I don't know what fans are looking at but stats are some of the picture, but clearly not reality.
A) if Mulcahy or Cam Spencer were able to create their own shot or take the ball within 10 seconds of the end of the shot clock, we would not be asking or questioning how effective or not Simpson is. Both guards are easily defended 1 on 1 and require a breakdown or mistake by the opponents defense in order to be left open to score.
B) Simpson is not a perfect player, but RU clearly did not have anyone else capable at the guard position, who could execute off a pick and roll and score. As much as Mulcahy should have been at that stage where Pike or the team looked to him to be that player, he did not have the offensive game or shooting confidence to do so.
C) Here are the ultimate items that make sense to me, but this is how I look at the games.
If you are playing fewer than 17 or 18 minutes a game, it is very difficult to ask any player to have an impact on the game at the guard position. So I've carved out games for Simpson where he played a "reasonable amount of minutes ".
22 Games where he played at or more than 17 minutes per game.
80/201 .....40% FG
12/52 3PT% (23%)
9.7 PPG
All games starting with MSG on Feb 4th.
38/100 (FG 38%)
8/32 (3 PT FG% 25%)
9PPG
In last 6 games
32/81 (FG 40%)
3/16 (3PT FG%, 19%)
13.67 PPG
In last 2 games
67 total minutes
13/32 (40.6 FG%)
3/8 (37.5% 3 PT %)
18.5 PPG
40% as a FG shooter as a lead guard in the B1G is in line with most of the PGs or "Combo-guards"
If we use the stats of 22 games for Simpson where he played 17 or more minutes, his numbers are not elite, but they're in line.
MICH- McDaniel 37.7%
MARY- Young 41.9%
OHIO ST- Thornton 45.6%
NW- Buie 40.2%
ILL- Epps 41.8%
PENN ST -Pickett 51.6%
IOWA- Uhlis 40.1%
WISC- Hepburn 37.7%
MINN- Cooper 39.5%
INDIANA- Hood-Schfino 42.2%
MICH ST- Hoggard 40.8%
PURDUE- Smith 44.8%
RUTG- Simpson 40.0%
I have zero concerns about Simpson improving, he will be better from 3 PT range next year. His growth, considering the league and competition, is reasonable from a freshman.
I am more concerned that we find out what player compliments Simpson in the backcourt, beyond Spencer and Gavin. Is JaMicheal Davis at a level to be a quality 12 to 18 minute a game guy?? I think we have seen that Jalen Miller is probably the 5th guard in any rotation.
I would probably feel better if 2024 commit, Deliquan Warren reclassified back to the class of 2023 and comes on board this summer, with Davis. It would plug a big hole on the roster and allow him a legitimate role to play as a freshman, with Simpson and off the bench as the 1st guard.
The ideal 2023-24 backcourt is
Simpson
Spencer
Warren (Miller)
Griffiths
Davis
If Mulcahy plays a 5th year, it ultimately doesn't really solve the bigger picture of where he plays, because he can play the wing, but we already have options in place there.
Bottom line is, Simpson is the least of my concerns going into next year.