Mullins

[Hungry Jack]

7-10 from 3 last 2 games. 9-14 overall. 9 rebound, 3 assists, 2 turnovers. 13.5 ppg.

Is he suddenly better because he’s a starter and doesn’t have to worry about getting yanked after a bad shot?

I won’t play amateur sports psychologist, but I do know he showed some scoring ability as a first year at Denver (52%, 10 ppg). Would be a real windfall if the guy we have seen the past 2 games is the guy we have for the remainder of this season and through next.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

7-10 from 3 last 2 games. 9-14 overall. 9 rebound, 3 assists, 2 turnovers. 13.5 ppg.

Is he suddenly better because he’s a starter and doesn’t have to worry about getting yanked after a bad shot?

I won’t play amateur sports psychologist, but I do know he showed some scoring ability as a first year at Denver (52%, 10 ppg). Would be a real windfall if the guy we have seen the past 2 games is the guy we have for the remainder of this season and through next.

I credit the posters on the board for putting a chip on his shoulder.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I credit the posters on the board for putting a chip on his shoulder.

I think he might have watched "Gladiator" before each game.

 

[GatoLouco]

I would dare guessing it's a confidence thing. I think that's kind of safe to say. Indeed his freshman year at Denver points to him being capable.

Now what prompted the confidence sounds much more speculative. Less pressure? Being the type of guy that somehow, in the worst of times, feels like he owes his team to step up? Coaching, pretty possible as he seemed to have somewhat of a new attitude after not being used much for a streatch?

Anyway, very relavant post, the change has been pretty amazing. Bodes well for this, but mostly for next season.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

I would dare guessing it's a confidence thing. I think that's kind of safe to say. Indeed his freshman year at Denver points to him being capable.

Now what prompted the confidence sounds much more speculative. Less pressure? Being the type of guy that somehow, in the worst of times, feels like he owes his team to step up? Coaching, pretty possible as he seemed to have somewhat of a new attitude after not being used much for a streatch?

Anyway, very relavant post, the change has been pretty amazing. Bodes well for this, but most for next season.

These are all real possibilities. The other one is that this is just small sample-size randomness. Mullins is certainly giving us hope for the rest of this year and next year, but I'm not ready to declare him a changed man just yet.

 

[Hungry Jack]

These are all real possibilities. The other one is that this is just small sample-size randomness. Mullins is certainly giving us hope for the rest of this year and next year, but I'm not ready to declare him a changed man just yet.

This seems the most obvious explanation, given the tiny sample size. This may be affirmation bias (as a fan, I want to see him excel), but his shot just looked different the past few games: smoother, confident, full follow-through, big arc. Again, may be more of I what I want to see rather than is actually occurring. Our human minds are great at that sort of thing.

He also has benefited from playing some of the lesser teams in the conference.

Regardless, what we have gotten from the past two games from him is infinitely better than the alternative.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Pretty clearly related to lineups...
As in Barnhizer not being in it.

With Barnhizer and Martinelli on the court, Mullins becomes a perimeter player - a guard.
With Barnhizer gone, Mullins gets to be more involved and probably defending bigger players and being asked to rebound more.

Sure seems more comfortable and energized now.

 

[hdhntr1]

I would dare guessing it's a confidence thing. I think that's kind of safe to say. Indeed his freshman year at Denver points to him being capable.

Now what prompted the confidence sounds much more speculative. Less pressure? Being the type of guy that somehow, in the worst of times, feels like he owes his team to step up? Coaching, pretty possible as he seemed to have somewhat of a new attitude after not being used much for a streatch?

Anyway, very relavant post, the change has been pretty amazing. Bodes well for this, but mostly for next season.

A bunch might be that we had better options for taking the shots so when he was in he was there more for D, But now those better options are pretty thin so he gets opportunities that were not there before

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I would dare guessing it's a confidence thing. I think that's kind of safe to say. Indeed his freshman year at Denver points to him being capable.

Now what prompted the confidence sounds much more speculative. Less pressure? Being the type of guy that somehow, in the worst of times, feels like he owes his team to step up? Coaching, pretty possible as he seemed to have somewhat of a new attitude after not being used much for a streatch?

Anyway, very relavant post, the change has been pretty amazing. Bodes well for this, but mostly for next season.

I think there is validity to the confidence factor. These guys all have the skills to be effective. The mental aspect is often overlooked. I know you are skeptical of Clayton and it’s only one game, but he looked different out there than last year. If he builds on that, he might have a place in the rotation next year. I see the confidence thing with Gelo and KJ. Gelo needs to be wide open to shoot and has stopped driving. He didn’t lose those physical skills. It’s not as noticeable with KJ, but he too isn’t nearly as aggressive as you would expect. A strong finish for Mullins, Clayton, Gelo, and KJ would do wonders for their confidence going into next year.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

He's taken 3 shots that weren't 3s in the last two games, so his scoring and shooting improvement is 100% based on taking and making a high number of outside shot opportunities and implies zero improvements in other elements of his offensive game.

To that end, it's pretty impossible to know if he's actually shooting better (technique improvement, sudden confidence boost, he's just a streaky shooter so seeing the first one vs USC fall gave him this huge boost he's riding, whatever) or if he's just got license to shoot since we have plenty of shots to go around and he happened to make three or four extra out of only ten instances (small sample).

I don't really care which it is for the next few games, just keep shooting. If he never ever develops a single other offensive tool, which I think is frankly pretty likely at this point, but becomes a 35+% outside shooter he's suddenly a very useful player. At 35% he's like a poor man's Ty Berry. At 40+%... he's basically Ty Berry. We have the shots to give, so let's see what he can do if he launches 4-6 times per game.

 

[GatoLouco]

I know you are skeptical of Clayton and it’s only one game, but he looked different out there than last year.

I am, and hope I am wrong.

Clayton has elite level handles. From day one, he was very poised with the ball. It helps that his body also seemed ahead of his age.

The problem was always his shooting, and no evidence of any slashing tendencies. I can see his shot being good warming up, but game requires a fraction of a second quicker release and that's where I think his shots falls apart dramatically.

I am skeptical now. I am not skeptical that he can improve and contribute. And I don't doubt that he deserves minutes in this roster. We are very short handed.

 

[Hungry Jack]

He's taken 3 shots that weren't 3s in the last two games, so his scoring and shooting improvement is 100% based on taking and making a high number of outside shot opportunities and implies zero improvements in other elements of his offensive game.

To that end, it's pretty impossible to know if he's actually shooting better (technique improvement, sudden confidence boost, he's just a streaky shooter so seeing the first one vs USC fall gave him this huge boost he's riding, whatever) or if he's just got license to shoot since we have plenty of shots to go around and he happened to make three or four extra out of only ten instances (small sample).

I don't really care which it is for the next few games, just keep shooting. If he never ever develops a single other offensive tool, which I think is frankly pretty likely at this point, but becomes a 35+% outside shooter he's suddenly a very useful player. At 35% he's like a poor man's Ty Berry. At 40+%... he's basically Ty Berry. We have the shots to give, so let's see what he can do if he launches 4-6 times per game.

Absolutely. A "3 and D" shooting 35% from range is good to have, especially on this team.

 

[macarthur31]

I anticipate Mullins will get the toughest assignment out there. I can't imagine that will help his offense given how much energy and focus he'll be expending (or perhaps he'll get in foul trouble). So if he can even be 2/5 from 3FG and get hustle points and FTs, that would be a strong contribution.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Absolutely. A "3 and D" shooting 35% from range is good to have, especially on this team.

Outside shooting and defense in one package will ALWAYS be a valuable contributor to any college basketball team.

 

[prez77]

I am, and hope I am wrong.

Clayton has elite level handles. From day one, he was very poised with the ball. It helps that his body also seemed ahead of his age.

The problem was always his shooting, and no evidence of any slashing tendencies. I can see his shot being good warming up, but game requires a fraction of a second quicker release and that's where I think his shots falls apart dramatically.

I am skeptical now. I am not skeptical that he can improve and contribute. And I don't doubt that he deserves minutes in this roster. We are very short handed.

As I replied on another post, it's the lack of slash that has me concerned. He really hasn't ever done it for us. I don't see how he gets to there from mostly passing the ball on the perimeter, which is not the guard leader the team needs.

 

[prez77]

I think there is validity to the confidence factor. These guys all have the skills to be effective. The mental aspect is often overlooked. I know you are skeptical of Clayton and it’s only one game, but he looked different out there than last year. If he builds on that, he might have a place in the rotation next year. I see the confidence thing with Gelo and KJ. Gelo needs to be wide open to shoot and has stopped driving. He didn’t lose those physical skills. It’s not as noticeable with KJ, but he too isn’t nearly as aggressive as you would expect. A strong finish for Mullins, Clayton, Gelo, and KJ would do wonders for their confidence going into next year.

Confidence combined with intensity creates winning. That was definitely the hallmark of all 3 of our tourney teams and what we all like about Barnhizer and Mart. Our really good football teams have been noted for it too. The winning teams don't, as a rule, take what they're given. They make the opposition adjust to what they're going to do. About the only tentative basketball player you can hide is a terrific spot-up shooter, and then there's still defense to play.