Hines

February 25, 2005

Losing him would be a gigantic blow to this team.

UNTFan23 · February 25, 2005

They were saying on the radio he was having severe cramps.

mad dog · February 25, 2005

Coach Jones in the press conference verified this... just cramps.

MeanGreenBuzz · February 25, 2005

This close to playoffs with everyone getting in the tourney this year im not sure I would have risked Hines. Remember how well we were doing against TCU until Hines went down. If you look at how we play with him and without him, I would have rather had the loss than lose Hines for the tourney. Thank the basketball gods its not serious. Heck he is the shortest guy on the team but gets more rebounds than anyone. He is full of heart and energy and if our big men stopped playing who can be the best Shawn Bradley and tried to be Dampier maybe they could get some rebounds and we can get those things called second chance points. If LH or Simpson was averaging the rebround Hines is they would have a higher FG% and a higher scoring average. I really like the way Simpson has been playing lately but Hopkins doesn't seem to be the same as last year.

mad dog · February 25, 2005

Well, here's some numbers for you.

There are two BIG rebounders in the league. That's it. Just two guys who stick out: Ivan Almonte of FIU with 10.5 a game and Yemi Nicholson of Denver with 9.9. Past that, it is a bunch of contributors.

The rebounding differential between 1st and 3rd place in the Sun Belt is 2.7 rebounds a game. The difference between 3rd and 20th is 2.5 rebounds a game. And we have two guys in there, Isaac Hines at 11th and Jeffrey Simpson at 19th. We have individuals getting it done, but, more importantly, we are getting it done as a team.

Only FIU gets more rebounds a game than we do (39.1 to our 37.5). Everyone on our team contributes a lot. Just ask the guys if you see them what their mindset is on gameday. It isn't to go out there and pick up 10 boards. It isn't to go out and pick up 30 points. It isn't to get a double double or a triple double. It is to do their best to help their team win the game. I don't know about you, but I'll take that any day of any week.

As for Leonard and Jeffrey's field goal percentage and scoring average... Leonard is seventh in the conference at 17.5 points a game, and Jeffrey's shooting percentage ranks 4th at .580. Jeffrey didn't start getting a lot of playing time until conference play started up, and, consequently, he has nearly 10 points a game in conference. And Leonard's shooting percentage? Well, for a guy who has taken 357 shots from all over the floor, shooting .375 isn't all that bad. Minus the three pointers, which he's admitedly shot .258, Leonard's shooting .440 from the floor.

I'm just learning the game of basketball, but already i've learned how much more deceptive it is than football. In football, what you see on the field and what you see on the stat sheet line up pretty well. But in basketball, you can come away from the game with an impression that is totally opposite from reality. I myself have gone into the media room shaking my head, saying "how the heck did we shoot 50% in that game?" Or, "how did we get out-rebounded?"

Trust me, things are pretty durn good right now. The numbers help with perspective.

Edited February 25, 2005 by illuvius32

MeanGreenBuzz · February 25, 2005

I dunno, I followed basketball religiously last year, but because of my work schedule I have only made it to 75% of the home games but I have listened to all of the games (home and away) on the radio. I have seen some brilliant flashes out of some players (like I said Simpson and Hines have way outplayed anyones except maybe JJs expectations), but LH just doesn't seem to be the same guy he was last year. I know they get it done as a team, but when your there at the game it just doesn't seem they are pounding the boards. I find my self wondering why the smallest guy on the team has the most boards (find that in pro BB). It just seems like LH and Simpson could be getting it done a little better down low if a six footer can pull down more boards than them. I will admit Simpson is doing well considering his age and he could develop into a monster down there, and the quicker he develops the more points we can expect out of him. When it comes down to it the times we have gotten beaten at home I saw the opponent grabbing rebounds with 4 of out guys standing around thinking its just going to come to them rather than grabbing it and going in transition like Hines does when he gets it. The way I see it we could have won 20 this year if #1 we were more aggressive down low on both ends of the court and #2 we could hit free throws down the stretch. Both of which I put on JJs shoulders. When you see a weakness correct it and for the last 2 years the free throws have been a problem, with SoJo I cant say a big man that could rebound down low was last year. If you look at the way Don Nelson and the pro coaches that win championships coach they have their players going constantly after boards and keep some of the highest FT% in the league. I know stats can be deceiving and I think they may be deceiving you into thinking this is the best the team has. I think they have more to give the just need a coach that could instill the discipline in them to give it.

Sorry if that didn't make much sense I've been up for 36 hours now you will have to dig through it and find the key points. After I get some sleep I guess it would be tonight I edit this and turn it into something cohesive.

GangGreen · February 25, 2005

Why do you expect Hopkins to be getting more rebounds? He is a 6'3" shooting guard. You keep bringing up pro ball, so, show me a shooting guard in the NBA that leads his team in rebounding.

The reason Hines is getting so many rebounds, besides the fact that he is quick as hell, is that our big men our tying up the other team's post players.

Yes, we do not have a guy averaging more than 7 boards a game, but when you can throw in Harris, Barnett, Williams, Simpson, or Jones and get 4 rbs a game from each, who cares?

UNT rebounding

2004

UNT - 40.5

OPP - 37.5

2005

UNT - 39.2

OPP - 37.5

February 25, 2005

Hines is just a great rebounder, and he also plays more minutes than anyone else on the team. Hines is proof that positioning and reaction are just as important as size and leaping ability. When a shot goes up he will slash in around defenders to rebound, and that is very tough to stop. When you don't have the size to go inside and rebound then hanging around the perimeter, reacting to the rebound, and going around defenders is how you rebound. He has an incredible knack for being in the right spot at the right time. Next game watch Hines and how he gets his rebounds, it is really fun to watch.