So ... I thought I'd put this baby to rest, with actual analysis - cuz I have too much time on my hands. Forget that Shelby65 is a troller, speaks of himself or herself in the 3rd person (which is ... well ... quite narcissistic, eh, but obnoxious for sure). Let's just look at Simpson and Davis, side by side ... since in another thread Shelby and a couple of others seem so obsessed with them.
Shelby65 continues to argue, without any basis, evidence or analysis, except for a couple of very cherry-picked stats (like FT%), that Simpson is and was clearly the better player, is way better, etc. Is this actually true, based on the stats? Not even including our eyeballs?
First, let's look in detail at JUST each player's freshman season. Because comparing Simpson's SOPHOMORE season to Davis' FRESHMAN season is not really the proper or fair comparison when one is arguing "body of work" and potential development ... lets look at Apples to Apples. I would also argue that Davis is a purer PG, by style, while Simpson viewed himself and played a style more like a "lead" guard than a pure PG - and tried to model his play after his oft-stated favorite RU player, Baker.
Without NAMING either player at first, here are the stats:
MPG: 23 vs 20
PPG: 5.6 v 7.1
RPG: 3.1 v 1.6
APG: 1.9 v 1.5
TO/G: 1.3 v 0.9
Steals/G: 1.1 v 0.8
Blocks/g: 0.3 v 0.1
Ass/TO Ratio: 1.5 v 1.65
FG%: 37% v 37%
Shot Attempts: 175 v 246
3-point FG%: 22% v 22%
3-point Att: 36 v 60
2-point FG%" 41% v 42.5%
2-point attempts: 139 v 186
eFG%: 39.4% v 40%
FT% (a giveaway): 52% v 79%
FT att: 69 v 58
If you look at Per 40 Minutes, using just the counting stats because the percentages and ratios stay the same:
PPG: 9.7 v 14.2
RPG: 5.4 v 3.2
APG: 3.2 v 2.9
TO/G: 2.2 v 1.8
Steals/G: 2.0 v 1.5
Blocks/g: 0.5 v 0.2
More stats, more random:
1) As a frosh, Simpson had 11 double-digit scoring games, versus Davis having just 7. Davis' were spread out over the course of the season, while Simpson had 5 of his 11 in the last 6 games - 4 in a row at the end ... when he was given 30+ mpg in desperation by Pikiell, desperation for any offense. In those 4 games he shot 39% FG, still just 20% 3-point, but 46% from 2-point FG - but still only a 42% eFG - because he was taking many more 3-pointers (and missing) ... giving many the HOPE he would become a consistent double digit scorer as a sophomore, and could average 12 - 14 ppg. Simpson's assist/TO ratio dropped from 1.65 to 1.25 as he got more touches. I would argue Simpson was playing the role of a "lead guard" style PG not a pure PG.
2) As a freshman, Simpson had 6 games with 3 or more assists, and just 3 games with 4 or more assists. As a freshman, Davis had 11 games with 3 or more assists, and 5 games with 4 or more assists. These stats (from this point, and point #1 right above), support MY analysis that Davis and Simpson played very different roles: Davis as a purer PG, Simpson as a "lead guard" style PG.
3) As a SOPHOMORE, Simpson had a strange season, frankly - besides the obvious of being, literally, the WORST shooter in the NCAA. He DID have several terrific games: He had 11 games where he scored 10 or more points, and 7 games with 14 or more points ... on the other hand, he ALSO had 7 games with 2 or FEWER points, and 11 games with 4 or fewer points ... extremely inconsistent. Either he was able to score, in about 1/3 of the games, or he was completely useless and even damaging, also in about 1/3 of the games. To Simpson's credit, he did have 18 games in which he had 3 or more assists, including 10 with 4 or more assists ... yet he still only averaged 2.9 assists/game ... meaning he had many games with NOTHING], 1 or zero assists (7 overall).
One more thing Shelby criticized Davis for: Saying he was NOT a PG and was too shirt ot be a 2G ... well, Davis is 6'2" (which I agree is too short to be a 2G - though Jameer Young of Maryland and Boo Buie of NW seemed okay at that - but both were great offensive talents). But Simpson is just 6'3" - not all that much a difference.
I think the stats show pretty definitively that when Davis and Simpson were BOTH freshmen, they were extremely similar from an offensive efficiency standpoint (i.e. FG%, 3-point FG, 2-point FG, etc.), though Simpson took many more shot attempts (40% more overall, 66% more 3's and 34% more 2's) ... like MANY more, much less a PG than a shooter mentality - and in 13% FEWER minutes ... i.e. SIMPSON was the "chucker" and shot hog, NOT Davis ... and Davis played more minutes per game, yest took many fewer shots ... EXCEPT FT's: Davis took more FT attempts (i.e. drawing more fouls).
But the stats also show they were very different STYLE players - as pointed out above.
Defensively, Simpson is and was an excellent defensive player - and probably the better help defender (if my eyeballs are any good). But Davis is an elite on-ball defender, quicker, a much better rebounder, created more turnovers (and not just because he had more steals, but also because he created more havoc), and for his size is a very good shot-blocker.
Add to that the simple fact that Simpson was simply an AWFUL shooter last season, his sophomore season ... I give Davis the edge, and the greater upside - though stats-wise we may have to look through the static as they play different styles. I do wish Simpson well at St. Joes - where he will get a chance to improve and maybe be more consistent rather than the odd flashes, as their starting PG. Davis wlll be a reserve for RU because of the roster make-up, but IF ... and I say IF ... he improves his FG% and FT%, will earn minutes this year and lay a groundwork for a potential starting role as pure PG next season, if he stays.
