Lutz takes on Gottlieb in the Eagle

[ABC]

Who is the most improved player you've seen from last season to this season?




Bilas: Wichita State's Fred VanVleet. I watched VanVleet last season, and I did not project him to be one of the top five point guards in the nation. But that is exactly what he has become.

VanVleet is fearless, yet he makes no mistakes. He shot under 40 percent last season, yet shoots barely under 50 percent this season. He averages 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game, all significantly up from 2012-13. And, in large part due to his play, the Shockers are the first team ever to go 30-0 in the regular season.

[molly jabali]

Who is the most improved player you've seen from last season to this season?




Bilas: Wichita State's Fred VanVleet. I watched VanVleet last season, and I did not project him to be one of the top five point guards in the nation. But that is exactly what he has become.

VanVleet is fearless, yet he makes no mistakes. He shot under 40 percent last season, yet shoots barely under 50 percent this season. He averages 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game, all significantly up from 2012-13. And, in large part due to his play, the Shockers are the first team ever to go 30-0 in the regular season.

This

[newshock1234]

What did Doug say after the break on the call back ? I only heard the first segment.

Wanted to make sure everyone knew that he put his shorts on correctly now

[pie n eye]

I would take Doug a lot more serious if he worked for a major network like ESPN. You just don't get the same caliber of analysis at, what I call, a mid major network like cbs sports.

[vancedave56]

Talked about how Fred would not be as good at "the next level." "How would he do against Marcus Smart?"

Well, without even looking at the rosters, I can tell you right now FVV would not be guarding Smart. Nor would Smart be guarding FVV. Moot point. Even if they matched up, FVV would out BBIQ Smart.

[Cdizzle]

Talked about how Fred would not be as good at "the next level." "How would he do against Marcus Smart?"

Well, without even looking at the rosters, I can tell you right now FVV would not be guarding Smart. Nor would Smart be guarding FVV. Moot point. Even if they matched up, FVV would out BBIQ Smart.

FVV is not a chair, or a fan, and as such is able to defend himself. He'd be just fine.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Hell, there is this wonderful thing called the NCAA tournament that will decide all of this anyway.

I get what you are saying, but no, it won't. This idea bugs the crap out of me.

2012 WSU was really good and got bounced in the first game.
2013 WSU went to the Final Four, but there is no way that they were that much better than the 2012 team.

One loss and you are done. Small sample size. The tournament doesn't prove nearly as much as people like to say it does.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Gotlieb ranks 10th all time in NCAA career assists.

Wouldn't it be funny if FVV passed Doug about 24 months from now?!?!

[AdamCC]

I get what you are saying, but no, it won't. This idea bugs the crap out of me.

2012 WSU was really good and got bounced in the first game.
2013 WSU went to the Final Four, but there is no way that they were that much better than the 2012 team.

One loss and you are done. Small sample size. The tournament doesn't prove nearly as much as people like to say it does.

This.

[pie n eye]

This.

Then what, in your mind, can prove anything? The fact that good teams get "upset" by other good teams in the tourney doesn't invalidate the winner.

[wsushox1]

Louisville and Kentucky were far away the best teams in 2012, and 2013 So the tournament does prove a little bit.

[AdamCC]

Then what, in your mind, can prove anything? The fact that good teams get "upset" by other good teams in the tourney doesn't invalidate the winner.

Doesn't invalidate the loser either. One game is to small of a sample size to judge if Team A is really better than Team B. It's a hell of a lot harder to go 34-0 than it is to win 6 games in a row in the tournament.

[Shockeriffic]

I would take Doug a lot more serious if he worked for a major network like ESPN. You just don't get the same caliber of analysis at, what I call, a mid major network like cbs sports.

The problem with this is that CBS blows up their tournament coverage so much that Doug is going to get a seat next to Barkley, Kenny Smith, Seth Davis and whoever else they decide to put at their giant 6 man table during the tournament. Plus they probably find a way to get him assigned to call our games in the tournament. It's going to be worse than Billy Packer in '06.

[RoyalShock]

The problem with this is that CBS blows up their tournament coverage so much that Doug is going to get a seat next to Barkley, Kenny Smith, Seth Davis and whoever else they decide to put at their giant 6 man table during the tournament. Plus they probably find a way to get him assigned to call our games in the tournament. It's going to be worse than Billy Packer in '06.

I'm not impressed by the white man's perspective on Wichita State.

[1972Shocker]

Gotlieb ranks 10th all time in NCAA career assists.

Wouldn't it be funny if FVV passed Doug about 24 months from now?!?!

Which Gottleib would acknowledge as a very nice accomplishment at that level.