SGreenwell wrote: ↑2 years ago
Thomas absolutely should not start. Again, seven assists are nice, but he shot 0-for-8 with 0 FTAs. Sheppard's average game - like 3 or 4 assists and 10 or 11 points - is way more valuable, even if it doesn't seem as pretty or good to the eye. As frustrating as URI's recent stretch has been, it's not a coincidence that they lost the Richmond game by more than the others. I think Thomas has earned more time with his play, but he's essentially Stevie Mejia as a player right now.
Thomas Passing Ability
Thomas moves the ball and sees the court better similar to Jeff Dowtin and Tyler Kolek at Marquette. They see passes coming well in advance - like chess players. Great passers are a valued commodity by good coaches. Great passers make the other players around them better. Great passers get as much or more joy from a pass leading to a hoop than from scoring a hoop themselves. Thomas checks these boxes.
Take URI's toughest opponent this year by NET - PC.
- Thomas was +11 in 13.5 minutes. Highest on the team. Thomas was 2-2 FG, 0-2 FT, 1 reb, 3 assists and 0 TOs. He guarded his man well.
- Sheppard was -25 which was worst on the team. Sheppard 31 min, 3-13 FG, 0-5 on 3FGs, 4-4 FT, 4 reb, 2 assists, 1 TO.
- El-Amin -23 2nd worst on the team. El-Amin 22 min was 3-8 FG, 1-3 on 3FGs, 1 reb, 0 assists and 2 TOs
So Thomas in 13 minutes had 3 assists, 0 TO while Sheppard and El-Amin combined 53 minutes had combined only 2 assists and 3 TOs.
It's no wonder the team looked better with Thomas in than with Sheppard and El-Amin.
We played PC even for 35 minutes. We got crushed by Croswell when Cox took out Makhel and Makhi at the same time late in the 1st half with 5 minutes to go. PC won by 14 but 11 of those points came from Croswell's heroics - literally superman. Cox put in Illeri for Mitchell while Cooley countered with Minaya, Croswell and Watson. Game, Set, Match that fast in 4 minutes.
I was sitting about half court and PC fans all around me were impressed by Thomas. Guy next to me had coached Thomas at a younger age in summer basketball camp and was impressed with what he has become.
There is a good chance URI wins this game IF Cox did not put Illeri in the game late in the 1st half (He should have left 1 Mitchell in the game always - Monday am quarterbacking I know - but also know that Cox learned from that). Also, Thomas had played 30 minutes or more I think URI stands a good shot to have beaten PC.
Thomas Shooting
I posted the link to the David Cox Show last week - it's a good listen - highly recommend. Cox talked about how Thomas hits FTs and 3FG's in practices and he was not worried about Thomas' shooting performance. He said that his shooting in the games will come. I believe that 100%.
Sheppard as PG.
I really looked forward to Jeremy taking control this season. He was a big part of my 26-6 Obadiah prediction - still alive I might add. Jeremy has not claimed the leadership that a Jeff Dowtin exhibited. I hoped for more passing and more of a in-charge director of the offense approach. No problem, I was wrong, so just move Jeremy to SG where Thomas can get him the ball in good position to shoot.
Risk? What Risk?
Tammi Reiss moved Dolly Cairns, a sophomore, into the starting line up 5 games ago, replacing a 5th year senior Marta Vargas who was the last on the team to recover from Covid. Tammi said Dolly took the opportunity and ran with it. Tammi took the risk.
David Cox can do a similar thing here with Thomas. Give him the opportunity. See if he runs with it. Why is the worst that can happen? Sheppard and El-Amin are 5th year Seniors. Worst thing is Cox moves back to the same lineup he has had all year.
Thomas shows how he can find and feed the big men. All 7 of his assists went to Makhel, Makhi, Antwan and Malik vs Richmond. He knows how to get them involved. The big men will not go 1 on 1 as much because their moving without the ball to gain position will only increase if they know a guy like Thomas is in the game.
Freshmen vs Upperclassmen Risk
Much different game today than when Stevie Mejia played. I was actually glad when Mejia transferred to Hofstra. I don't see Thomas and Mejia similar at all.
It only took 1 game for 13 minutes of playing time for PC fans to see Thomas has talent and is special. Thomas was a spark of optimism that game.
Thomas said recently that a URI Assistant Coach told him "You know, you are making it difficult for us to Red-Shirt you". So the URI Coaching Staff saw something special in Thomas.
In today's game you need to play the talented guys enough minutes. I talked to Toppin's family and friends often while he was here. I knew Toppin wanted more minutes. DC_Rams told me he was getting the right minutes. I knew better from listening to those close to him. Toppin talked to some of those close to his brother and Kentucky came up. Of all the players for URI, Toppin his freshman year was the player I was most excited to watch. The guy I would buy a ticket to see the next year and the year after. We lost him, We lost Tyrese Martin. Some posters said don't let the door hit you on the way out. Some said Toppin would never play for Kentucky, some said Martin would not start at UCONN.
In today's game players are being watched more closely because of immediate eligibility. 1800 in the transfer portal next year.
Play Thomas and Leggett. They are the future.
Play now to win the A10 Tournament. Try different line ups, different amounts of playing time. This is like Spring Training. No NCAA At-Large is coming URI's way. The biggest Risk will be taking no Risks at all.
Thomas has seen what Kolek did. Thomas could end up at PC one day - wouldn't that be a hoot.