Here are some random, and not so random RU stats, albeit after just 6 games, and against very, very weak competition ... but still ...These are the stats we have so far - and some Jellyman Rose-Colored-Glasses Views:
1) Geo Baker may indeed be an improvement over Nigel Johnson - as many of us thought he might. For last season, Nigel Johnson averaged 11.3 ppg, shot 37.7% FG, 35% 3-point FG and 70% FT. He did have some great games, especially 2-3 really hot games down the stretch ... prior to which eh was not even shooting 35% FG or 31% 3-point FG, I might add. Johnson had a 64-44 Ass-TO ratio ... averaging 2 assists per game. Baker, in his 1st 6 games, albeit against very weak competition (but also only his 1st 6 games, so still large upside improvement possible), is averaging 12.5 ppg, on 46.7% FG shooting, 39% 3-point FG and 80% FT ... he has a 21-14 assist to TO ration, averaging 3.5 assists per game. And he is a true freshman, while Johnson was a redshirt Junior. Just saying.
2) Is RU missing Gettys? Maybe a little, but maybe not so much just yet. Last season Gettys averaged 7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg and had 26 blocked shots in 33 games ... plus 39 assists and 52 turnovers. He did shoot very well: 54% FG, and was solid FT, with a 67% FT shooting record. Decent numbers, solid - and was mostly a solid body defender. This season? Doucore is averaging 4.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, shooting 47% FG and is 8-10 FT so far ... he has 3 assists, 5 turnovers and 4 blocked sots in 6 games ... as a true frosh. In just 4 games, Doorson is averaging 4.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg, with 4 blocked shots. Together, those 2 have averaged the same minutes per game as did Gettys all of last season - and have 9 ppg, 10 rpg and 8 blocked shots in 6 games. Time will still tell on Doucore/Doorson/Sa being able to replicate Gettys/Doorson/Sa of last seaosn - but at worst it does not seem like that much of a fall-off ... at worst.
3) Omoruyi averaged 12 minutes per game, 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, shooting 39% FG and 62.5% FT ... with 34 assists and 35 TO, and 9 blocked shots and 15 steals, all in 30+ games. So far this season, he has averaged 20 minutes per game, 9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, shooting 48% FG - though just 40% FT - and has 10 assists and just 4 TO, along with 9 blocked shots and 4 steals. Yes, he is still a little raw, and yes the competition has been weak, but he has clearly improved in a MAJOR way.
4) Thiam averaged 18 minutes, 3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, shooting 33% FG, 30% 3-point FG and took just 8 FT all year, hitting 4. He had 10 assists and 24 turnovers in his 31 games. So far this year, again albeit against weak competition, but still .. Thiam is averaging 27 minutes, 9.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 46% FG, 33% 3-point FG, has already taken 7 FT (hit 6), and though he has just 2 assists, he also has just 2 turnovers. He also has 5 steals in 6 games - last season Thiam had 12 steals in 31 games. Like Omoruyi, VAST improvement, even if against lesser competition. And like Omoruyi, Baker and Doucore, still is young with lost of room for improvement.
5) Sanders HAS gotten off to a slow start shooting - as he did last season, remember. But he is also averaging 5 rpg (a big improvement), and has over a 2-1 assist to turnover ratio - versus just a 1.2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio last year. I think he will be fine in the end.
Overall, by the way, RU has 4 players averaging in double figures so far: Baker, Sanders, Freman and Williams. Plus Thiam at 9.7 ppg and Moruyi at 9 ppg. RU has 6 players averaging 4.8 rpg or more.
It looks like RU has a solid 8 players to roate in and out: Sanders, Freeman, Baker, Williams, Thiam, Omoruyi, Doucore and Doorson. Sa and Mensah have been spot players - and disappointing ... RU WILL need Sa to be solid defensively in some games this year as Doucore and Doorson are likely to pick up fouls. And Mensah WILL have to improve, to help the substitution rotation.
1) Geo Baker may indeed be an improvement over Nigel Johnson - as many of us thought he might. For last season, Nigel Johnson averaged 11.3 ppg, shot 37.7% FG, 35% 3-point FG and 70% FT. He did have some great games, especially 2-3 really hot games down the stretch ... prior to which eh was not even shooting 35% FG or 31% 3-point FG, I might add. Johnson had a 64-44 Ass-TO ratio ... averaging 2 assists per game. Baker, in his 1st 6 games, albeit against very weak competition (but also only his 1st 6 games, so still large upside improvement possible), is averaging 12.5 ppg, on 46.7% FG shooting, 39% 3-point FG and 80% FT ... he has a 21-14 assist to TO ration, averaging 3.5 assists per game. And he is a true freshman, while Johnson was a redshirt Junior. Just saying.
2) Is RU missing Gettys? Maybe a little, but maybe not so much just yet. Last season Gettys averaged 7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg and had 26 blocked shots in 33 games ... plus 39 assists and 52 turnovers. He did shoot very well: 54% FG, and was solid FT, with a 67% FT shooting record. Decent numbers, solid - and was mostly a solid body defender. This season? Doucore is averaging 4.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, shooting 47% FG and is 8-10 FT so far ... he has 3 assists, 5 turnovers and 4 blocked sots in 6 games ... as a true frosh. In just 4 games, Doorson is averaging 4.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg, with 4 blocked shots. Together, those 2 have averaged the same minutes per game as did Gettys all of last season - and have 9 ppg, 10 rpg and 8 blocked shots in 6 games. Time will still tell on Doucore/Doorson/Sa being able to replicate Gettys/Doorson/Sa of last seaosn - but at worst it does not seem like that much of a fall-off ... at worst.
3) Omoruyi averaged 12 minutes per game, 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, shooting 39% FG and 62.5% FT ... with 34 assists and 35 TO, and 9 blocked shots and 15 steals, all in 30+ games. So far this season, he has averaged 20 minutes per game, 9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, shooting 48% FG - though just 40% FT - and has 10 assists and just 4 TO, along with 9 blocked shots and 4 steals. Yes, he is still a little raw, and yes the competition has been weak, but he has clearly improved in a MAJOR way.
4) Thiam averaged 18 minutes, 3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, shooting 33% FG, 30% 3-point FG and took just 8 FT all year, hitting 4. He had 10 assists and 24 turnovers in his 31 games. So far this year, again albeit against weak competition, but still .. Thiam is averaging 27 minutes, 9.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 46% FG, 33% 3-point FG, has already taken 7 FT (hit 6), and though he has just 2 assists, he also has just 2 turnovers. He also has 5 steals in 6 games - last season Thiam had 12 steals in 31 games. Like Omoruyi, VAST improvement, even if against lesser competition. And like Omoruyi, Baker and Doucore, still is young with lost of room for improvement.
5) Sanders HAS gotten off to a slow start shooting - as he did last season, remember. But he is also averaging 5 rpg (a big improvement), and has over a 2-1 assist to turnover ratio - versus just a 1.2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio last year. I think he will be fine in the end.
Overall, by the way, RU has 4 players averaging in double figures so far: Baker, Sanders, Freman and Williams. Plus Thiam at 9.7 ppg and Moruyi at 9 ppg. RU has 6 players averaging 4.8 rpg or more.
It looks like RU has a solid 8 players to roate in and out: Sanders, Freeman, Baker, Williams, Thiam, Omoruyi, Doucore and Doorson. Sa and Mensah have been spot players - and disappointing ... RU WILL need Sa to be solid defensively in some games this year as Doucore and Doorson are likely to pick up fouls. And Mensah WILL have to improve, to help the substitution rotation.
