XUFan09 wrote:http://kenpom.com/playerstats.php?s=PctBlocks&y=2017&f=BE
If you don't have a subscription to Kenpom, sorry. Anyone else on this board with a Kenpom subscription can corroborate this ranking.
Yes, the Big East is not loaded with shot blockers, but there are still a good number of respectable interior players that can block and alter shots. Basically, in any year of the Big East, having the third highest block rate (or third highest of any stat) is notable, as it's a power conference. It's not like he's third in the MAAC. Also, blocking 6.0% of opponents' two-pointers is good, no matter what. That rate would put a player in the top 10 of the Big East in any year going back as far as the 2003-2004 season when Kenpom started tracking individual stats. Basketball Reference might have data going farther back, but I don't feel like checking in, as it is unnecessary additional evidence.
I should note that Kenpom rankings require that a player plays a minimum of 40% of possible minutes. Bradley Hayes' rate is really good (8.5%), but he's working in too small of a sample size to confidently include him, because a smaller sample size means his "true block rate" could vary widely from the statistic. Nevertheless, I think it's safe to say from watching him play that Hayes is really good at blocking and altering shots, so it's possible for Patton to still be a good shot blocker but just not as good as Hayes (if their respective true block rates are close to their statistical block rates). If we extended the ranking to include all Big East rotation players, regardless of small sample sizes, Hayes would be the only one added that has a better block rate than Patton anyway.
Thanks for the link. I couldn't find that information anywhere and you're right, I can't access it from Ken Pom since I don't have a subscription. I greatly appreciate the information nonetheless.
Georgetown's Jessie Govan is averaging 1.1 bpg in 19 mpg. That projects to a similar rate to Patton if he were playing Patton's 25 mpg. So, when you consider Hayes as well, it's not like he's well above everyone else except for Owens and Yakwe.
My point was never to disparage Patton as a shot blocker. My point was that I don't see the value in reducing his opportunities to grab rebounds on a team that is outrebounded by its opponents in order to make him a shot blocking presence. His 1.5 big project to 1.8 in 30 minutes and 2.0 in 33+ minutes per game. That's good but not elite in a world where elite shot blockers knock back 3-4 shots per game.
Georgetown is top 50 in the country in blocked shots. It's a real strength of theirs as a team, so building a defensive strategy around their shot blocking makes sense. But Creighton is 160th in blocked shots and 176th in opponents' shooting percentage. Far be it from me to question McDermott's coaching strategy because he's a very good coach, but I think they need to focus more on basic defensive fundamentals and rebounding rather than redirecting their best inside player to shot blocking while giving up rebounds.