Newman
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He is not that bad but he is not that good either, mostly due to his inconsistency and selfishness.
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@JayHawkFanToo I checked team stats, i like him.
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I don’t dislike him but I expected more from the #5 player in his class on his third year in college.
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If Newman wasn’t ranked so highly coming out of High School, everyone here would be more than happy with his play. I just think everyone expected him to be the second coming of B-Mac, only better.
Thing is, we are only 1 quarter through the season and he could still crank it up a notch if he could just get comfortable.
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Kcmatt7 said:
If Newman wasn’t ranked so highly coming out of High School, everyone here would be more than happy with his play. I just think everyone expected him to be the second coming of B-Mac, only better.
I wouldn’t. I could care less about his high school ranking. I just see a guard without a consistent jump shot, isnt a great finisher at the rim, doesn’t create for teammates, and is still green on the defensive end.
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@BigBad His inconsistent jump shot is based on what? He has made 3s 40% of the time and only shot below 33% once this season in a very poor shooting performance against Syracuse. I would consider that pretty consistent.
He is shooting 2pt shots at a higher percentage than both Svi and DG. However, I do agree that he needs to work on his finishing. But my point is that he is finishing as well as two other guys on the team who aren’t getting crushed for the same exact thing.
His points allowed per 100 possessions is better than Vick and Svi. So his defense has been at the very least AS bad as theirs. And yet, they aren’t getting bashed the same way.
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I’m still perplexed by Malik’s game.
I know one thing… next summer he needs to go down to Houston and learn from John Lucas. Tyshawn Taylor made that wise decision before his senior year. He went there to have John work with his jump shot. And make no mistake about it… his trey shot was much better in his senior year. But the biggest breakthrough in his game came from John teaching him how to finish at the rim.
Few people know how great of a finisher Lucas was in the NBA. At 6’3" he had no problem finishing on anyone. His key was to slow down at the end and to understand spacing… spacing of him with the defender and spacing of the ball from the defender. He also understood timing and using the glass to angle his shots around the swats. Lucas was definitely the MASTER of finishing at the rim. No huge vertical!
Malik is a less-polished Tyshawn in his junior year. Both thought the way to finish drives was to turn on the athleticism; high speed! Tyshawn learned from Lucas and had a killer senior campaign where he finished his drives as good as any Jayhawk ever!
Malik has the potential. I hope he finds the right coaching so he can maximize his skill set!
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might have something to do with us putting too much expectation on a coveted elite recruit we fought with Kentucky to get and missed out on originally. and to add to that he’s been around the program for a year.
and stats don’t always tell the entire story about someone being a good teammate. see Kevin Young and BStar.
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If Malik has a true concussion, its likely he won’t play very well for the rest of the season. Concussions do two things:
1.) they hurt like hell until you heel, and that can be a month or so; and
2.) they take a year or so to get to where your brain-meat does not hurt when you get jarred–that means you are protecting yourself and not going balls to the walls.
Some guys have tremendously high pain thresholds and can go 100% after they heal, because they just can tolerate the inevitable pain that comes from the jarring. Other guys with middle to low pain thresholds never really get back to 100%. They are always protecting their heads by not landing too hard, or ducking to avoid head impacts, and so on. There is a lot of subtlety to how concussions cramp one’s style. For every Steve Young, 49er QB that played through serial concussions, there are a hundred guys that cannot stand the pain that goes with jarring impacts that shake the healed, post concussed brain meat in the skull hammock.
Sam Cunliffe, your ship just came it, pal.
Malik Newman was a potentially fine player that you would have had little chance to beat out, even with all his teething pains he was working through.
But you are the understudy that is about to get a break and a trial on Broadway.
Many good careers start this way.
Seize the moment.
As for Malik, I hope he is patient and does not get too discouraged, if he were to have to wait till next year to realize his potential.
If Malik protects his brain for now, and listens to Slayr and goes to see John Lucas in the off season, his transfer to KU can still turn out to be a great thing for him and for KU.
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Crimsonorblue22 said:
I guess I’m the only one that thinks Malik is not that bad! He has disappeared a lot this season, 2 points -I think another 2 point game - - forces a lot of shots - -a lot of really bad turnovers, - -ill advised shots at the wrong time of the game - -not bad - -but sure not as good as advertised. - -I think a lot of people read to much into the overseas outing when he busted out with 30 plus in a game thinking OH MAN we got a stud - -people thinking he was going to be our leading scorer along with Devonte when I reality he is like our 4-5 scorer just a little over 11 points a game. - - I think this is just a case of a kid being some a little over rated coming out.
He got a rap at Mississippi State of being a me, me, me kid - -he said or rumor had it one of the reasons he didn’t like Mississippi State was he was playing out of position. - - Has tendency when he has the ball it sticks - not a bad player by any means - just not an overly good player at the present. ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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JayHawkFanToo said:
He is not that bad but he is not that good either, mostly due to his inconsistency and selfishness.
Thank you, that was I more or less was trying to bring out with him. - you pretty much duplicated my thoughts. - -not bada - -BUT NOT that good and like I said sometimes when he has the ball it sticks - -you say selfish - -same thing -potato - -potato - -tomato - tumoto - -ya know? - tick for tack - - Thank you exactly what I was trying to get at. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@BigBad Exactly. - - - T
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@BigBad Exactly - - I think this is one of the cases where the kid may have been very well over rated just a smidge coming out - -either that or he just hasn’t continued to develop like they thought he would ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@Kcmatt7 Hmmm he getting bashed? - -Sounds about like how people love to bash Mitch - -Mitch is an easy target - -I would say he is being bashed - people just commenting that they aren’t seeing what you see that’s all. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Malik needs, at minimum, two weeks to truly get right. That’s two weeks of nothing. No running, no shooting. Just rest.
Problem is, once he’s right, he will be out of shape because he’s been sitting around for two weeks doing nothing. And that’s assuming his symptoms go away within about a week and he gets another week to really heal. If he’s still got symptoms after a week or so, he has to rest until those go away.
It could be mid January before he’s contributing again, maybe mid February if the symptoms persist, maybe not the rest of the season.
Concussions are scary. I hope he gets a chance to rest and relax, and that KU’s medical staff makes sure he doesn’t rush back.
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Kcmatt7 said:
If Newman wasn’t ranked so highly coming out of High School, everyone here would be more than happy with his play.
If the queen had a pair, she’d be the king.
If we fizz out in the Elite Eight again, and he’s just average, he’ll be seen as a disappointing get. That’s part of high expectations. That’s where we are at a fan base. Not an excuse for Self though. He recruited him hard out of high school and I’m sure he’s disappointed in Newman’s performance so far as well.
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JayHawkFanToo said:
I don’t dislike him but I expected more from the #5 player in his class on his third year in college.
On one hand I agree but on the other hand it was clear from his one year at MSST that he was not a top 10 player in that class.
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The trouble I have with Newman is he seems to be playing selfishly at times, maybe it just looks that way. The other thing isn’t all that great of an athlete for a top 5 guy, I see no way he ever plays in the nba.
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Kcmatt7 said:
His points allowed per 100 possessions is better than Vick and Svi. So his defense has been at the very least AS bad as theirs. And yet, they aren’t getting bashed the same way.
I actually “bash” them too.
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kjayhawks said:
The trouble I have with Newman is he seems to be playing selfishly at times, maybe it just looks that way. The other thing isn’t all that great of an athlete for a top 5 guy, I see no way he ever plays in the nba.
NO your right , he does play selfish at times - -makes ill decisions at times - not only does it look that way - -it is that way. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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@chriz You said, “If the queen had a pair, she’d be the king.” Nowadays, man, you never know.
I do think @Kcmatt7 is right to a large degree. Expectations play a big part in how critical we are of a player, or the situation. Newman was a top 10ish player. And now a guy who played one season, then sat a season learning KU’s system, expectations, etc. All that combined means that we should reasonably expect a much better player, perhaps. But what are we expecting? He’s really “not that bad” as @Crimsonorblue22 said. It’s just the expectations. Is Newman really as bad as some think?
Newman actually has played better than his freshman season. He shot 39.1% from 2-pt range, 37.9% from 3 pt range, had a PER of 12.4, and a box score +/- of 0.0. This season, Newman is shooting 51.2 from 2 pt range, 40.5% from 3 pt range, with a PER now of 16.0 and a box score +/- of 7.0.
Compare him to Wayne Selden (similar rank, in Self’s system all years). Those same numbers for Selden (2 pt%/3 pt%/PER/BPM) - Freshman season 53.2/32.8/12.3/5.7; Sophomore season 39.5/36.5/11.9/4.9; Junior season 54.8/39.2/17.9/7.8. Wayne, of course, shot threes in a much different, less shooter friendly environment (tactfully put). The “flopping around on the bench” era, perhaps.
Interesting numbers though. Selden has a very bad sophomore season. But look at his numbers. He’s in the NBA.
Newman’s shooting %s aren’t bad. In fact, the 40+% from 3 is excellent. And 51.9 from 2 pt range is just a touch better than Mason did his senior season. His shooting numbers this season are on both counts (2s and 3s) better than Devonte Graham.
I just think with Newman the path is unknown here. We have to be patient. We have no choice. But he’s in what would be his Jr. season, but without the on-court experience of his sophomore season. So a sophomore plus.
That all said, I like adding a very high quality defender, and guy that excels in specific parts of the game (rebounding/steals) to the starting lineup. So I’d start Garrett and run with that chemistry for a bit. But Newman deserves our patience I think.
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Good post on concussions. Truth is, we don’t know how that concussion is going to impact Malik’s play for a while.
Look at the NFL… specifically, the KC Chiefs. They were 5-0 and their offense was outrageous. Since then, they have gone… 2-6! A complete flip and a big part of that has to do with the accuracy of Smith. He doesn’t even look like the same player today. I wonder if he took a hit to his head since the 5-0 mark. His judgment, passing accuracy, ability to read defenses, ability to scramble… all of his game declined. He clearly is having mental issues.
I hope Malik’s game comes around. He does need a lot of work, especially on his defense. He also gets caught being a spectator on defense. Also, his ability to finish on his drives needs a ton of work. He often plays like a freshman. Either he isn’t able to absorb enough of the coaching or the coaching just isn’t there for helping him with his individual issues.
Players accept coaching at various levels.
Look at Doke. I think we all now realize that Doke is a very rough diamond. But he is transforming in front of our eyes and he is doing so RAPIDLY! I’ve never seen a ball player change his body this fast. Truly impressive! And he is learning the basics of the game right now. We should continue to see huge improvements this year!
Concerning Malik… I don’t know. He may just need more time to “get it!”
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drgnslayr said:
Good post on concussions. Truth is, we don’t know how that concussion is going to impact Malik’s play for a while.
Look at the NFL… specifically, the KC Chiefs. They were 5-0 and their offense was outrageous. Since then, they have gone… 2-6! A complete flip and a big part of that has to do with the accuracy of Smith. He doesn’t even look like the same player today. I wonder if he took a hit to his head since the 5-0 mark. His judgment, passing accuracy, ability to read defenses, ability to scramble… all of his game declined. He clearly is having mental issues.
I hope Malik’s game comes around. He does need a lot of work, especially on his defense. He also gets caught being a spectator on defense. Also, his ability to finish on his drives needs a ton of work. He often plays like a freshman. Either he isn’t able to absorb enough of the coaching or the coaching just isn’t there for helping him with his individual issues.
Players accept coaching at various levels.
Look at Doke. I think we all now realize that Doke is a very rough diamond. But he is transforming in front of our eyes and he is doing so RAPIDLY! I’ve never seen a ball player change his body this fast. Truly impressive! And he is learning the basics of the game right now. We should continue to see huge improvements this year!
Concerning Malik… I don’t know. He may just need more time to “get it!”
Andy had drawn up some new stuff in the offseason, the rest of the league figured it out. The early production was largely a byproduct of Andy Reid.
Also oline injuries impacted the running game.
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Given Newman’s concussion and Cunliffe now available, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Newman sit the next two games (NU and Omaha). Maybe even sit out Stanford. He can use the recovery time.
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We really don’t know the severity of the concussion. If it was just a mild one it will not take that long to recover. Coach Roberts seems to be optimistic he might play against Nebraska.
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For sure on what you said.
But Smith also lost his accuracy. He was dead on during those first 5 games. Yep, guys were wide open… but since then, he has totally thrown waffle balls to guys that were wide open.
I do love Andy’s creative offensive play designs. He may not be the best head coach in the NFL, but he is one of the top coaches and definitely one of the best at designing unique offense. Just wish he would save some of this stuff and trickle it out slowly during the year.
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Self:
“I think if (Newman) would just worry about things that have an impact on us winning or not, I think he’d be better off,” Self said after that game. “Missed Devonte’ a couple times wide open in transition.”
What is it that he is NOT SAYING that we should infer? If he’s not worrying about having an impact on winning, or not then what is he worrying about?
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I think…“Missed Devonte’ a couple times wide open in transition.”…is the kicker, selfish play.
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@JayHawkFanToo @Blown And I think the first part of that quote implies the same thing. If you’re not focusing on things related to winning, that seems selfish on its face at least.
Also, again, this @jaybate-1-0 theory on Newman – look at the last game when Svi was in transition, bounced a pass backward to Malik for the three. Cool play. Let to a TO from ASU. Newman didn’t look at Svi, point at Svi … nothing. I don’t have the time on the play handy. But it was noticeable. I’ll see if I can find the play later.
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I believe that Newman is playing for Newman and to improve his draft status since the word from his dad from day one was that he would play one season at KU and leave.
I know it is still early but based on what I have seen, Malik will not get drafted by the NBA and the G-League or overseas appear to be the more realistic destinations. Of course he could explode and prove me wrong which would be a really nice and welcome surprise.
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Blown said:
Self:
“I think if (Newman) would just worry about things that have an impact on us winning or not, I think he’d be better off,” Self said after that game. “Missed Devonte’ a couple times wide open in transition.”
What is it that he is NOT SAYING that we should infer? If he’s not worrying about having an impact on winning, or not then what is he worrying about?
Whoa!!! Great dot pick up!!!
Lots of Selfian ambiguity–phrasing that could be interpreted many ways, but that appears to imply something significant beyond what was explicitly noted.
I wouldn’t be surprised, if Self were sometimes thinking: why didn’t I just retire LAST season?
This season has perfect storm written all over it.
Maybe he just wanted to see how well he could coach in a perfect storm.
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Why back in my day there was no such thing as concussions. We called it getting your bell rung. If was really bad bell ringing you just played with the one in the middle.
UM maybe that’s why I’m so messed up? LOL
All kidding aside concussions are a bad deal. Once you have one its so much easier to have another.
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DoubleDD said:
All kidding aside concussions are a bad deal. Once you have one its so much easier to have another.
Well, said. I’m wishing Malik Newman all the best and a safe recovery. He has a great future at KU, if he will let himself heal from this and come back. He was going through the kind of growing pains lots of players do that enroll in Bill Self’s Center for Advanced Basketball Studies. Nothing was wrong with his game that a little more neural net growth would not remedy. Here’s hoping the head ache eases and he can get back when ever the doctors say its safe.
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I don’t get the feeling that Malik is a selfish player. I just think the game is still moving a little fast for him and he isn’t seeing as much of the court as he needs to. And it also seems like his reflexes are a bit slow because he is overthinking his game.
Malik is very different from our past, beloved EJ… but for some reason, he reminds me of EJ.
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@drgnslayr Agreed, great idea. Or he could watch tape of Keith Langford (6’4 slasher), Tyshawn (as others have mentioned, specifically Sr year, unguardable), and of course Sherron and Frank Mason, who is killing it in the NBA. Frank flies and glides.
I had a friend comment to me that Malik isnt using any vertical. He doesnt look like Tyshawn or Frank driving to the rim. I was under the assumption he came with a description of “slasher/scorer”, and was working on his 3pt shot. Well, I havent seen much yet.
Dont worry about Malik getting flak, while Svi and Vick skate by–Nope: Svi and Vick deserve just as much flak as Mr. Newman. Garrett plays better D than anyone on the team, which is a statement on many levels, not all of them good for Self’s current baling wire+duct tape concoction of a team.
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I’ll go throw up behind the fieldhouse if Shaka can get those TX frosh to play better D/more ‘havoc’ than Self’s collection of basketball curiosities…
Personally, I think Lightfoot can play a little bit. He’s got a knack for blocking shots, he’s got range out to 3, although probably not encouraged in a tight contest. Obviously he is by no means a finished product. I’ve always referred to him as a Wisconsin-type 6’8 combo 3/4.
Im still learning to read Malik. So I’ll give him more time to show us what everybody was raving about in the practice gym…show us.
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Very high on Garrett’s potential. So far, the best newcomer on the team. His D is far ahead of his own offense, at this point, and also far ahead of everyone else’s D (other than possibly Devonte).
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Malik Newman needs to do two things after his head quits hurting:
Hand out some assists.
Jump higher.
The first is doable.
The second may take another off season with Hudy.
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Agreed on both. I have been high on Lightfoot since the beginning but now he is playing a position he is not suited or has the build for. I have said before that Garret might end up being the steal of the class; obviously very high on him.
