Chicago State

We are not very physically strong as a team, maybe tough enough except for that.

Jacobs is pretty damn tough. He handles most one on one very well. Sellers is tough enough, too. Bumb is tough just not very big....Coleman is drawing some tough assignments, isn't real quick but strong enough.

Our team defense has at times been very tough. It's not soft. But we can be beat one on one in isolation except Sellers and Jacobs.

I'm impressed at times with Pearson, and Jihad recently has been good. Windham, Sparks just aren't good defenders.

On offense, we're pretty good. Sparks can't hit FT but has become a good passer. Everyone else playing pretty well on that end.

While I’d like to see more from Sparks, he draws a lot of attention which opens up other players. He passes the ball very well. jihad has become a nice option and appears to be getting better every game. Our guard/forward play is looking pretty darn good. This team hustles and creates plays. They are real fun to watch. They energize you for Ball State basketball. Now comes the real tests - MACtion! Opening at Toledo will be a BIG test. Loving the way this team is playing and the way they are being coached.

We are, except for Sparks, pretty quick.

Pearson, Jihad are moving well and even beat people on offense. Better than I expected.

Adding Owens helps on defense against quick guards and he's a pest against bigger guards.

Windham still has trouble on D, but is a dangerous scorer. With Jihad improved, our bench may be OK. Bumb is a steady hand, moves the ball, hustle player, but just has to find his shot if he wants PT.

I don’t get the “put the ball low and shuffle around the basket” move. I really don't think I have ever seen him try to dribble or step back and shoot a 5’er. It’s either a layup or a foul.
MAC Teams are going to make him prove he can hit FTs.

FYI.  Sparks is .500 on 3's and .470 on FTs

A quick glance at last year's stats:  Sparks was a .703 shooter from the line.  That is Big Boy acceptable.  Something has changed

After looking at his stats, perhaps I was being too hard on Sparks. It's just that he isn't the most graceful looking player on the court. I think the FT's are also jading us. His season stats to date:
13.5 PPG
8 RPG
61.8% FG
2 APG (27 total)
Only 20 turnovers - that one surprises me, as it seems like he turns it over a lot more than that
47/100 FT's is the glaring weakness. He looks extremely awkward at the line. We are shooting 76.3% FT as a team if you take out Sparks' numbers, but 67.6% with his numbers.

Coleman is the one with an iffy stat line. He has improved the turnover numbers as of late, but he is not a great shooter by any means. Some of this could be shored up with better shot selection. His stats to date:
13.3 PPG
5 RPG
35.9% 3FG
37% FG
83.8% FT
almost 3 TO per game, but at least he has more assists than turnovers (46:37 Assists to turnovers)

Sellers stat line is just so efficient and impressive (all in only 28 minutes per game):
14.4 PPG
4.3 RPG
58.3% 3FG
54.1% FG
80.7% FT (on 57 attempts - 2nd most on team)
Pretty light on assists and defensive stats, and he does have more turnovers than assists (10:15).
Sellers is quite honestly the only legit outside shooter we have on the team.

Some other noteworthy stats:
57.9% FG - Pearson
57.1% FG - Jihad (he seems to be improving at a rapid pace)
55.3% FG (but only 30.8% 3FG) - Jacobs
24 Blocks - Jacobs (he has an amazing knack for this, but his length certainly helps)
71.4% FT (25/35) - Jihad (in just 13 MPG)
17.9% FG - Bumbalough
175:164 Assists to turnovers for the team is not where Lewis wants to be, but at least we are on the + side. We don't have guards who can handle tight defensive pressure very well, as evidenced by the last two games.

One recent observation: I'm not so sure Coleman likes to pass the ball to Sellers. I will keep watching this one as the season wears on to see if this is accurate or just my perception based on a couple of possessions or games.

It will be very interesting to compare MAC stats to OOC stats at season's end.