Nigel Johnson

[RickB113]

Pikes first mistake. I don’t buy for one second that this guy had to go. I honestly believe we are a tournament team with him. It has been suggested that Pike didn’t want to keep him. If that is true it was an enormous blunder. If we had Johnson taking Mensah’s minutes and providing more rest for Baker we would be so much better. I believe we win one of the three we lost with Johnson. He would have got hot during one of those games and been the difference. He would get us 3 plus more wins. Now we have to wait another year and pray Corey stays or we will be one guard short again.

 

[higgins3]

Not looking back. I talked with Johnson on Midnight Madness. I wished him well, and I really do hope he shines.

The team was mixed up at guard last year. Pikiell had his reasons. I am sure they were better than any of our rumors here. Johnson went to three schools in four years. Let that sink in.Not bashing him. I am just saying.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Pikes first mistake. I don’t buy for one second that this guy had to go. I honestly believe we are a tournament team with him. It has been suggested that Pike didn’t want to keep him. If that is true it was an enormous blunder. If we had Johnson taking Mensah’s minutes and providing more rest for Baker we would be so much better. I believe we win one of the three we lost with Johnson. He would have got hot during one of those games and been the difference. He would get us 3 plus more wins. Now we have to wait another year and pray Corey stays or we will be one guard short again.

I was wondering about him too. So I checked the UV stats.
He's avg like 20mins a game and shooting like 33% overall, 25% from three and poorly from the foul line (54%). He'd fit right in but not be a difference maker. (had he continued his end of last season performance..we'll that's a different story. But he has not).

SEASON GP GS MIN MIN AVG PTS PTS AVG FGM FGA FG% 3-PT FG 3-PT FGA 3-PT FG%
2017-18 9 0 184 20.4 50 5.6 19 56 .339 5 19 .263


SEASON GP GS FTM FTA FT% O-REB D-REB TREB REB AVG PF DQ AST TO BLK STL
2017-18 9 0 7 13 .538 1 23 24 2.67 5 0 20 7 1 9

 

[RUEd]

I was wondering about him too. So I checked the UV stats.
He's avg like 20mins a game and shooting like 33% overall, and poorly from the foul line. He'd fit right in but not be a difference maker. (had he continued his end of last season performance..we'll that's a different story. But he has not).

But compared to Souder, he would not have been better?

 

[soundcrib]

I hate saying what if, but damn, what if Nigel was on this team...

 

[Mr_Twister]

Hard to fathom that Nigel would not have helped this team.

 

[DHajekRC84]

But compared to Souder, he would not have been better?

you mean Souf? yeah if he was playing 20mins a game for us and taking shots. But if you take 20mins from the Rutger's team guards who are averaging better numbers and replace them with Nigel's numbers it doesn't improve the math. Or replacing the shots taken by our guards who avg. 36% 36% and 41% and replace with 33%..same deal. Makes them worse. Plus Nigel doesn't rebound.

 

[xkiesterx]

Nigel Johnson is not good and would not make us appreciably better. He is obviously better than Souf but I think he'd be taking most of his minutes from one of our other three guards, all of whom I think are better.

 

[RickB113]

He wouldn't have needed to play 20 minutes here. Even if he did though I would argue Geo and Corey would have better numbers playing less minutes. Plus it is early still. I don't need to see numbers I watched Johnson carry us down the stretch last year. You could play him when he is hot. Sit him when he is not.

 

[xkiesterx]

He wouldn't have needed to play 20 minutes here. Even if he did though I would argue Geo and Corey would have better numbers playing less minutes. Plus it is early still. I don't need to see numbers I watched Johnson carry us down the stretch last year. You could play him when he is hot. Sit him when he is not.

There are consequences for this. I don't think he's the type of guy who would be cool being the 4th guard. There are commitment issues with him already.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Sometimes you have to look past the numbers. We desperately need what Nigel COULD bring to the table...DESPERATELY!

We are in a much better place as a program without him. The identity of the program is defense, rebounding, floor burns, and winning 50/50s (not the gambling ones). Chemistry is also a big part. Right now everyone is not on the same page, but we are pretty close. The addition of Johnson to the roster could hurt what the young core of this team is building. in addition, Bakers growth/experience would be hampered by Johnson taking some of his minutes.

'17-'18 is not the year
'18-'19 won't be either
'19-'20 is when we (hopefully) start to see it

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

He wouldn't have needed to play 20 minutes here. Even if he did though I would argue Geo and Corey would have better numbers playing less minutes. Plus it is early still. I don't need to see numbers I watched Johnson carry us down the stretch last year. You could play him when he is hot. Sit him when he is not.

not fantasy football. players have egos and feelings. when the ego and feelings are hurt it can really hurt a team.

 

[RutgHoops]

Pikes first mistake. I don’t buy for one second that this guy had to go. I honestly believe we are a tournament team with him. It has been suggested that Pike didn’t want to keep him. If that is true it was an enormous blunder. If we had Johnson taking Mensah’s minutes and providing more rest for Baker we would be so much better. I believe we win one of the three we lost with Johnson. He would have got hot during one of those games and been the difference. He would get us 3 plus more wins. Now we have to wait another year and pray Corey stays or we will be one guard short again.

He's shooting 26% from 3, 34% from the floor and plays the worst defense of any guard and likely any player on UVA. No chance the guy averages 20mpg once ACC play starts and he would be a net negative as it relates to any development we are currently seeing with Geo.

In short, I completely disagree with your post above and personally believe, even knowing what he has right now, Coach P would have still driven Nigel to the airport if that was needed to not have him playing for RU this season.

Against teams with a pulse that UVA has played he has scored, 6, 5, 1 and 0. In those games he has gone 0-4, 0-6, 2-7 and 3-7. 5-24 in total. He isn't that good and takes the second most shots/minute on this UVA team. He was a smaller version of JJ Moore. Couldnt be happier he is someone else's problem.

 

[urbanecane]

This team has no shot at making the dance, with or without Johnson, until 2019-2020 IMO. Johnson would have helped this season, but his loss should have no effect on the trajectory of this program.

 

[higgins3]

He wouldn't have needed to play 20 minutes here. Even if he did though I would argue Geo and Corey would have better numbers playing less minutes. Plus it is early still. I don't need to see numbers I watched Johnson carry us down the stretch last year. You could play him when he is hot. Sit him when he is not.

And that is exactly why he left- to play more minutes. Johnson is an average player. He is not a mediocre player.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

In defense of Nigel......when he wanted to he had the ability to be RU best perimeter defender. That includes Corey, who has really bought in defensively.

 

[RutgHoops]

In defense of Nigel......when he wanted to he had the ability to be RU best perimeter defender. That includes Corey, who has really bought in defensively.

I enjoy reading your posts but this is the least accurate post you may have ever made on the MBB board. He was the worst defender on this team last season by a margin. I was shocked Tony Bennett wanted him.

 

[rubaseball78]

He's shooting 26% from 3, 34% from the floor and plays the worst defense of any guard and likely any player on UVA. No chance the guy averages 20mpg once ACC play starts and he would be a net negative as it relates to any development we are currently seeing with Geo.

In short, I completely disagree with your post above and personally believe, even knowing what he has right now, Coach P would have still driven Nigel to the airport if that was needed to not have him playing for RU this season.

Against teams with a pulse that UVA has played he has scored, 6, 5, 1 and 0. In those games he has gone 0-4, 0-6, 2-7 and 3-7. 5-24 in total. He isn't that good and takes the second most shots/minute on this UVA team. He was a smaller version of JJ Moore. Couldnt be happier he is someone else's problem.

Interesting subset of the data.

 

[RickB113]

Sometimes you have to look past the numbers. We desperately need what Nigel COULD bring to the table...DESPERATELY!

We are in a much better place as a program without him. The identity of the program is defense, rebounding, floor burns, and winning 50/50s (not the gambling ones). Chemistry is also a big part. Right now everyone is not on the same page, but we are pretty close. The addition of Johnson to the roster could hurt what the young core of this team is building. in addition, Bakers growth/experience would be hampered by Johnson taking some of his minutes.

'17-'18 is not the year
'18-'19 won't be either
'19-'20 is when we (hopefully) start to see it

I call bull on the second paragraph. Coaches all over the country deal with different personalities. I never saw Johnson sulking on the court like I did with Rosario, Chandler and Eli Carter. Nobody likes to not play. The guys who are ok with not playing are not good players. Johnson was at our midknight madness THIS season. He is obviously tight with the players. The other option is playing SOUF or playing Baker and Corey way more minutes than we should. Johnson was on the team last year and we had the same identity we gave this year with defense and rebounding. Won more games than people thought and a big ten tourney game which he led us to victory in. There is no big picture issue. We would be a much better team with him. It's not even a debate.

 

[Knight Owl]

But Souf gets first downs.

 

[seels2662]

The only mistake is the scouting report for Souf. If he was a decent PG Johnson would never be mentioned in this message board.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I enjoy reading your posts but this is the least accurate post you may have ever made on the MBB board. He was the worst defender on this team last season by a margin. I was shocked Tony Bennett wanted him.

not sure if that is a compliment.

I didn't say he wasn't the worst perimeter defender. I said he had the ABILITY to be our best perimeter defender. He had very good lateral quickness and i thought with a gun to his head could stay in front of an opponent better than anyone else on our squad last year.

 

[dpwhite]

The biggest problem now is the Jose Alvarado miss.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I call bull on the second paragraph. Coaches all over the country deal with different personalities. I never saw Johnson sulking on the court like I did with Rosario, Chandler and Eli Carter. Nobody likes to not play. The guys who are ok with not playing are not good players. Johnson was at our midknight madness THIS season. He is obviously tight with the players. The other option is playing SOUF or playing Baker and Corey way more minutes than we should. Johnson was on the team last year and we had the same identity we gave this year with defense and rebounding. Won more games than people thought and a big ten tourney game which he led us to victory in. There is no big picture issue. We would be a much better team with him. It's not even a debate.

You just have to trust me on this one. coaching staff didn't need to call Uber here. They were happy to drive him to the airport.

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

The biggest problem now is the Jose Alvarado miss.

Agreed. That's why you see Diego Willis entering the equation as a 2018 target.

 

[Mr Magoo]

If Nigel was on the team, Baker wouldn't be getting as much time. I'm fine with it the way it is. Baker will be a much player than Johnson.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

The biggest problem now is the Jose Alvarado miss.

not necessarily. havent seen him play, but I'll trust what NJH says.

We really need a point guard. i am hoping Pike finds the one that is 2/3 distributor and 1/3 scorer and 3/3 defender. I really don't know where Alvarado fits there.

 

[RutgHoops]

not sure if that is a compliment.

I didn't say he wasn't the worst perimeter defender. I said he had the ABILITY to be our best perimeter defender. He had very good lateral quickness and i thought with a gun to his head could stay in front of an opponent better than anyone else on our squad last year.

Too small. Not strong enough. He not only had zero desire to play defense, but I don't think he had the ability to play defense the way Coach P wants. I don't see "the ability".

It was meant as a compliment (about liking your posts). Certainly didn't mean it as a "shot" at you.

 

[eja92]

He wouldn't have needed to play 20 minutes here. Even if he did though I would argue Geo and Corey would have better numbers playing less minutes. Plus it is early still. I don't need to see numbers I watched Johnson carry us down the stretch last year. You could play him when he is hot. Sit him when he is not.

Trust the staff on this one. He would not have been happy playing a role spelling the top three guards. It would not have worked out well for anyone. Mensah is also playing a role people don't appreciate in how he approaches practice, etc. We could use some help at guard, but it has to come from MW and CS playing better.

 

[rubaseball78]

I enjoy reading your posts but this is the least accurate post you may have ever made on the MBB board. He was the worst defender on this team last season by a margin. I was shocked Tony Bennett wanted him.

I agree with FIG. He didn't say he was our best defender. He said at times he showed the ability to be our best defender. Unfortunately, he did not frequently give that effort on D.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

In theory, is Nigel better than Souf.....of course he is....

And let's assume for one season, he's better than Baker and Williams (which isn't the case).

What Laurent and Nigel brought to the table could have slowed the development of Eugene, Baker and Thiam.

The roster is built to develop Baker, Doucoure, Eugene and Thiam through the firing squad this year, so when Mathis, Kiss, Shaq Carter and Ron Harper arrive next year, they have B1G ready players that have had success, scoring/rebounding and learning on the job.

Does that excuse Souf from being a non-contributor during games?? No, but Nigel likely buys us a couple more wins or makes a couple of games closer this year....but so does Laurent being here as well.....

At the end of the day, Nigel and Laurent to a certain extent make next year much more difficult, if they occupy minutes and time away from the underclassmen. And the reality is that if Pike retools the rotation and plays Thiam and Eugene a little more in spots, we would not need to worry about Nigel or Laurent.

We didn't see Diallo's name here, are we saying Doucoure hasn't flashed moments that show he's a future starter and high-level player??

Next year if Corey departs, we will say what exactly?? That he didn't perform well enough or took too many tough shots?? Or will we say the ball moves more, but damn we miss his athleticism.....??

There are always arguments on both sides....Wait until folks start seeing the development Ron Harper Jr. is flashing....we will then have fans wondering why we may be giving so many minutes to Thiam and Kiss....

These are good problems to have....the fanbase is alive and paying attention.....Hard to bat 1,000 with all recruits, but this staff has been pretty damn good IMO.....

 

[anon_0k9zlfz6lz9oy]

Nigel was awful. He was a net negative. Team is better without him

 

[kcg88]

Losing him wasn't the problem, it was that we couldn't replace him with Alvarado or a grad transfer and had to settle for Mensah.

 

[DHajekRC84]

I agree with FIG. He didn't say he was our best defender. He said at times he showed the ability to be our best defender. Unfortunately, he did not frequently give that effort on D.

This...agree. He was great out top but the only time he got near or inside the paint was when he was getting stuffed trying to make a shot under the rim. his heels never got close..but he was tough on guys bringing up the ball.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Some perspective ... Sagarin has Virginia at #8, Rutgers at #106. Well-respected coach Bennett and his staff brings Nigel Johnson on-board. And Nigel is not firmly planted on UVa’s bench. I am leaning to the opinion of Bennett & company before the posters’ opinions here.

 

[TobyTyler1]

He had a real nice game looking at boxscore about a week ago, 7 or 8 assists

 

[ouchmyknee]

The problem is you can't compare Nigel and Souf. If Nigel was getting Souf's minutes we'd have a malcontent on our hands.

 

[RUChow]

Nigel Johnson is not good and would not make us appreciably better. He is obviously better than Souf but I think he'd be taking most of his minutes from one of our other three guards, all of whom I think are better.

Agreed. Souf is only a PG and Johnson is not really a PG. I think in general people are looking at Johnson's stats and not considering stats he might be taking away from others on the court - how he might hurt the current chemistry. Pikiel knows what he's doing.

 

[MV9000]

Nigel was very streaky. I enjoyed his play. Rumors were his attitude was piss poor and he wasnt buying was Pike was selling. He also seemed to want to see the NCAA tourney before his time was done. For that i have no quarrel he helped create some exciting games last year.

I ultimately do not think hed make us marginally better however. Streaky shoot, drove poor alot of times. His state line this year also isnt super desireable... i did enjoy him while we had him though.

What i really wonder about is if we had a slimmer, Gettys for longer. He was a crowd pleaser and a true ambassador.

 

[bowlgoal]

Look, if you had the choice of Nigel or Souf (not only this year but now next year as well), who would rather have? Are you trying to say Souf because of the player development of others? That's a bizarre answer. Souf is probably one of the poorest Divison 1 guards in the country. He does not shoot ( he'll tell you because Pikes does not want him shooting) but the reality is he can't. He also can't make FT's much like Sa. And when he does get the ball; how many times has he turned it over? I would say plenty and he's a complete liability on defense. Will he get better? No idea?

Nigel was not a great player and struggled in many Big 10 games but he blows Souf away in every category. We would have been much better off with Nigel. Great coaches miss a few sometimes and this was one of those times. I love Pikiell and it's not the end of the world but Dadika should be in the rotation; not Souf.