Chris Murray mentions today in a post and on his Twitter feed about Wolf Pack backcourter Armon Johnson not receiving enough love in the various predictions about the All-WAC first team members. Here is part of what he wrote:
Chris MurrayHit the post link above to get to the full article.
Reno Gazette-Journal
10/13/2009
...I might be a little biased here, but Johnson did make the All-WAC first team last year and I don't think he had that great of a season by his standards. I'd expect an even better statistical season from Johnson this year, especially with an offense more suited for his strengths. Of course, there are no right or wrong answers with these preseason polls...
That got us to thinking...and then writing.
So what to make of Armon Johnson, the third year backcourter for Nevada?
He obviously impressed the WAC coaches because he was one of five players named to the All-WAC first team last season, along with Mac Hopson, Luke Babbitt, Jahmar Young and Gary Wilkinson.
But did he produce face value numbers to make him deserving of such? We're going to present just such statistics but with the proviso that we understand six-pack and then our mathematical knowledge gets iffy after that.
2008-2009 season
For reference, Johnson scored 15.5 points each time out, shot .431 on the season, .278 on threes and .789 at the foul line.
In league play, he scored 15.1 points per game (eighth in the WAC), shot .429 from the floor, .289 on three-point attempts and .806 from the charity stripe (fifth in the conference).
On the season, he grabbed 3.6 rebounds a game and fashioned a 145/84 assist-to-turnover ratio.
In conference, Johnson nabbed 3.1 boards a contest with 65/37 assist-to-turnover numbers. His 65 assists placed him sixth in the WAC.
His numbers stayed pretty much the same in non-conference versus conference action. As for WAC games, the points per game is solid, the floor shooting needs to be upped, definitely so with his treys and his free throw shooting is topnotch. His boardplay is good for a guard and his A-T ratio okay, but especially so for someone who has the role of generating offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Our sense is an argument can be made for and against Johnson's inclusion on the All-WAC squad ad infinitum -- with no definitive judgment possible. But he got it, the coaches thought he was worthy (and they see a lot more than we do and certainly watch a gazilion more feet of tape than we do) and so be it.
2007-2008 season
Just for fun, in 2007-2008 WAC action, Johnson scored 12.1 points a game, shot .540% overall, (good for tenth), .414% from long distance, .818% from the line (tenth), plus enjoyed a 61/31 assist-to-turnover ratio. He grabbed 4.1 boards a game and passed for 3.8 assists a contest, earning him Freshman of the Year honors.
Having Marcelus Kemp and JaVale McGee, plus Brandon Fields himself contributing 14 points per game greatly eased the burden on Johnson to create and his shooting number reflect this. He was the third or probably the fourth option on offense as opposed to be the first such as in 2008-2009.
It is also important to acknowledge that there are always intangibles that are missed when not viewing someone each game.
So finally, should Armon Johnson be included as one of All-WAC first team pre-season selections? With Travis Mason-Bushman's selections, he has Jared Quayle jumping up from his official second team All-WAC status of last season, thereby replacing Johnson. He also has LT's Magnum Rolle, who didn't appear on either the first or second All-WAC teams of last season, taking Gary Wilkinson's place.
We have San Jose State's Adrian Oliver and Fresno State's Paul George notching first team spots over Johnson and Rolle.
The good thing about all this is that the games will be played, the plays remembered and the statistics kept that will determine who ultimately is proven correct or incorrect. But, of course, some of us won't agree with the choices and that create even more sports bar fodder.
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3 comments:
As I mentioned in a previous comment, if down by one point with 20 seconds left in the game, there's no WAC player I'd rather have bringing the ball up the court than Armon Johnson. He wasn't a good outside shooter last year, true. But he excellent off the dribble, great at drawing contact and makes his free throws. His defense improved a lot as the season progressed as well. Certainly one can look at the numbers and say he didn't deserve first team honors. The coaches know better. I think you'll see a much improved player this season as well.
I'm going to have to agree with Patrick. AJ can't be evaluated completely on a statistical basis. He provides leadership beyond that, and with all due respect to Babbitt, is the engine that makes Nevada go. I have a feeling that Quayle will drop off a little this year without Gary Wilkinson to dump the ball to. In fact, I would put both Hopson and Johnson in front of JQ for PG, and Jahmar Young and Adrian Oliver for SG.
I would be shocked if Jared Quayle has a drop-off. He has almost a full year of playing PG behind him. Remember he never played the position before in his life.
Yeah, Wilkinson is gone but Wesley will make up the difference and Bendall will be just as good in the block as Wilkinson.
Quayle's early season stats weren't tremendous but his WAC stats in almost every category were superior to Johnson: Better SP, Better 3 PG, More Steals, twice as many rebounds per game, Better A/T.
Expect him to put up 17-20 pts per game with increases in every other category. He'll also be the best PG rebounder in the country again at over 6 per game.
Quayle not Wilki was the Aggies MVP last year and there is no one in the WAC that is half as clutch down the stretch. USU would have lost 5-6 more games without his ability to make big plays and get to the line down the line when it mattered.
The only thing that will slow him down is the lingering foot problem.
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