Thiam

[FAT MOON]

Since there is a ton of Thiam bashing going on in this thread, I thought I'd share a positive story.

I had arranged for some kids I coach to have a post game scrimmage after the MSU game on the court. So we stayed late until the floor was empty and then the kids got to run around and play pick-up for 15 minutes or so. When we were leaving the RAC (long after the game had ended) and were walking back to our car we passed a random white vehicle and all of a sudden the window rolled down and someone poked their head out to our group and said (in a heavy accent)...

"Thank you very much for coming to the game tonight"

I was taken aback for a second as it was dark but after looking over i realized it was Issa. I told the boys who it was and we spoke to him for a few minutes. Couldn't have been nicer to them and he really had zero incentive to do so other than being a great guy. We didn't even know he was in the car.

So here is to hoping he turns it around because he was really shooting well at the start of the year and his length can be a huge advantage on defense. And obviously on a personal level I'm rooting for him because he's a great guy.

 

[Scangg]

Before the season I said Thiam will either step up and be a more confident and aggressive player on offense or he will start to lose minutes to Harper as the season went on. He started off looking like the player we all hope he can be but it was against lesser competition. He has the skills just not that attack mentality and I don't know if it is something that can be taught unfortunately.

I think we see some big games from him against Fordham Maine Columbia but more disappearing when we get back to the B1G schedule. Hope I'm wrong but it's hard to see him change his mentality when he hasn't had that mindset for 2+ years now. Harper's shot would seemingly have to come around at some point and if he starts knocking down 3's he will be a much better offensive player than Thiam when you consider his ability to pass create and score in other ways to go along with his high bball IQ

 

[Duff366]

The frustrating part is that the guy can shoot. I would take a contested 3 for Thiam over a lot of looks we get

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

The frustrating part is that the guy can shoot. I would take a contested 3 for Thiam over a lot of looks we get

Sorry, not sure what you're watching. He's missed way too many UNcontested 3s so far this season.

 

[dkostus]

Since there is a ton of Thiam bashing going on in this thread, I thought I'd share a positive story.

I had arranged for some kids I coach to have a post game scrimmage after the MSU game on the court. So we stayed late until the floor was empty and then the kids got to run around and play pick-up for 15 minutes or so. When we were leaving the RAC (long after the game had ended) and were walking back to our car we passed a random white vehicle and all of a sudden the window rolled down and someone poked their head out to our group and said (in a heavy accent)...

"Thank you very much for coming to the game tonight"

I was taken aback for a second as it was dark but after looking over i realized it was Issa. I told the boys who it was and we spoke to him for a few minutes. Couldn't have been nicer to them and he really had zero incentive to do so other than being a great guy. We didn't even know he was in the car.

So here is to hoping he turns it around because he was really shooting well at the start of the year and his length can be a huge advantage on defense. And obviously on a personal level I'm rooting for him because he's a great guy.

Seems like a great guy. There was an article about him hanging with the students and the Riot Squad to cheer on the football team. I remember seeing a shot of him in there on TV one time and it was hilarious to realise you recognize the 6'10" dude cheering in the student section

 

[Duff366]

Sorry, not sure what you're watching. He's missed way too many UNcontested 3s so far this season.

.424 from 3 for the season, any coach would sign up for that

 

[graystork]

Jeez guards are playing him. Post 'em up!

 

[JQRU91]

Just for comparison sake, here are the shots taken per 40 min played so far:

16.9 - Omoruyi
15.0 - Baker
14.2 - Mathis
13.2 - Harper
13.0 - Kiss
12.5 - Carter*
10.0 - Doucoure*
9.8 - Thiam
9.8 - McConnell*
7.5 - Johnson
4.4 - Doorson

*limited minutes (McConnell 57, Doucoure/Carter 32)

Couple things here....
1. For one of our best shooters, Thiam is definitely not taking enough shots
2. We clearly aren't getting our bigs involved enough, with Johnson and Doorson lagging behind everyone else in shot attempts per minute played.

The numbers for Mathis and Harper are pretty high. Shows they have a scorer's mentality. That should bode well for the future provided that Mathis can finish on drives and Harper can hit from three.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

.424 from 3 for the season, any coach would sign up for that

Time and time again, when he has the opportunity to hit a 3 in a big spot, he comes up empty. He's money against FDU and Drexel though.

 

[RUChoppin]

Time and time again, when he has the opportunity to hit a 3 in a big spot, he comes up empty. He's money against FDU and Drexel though.

Hit a key three late against Miami, which was good - but only went 1/5 that game from range. Since then, he's just 1 of 2 in 44 minutes - just two attempts. He didn't even attempt one against Wisconsin - which is only the second time he's failed to attempt a 3 when seeing the court for more than 7 min.

Really think it's all in his head - he's just not looking for his shot, and he's not being aggressive with the ball. He seems content to play tough defense, then pass/dribble the ball around the perimeter. Even when he posts up, he's been passing the ball right back out - even when he's got a ton of height on his defender.

First three games of the season (FDU/Drexel/SJU) he was 10/18 (.556) from range and averaged 13 ppg. Next five games (EMU/BU/Miami/MSU/Wisc) he was 4/15 (.267) from range and averaged 5 ppg. I don't really think it's a "level of competition" issue, either, since he was 3/8 from deep with 13 pts against SJU, but then just 1/4 from deep with 6 total points against BU two games later.

He's got the talent to be a mismatch against almost any defender. I really hope he puts it all together with an instinct to score, because he's a crucial piece of the team this year and next year.

 

[BoxStater]

Hit a key three late against Miami, which was good - but only went 1/5 that game from range. Since then, he's just 1 of 2 in 44 minutes - just two attempts. He didn't even attempt one against Wisconsin - which is only the second time he's failed to attempt a 3 when seeing the court for more than 7 min.

Really think it's all in his head - he's just not looking for his shot, and he's not being aggressive with the ball. He seems content to play tough defense, then pass/dribble the ball around the perimeter. Even when he posts up, he's been passing the ball right back out - even when he's got a ton of height on his defender.

First three games of the season (FDU/Drexel/SJU) he was 10/18 (.556) from range and averaged 13 ppg. Next five games (EMU/BU/Miami/MSU/Wisc) he was 4/15 (.267) from range and averaged 5 ppg. I don't really think it's a "level of competition" issue, either, since he was 3/8 from deep with 13 pts against SJU, but then just 1/4 from deep with 6 total points against BU two games later.

He's got the talent to be a mismatch against almost any defender. I really hope he puts it all together with an instinct to score, because he's a crucial piece of the team this year and next year.

Agreed, he needs to have a similar mentality for offense that he has for defense.

And the team needs to work harder to generating better looks for their shooters, but like last year it’s pretty clear that when we drive to the basketball, there won’t be a pass to an open shooter.

And I think the coaching staff has a role in fixing that issue.

 

[dkostus]

Agreed, he needs to have a similar mentality for offense that he has for defense.

And the team needs to work harder to generating better looks for their shooters, but like last year it’s pretty clear that when we drive to the basketball, there won’t be a pass to an open shooter.

And I think the coaching staff has a role in fixing that issue.

There's been a huge increase in kickouts to perimeter shooters. They still may be missing some, but if anything a few games ago we were too eager to make the extra pass. Maybe they've over corrected, maybe its tougher versus B1G comp, but not fair to say its anywhere close to last year where Thiam would be standing wide open while Freeman shot NJ over multiple defenders in the post.

 

[BigEastPhil]

Per Coach Hobbs: getting Thiam much more involved in the offense is a big objective as well as concern of the coaching staff and thus I expect to see Thiam with many opportunities and to score in double digits on Saturday vs Fordham. Furthermore, he is the the gym rat of the team putting more time in at practice than everyone. Good things happen to kids who practice their asses off and thus I expect to see some terrific things from Issa very shortly.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

In the tougher games the ball has stuck more in the hands of Eugene and Baker. I can't recall Issa really touching the ball in the Wisconsin. That all isnt on him. Some is.

He isnt the point guard so he is partially reliant on others for his opportunities

 

[Mr Magoo]

I think most people were hoping that Thiam would take the next step in his development and become more assertive...especially with the ball in his hands. A shot-fake and a drive-by would work wonders for him since you have to respect his shot. However, he looks very uncomfortable putting the ball on the floor.

 

[RUChoppin]

I think most people were hoping that Thiam would take the next step in his development and become more assertive...especially with the ball in his hands. A shot-fake and a drive-by would work wonders for him since you have to respect his shot. However, he looks very uncomfortable putting the ball on the floor.

The thing is, when he's actually done that - put the ball on the floor after a shot fake to get a closer shot, or drove to the hoop from the perimeter- he's looked good doing it. He just doesn't seem comfortable *deciding* to do it yet. I really believe the skills are there - it's just the confidence in them that's not fully there yet.

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

Start Carter.

 

[Scangg]

Hit a key three late against Miami, which was good - but only went 1/5 that game from range. Since then, he's just 1 of 2 in 44 minutes - just two attempts. He didn't even attempt one against Wisconsin - which is only the second time he's failed to attempt a 3 when seeing the court for more than 7 min.

Really think it's all in his head - he's just not looking for his shot, and he's not being aggressive with the ball. He seems content to play tough defense, then pass/dribble the ball around the perimeter. Even when he posts up, he's been passing the ball right back out - even when he's got a ton of height on his defender.

First three games of the season (FDU/Drexel/SJU) he was 10/18 (.556) from range and averaged 13 ppg. Next five games (EMU/BU/Miami/MSU/Wisc) he was 4/15 (.267) from range and averaged 5 ppg. I don't really think it's a "level of competition" issue, either, since he was 3/8 from deep with 13 pts against SJU, but then just 1/4 from deep with 6 total points against BU two games later.

He's got the talent to be a mismatch against almost any defender. I really hope he puts it all together with an instinct to score, because he's a crucial piece of the team this year and next year.

To be fair the entire team's shooting stats would look way worse minus the first two games. We need basically everyone to step it up from deep as the shooting has really fallen off after the hot start

 

[JQRU91]

In the tougher games the ball has stuck more in the hands of Eugene and Baker. I can't recall Issa really touching the ball in the Wisconsin. That all isnt on him. Some is.

He isnt the point guard so he is partially reliant on others for his opportunities

If I remember correctly, after his initial score, Thiam looked for them to give him the ball on the next possession. When he didn't get it, he kind of disappeared on offense.