First time I've heard of this website but I'm poking around a little. It seems the website really likes Muila's defense.
They put Muila's defense on a similar level to a Lucas Williamson, but obviously you can see his offense is a huge outlier. This is all of college basketball sorted by DBPR:
DBPR: Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating reflects the defensive value a player brings to his team when he is on the court. This rating incorporates a player's individual efficiency stats and on-court play-by-play impact, and also accounts for the defensive strength of other teammates on the floor with him, along with the offensive strength of the opponent's players on the floor. A higher rating is better.
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Unless there is something not seen Muila doesn't really pass the eye test defensively. I mean he wasn't terrible but was mediocre to average on a good night. Not a good rebounder either. He is a guy who should he the 2nd option off the bench on an average team but probably doesn't sniff the court for a good team. He shouldn't be starting for a D1 team.
Muila was actually an excellent rebounder last year. The main problem, and why his stats might be off the charts, is he only played 37.3% of possible minutes this year. Likely some of that is the staff being careful with him after multiple leg injuries in the past. I think there is a chance that he's a startable player if you can add enough offense around him. I think that's 2 impact transfers in the starting lineup along with Domask & Jones.
Unless there is something not seen Muila doesn't really pass the eye test defensively. I mean he wasn't terrible but was mediocre to average on a good night. Not a good rebounder either. He is a guy who should he the 2nd option off the bench on an average team but probably doesn't sniff the court for a good team. He shouldn't be starting for a D1 team.
Muila was actually an excellent rebounder last year. The main problem, and why his stats might be off the charts, is he only played 37.3% of possible minutes this year. Likely some of that is the staff being careful with him after multiple leg injuries in the past. I think there is a chance that he's a startable player if you can add enough offense around him. I think that's 2 impact transfers in the starting lineup along with Domask & Jones.
It's pretty simple: Muila is an above average defender and a way-below average offensive player. I like him as a 10-12 minute energy defender/rebounder off the bench. Will Ebube be ready to play major minutes/potentially start as a redshirt freshman? Staying out of foul trouble can be a real challenge for young big men, especially powerful ones like Ebube. Not sure what to make of Filewich's role going forward, if he elects to stay ... unfortunately, this past season was a step back in playing time and production.
And while Mullins has shown he's willing to play small for extended stretches without a big, to me, that only works well if you have dynamic scorers spacing the floor, and that was not the case with the Salukis this year. So you give up rebounding/interior defense and there wasn't really a reward on the offensive end.
@mr_woogers analytics have a place but I still believe in the eye test you can play or you can't intangibles and development can't be measured by analytics
Muila was actually an excellent rebounder last year. ... I think there is a chance that he's a startable player if you can add enough offense around him...
He averaged a bit over 4 rbs per game..in limited minutes. Definitely not a starter IMO. Must have a guy that's an offensive threat (Kavion Pippen) down low, and in spite of the entertainment value of JD's FT shooting (30%), he will never be an offensive threat.
Filewich has some offensive chops...needs to really improve on D.
I think Hornecker can develop into a Pippen-like player for us..maybe Ebube too.
Muila's obvious lack of offense is significantly magnified bc he is often paired on the floor with Banks who is not a good shooter and, too often, not a strong scorer. And then you add in to all too in consistent Verplacken and then you have 3 players who are not going to score. I don't mind having a defensive minded center but only when you have 4 other players that can easily score and right now this team only has 2 in Jones and Domask. The rest of the team surely can score but they simply don't do it consistently enough to warrant having a player at the 5 who isn't offensively gifted.
From what I have read and/or been told about Ebube is that he has a real knack for shot blocking. At 6-10 and 265 lbs. that would make him quite a stud in the MVC. (along with many other conferences)
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Muila was actually an excellent rebounder last year. ... I think there is a chance that he's a startable player if you can add enough offense around him...
He averaged a bit over 4 rbs per game..in limited minutes. Definitely not a starter IMO. Must have a guy that's an offensive threat (Kavion Pippen) down low, and in spite of the entertainment value of JD's FT shooting (30%), he will never be an offensive threat.
Filewich has some offensive chops...needs to really improve on D.
I think Hornecker can develop into a Pippen-like player for us..maybe Ebube too.
Hornecker and Ebube have completely different games. They will hopefully compliment each other and give us different choices at the 5, depending upon matchups. Hornecker is more of a stretch 5. He has range, a nice touch and is coordinated for his height. He is not much of a banger at this point, but did showcase decent low post footwork in HS. He will need to add a ton of strength. He may or may not be ready to contribute next year. Ebube is a banger! He doesn't have much range. He will be a rebounder, stick backer, shot blocker and rim protector. He had a long way to go footwork wise when he arrived last summer. That may be one of the main reasons he redshirted. For those of you entertaining Hornecker at the 4, I wouldn't expect that. He is not quick enough to guard smaller athletic mvc athletes that typically play the 4. I wouldn't be surprised if Ebube and Hornecker are in some way splitting most of the the minutes at the 5 in 2 years. I still expect Muila and Filewich to get some playing time next year, although the amount of time will hopefully be diminished by contributions from Ebube, and possibly Hornecker.
Good discussions. We will be so much stronger at the 5 next year. Foster Wonders will be a sniper. Just have to replace Coupet and what he brought to the table this year.
Good discussions. We will be so much stronger at the 5 next year. Foster Wonders will be a sniper. Just have to replace Coupet and what he brought to the table this year.
I still think bringing in a transfer PG who can break down defenses/create for others, and ideally also score a fair amount himself, has to be a high priority. But yes, finding a long/athletic wing with Coupet leaving is also important.
Excited about the upside of Ebube/Wonders, but some veteran additions who can be counted on right away would go a long way to improving this team.
I really think SIU is going to need to find two high impact transfers to compete next year. The ball-handling point guard that can run the offense has been mentioned all year but they really need more players that can be playmakers and create their own shot. SIU only has 1 open spot right now with Coupet leaving so there's going to have to be tough decisions made. I don't think you can just replace Coupet with a ball-handling point guard and add in 2 redshirts and a Freshman that haven't played college ball before and expect to be much better.
In a perfect world for me, this would be the starting lineup next year:
PG: Ball-handling transfer that can run the offense
SG: Jones
F: Domask
F: High-impact athletic transfer that can be Coupet's replacement
C: Muila (I'm fine with Muila starting and getting 20 minutes or so a game as long as there's more offense around him than last year)
Bench: Verplancken, Banks, D'Amico, Wonders, Ebube, Hornecker (if he doesn't redshirt), Brown (?), Filewich (?), Harvey (??????)
Unless there is something not seen Muila doesn't really pass the eye test defensively. I mean he wasn't terrible but was mediocre to average on a good night. Not a good rebounder either. He is a guy who should he the 2nd option off the bench on an average team but probably doesn't sniff the court for a good team. He shouldn't be starting for a D1 team.
Artistic FT shooting though!
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Per his instagram, Sekou Dembele is entering the transfer portal. No surprise here given SIU honored him for Senior Day. Wish him well.
Saw that Dalton posted on Instagram a pic of him wearing a sweatshirt with "Sconny" on it and with the caption "Nothing like home", and got nervous thinking he was announcing his transfer to a school with that nickname.
Turns out he must just be repping his home state (Sconny = Wisconsin?).
We need scoring. I would be good with an excellent point guard that can score. I would not be good with any point guard that can't score.
Not good with Muila starting if Ebube can swat flies inside and intimidate the other team. That would be awesome. Kpip was our last good shot blocker (68 blocks..compare to Prim 41)
Really hope Cade H. can score for us. Hope Foster is Wonderful from 3 pt land!