvaluing Long and Morris then too. (I am a Long fan too and a huge Morris fan.) Long had 26 against UNC-Wilmington. They are bad so it doesn't count. He had 17 against NIU but they are bad so it doesn't count. Had 11 against Auburn but they are bad so it doesn't count. He had 16 against Michigan but they aren't what they were supposed to be so that one doesn't count either. I guess that means his only good game was against Iowa where he had 13 points.
Same thing could be said about Morris. The only good team he had a good game against was Baylor. His other best games were against Texas A&M CC, Auburn. NIU, Texas Tech and UMKC. Those five teams are awful so we can't credit Monte right? Or is it just Thomas we can't credit when he has good games against bad teams?
You can credit players for having good games that aren't against the best teams.
It means we were a team with 3 new starters trying to figure things out? We'd probably 30 point BYU at this point in the season.
I highly highly doubt that. BYU is still a good team. No way would we go to Provo right now and win by 30. We didn't even win by 30 at Tech.
Right on the money. Fred runs this team like an NBA lineup. You need guys in the 6th & 7 spots that may actually be better than some starters and their effectiveness is increased when they come off the bench fresh and go up against either tired competitors or perhaps the opposing teams second string players. This is probably why Naz & Monte have done so well and are +15 & +17 respectively. Not saying Thomas is paying well and deserves to start. Really saying the roles Hoiberg has chosen for Thomas, Naz & Monte fit them well and need to stay that way.
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I don't understand why the rainbow crowd thinks anyone hates Thomas just because we think Morris is better.
Someone said we have to start Thomas to keep the defense honest. Why? He doesn't shoot even if he's open, why would they key in on him?
Then someone said we'd feel stupid when Thomas starts playing well. What's what have to do with him not shooting now? No one doubts his talent, and knows he has the ability to shoot. He just doesn't do it. If getting his minutes cut doesn't motivate him soon, I would give Morris the start and see if Matt is more willing to use his ability after that.
Just need to find a way to get him to shoot, because he isn't doing it on his own. He has the potential to be one if the best five on the floor, no doubt. He just isn't playing like it.
Someone said we have to start Thomas to keep the defense honest. Why? He doesn't shoot even if he's open, why would they key in on him?
Then someone said we'd feel stupid when Thomas starts playing well. What's what have to do with him not shooting now? No one doubts his talent, and knows he has the ability to shoot. He just doesn't do it. If getting his minutes cut doesn't motivate him soon, I would give Morris the start and see if Matt is more willing to use his ability after that.
Just need to find a way to get him to shoot, because he isn't doing it on his own. He has the potential to be one if the best five on the floor, no doubt. He just isn't playing like it.
If Kane plays, Monte will start over Matt to bring the ball up the court. If Kane sits, Matt and M onte will both start.
Yes. He needs to do it in conference play. Shooting 26% the last few games will not work.
They're just mad because Matt isn't making 70% of his 3's. He's played better than Hogue the last few games, maybe we should bench Hogue? I just get tired of poor Matt getting dogged on.
MT is a sleeping giant. Hopefully, if Kane has to sit out a game or two, Thomas will wake up. The proverbial light bulb will turn on, and he will make KU fans cry themselves to sleep tomorrow night. Between MT and SDW, someone will need to step up fairly big tomorrow night.
Thomas is getting the flack because the difference between him and those behind him is much smaller than at every other position. If Nader or McKay were eligible that would probably be a debate as well.
And poor Matt? Come on, the guy is a legit Div I player. He can take it and will come through just fine.
Just flat out wrong. Once again, saying Morris and Naz are better does not mean MT is getting dogged on. Learn to read, comprehend, then return for an actual discussion.
I think people just got so involved in the recruitment of him and anticipated his debut that any criticism of his game must be silenced. MT fanboys. Good to have them I suppose.
Lets just hope he does step up tomorrow. I think we need to be shooting well from the outside.
Does it seem like the ball doesn't even get to Thomas's hands to anyone else? I listened to the game, and even when he was in it felt like Walters never said his name. Not just for taking a shot, just in the general flow of the offense.
