Should JuJuan Smith come off the bench?

**vol_freak** · 01-15-2007, 01:22 PM

I keep saying this season that I don't think JuJuan has the same spark that he had last season. He has seemed to struggle a lot more in several aspects of his game.

I have been thinking as of late that maybe he should come off the bench like he did last season. Maybe watching that first couple minutes of the game would allow him to get a feel for the flow of the game.

It could be that I just have too high expecations for JuJuan. Last season I thought he was one of the most exciting players on the team and I expected him to be a leader this season. For whatever reason, I don't think he's done that.

Much to my surprise, when I look up his stats compared to last year, he is playing better statistically in several categories:

Code:

          	2006    2007
FG%       	39.7%   42.1%
Reb       	3.1     4 
Points    	9.5     14.1
Steals		1.3	2.1

However, he is also playing worse in a few categories:

Code:

          	2006    2007
Assists		1.9	1.5
Turnovers	1.3	2.3	
3pt FG%		37.7	36.2

Thoughts?

utvol0427 · 01-15-2007, 01:24 PM

After the way he has played the past couple of games, I think that I would leave him on the bench the whole game. In all seriousness, I wouldn't mind to see Tabb start to get a few of Smith's minutes. Smith is a great set shooter, but is in capable of creating anything off of the dribble.

MphsBlues · 01-15-2007, 01:45 PM

I would like to see Tabb get more minutes, myself.

UT IE 95 · 01-15-2007, 01:56 PM

I think CBP needs to do something. JSmith started off the season strong - but I think a trend analysis on the above stats would show he is getting worse in most categories. Not sure what is going on, but the last several games, I have been cringing when he gets the ball on offense.

Maybe coming off the bench would be a change of pace he needs.

And I'm sure he leads the team in "stupid fouls".

utfantilidie · 01-15-2007, 02:02 PM

Stats seldom lie.Appears to be logical reasoning.Why not give it at least one try and see.
BTW, while the discussion is stats, what is our FT % this year compared to last year same time?

smokeyman15 · 01-15-2007, 02:13 PM

Well with more playing time comes more missed 3's and more TO's. You would think that his assists would go up. God idea though, Freak. Let Chism and Crews both start the game.

**vol_freak** · 01-15-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utfantilidie

Stats seldom lie.Appears to be logical reasoning.Why not give it at least one try and see.
BTW, while the discussion is stats, what is our FT % this year compared to last year same time?

I don't know what it was at this exact point last year but for the season we shot 70.1% in 05-06 and this year so far we are shooting 65.4%.

**vol_freak** · 01-15-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokeyman15

Well with more playing time comes more missed 3's and more TO's. You would think that his assists would go up. God idea though, Freak. Let Chism and Crews both start the game.

His minutes aren't up all that much. He played 24 minutes a game last season and is averaging 26.9 this season.

**orange+white=heaven** · 01-15-2007, 02:21 PM

I don't know his average minutes, but I get the sense that others are getting a fair amount of substitute minutes for Jajuan on the floor throughout the game. I'm still one who likes the idea, in this case, of the more veteran player opening up the game on the floor.

*posted before I saw the above RE:minutes...

utfantilidie · 01-15-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vol_freak

I don't know what it was at this exact point last year but for the season we shot 70.1% in 05-06 and this year so far we are shooting 65.4%.

In other words losses to Vandy and Ohio State.

cd12 · 01-15-2007, 02:37 PM

I don't think it matters if he starts or comes off the bench. I do know that if he doesn't score, we lose! He has been streaky and played out of control his whole life. I thought CP did a great job of controling him last year and has kind of turned him loose this year. CP just needs to reign him back in a little.

**vol_freak** · 01-15-2007, 02:43 PM

I agree that we really need his scoring.

MphsBlues · 01-15-2007, 03:04 PM

He came up big in the ETSU game and Tenn Tech game but let's see some good numbers in conference play.

**oklavol** · 01-15-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vol_freak

I keep saying this season that I don't think JuJuan has the same spark that he had last season. He has seemed to struggle a lot more in several aspects of his game.

Thoughts?

It was nice last year, when Jajuan was substituting for Lofton, since they have a similar game, shooting 3's.

BigPapaVol · 01-15-2007, 03:33 PM

We just need to get him some confidence back so he'll be aggressive. His is a very aggressive mindset and players like that struggle more than most when their confidence is shaken a little.