Malcolm Bernard *sad trombone*
- Thread starter SFspidur
- Start date
So in the interest of trying to bring this topic back around to the title thread (Malcolm Bernard for those who forgot), I don't get the impression he's a low post/back to basket type guy, but if he has that skillset, I do think there's a decent chance he plays a little bit of PF/4 role for us. Seems like he's really a SF type though, which means there's some battle for that spot which I deem as open. Probably comes down to him, Nick, and possibly Marshall depending on what happens at the PF spot.
I don't think Bernard is a back to the basket guy either. more like a Jamaal Scott guard/forward type, scorer not shooter.
we're small if he's playing the 4, but if he's playing the 3 then we're expecting a lot from Golden/Wood/Friendshuh or the 12th guy.
Hopefully Malcolm will have the opportunity to play summer ball on the European trip. Good chance for him to become acclimated with his new teammates and also for the coaches to see where he sits within the rotation.
Agreed, that's kind of my impression too. I guess this is why I'm still expecting (perhaps stupidly) a lot of time from Grant. I see PF as our backup to TJ, and I don't see MW as a true PF/4 type, he's more the stretch 4 you indicated, although even with that naming convention, it means when he's out there, we aren't real strong inside. I have no idea if Grant is strong inside, but I guess I'm expecting that he may have to be the big opposite TJ for significant stretches of the game.
I think he'll give us a little bit of a different look and hopefully bring some enthusiasm that's been much needed. I don't think he's a guy we would have recruited normally, and that's a good thing in this case, as far as I'm concerned. Maybe he'll be an injection of something different.
He had a ton of assists, but a ton of turnovers too (3.5 per game, 22%). Turnovers hurt a lot more than assists help. Hopefully he does what Wood did here and reduces his turnover rate a ton (23% to 11%).
Probably had a lot asked of him on a bad team. Trying to make things happen will cause turnovers. He will more of a specific roll player with us. Hopefully some defense and slashing to the basket.
TBone, the things you have listed here are certainly not crazy, the ideas make a lot of sense. However, just because an idea makes sense does not mean it is correct. For example many people believe that the reason we have summer is because the earth is closer to the sun (making it hotter) and the reason we have winter is because the earth is farther away (making it colder). The hypothesis sounds completely reasonable, completely logical, and makes a lot of sense, but it is actually incorrect. We are actually closer to the sun during our winter.
The only evidence I have seen supporting the three points you make above is that they sound reasonable. To me our team's stats seem to directly refute the idea that playing '3 on 5' (or having TJ and TA double teamed due to playing '3 on 5') reduced our effectiveness in the post, increased turnovers, or caused our defense to be worse. It seems to me that much like the hypothesis for the origin of the seasons I shared above, the hypotheses you listed fall into this category of ideas that sound good but upon closer inspection are not supported (and are perhaps refuted) by the data. However, I do agree that if we had better players we would have preformed better.
On offense I think we could/would/should have had better 3pt shooting, free throw shooting, and foul drawing, but I highly doubt we could have had significantly better 2pt shooting or turnover rate with better players. With better players we could easily improve on all aspects of defense, but this improvement would more likely be due to having better talent and execution, not due to players being less tired since they are no longer double teamed on offense.
We are never going to know what could have been if we had better players, we are never going to know who is right and wrong in this argument (maybe we both are, or maybe neither of us?). But hey, it is the off season and we have 7 more months until the games start again, we have to talk about something.
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Since we have to talk about something during the offseason, while our location may be closer to the sun during winter in comparison to our location in summer in an absolute sense, are we not closer to the sun during summer in comparison to locations that are not in summer at the same time? This is how I interpret "tilting on the axis toward the sun"? And let's not even mention Mercury...
As to defensive performance, I feel there are at least 3 aspects to success, ability, fatigue, and communication. We will see how much we have found a way to improve all three.
I think the only number about what I care about 5 on 3 with magic defense players and weak iffensededense substitutions and wait too long to make the change in season is ... We just could not make that work to WIN .
I think we have strong freshmen who can play now. So WILL they get the chance early or do we waste more rhan half a season , dig the hole , scramble the eggs , and say ine more time CLOSE CLOSE CLOSE to winning yesyesyes?
I think we have strong freshmen who can play now. So WILL they get the chance early or do we waste more rhan half a season , dig the hole , scramble the eggs , and say ine more time CLOSE CLOSE CLOSE to winning yesyesyes?
Fair enough, obviously I can't disprove the negative. I suspect that statistics might bear out higher offensive efficiency when TD/DT were out of the game than when they were in, but that's some pretty heavy data mining. It's also not at all relevant since it's in the past and I care entirely about how we shape up for next year, specifically, who the hell is going to be our "other" forward.
More importantly, when did we not become the center of the universe?
I think part of the issue here that doesn't show itself right away in the really positive offensive stats is how bad we were at scoring points at the line. If you get fouled while attempting a shot and you miss the shot, it doesn't count as a miss. We missed a lot of bunnies that way, but we they don't count against our shooting percentage. But then we also were terrible at scoring points from the FT line. We were 200+ in free throws attempted per game and 263 in points from the FT line per game (13.4).
So we need to get better at drawing fouls AND converting free throws. I suspect had we been even a tiny bit better at those things this year, we would have gotten to 20 wins.
So we need to get better at drawing fouls AND converting free throws. I suspect had we been even a tiny bit better at those things this year, we would have gotten to 20 wins.
I agree, we were 308th in the country in FT% and 213th in drawing fouls. Improving in both these categories would improve our offensive performance. Performing at the national average in both areas would directly increase our points scored by ~1.5 points per game and performing both at an elite level (in the top 10% of all programs) would increase our scoring by ~4 points per game. There could be indirect benefits as well, such as getting opponents in foul trouble, which could have caused an even greater increase in scoring.
However, I maintain that the best way to win more games with a team like ours last year would be to fix the horrible defense, not try to squeeze even more out of the offense. If we had the same FG% defense as the previous year teams would have scored ~6 less points against us on average.
I agree, we had the offensive talent this year to overcome 3 on 5 on the offensive end. I think we all agree we didn't have that same talent on the defensive end. We should still be scoring in the mid 70's next year, but need to keep opponents from doing that also. Looking forward to seeing what we have.
We certainly didn't lose anything in the way of defensive talent to graduation, so that is a plus. Terry Allen did grabs some boards for us, but I think he was conserving energy a lot of the time to carry his heavy burden on offense. Trey and Deion really didn't do anything on defense other than be slightly less bad than they were on offense.
Khwan is a good defender, TJ has some issues but I think he has a craftiness about him, Marshall is a good rebounder but has terrible foot movement, especially on the perimeter. SDJ doesn't really do anything terrible on defense but nothing really well either. I think Julius has potential to be a plus defender.
Khwan is a good defender, TJ has some issues but I think he has a craftiness about him, Marshall is a good rebounder but has terrible foot movement, especially on the perimeter. SDJ doesn't really do anything terrible on defense but nothing really well either. I think Julius has potential to be a plus defender.
Per John O'Connor notes it sounds like Bernard still has to finish up at FAMU. While he wouldn't be the first grad transfer to complete degree requirements in the summer & it doesn't sound like much cause for concern, something to keep eye on.
http://www.richmond.com/sports/article_f41edebd-c75a-5609-989c-8fde2745d9d2.html
http://www.richmond.com/sports/article_f41edebd-c75a-5609-989c-8fde2745d9d2.html
I didn't see a link w/ this interview with Malcolm so here it is -
SH: Why Richmond?
MB: I chose Richmond because I clicked with the staff and players. I thought it was a great opportunity to do something special. The year before they made the NIT and had a lot of success. This year I felt they’re neutral, and that I could come in help contribute to make this team really good.
SH: Which players did you hang out with during you’re visit?
MB: I met just about everybody. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet any of the incoming freshman.
SH: How long did it take for the staff to come in contact with you?
MB: I spoke to them a couple days after. They had requested for my permission to speak form. Right after that we got into it.
SH: What role do you see yourself playing here?
MB: I think I’ll play a big role just being a grad transfer. Most grad transfers main job is to play a big role. I have to earn everything and prove to everyone that I deserve to be here.
SH: Any players you like to model your game after?
MB: I would say I like to play like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. I like certain parts of their game. I like how James Harden gets to the rim, I like how Kawhi Leonard he shoots the stand still three, posts up, and plays defense. I think of myself I’m a playmaker.
SH: Do you see yourself as more of a 3 or a 4? Your strengths? Weaknesses?
MB: I see myself as whatever coach wants me to be, whether that’s the 3,4,2, or 1. I’ll let y’all decide what my strengths and weaknesses are.
SH: Did the staff give you the indication that you would start?
MB: Oh yeah, I’ll definitely get the opportunity. I just need to come in and set the tone and I’ll be fine.
SH: When do you plan on getting on campus?
MB: I’m planning on getting on campus as early as June 17th, June 20th in that range. There are many different ways we can go about this, so we’re just trying to get it done as fast as possible.
SH: You’re the first grad-transfer in UR history, any pressure?
MB: No pressure, it’s a blessing to be the first. I really humbled to be apart of the Spider history. I’m just going to go out there and set it off right. I want to do good so if they wanted to get another grad-transfer in the future they wouldn’t have a bad reputation with grad-transfers.
SH: Any goals you have set already for yourself?
MB: I want to be the best. I want to have a great year, one of the best years in Spider history.
SH: Do you know anything about the freshman class?
MB: I heard about them. I heard that they’re very good and fit well into the system. I look forward to playing with them and having a time to remember with them.
SH: Anything you’d like to say the Spider faithful?
MB: See you guys in the NCAA tournament.
https://spiderhoops.com/2016/05/14/qa-with-malcolm-bernard/
SH: Why Richmond?
MB: I chose Richmond because I clicked with the staff and players. I thought it was a great opportunity to do something special. The year before they made the NIT and had a lot of success. This year I felt they’re neutral, and that I could come in help contribute to make this team really good.
SH: Which players did you hang out with during you’re visit?
MB: I met just about everybody. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet any of the incoming freshman.
SH: How long did it take for the staff to come in contact with you?
MB: I spoke to them a couple days after. They had requested for my permission to speak form. Right after that we got into it.
SH: What role do you see yourself playing here?
MB: I think I’ll play a big role just being a grad transfer. Most grad transfers main job is to play a big role. I have to earn everything and prove to everyone that I deserve to be here.
SH: Any players you like to model your game after?
MB: I would say I like to play like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. I like certain parts of their game. I like how James Harden gets to the rim, I like how Kawhi Leonard he shoots the stand still three, posts up, and plays defense. I think of myself I’m a playmaker.
SH: Do you see yourself as more of a 3 or a 4? Your strengths? Weaknesses?
MB: I see myself as whatever coach wants me to be, whether that’s the 3,4,2, or 1. I’ll let y’all decide what my strengths and weaknesses are.
SH: Did the staff give you the indication that you would start?
MB: Oh yeah, I’ll definitely get the opportunity. I just need to come in and set the tone and I’ll be fine.
SH: When do you plan on getting on campus?
MB: I’m planning on getting on campus as early as June 17th, June 20th in that range. There are many different ways we can go about this, so we’re just trying to get it done as fast as possible.
SH: You’re the first grad-transfer in UR history, any pressure?
MB: No pressure, it’s a blessing to be the first. I really humbled to be apart of the Spider history. I’m just going to go out there and set it off right. I want to do good so if they wanted to get another grad-transfer in the future they wouldn’t have a bad reputation with grad-transfers.
SH: Any goals you have set already for yourself?
MB: I want to be the best. I want to have a great year, one of the best years in Spider history.
SH: Do you know anything about the freshman class?
MB: I heard about them. I heard that they’re very good and fit well into the system. I look forward to playing with them and having a time to remember with them.
SH: Anything you’d like to say the Spider faithful?
MB: See you guys in the NCAA tournament.
https://spiderhoops.com/2016/05/14/qa-with-malcolm-bernard/
The problem with posting that interview here is that you may deny the creator of SpiderHoops.com, a loyal Spider and frequent poster on this board, from adding additional subscribers to a forum which he has worked so hard by himself to create and fund. It's only $7 a month to join and has the potential of being a source of much additional information and commentary about Spider BB.
It is not my intention to chasten you for posting the interview, but I want the site to grow and prosper and I suspect the needed monthly fees may be reduced by so posting. I would guess that the $7 per month barely covers his cost and certainly not his time. I would be interested to hear his thoughts.
BTW, I am a member and read this interview a week or so ago. I decided against posting it here for the foregoing reason. Apparently, you are a member as well. If so, I applaud your decision to join. The site is in its infancy, but could really grow into something special, especially with our participation.
It appears if I click on the home page then the Q&A I view it without a subscription, so it could actually increase subscriptions by posting it here.
Or maybe I am missing something?
It was a free article, no worries. I really appreciate the support. I'm doing it out of the love for Spider basketball and I'm just trying to provide content that isn't out there. The subscription costs helps fund the site and will help enhance the site in the near future. If any of y'all have questions feel free to ask.
When I talked to Malcolm over the phone I got the impression that he is a very smart kid. I think he just has to finish up some classes. I hope this gets done ASAP.
I thought next round of completed FAMU classes posted 2 weeks from Friday (6/17)?
Their summer "A" term has last day of classes/exams on June 17. Grades don't come out until almost a week later. Even so, summer graduates don't get their degrees until August 5th after the "B" term is over, so wouldn't that mean he couldn't move on until that date?
Looks like Marquis and Malcolm talk on Twitter regularly, good to see a future Spider already close with the team.
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