Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Idaho and turnovers

Dale Grummert of the Lewiston Tribune blogs about the Idaho - Boise State game here. He has some interesting analysis, including the claim that Vandal turnovers are up despite essentially similar personnel. We see that as half right.

As a collective, the Vandals to date have committed 265 turnovers to 225 for opponents. Last season, it certainly was a much, much better 406/447.

But backcourter Steffan Johnson (29 minutes a game) is an on-the-court addition and he owns a decent 54/30 assist-to-turnover ratio. Another newcomer, Kyle Barone (15 minutes a game), checks in at 5/23 and third newcomer Luiz Toledo (just under 26 minutes a game)is at 13/25.

Marvin Jefferson isn't a newbie but owns a 12/30 ratio, which indicates a sort of dead zone for ballhandling/passing among Idaho's power players.

Kashif Watson is currently at 39/38 after finishing at 85/75 in 2008-2009, with Mac Hopson at 77/60 after 194/96 numbers last season.

So, the newbies -- other than Johnson -- aren't helping with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and Hopson is below par with his numbers of last season.

Is Idaho utilizing a faster pace this season and such is contributing to the rise of turnovers? Is it taking more chances, with lower-odds-of-succeeding type of passes? Is there some degree of complacency?

What have you Vandal fans noticed?

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