Alrighty, it's been a while since I've done one of these and that's a little bit intentional. Considering how tough the schedule was and how much volatility there has been with most of our guys and their performances from game to game, I wanted a little more data.
The biggest, "for instance" I can think of is AJ Hoggard, who most of our fanbase wanted to "throw the baby out with the bath water." I get it too, I really do. If you, as a fan, get too focused on how a guy is playing on ONLY one end of the floor and that looks bad enough, it's super easy to throw your hands up and say, "I'm done with this guy..."
Moving forward, as our team has done, we're getting better... much better. Byington and Staff have done a magical job of using our personnel to get very good at matchups. Both their scouting and in game adjustments are spot on but at times, a guy we've relied on feels like a no show when there might just be a matchup the coaches don't like. These guys are good.
Sitting at 20-9, 8-8 in the best Conference in the history of the Galaxy and with the #1 in Conference Schedule, it's pretty amazing and I think even the most optimistic among us didn't expect that this was what year 1 would look like. We're going to the NCAA Tournament and I'm going to do my absolute best to be there in person to support this group, cannot wait.
These rankings are a combination of what these guys HAVE done so far, but for the first time this season, I'm going to factor in what I see moving forward considering we're 29 games into a 31 game regular season.
Here goes:
1) Jason Edwards - I've spent an hour thinking about this and looking at SEC only stats in addition to season long stats. I have come to the conclusion that there is no substitute for penciling in 17 points per game. That's no small number but I think the most remarkable thing about Edwards is his ability to figure it out each and every night, even when he's shooting like shit and making bad decisions, at some point, he usually figures it out and puts some points on the board. Jason Edwards is a difference maker, his buckets always mean something and he is one hell of a competitor. Edwards is 6th in the SEC in scoring but what's even more impressive is he's doing it in 24.7 minutes per game. For comparison's sake, the rest of the Top 10 is averaging more than 31 minutes per game other than Broome who's at 29.3 mpg. Edwards is an absolute Microwave who shows up each night and works hard to give the team scoring. I think if we're going to make noise in March, Edwards has to continue to be a habitual bucket getter.
2) Devin McGlockton - This guy defies all logic and produces every single night out. Glock is undersized in almost every single matchup and still holds his ground and rebounds. Absolute crafty wizard around the rim, has figured out how to fill the stat sheet despite having very few balls come his way on offense that he didn't create on his own. Devin is 3rd in rebounding in the SEC in Conference games only, that's a magical stat considering he is only playing 25 minutes per game. He's an incredible leader who brings fight, competitive nature and confidence to the gym every night. Moving him down from the top spot was hard to do and I'm not sure I'm right in doing so but it's probably more of a 1a and 1b at this point.
3) AJ Hoggard - AJ brings his body every night, he brings his defense every night, and he tries his best to win every single night. He went through a stretch where he sort of lost his shot and started making a few more bad decisions but when he's good, he's the best player on the court. When AJ isn't at his best, for the majority of the season, he has brought defense and assists even if the scoring has been muted at times. Hoggard is 3rd in assists at 4.8 per game in the SEC behind Zakai Ziegler and Mark Sears, that's telling. Body language has been a bit of an issue for him at times this year, but I do feel like Byington is a good fit and mentor so I think there has been an overall upward trend there. I'm glad he came here, and quite frankly, even though we only get him for a year and the fact that he has been an enigma at times, AJ Hoggard is a Commodore. We ridin' with this guy!
4) Tyler Nickel - Nickel is now shooting 40.8% for the year from behind the arc. Tyler Nickel is 3rd in the SEC in 3 pt shooting at 44.1% for conference only games, remarkable improvement throughout the year. He's shooting 82.6% from the free throw line, that's been a big factor in us being able to close out games. Big #5 has the ability to change every game we play and when he's making triples, we become extremely difficult to defend. Tyler is a very important player for us, I think we're 13-2 now when he hits 3 or more 3's. He's not a good defender or rebounder, but like most of the guys on this team, he gives great effort from the opening tip to the last whistle and that translates to helping his team win in any way possible.
5) Chris Manon - Over the last three games, Manon has averaged 15 ppg, 8 rbs, 2.7 steals per game, 2 blocks and 1.3 assists pg. Manon was a madman at Cornell, an All Conference level player who only played 20 minutes per game and I think he's starting to figure out how to bring his level up to the speed and pace required to be a difference maker. Remarkable how well he's played and if this isn't just a flash, we become impossible to guard. We don't need 15 and 8 from him every night but if Manon can just keep bringing that energy and level out every night, he's just another dude you have to account for. It needs to be said that Chris Manon has been the best player on the team for the last 3 games, all of which were wins over top 25 teams.
6) Jaylen Carey - Jaylen has been a beast this year, at times the best player on the floor and if he can figure out how to bring it every night out, he is an All SEC level player. I'm not sure that ever happens because I think there are certain matchups that he has trouble with but he won't back down and if he can't produce offense, he fights for rebounds and defends as hard as he can. Carey plays within the offense and is a plus passer who is always good for a dime or two.
7) Tyler Tanner - Even at 7, Tanner is a super important player for us. Tanner doesn't have to score a lot because of his defense, ball handling and passing are there every night and having a reliable backup point guard is a huge part of having a successful team. Depending on matchups, Tanner can be the best point guard on the floor for either team. I see Tyler beginning to gain some confidence that he is allowed and even encouraged to use his speed and quickness to create more offense for this team. Tanner has a high ceiling but he still has to learn how to be a catch and shoot shooter as well as somebody who will eventually be able to create for himself. I can promise you that he's working on catching and shooting every day and if that happens to click at all this season, it unlocks another level for this team.
8) MJ Collins Jr - This guy helps us win on the defensive end mostly, where he is often tasked with guarding one of the top two guys and he usually does a very good job. Collins gave us 16 in a win over A&M and 7 vs Ole Miss and Mizzou, so he's starting to bring it a little more. If we get offense from MJ, we usually have a good chance to win. Collins is another max effort guy and a brings fight out every night.
9) Grant Huffman - Huffman has had a rough year from the first Mizzou game on, but he's been showing signs of life. GTA is starting to steal the ball again and even had 5 big points vs A&M and played almost the last 10 minutes in a huge road win in College Station. Huffman still knows how to play basketball but the coaches will be playing him according to situations and matchups from here on out. I don't think we've heard the last from him.
10) JQ Roberts - JQ didn't get a spot in the last rankings but after one of the better individual performances of the year relative to expectations he's back in and he was incredible at Texas A&M. Our 2 bigs were in foul trouble and Byington asked him for 1 good minute, instead JaQualon gave his team 8 great minutes down the stretch and was a huge reason we won that game.
We have, at minimum, 4 more games with these guys, but I'm hoping for 8. Not sure what's possible but when you have a lot of high character guys, a team full of fighters, you learn not to count those types of teams out.
LFG!
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