Matt Thomas off the Bench

[AnotherClone]

Brendan O'Meara of Bleacher Report had Matt ranked as his 7th best player coming off the bench in college basketball right now. I know it's Bleacher Report, but either way it's good recognition.

Here's the link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ayers-in-college-basketball-in-2014-15/page/5

 

[Luth4Cy]

Most people disagree and that's fair but Matt's better than some give him credit for.

 

[EYEoftheSTORM]

Most people disagree and that's fair but Matt's better than some give him credit for.

lol and Hok fans think he will be the next Cyclone to transfer... Silly fans

 

[Rabbuk]

I think he's started turning the corner a little bit.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

I like Thomas and think he is a good player but this list is a joke if they think there is only one UK bench player better than Matt.

 

[AMarner32]

He needs to be more consistent, but the talent has always been there and that's clear to anyone who's watched ISU play over the last year and a half.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Hope that turns out to be true. We could use another shooter and Matt is the best candidate.

 

[bigdaddykane]

Needs to up his defense imo

 

[AMarner32]

Needs to up his defense imo

To me it seems like he's very reliant on help defense even if he doesn't need to rely on it. He loves forcing his guy baseline and he expects help to be there (which it should be) but when guys have to rotate, the whole defense has to be together and few teams, college or pro, are excellent at that. Most of the time it looks like Matt could probably keep up with his guy if he just chose to focus on playing 1 on 1, but he relies so much on help defense.

 

[MattSquires]

To me it seems like he's very reliant on help defense even if he doesn't need to rely on it. He loves forcing his guy baseline and he expects help to be there (which it should be) but when guys have to rotate, the whole defense has to be together and few teams, college or pro, are excellent at that. Most of the time it looks like Matt could probably keep up with his guy if he just chose to focus on playing 1 on 1, but he relies so much on help defense.

This seems to the misconception with Matt's defense. Granted, he's had some lapses, but he's not just a traffic cone out there.

 

[GrindingAway]

To me it seems like he's very reliant on help defense even if he doesn't need to rely on it. He loves forcing his guy baseline and he expects help to be there (which it should be) but when guys have to rotate, the whole defense has to be together and few teams, college or pro, are excellent at that. Most of the time it looks like Matt could probably keep up with his guy if he just chose to focus on playing 1 on 1, but he relies so much on help defense.

I think it's pretty clear on the wing that the defensive philosophy on the wing is to force the drive baseline into help. Matt's not the only one that does it.

 

[clone52]

I think it's pretty clear on the wing that the defensive philosophy on the wing is to force the drive baseline into help. Matt's not the only one that does it.

It makes sense. If the team philosophy is to force buys baseline, then the help defense knows where it needs to be, instead of having to be prepared for help defense on the baseline and in the middle.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

I think it's pretty clear on the wing that the defensive philosophy on the wing is to force the drive baseline into help. Matt's not the only one that does it.

But he is one of the worst we have at applying it.

We have had a lot of subpar defenders the past 10+ years, but he does cause a lot of open shots for guys he is not defending.

 

[Wesley]

This seems to the misconception with Matt's defense. Granted, he's had some lapses, but he's not just a traffic cone out there.

He has had more troubles stickling with his player than any of our other guards. That does not mean he does not rebound well because he does.

 

[AMarner32]

I think it's pretty clear on the wing that the defensive philosophy on the wing is to force the drive baseline into help. Matt's not the only one that does it.

Oh I know, I was just saying that I think he can be a good defender, but he overplays his guy. Forcing his guy baseline is the right thing to do, but sometimes it looks like he's willing to get beat. You should ALWAYS try to stay in front of your man, help is there as a backup.