Comments on: Taking the Wonk to task on Eric Gordon

By: b-side

b-side — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:10:13 +0000

John M. wrote,

“Gasaway is what he is, which is a stat guy and a damn smart one. Whatever anyone says about Gasaway, he’s way, way smarter than the typical lunkhead of the sort employed by the Indianapolis Star, etc.”

Comparing Gasaway to Hutchens is almost as bad as the EJ/Wilmont issue we’ve all got beef with. Hutch is a phenomenal beat reporter and is very in tune with the on-goings of both the football and b-ball program. And just a caveat, I neither work for the Star nor am I related to him. But I do appreciate solid journalism when I read it.

By: Jack Schneider

Jack Schneider — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:40:25 +0000

For a player with a reputation as a prolific scorer, Eric Gordon is the best basketball PLAYER I have seen in 60 years of following the game (includng almost a decade covering the Hoosiers for the Louisville papers in the ’60s). Eric’s talents haven’t begun to be tapped. He will be outstanding in every aspect of the game. Best of all he’s a true team player, which is rare in a player of his offensive ability. Kelvin Sampson often speaks of Eric’s humility, which is virtually unknown in today’s star players. To put Rod Wilmont on anything even close to the same level of Eric as an all-round player is patently absurb — totally ignorant. Rod played well for the Hoosiers within his capabilities, but an Eric Gordon he wasn’t!

By: Mark M

Mark M — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:56:50 +0000

Reading this paragraph made me realize that although I love reading the Wonk’s analysis it is handicapped in pre-season work for newcomers. What he does well is look at stats and help interpret them. He has no useful stats for Eric Gordon. Notice how he breezed over the newcomers despite clear evidence last Sunday that they will matter immensely.

Whether he has or has not seen EJ play is irrelevant. He understands that the human who believes everything he sees is going to be fooled. Lots. So he looks at stats, be there aren’t any for EJ or the other newcomers.

Look for a mea culpa once he has some stats to work with and sees the ways Eric is (and isn’t) better than Rod Wilmont.

Of course, he is an unapologetic Illinois fan so it may take a while. Maybe during his Final Four preview

By: kelin

kelin — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:27:57 +0000

Ok no emails…..I have seen EJ at his best in H.S. and at times he seemed bored or irritated at his opponants for thinking they should be on the court with him….i.e. Franklin Central where he literally in a 4minute stretch took the game over.

This writer must have pissed people off cause 20plus post is pretty strong….you can talk about my momma but don’t you say nothing about my EJ….

K.Jones decides next week….keep your fingers crossed

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:33:05 +0000

The one thing I would like to point out is that the reason EJ had games in which he looked like he was uninvolved is because he got really bored in high school. Trust me nobody has seen the real EJ. His coach in high school did not know how to use his full potential. I guarantee Sampson will push him and get the most out of him. This is one of the best coaches EJ could have hoped for because of how much Sampson can get from his players. For anyone to say EJ might be as good as Wilmont is assanine. I have seen EJ play about 20 times and I have seen Conley play. I have also seen them play each other and ERIC GORDON is the best shooting guard in college basketball!! The reason being is like everyone on this board is saying he is the total package. He will dominate his position no matter who they play.
The other thing people are forgetting DJ will not be double teamed this season because of our great shooters. If he does get double teamed I pitty the team they are playing because Gordon and Basset will have 20 3’s and if DJ is not double teamed we all know what that means.

By: Zach

Zach — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:24:34 +0000

Speaking of Rod…

Wilmont and Earl (the Pearl) Calloway will be playing for the new NBDL team in Fort Wayne, the Mad Ants.

http://www.idsnews.com/basketblog/?p=199

Pretty pumped about that.

By: PostmanR

PostmanR — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:14:33 +0000

I agree with E and John M, Gasaway is a good, smart writer. Even if he is a bit off base here, I encourage everyone to check out Basketball Prospectus during the season.

They’ll be doing some tremendous work.

By: John M

John M — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:04:07 +0000

Gasaway is what he is, which is a stat guy and a damn smart one. Whatever anyone says about Gasaway, he’s way, way smarter than the typical lunkhead of the sort employed by the Indianapolis Star, etc. I don’t think that he’s intending to slight Gordon but mostly to point out what an incredibly efficient and underrated season Wilmont had last year. Gasaway and his BP colleague Ken Pomeroy have done a good job of dispelling myths and pointing out some of the fallacies involved in reporting on basketball. I think there are some limitations to this approach, and I think Gasaway’s point about Gordon illustrates that. But people would do well to dial back. Unlike the cliche-spouting douchebags that do most of the sportswriting in this country, Gasaway does way more good than bad, and you ought to keep reading him instead of filling his inbox with invective. Based on reading him for the last few seasons, I’m confident that if the season proves him wrong, he will readily and cheerfully admit it. I’ll have some more polished thoughts about this on the Hoosier Report in the next couple of days.

By: Big A

Big A — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:39:47 +0000

I certainly wouldn’t advocate emailing Gasaway, unless you’re planning to do so in a respectful manner. Like E said, he’s a good writer, but he is wrong about Eric Gordon and that was the point of my post. I’m glad it’s created such a passionate conversation amongst us.

By: PostmanE

PostmanE — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:30:28 +0000

OK, OK, everyone, easy. No need for mass emailings or name-calling; Gasaway is a really good writer, and an insightful college basketball thinker. He’s wrong here — it’s quite possible he just hasn’t seen Gordon play, or whatever else — but he’s usually right on. No need for territorial anger, unless he next says Gordon is the second coming of Adam Ahlfeld. Then, do your worst.