Who do you guys think?

I know this is biased because these are three teams I follow all the time but my Top 3 are (in this order)

1) Cedric Simmons
- last year: 10 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks
- this year: 25.9 minutes, 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 blocks

2) Hilton Armstrong
- last year: 12.4 minutes, 3.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
- this year: 24.1 minutes, 9.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks
3) David Noel
last year: 16.9 minutes, 3.9 points, 1.5 assists, 35% 3PT
this year: 34.1 minutes, 13.5 points, 2.9 assists, 45.8% 3PT

** a little about Hilton Armstrong though.. he was injured a bit earlier in the year but over his last 6 games he is average 16 points a game.. He is clearly the best player on a team FULL of NBA talent..

1/10/2006 9:00:19 AM

Quote :

"on a team FULL of NBA talent"

Are you talking about UCONNvict?

Quote :

"these are three teams I follow "

you follow UNC? WTF?

1/10/2006 9:12:12 AM

im not familiar w/ armstrong
but i think, as of today in the ACC i would have to give it to little head ced

they both have improved 100% from last year

Noel has been in college longer and has more experience so i think it was expected for him to step up, simmons...as a sophmore is beasting the paint

1/10/2006 9:16:21 AM

^^ Well I do live about 10 miles from their campus so I see them play.. You know what I meant..

And as for the UConnvict thing. They have no more problems then any other program in America.. just more high profile and no Dicky V to side with them..

p.s.- I don't like that MW is playing but it was up to the University discipline and not Calhoun.. but whatever this thread isn't about that..

^ yea I also agree that Simmons is the most improved definitely. It's like he is a completely different person. I guess it has to do with confidence and a more defined role but.. he should get a REAL BIG test tonight with Smith and Dudley..

[Edited on January 10, 2006 at 9:19 AM. Reason : f]

1/10/2006 9:18:07 AM

Hilton still has a giraffe neck

1/10/2006 9:33:59 AM

Quote :

" don't like that MW is playing but it was up to the University discipline and not Calhoun.."

I know this isn't the point of the thread, but I have a feeling Calhoun could bench the kid or kick him off the team if he was so inclined. He could also refrain from recruiting at Youth Detention Centers, but he doesn't.

1/10/2006 9:36:09 AM

I know and I partially agree but look at the great coaches and what players have done in the past. I think for someone who has by and large run a clean program over the years (no NCAA sanctions) he deserves a bit of the benefit of the doubt..

Coach K - Shelden Williams rape accusation among other things
Calhoun - Marcus Williams (also remember kids can turn around -- Caron Butler was a juvie and worked his ass off to make it to college and was a saint once he got there)
John Thompson - Allen Iverson (convicted felon)
Eddie Sutton - JameSon Curry (drug convictions)
Herb (not saying he is great) - Damon Thornton is like a fucking running police log even when he WAS in school.

the list goes on and on.. this isn't something exclusive to any one school. I give the benefit of the doubt to Coach K even though I loathe him. Shelden wasn't a great kid but he certainly turned it around and has been very well behaved.

** lets focus on the thread though.. What other players have improved this year tremendously?

[Edited on January 10, 2006 at 9:42 AM. Reason : f]

1/10/2006 9:41:18 AM

^I see your point - could be a good thread.

Trent Strickland (Wake Forest) - Was a roll player last year and at times (minus the missed dunk against Duke) has shown athletic ability that is on par with anyone in the ACC. His defense and shooting has improved while still playing above the rim.

[Edited on January 10, 2006 at 9:47 AM. Reason : []

1/10/2006 9:47:23 AM

Coleman Collins

11ppg and 7rpg last year....18ppg and 8rpg this year

4 double-doubles

only 1 out of 13 games under 12 points.....and 9 games over 15 points (5 games over 20 points)

1/10/2006 4:13:14 PM

Strickland sucks. If we're sticking in the ACC, you have to go with Simmons or Noel.

1/10/2006 4:17:19 PM

^^ i was about to mention collins. he also scored 25 against "the best post defender in the ncaa"

[Edited on January 10, 2006 at 4:17 PM. Reason : .]

1/10/2006 4:17:28 PM

I don't think Noel is that improved... his minutes just went up, which gave him more time to pad stats... skill wise, Simmons has improved a lot...

1/10/2006 4:18:05 PM

come on, have you really watched noel? his mid-range game has blossomed, as has his 3 point shooting and rebounding. the only thing he's regressed in is turnovers, and thats from trying to do too much

1/10/2006 4:20:35 PM

lol since when is a rape accusation a crime?

1/10/2006 4:37:17 PM

by that rationale, Kobe and Julius are criminals

[Edited on January 10, 2006 at 4:39 PM. Reason : ,]

1/10/2006 4:39:07 PM

You've seen Sheldon Williams - even when he's in the NBA is momma will think he's ugly - you think some girl would fuck him?

1/10/2006 4:39:52 PM

as for the topic

you cant forget the kid at florida,
farmar,
and jenkins at lousiville

1/10/2006 4:40:24 PM

I think David Noel has stepped up a lot. He's still not bigtime NBA material...but he's definitely improved and taken on the leadership role for UNC.

1/10/2006 4:43:32 PM

[no one wants to read about this in this thread]

^^ look up Casey Sanders then..

my point stands.. every program has bad apples..

[Edited on January 10, 2006 at 5:57 PM. Reason : f]

1/10/2006 5:52:55 PM

Ced Simmons hands down. He's gone from nothing to basically outplaying Craig Smith (preseason all-american pick) on both ends of the floor.

1/10/2006 11:46:42 PM

Ced Simmons because i am biased.

1/10/2006 11:47:53 PM

most improved player should not be confused with most improved stats

that being said, i have no idea who the most improved player is

1/10/2006 11:49:10 PM

^ that is some deep philosophical profound naval gazing timne traveling shit...which we don't have time for

stats will have to serve as an adequate proxy

1/11/2006 12:06:00 AM

CED cause that nigga's just bad to the bone

1/11/2006 12:06:25 AM

Anthony Morrow (GT)
last year: 12.6 minutes 5.7 points 1.9 rebounds
thisy ear: 32.3 minutes 17.3 points 4.8 rebounds
he's been great for the yellow jackets. Only been held to under 10 points once this season because of foul trouble.


Arron Afflalo (UCLA)
last year: 31.3 minutes, 10.8 points, .442 FG %
this year: 34.7 minutes, 19.0 points, .534 FG %

[Edited on January 11, 2006 at 12:26 AM. Reason : 1]

1/11/2006 12:25:22 AM

Cedric.

1/11/2006 12:26:43 AM

Two Words: Byron Sanders

just kidding

1/11/2006 8:21:53 AM

[UCONN]

/SAN DIEGO

1/11/2006 8:47:32 AM

Both skillwise and statwise, I'd say Ced. As shown in the Carolina game and BC game, he's a difference maker for this team.

Without him, Frasor slashed unmolested to the rim and Hansborough flopped on the boards at will.

With him, two of the better interior players in the ACC were dominated.

1/11/2006 10:11:39 AM

Its Noel man, he is a monster now

1/11/2006 5:11:44 PM

but he is a senior
ced is only a soph

after last night,
def. Ced

1/11/2006 5:17:14 PM

Has to be James White, the forward from Cincinnati. His ppg is up to 17.6 from 10.2. Most impressively, he's improved his FG% from 44.3% to 50.5%, his FT% from 79.8% to 87.5% and his three-point shooting has jumped from 38.3% to 42.2%. No one thought Cincinnati would be this good, and White is the main reason why they're in the Top 25.

Also --

Je'Kel Foster, Ohio State.

Kammron Taylor, Wisconsin.

Also agree with Morrow and Afflalo.

1/11/2006 6:02:43 PM

Ced obviously.

There has to be some guys on Florida that have gotten better since they lost most of their starters and are undefeated. I am too lazy to look up any stats.

1/11/2006 6:03:10 PM