Last night was crazy and not typical of UVA basketball. The turnovers and sloppy first half play. Gill had 5, Brogdon had 7, and Atkins had 3.
But I want to talk about Evan Nolte who has been the topic of much debate on the board. He doesn't fill up the offensive stats sheet but damn if you can't count on him to play a clean floor game. This has been the norm all year for him, too. He had 0 turnovers in 31 minutes to go along with 2 assists and 2 steals. He has had 11 turnovers all year in 456 total minutes. That is less than one turnover per 40 minute game. It actually averages out to a turnover every 41.45 minutes.
Let's contrast that with the other players. Brogdon averages a turnover every 19.87 minutes. Perrantes has one every 23.39 minutes. Justin has one every 24.88 minutes. Gill has one every 20.65 minutes. Atkins every 22.51 minutes. Tobey every 22.06 minutes. Shayok every 23.8 minutes.
Now, there are variables to consider. One is, Evan isn't a point guard. Also, he is not the focal point of the offense. That out the way, when he is on the court he values the ball and is trusted with it. It is not as if UVA tries to keep the ball out his hands. As a matter of fact, he helps bring the ball up the court many times when the other team is pressing the UVA inbounds. He knows better than to try and do it all himself and gets the ball out his hands at the appropriate time, never taking any unnecessary dribbles. Evan plays smart and when you have a turnover per minute rate twice as good or better than all but one of your teammates (he doesn't double up Brogdon or Gill), well, you are going to make your coach very happy. This may finally be the reason why Bennett keeps playing him that so many have been wondering out loud about. I may have helped locate the golden nugget. You are welcome.
Also, he has been more confident on the offensive side, lately. Yesterday he produced 6 points and 3 rebounds.
But I want to talk about Evan Nolte who has been the topic of much debate on the board. He doesn't fill up the offensive stats sheet but damn if you can't count on him to play a clean floor game. This has been the norm all year for him, too. He had 0 turnovers in 31 minutes to go along with 2 assists and 2 steals. He has had 11 turnovers all year in 456 total minutes. That is less than one turnover per 40 minute game. It actually averages out to a turnover every 41.45 minutes.
Let's contrast that with the other players. Brogdon averages a turnover every 19.87 minutes. Perrantes has one every 23.39 minutes. Justin has one every 24.88 minutes. Gill has one every 20.65 minutes. Atkins every 22.51 minutes. Tobey every 22.06 minutes. Shayok every 23.8 minutes.
Now, there are variables to consider. One is, Evan isn't a point guard. Also, he is not the focal point of the offense. That out the way, when he is on the court he values the ball and is trusted with it. It is not as if UVA tries to keep the ball out his hands. As a matter of fact, he helps bring the ball up the court many times when the other team is pressing the UVA inbounds. He knows better than to try and do it all himself and gets the ball out his hands at the appropriate time, never taking any unnecessary dribbles. Evan plays smart and when you have a turnover per minute rate twice as good or better than all but one of your teammates (he doesn't double up Brogdon or Gill), well, you are going to make your coach very happy. This may finally be the reason why Bennett keeps playing him that so many have been wondering out loud about. I may have helped locate the golden nugget. You are welcome.
Also, he has been more confident on the offensive side, lately. Yesterday he produced 6 points and 3 rebounds.
