As we wait for football to heat up, it’s as good a time as any to analyze the coming basketball season. Over the next few weeks, we will analyze the logical rotation and depth chart, based on position. First up is what should be the Pack’s second-weakest position – point guard.
State had lots of problems last year, any one of which could have destroyed the season. If problem 1(a) was team chemistry (and no, we’re not talking about JJ envy), then problem 1(b) was PG play. I remember attending the Red/White game last fall, and feeling very optimistic about the coming season. Ben, Fells, Grant, and BC were a bit rusty (I didn’t worry about that at the time – big mistake), but I was really impressed by JJ Hickson and Farnold Degand. Degand was a fireball, speeding past defenders, running the floor, and finishing in the lane. He also played defense, which almost brought on tears of joy.
In retrospect, the Red/White game said more about our other players’ poor offseason conditioning and complete inability to play perimeter defense or stop dribble penetration than anything else. But you know what? Farnold wasn’t half bad running the offense. He did push the ball, confidently bring it up court, and play solid defense. He gave good effort when other players seemed to quit (see Michigan State debacle), and showed flashes of being a plus offensive player (see narrow win against South Carolina, when Farnold saved our bacon). Then he blew out his knee against Cincinnati, and a complete horror show followed.
Marques Johnson was a deer in headlights on offense, but at least played marginal defense. Javi Gonzalez could bring the ball past half-court adequately, but had trouble getting the offense initiated. He was also smaller and slower than almost every opposing PG, which meant he didn’t usually score much, and was absolutely abused on defense. One notable exception – he whipped Greg Paulus’ ass. Too bad most ACC point guards aren’t that small and slow. Combined, MJ and Javi were as bad (if not worse) than the “avert your eyes” combo of Fells and Grant, when Atsur was hurt the previous year.
Who should start? Farnold Degand, obviously. Some folks have suggested a “quick” lineup with Javi at PG, and Degand at SG (with Degand bringing the ball up on offense). To me, this seems absolutely insane. Sure, Degand shot a great percentage from 3 last year, but let me introduce you to the concept of sample size. Most of Degand’s shots were also of the wide open variety, given that scouting reports pegged him as a speedy penetrator who couldn’t shoot. Plus, I would rather have one very weak position (SG) than spread it out and being weak at both the 1 and the 2. Leave Degand at the point, and maybe we’ll get adequate production.
What should the rotation be? This is the million dollar question. Ideally, we would get 30-35 mpg from Farnold. Coming back off ACL surgery, that would risk burning him out. We would be completely sunk without a 90-100% Farnold for ACC play. Perhaps Javi (and to a lesser extent, freshman Julius Mays) can hold up against lesser competition enough to limit Farnold to a maximum of 25 mpg until January. I doubt Julius Mays will be strong enough with the ball (or fast enough defensively) to log minutes at the point against decent foes, absent injury or foul trouble. We have to find another position for MJ – he’s simply not a PG in any way, shape, or form.
Position Grade: C-
