Jeff ******* Intones

[jrschh]

I think we all agree that FVV is struggling a little compared to what we saw last year. (Which was MVC Player of the Year worthy) However, I also agree part of that is the challenge we are having incorporating all of the new players. Meaning, he's having to force some things to try and create some offense versus taking what the defense is giving him, which is more his game. I agree that with the development of our younger players, you'll see FVV numbers pick up. Last game is a good indication. As mentioned above, he had 9 assists to only 1 turnover (and that turnover is due to the BS charging call!). I credit that with SM starting to figure it out and giving FVV more options on the offensive end. If things continue to progress with the newbies, I see some games with very big assist to turnover ratios.

[tw805]

He's not lighting the world on fire, but he's still one of the best in the country. I'm not sure ******* looked up any stats, because I'm confident FVV is up there in the top two or three in the categories most important to point guards.

[shox1989]

Taken from ESPN

******* Pontificates on Ten Most Overrated

3. Fred VanVleet's All-American candidacy

Listen, I’m a HUGE fan of Wichita State’s point guard. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a very good player. But there are plenty who put him as a preseason first-team All-American. He’s just not that. VanVleet has more on his shoulders this season with Cleanthony Early in the NBA and he’s struggling, shooting just 38 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range.



Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet hasn't lived up to his preseason All-American status this season.

Since when is ******* a huge fan of FVV? That is the biggest news I got out of this piece. ******* trashing a Shocker or the WSU team is what he always does.

[Play Angry]

FVV's A:TO ratio this year is 3.5 to 1, whereas last year it was 4 to 1. That is a slight dropoff but sort of like falling from the 99.99th percentile on the bell curve down to the 98th percentile.

His FG % and 3FG % are both down as noted and that is probably the only fair point for critique. That said, it has been improving recently and I expect further progress during MVC play due to (i) more relatively weak opponents, and (ii) further integration of the youngsters into the offense, taking pressure off of the vets to create (read: force things).

Fred is obviously an amazing point guard and the best in school history. If this is what qualifies as a disappointing season for him, then my god, what an incredible talent.

[ShockerFever]

Yeah, there's probably a reason he writes.

No doubt. He's just not all that put together well. Similar to Gottlieb and being on the radio.

[ShockerFever]

******* is a ruhtard, but his point here is not all that obtuse.

That f***** could say the sky is blue and the earth is round and I still would't agree with that busted-up fishmonger.

[Aargh]

Fred set the bar pretty high in his Fr and So years. The step-back 3 against Stockton in the Gonzaga game started it. Then the 5+ A/TO ratio most of last year solidified the reputation. Fred didn't just set the bar up at AA status, he set it up as one of the best PG's in D1 over a 5 - 10 year period.

This year Fred doesn't have Early pulling an interior defender out to the perimeter. He doesn't have Coleby or Lufile setting low screens to keep an interior defender off of him when he drives the lane.

At this stage of the season, Fred isn't looking like a 1st team AA - maybe 3rd - maybe. That's a drop from expectations and sports journalists are very sensitive about players who play below the level - or pedestal- where they have placed that player.

All playerws have a ceiling. Fred may have reached his. I don't think he's any less of a player than he was last year. The supporting cast around him isn't what he had his first two years. That's affected his stats and effectiveness.

The most obvious effects of losing an NBA player and a couple of 6'9", 260 guys are showing up in Fred's game and his effectiveness. It's very difficult to be a 1st team AA PG with a front court that goes 6'7" and 6'4". Especially when the 6'4" guy is not an offensive threat and the 6'7" guy has foul problems.

Fred is definitely not living up to his pre-season expectations in the media, but that's not on Fred.

[LandStander]

He may not be living up to the preseason hype but to call him OVERRATED is asinine. Shock journalism, not sports reporting. Everything that is said on here is true and what Gregg said about him two years ago during our f4 run is spot on. If only there were journalists writing reports about reporters overrated or underachieving....

[Shockeriffic]

How's Marcus Paige doing?

37% from the field and 35% from three with less assists and more turnovers than Van Vleet.

[Cdizzle]

Uhhh...9 assists to one turnover against Bradley is pretty AA stuff to me. It's coming and will get better as we go along.

The box score says 9:1. Remember that the turnover was a mildly disputed charge call that resulted in some fireworks and ridiculous make-up calls.

[WSUwatcher]

Aargh makes a good point about expectations. FVV had an extraordinary season last year and may actually have been underrated in terms of accolades, so the media types hopped on his bandwagon this year without fully analyzing the challenges he was facing. (Frankly, few of us appreciated how much tougher it might be this year either -- I certainly didn't.) So when the challenges materialized, or -- to put it another way -- when reality intruded, he became overrated and a disappointment.

Silly and premature. It IS going to be tougher for FVV this year, even with the young guys getting better as the season goes along. And, in fairness to the complainers, he did miss that essential front end FT in the closing seconds against Utah. Can't do that in that spot, especially on TV. But he's also adjusting, the team is adjusting and improving, and even under these circumstances he's still one of the best. So if he isn't first team AA, who cares? I guarantee you he doesn't, because he's far more about winning than he is about personal acclaim. And if the Shocks win enough, Fred will be a big part of it, his role will be recognized, and all the fussing about his alleged underachievement will go right into the trash.

[im4wsu]

Most coaches having only five of 13 scholarship players having one-second-or-more of D-1 experience are going to struggle early in the season. Even 3G.

According to that struggling 3G, mulitiple National COY last season, FVV's best attribute is controlling the pace of the game and executing the offense with maximum efficiency. If a coach is having some struggles integrating new players into the system, getting them to the right spots, just multiply that difficulty for the PG who has to integrate the new players to get to that spot at the right time and with their defender in the right position. Coaches can instruct, practice it and tell them over and over again, but the PG has to make the timing work.

The improved consistency of Baker, Cotton, Carter, Kelly, Morris, Nurger and Brown will also result in increased assists and increased opportunities to drive and dish as opposed to forcing a drine and having nobody to dish to.

[dougeb101]

Fred has his eye on the pie at the end of the season h knows he has to get production from the young guys so he is force feeding them some basketball education and not worrying about his stats he knows whats important to be able to be there at the end of the season and slowly we are seeing an improvement in the young guys, Be patient it will all come together and ******* will eat some more crow. Go Shox!!

[top20shock]

Many valid points here but I think it should be said that Fred knows how to play the game right. The kid is a stud. I wouldn't want any other Guard in the country running the Shox

[ShockerFever]

I'm curious if Jeff ******* has played any sort of organized basketball in his life.

And if so, has he had issues of balls smashing into his face during games?