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I'm not sure this really deserves a thread of its own, because I don't know that anyone really cares about LeFred (after LeBron, of course), my own nickname I coined for FVV earlier this season when his critical importance to this year's Shocks became painfully apparent. It certainly hasn't caught on, so it's hard to imagine anyone missing it. But more important, it occurred to me after WSU's latest unsuccessful grindfest against Northern Iowa that calling him LeFred actually highlights the worst aspect of VanVleet's play this year, which has been trying to be Superman -- to do too much.
Maybe he's still trying to prove a point about being left off the PanAm team, maybe he doesn't have enough faith in his younger teammates, who knows? But what we do know is that WSU's three losses to Valley opponents -- their three lowest scoring outputs of the year, and three of only four times they've been under 60 all season -- have some things in common. One has been frightful three point shooting, to be sure. But is that a cause or a symptom -- a symptom of general stagnation on offense as movement has slowed, dribbling has picked up, and the ball has tended to get stuck, occasionally in the hands of Baker but more often in the hands of FVV as he's tried to be LeFred and take over the game? How many of us, me included, have lamented this new tendency to try to win games himself occasionally instead of making his teammates better so the games can be won together?
So I'm ditching the nickname and hoping not to see that persona any more as the Shocks try to get back to one more Final Four, because I believe that persona has become increasingly counterproductive. Which gets me to the lesson of Armstead. When Malcolm was a senior, he was WSU's unquestioned leader and capable of taking over games. But as he watched the team develop in practice, he also started lobbying Marshall for the new kid who was supposed to be his backup, FVV, to play more and play along with him, because Malcolm trusted him to help give WSU its best combination and chance to win. In tournament play, he also was willing to let new guys like Fred and Ron take over the spotlight down the stretch against Gonzaga, or Tekele Cotton launch the killer three against Ohio State that put WSU into the Final Four. And sadly, once WSU arrived, one of the things that sabotaged them against Louisville was Armstead's tough game (1-10 from the field, 0-5 from three) as he tried to do too much with the ball in his own hands.
VanVleet may not be able to see his successor in practice these days the way Armstead could. Maybe that guy just isn't there yet, which is possible; a player like Fred, even as a freshman, doesn't just show up every year. Or maybe it would have been Shamet, and if Landry hadn't been hurt FVV would have been channeling Armstead, lobbying for the freshman to get more time alongside him (or maybe not; we won't know -- fate has decided that combo isn't to be.) But one thing I hope Fred does remember is that, as good as Armstead was his senior year, it was teammates -- Baker, Cotton, Early, Fred himself -- who also played a huge part in getting WSU into the matchup with Louisville and in building the big lead that day, and it was Malcolm's off day while doing too much against a team determined to stop him that was a key factor in seeing the season end there.
No, Fred doesn't have Early and Baker and Cotton and himself to turn to, or even Shamet, but he does still have Baker, plus new teammates with some genuine ability who are getting better, including one in Frankamp who has already shined on the big stage in international competition and whose shooting also nearly bailed out The Flagship and its dysfunctional collection of acclaimed talent in his last game for them a couple seasons ago. Fred has also now seen several times that when he tries to do too much it doesn't necessarily work any better for him than it did for Armstead against Louisville. He needs to lead, but also to trust his teammates and make them better, which is what put him on the national radar at WSU in the first place.
So: no more LeFred, please -- just a return to the FVV we've seen elevate the Shocks ever since he took over the reins, by being not only a great player in his own right, but also the ultimate facilitator for his teammates, who sees what the defense is giving and takes it better than almost anyone else. THAT guy doesn't help lead his team to 52 or 53 points and close losses; he leads them to many more, and to resounding wins.
Maybe he's still trying to prove a point about being left off the PanAm team, maybe he doesn't have enough faith in his younger teammates, who knows? But what we do know is that WSU's three losses to Valley opponents -- their three lowest scoring outputs of the year, and three of only four times they've been under 60 all season -- have some things in common. One has been frightful three point shooting, to be sure. But is that a cause or a symptom -- a symptom of general stagnation on offense as movement has slowed, dribbling has picked up, and the ball has tended to get stuck, occasionally in the hands of Baker but more often in the hands of FVV as he's tried to be LeFred and take over the game? How many of us, me included, have lamented this new tendency to try to win games himself occasionally instead of making his teammates better so the games can be won together?
So I'm ditching the nickname and hoping not to see that persona any more as the Shocks try to get back to one more Final Four, because I believe that persona has become increasingly counterproductive. Which gets me to the lesson of Armstead. When Malcolm was a senior, he was WSU's unquestioned leader and capable of taking over games. But as he watched the team develop in practice, he also started lobbying Marshall for the new kid who was supposed to be his backup, FVV, to play more and play along with him, because Malcolm trusted him to help give WSU its best combination and chance to win. In tournament play, he also was willing to let new guys like Fred and Ron take over the spotlight down the stretch against Gonzaga, or Tekele Cotton launch the killer three against Ohio State that put WSU into the Final Four. And sadly, once WSU arrived, one of the things that sabotaged them against Louisville was Armstead's tough game (1-10 from the field, 0-5 from three) as he tried to do too much with the ball in his own hands.
VanVleet may not be able to see his successor in practice these days the way Armstead could. Maybe that guy just isn't there yet, which is possible; a player like Fred, even as a freshman, doesn't just show up every year. Or maybe it would have been Shamet, and if Landry hadn't been hurt FVV would have been channeling Armstead, lobbying for the freshman to get more time alongside him (or maybe not; we won't know -- fate has decided that combo isn't to be.) But one thing I hope Fred does remember is that, as good as Armstead was his senior year, it was teammates -- Baker, Cotton, Early, Fred himself -- who also played a huge part in getting WSU into the matchup with Louisville and in building the big lead that day, and it was Malcolm's off day while doing too much against a team determined to stop him that was a key factor in seeing the season end there.
No, Fred doesn't have Early and Baker and Cotton and himself to turn to, or even Shamet, but he does still have Baker, plus new teammates with some genuine ability who are getting better, including one in Frankamp who has already shined on the big stage in international competition and whose shooting also nearly bailed out The Flagship and its dysfunctional collection of acclaimed talent in his last game for them a couple seasons ago. Fred has also now seen several times that when he tries to do too much it doesn't necessarily work any better for him than it did for Armstead against Louisville. He needs to lead, but also to trust his teammates and make them better, which is what put him on the national radar at WSU in the first place.
So: no more LeFred, please -- just a return to the FVV we've seen elevate the Shocks ever since he took over the reins, by being not only a great player in his own right, but also the ultimate facilitator for his teammates, who sees what the defense is giving and takes it better than almost anyone else. THAT guy doesn't help lead his team to 52 or 53 points and close losses; he leads them to many more, and to resounding wins.
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