I just hope he stays for one more year...........if he is thought of as the #1 PG, guessing he might bolt for the NBA. Although if he is a lottery pick, that has to help recruiting.
Seth Greenberg: Monte Morris #1 PG
- Thread starter CyFan61
- Start date
I think it's pretty likely that he's barely in the top 10 for most scouts. Needs to get stronger then he'll be ready. Bet he jumps after his JR year.
To be fair, did he really say Monte doesn't play defense? I heard him say "Iowa State doesn't play defense yet," which, if you watched our game against a bad Southern team, isn't too far from the truth.
When Jay Williams made his comments, my impression was that he didn't see Monte as a shut down defender. I think that Monte's "D" if very good this year and a lot more consistent possession to possession than last year.
I also didn't think Williams was dogging on Monte as much as justifying the difference in his list compared to Greenberg's list. As we get into conference play, more and more people will get to see Monte's talents.
Player A: PPG 11.2, RPG 4.1, APG 5.8, BPG 0.9, SPG 1.8, TOPG 0.9.
Player B: PPG 11.2, RPG 4.5, APG 4.2, BPG 0.2, SPG 2.3, TOPG 2.2.
Which would you take?
Player A is Morris this year. Player B is Rajon Rondo in his last year at Kentucky. Rondo was taken 21st overall in 2006.
Player B: PPG 11.2, RPG 4.5, APG 4.2, BPG 0.2, SPG 2.3, TOPG 2.2.
Which would you take?
Player A is Morris this year. Player B is Rajon Rondo in his last year at Kentucky. Rondo was taken 21st overall in 2006.
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Player A: PPG 11.2, RPG 4.1, APG 5.8, BPG 0.9, SPG 1.8, TOPG 0.9. (48%/27%/71%)
Player B: PPG 11.2, RPG 4.5, APG 4.2, BPG 0.2, SPG 2.3, TOPG 2.2. (48%/27%/57%)
Player C: PPG 15.3, RPG 4.5, APG 6.6, BPG 0.0, SPG 2.4, TOPG 2.8 (44%/47%/84%)
I've added a player C for reference. He was drafted #4 and is smaller than either Rondo or Morris.
ADDING: Hopefully the percentages for Monte align with last years (40% from 3 and 84% from the line) as the season progresses. The similarity between his season and Rondo's sophomore season is eerie.
Player B: PPG 11.2, RPG 4.5, APG 4.2, BPG 0.2, SPG 2.3, TOPG 2.2. (48%/27%/57%)
Player C: PPG 15.3, RPG 4.5, APG 6.6, BPG 0.0, SPG 2.4, TOPG 2.8 (44%/47%/84%)
I've added a player C for reference. He was drafted #4 and is smaller than either Rondo or Morris.
ADDING: Hopefully the percentages for Monte align with last years (40% from 3 and 84% from the line) as the season progresses. The similarity between his season and Rondo's sophomore season is eerie.
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Our lack of D isn't from Monte's play, it's from our style of play and lack of interior D, although Niang is very improved from his first two years on D. I think on the perimeter we are actually a very good defensive team with BDJ, Naz and Monte, we were last year as well with Kane but this year Monte and Naz are better.
College basketball is such a variety of play compared to the NBA give the ELEVEN second slower shot clock. You have teams that are actually HAPPY with offensive performances in the 50s. Scoring between 75-100 points a game ISU is not going to hold teams in the 40s or even 50s. Our defense can surely get better, but we could become a top 25 team in adjusted defensive efficiency and some would still look at the points given up and not give our D credit.
Tomorrow will be the first time an ISU team under Fred has truly had depth in big men. That alone should help the interior D.
Paul was seen as about the most 'can't-miss' pure point guard in the draft during my time of being an NBA fan since the late 80s too. Was expected to star in the NBA on day one and did.
Not sure if his offense is where it needs to be for the NBA to get drafted in the lottery. Definitely think he has the tools to get there he just isn't needed to score and take over offensively for this team. Another year at least to get stronger would really benefit him and put him in the spotlight. Marcus Paige was thought of as a solid player last year but hit some big shots and put his team on his back toward the end of last year and was then thought of as a star. Let's just appreciate him while we have him and hope we get another yr out of him at least.
I want him to stay all four years, but Monte is a much better free throw shooter and jump shooter right now than Rajon Rondo has ever been in his career. Rondo is a permanent 60% ft shooter and 25% 3 pt shooter, his D, ball handling and passing make up for being a bad shooter, at times he's a laughably bad shooter.
I don't think the two are perfectly comparable, but they might be the closest I can think of looking at well known players of right now and the past 10 years or so.
Another thing about Monte, here's his shooting % from FR to Soph years:
2PT%: 45% to 58%
3PT%: 41% to 27%
FT %: 85% to 71%
2PT%: 45% to 58%
3PT%: 41% to 27%
FT %: 85% to 71%
I think we'll see his 3PT% level out to about 35% throughout his career. I think the 41% isn't what we should expect.
Agreed, 27% isn't what I expect either. He's should be about an 80% FT shooter as well.
The jump in 2PT% is interesting to me, especially since he's taking far more mid-range jumpers than I remember last year. The numbers back this up, he's taking almost 6 2PT FGs a game this year, and he averaged ~3 last year.
I also looked up John Stockton and BJ Armstrong's numbers, as mentioned comps for Monte. Their sophomore years were similar to Monte in points, but less assists and FAR more turnovers. I was somewhat surprised that both of them were 19-20 PPG scorers by their senior years. I don't see Monte making that jump next year, with all the fire power on that team, but I could see him taking over the primary scoring reins his senior year.
Oh, and EVERY pass-first point guard I looked up, be it Paul, Stockton, etc, all of them AVERAGED ~3 turnovers a game in college. 0.9 TOs as a point guard playing 35 minutes a game is just stupid.
Anecdotal but he's looked like a much better finisher so far this year. Also seems to be on the recieving end of fast break a lot more often to get some easier baskets.
I have noticed this year with Monte and BDJ that we seem to have more of a midrange game this season than in any previous Hoiberg year. I wonder if Fred is cool with that or if he is encouraging those guys to either go to the rim or dish to an open 3 shooter.