Which players are playing over/below your expectations?

[ShockTalk]

At a guess, Shaq/Nurger/Willis/Reaves/Landry/Kelly/Brown/Conner/McDuffie.

The problem is not that McDuffie hasn't been a solid player. The problem is that we needed more than, possibly substantially more than that. We didn't need McDuffie from last year (which hasn't happened yet), we needed the new and improved 3rd year model. So far McDuffie is shooting worse from the field, worse from 3, worse from the line, and averaging more TOs in fewer minutes. The numbers aren't terrible by themselves, but part of the reason we came into the season ranked so high is the expectation that our players would improve.

I, too, would like to see the "improved 3rd year model", however, we all probably knew that wasn't as likely due to his injury. He missed not only 11 games and 2 exhibition, but a lot of valuable practice time. You could tell in the first few games, he was not physically up to speed.

He's only 1 made shot from 3 at matching his last year % and take out the first 2 games and his 3% exceeds last year. Similar for his FG%, but probably needs an additional made shot from 2. His .741 FT% isn't at all bad, but you're right it's not over .800 like last year, but it isn't just over .700 like his freshman year either. Allowing for the less time played, his rebounds and assists match last year's number. He's not that far off and right now, we need and can use that "2nd year model".

[ShockCrazy]

I, too, would like to see the "improved 3rd year model", however, we all probably knew that wasn't as likely due to his injury. He missed not only 11 games and 2 exhibition, but a lot of valuable practice time. You could tell in the first few games, he was not physically up to speed.

He's only 1 made shot from 3 at matching his last year % and take out the first 2 games and his 3% exceeds last year. Similar for his FG%, but probably needs an additional made shot from 2. His .741 FT% isn't at all bad, but you're right it's not over .800 like last year, but it isn't just over .700 like his freshman year either. Allowing for the less time played, his rebounds and assists match last year's number. He's not that far off and right now, we need and can use that "2nd year model".

I think the biggest difference and change I can think that would help this team, is more Markis at the 4. That's where he primarily played last year, and I think that opens things up quite a bit on offense, and helps with our pick and roll defense.

[ShockTalk]

Agree.

[im4wsu]

Didn't know where to put this and it's not worthy of a thread, but as of today, WSU is one of only six teams to have three players in KenPom's top 100 Offensive rating:

Rank	Player	Team	Yr	ORtg	Usage
23	Gary Trent	Duke	Fr	129.5	17.1
51	Wendell Carter	Duke	Fr	127.2	22.8
78	Grayson Allen	Duke	Sr	124.6	19.3
5	PJ Thompson	Purdue	Sr	137.2	12.2
27	Dakota Mathias	Purdue	Sr	129.3	18.4
100	Isaac Haas	Purdue	Sr	123.3	27.3
29	Calvin Hermanson	Saint Mary's	Sr	129.1	15.3
42	Jock Landale	Saint Mary's	Sr	128	30.8
80	Tanner Krebs	Saint Mary's	So	124.3	13.2
34	Vladimir Brodziansky	TCU	Sr	128.4	21.6
46	Kouat Noi	TCU	So	127.4	18
69	Jaylen Fisher	TCU	So	125.1	21.5
4	Jalen Brunson	Villanova	Jr	137.7	25.3
31	Phil Booth	Villanova	Jr	128.7	18.2
41	Mikal Bridges	Villanova	Jr	128	22.1
50	Austin Reaves	Wichita St.	So	127.2	15.8
61	Landry Shamet	Wichita St.	So	126	21.1
73	Conner Frankamp	Wichita St.	Sr	124.9	17.4

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

McDuff with a bailout foul with 3 on the shot clock, then a charge on offense.

Boooooooo. Such a disappointment this year.

[ShockdaWorld]

I keep thinking the next game will be the one where he finally gets his groove back and the game slows down for him. Hasn’t happened yet. I’m still hoping.