WKU Basketball: Grading WKU Against FAU

WKU lost to FAU for the first time in forever. What the heck happened?

It’s officially time to start asking serious questions about what the heck is going on with WKU Basketball. There are plenty of great points being made about the status of this season on social media, but what stands out to me? How about, “If WKU’s wins against Division III schools weren’t included, Western Kentucky would be .500 on the season.”? How about, “WKU is worse now than it was in December”? “I’m so sick of Stanz.” “#FireRick #FireRickStansbury”. “Enough is enough!”

Regardless, they’re 2-3 in Conference USA and behind everyone in the East Division but FIU and Marshall. Only three teams in the West have worse records than WKU. So heading into a true “must win” against FIU, WKU is in the bottom half of the conference and looking fragile.

Let’s not completely panic. FAU is a decent team and now somehow leads the C-USA East Division after I published a State of C-USA article basically saying they sucked. Apparently I read that one wrong, folks. Willing to admit it. But ultimately, WKU is one game behind everyone in the East and plays everybody in the East at least one more time.

But social media is on fire and people are starting to say they’re not going to renew season tickets, to “Fire Stanz”, and that they’re tired of mediocrity.

WKU better get it together quickly or this is going to become a very tenuous situation. Right now, the spark has been lit. Before you know it, this could be a house fire. Give it another week of losing. The pitchforks would be out if that happened.

So what the heck happened Thursday?

Grading the Keys to Victory

Score: C+

Yes, my #1 Key to Victory was to score points. But the reason was because FAU wins when they score 75 points or more. So to combat that, WKU needed to put pressure on FAU to have to score mid-70s or more. WKU did that, up until FAU went on a huge run with minutes remaining, completely swinging the score in favor of FAU comfortably. WKU shot 49% from the floor and shot 15 more free throws than its opponent. So honestly, pure scoring wasn’t the issue. The problem was all of the bunny attempts that WKU did miss. I can think of seven or eight off of the top of my head, several of which came later in the game. But throughout the game, WKU probably missed ten or more shots they should almost always make. That’s a good 20 points left out there! Imagine adding just five of those! It would have been a completely different story. So in one way, WKU was pretty efficient offensively in terms of shots taken and made. But in virtually every other way offensively and defensively, WKU was not efficient.

Attack Vladislav Goldin: F

I didn’t realize the guy was going to shoot 75% from the floor and score double digits and be a bigger presence than Jamarion Sharp. I just thought his performance would be a factor. Apparently this point was more dead-on than even I thought it would be. Jamarion Sharp had absolutely zero points and to add insult to…umm a bad game, he continues to flirt with an injury. He did come back in, but the man does seem to be having more and more issues throughout the season. But there is no way in the fires of hell that this was anything than an F. If anything, Goldin absolutely attacked WKU with every fiber of his being and WKU cowered to his presence. I knew this guy could be hot or cold, and WKU is now becoming known for giving up big games to big tall centers that can bang and hold their own against Jamarion Sharp. Teams have figured out Sharp. Your move, Rick Stansbury.

Slow the Pace Down, but Not Too Much: C+

For 33 minutes or so, this was a WKU type of pace. WKU functions better with a more methodical pace using efficiency to win most games. FAU loves a frantic, jack-it-up-from-anywhere type of pace. Well, guess what it became with about seven remaining? Wild and crazy. A mess. Tons of WKU turnovers. That played straight into FAU’s preference. Again, why Rick Stansbury did not press until down nine is beyond me. Every time Western presses, results come forth. Josh Anderson is a dynamic front man on a 1-2-2 3/4 court trap. That could’ve actually allowed WKU to play a decent pace that they controlled and also get out in transition. Josh Anderson is the player in C-USA that can do just that. Use him!

Win the Free Throw Battle: B+

Well, WKU certainly won the free throw battle in terms of attempts. There’s no question 18-3 is a complete win. However, WKU missed a ton of crucial free throws throughout the game, mainly from Dayvion McKnight. Also, how many of these free throws wouldn’t have existed if WKU got a couple of rolls on fouls? Part of the reason this number was so inflated that WKU had absolutely zero and-ones. Each of the sets of free throws were groups of two. So yes, WKU took a ton of free throws. But making a few more (or finishing buckets to start with) would have changed the tone in some crucial moments.

Handle the Bench Waves: B

Well, it turns out FAU’s bench wasn’t that big of a deal points-wise against WKU. But here’s something that really stands out about the bench: They produced everything but points. 13 points (not much), 8 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 1 block, and only one turnover. When your bench has a 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover, that’s a huge plus. So while there weren’t waves and it would be unfair to say WKU didn’t limit the bench production, the bench was productive in some way, and also the FAU starters were allowed to produce way more than they normally do, with all of them scoring at least 12 points.

Player Grades

Dayvion McKnight: A-

Obviously, Dayvion McKnight drew a ton of fouls and scored plenty at 22 points on 13 shots. He also didn’t come out of the game for one second and pulled down nine rebounds. However, there were two huge issues in his game against FAU: Assists (4) and turnovers (5). Dayvion normally averages nearly seven assists per game and commits less than four mistakes a game. But the ball was stagnant in this game and when your point guard can’t get the ball to your big men, your rhythm in the paint is incredibly disrupted. Dayvion (or his coach) has to either find a way to distribute the ball more or turn the ball over less. Or both.

Camron Justice: A

All statistics show that he only played 17 minutes. I just can’t believe that with how much he had an impact on this game. Well, let’s grade him for the minutes he was in, which is absolute perfection. He was 7-of-10 and really kept WKU in the game before they took control before halftime. 2-to-1 in assists and a steal to go with 18 points on ten shots. Here’s my question: Why in the world did he only play 17 minutes? This fuels the suspicion many may have about him having some undisclosed health issues. What other explanation is there? I seriously hope the case is he was struggling with some kind of nagging injury. He definitely has had a few grimaces on and off camera in the past few games. So the only ding is the fact that he didn’t play more. But the fact he didn’t even play a full half’s worth is baffling if he doesn’t have some kind of health issue.

Luke Frampton: B

Luke was solid as usual. There was nothing really that blew your mind, besides that incredible block on 7’1” Vladislav Goldin, which boggled the mind. However, he had a moment in the game that looked like he was about to take over. In hindsight, we really could’ve used an extension of those few moments. However, he only scored six points on five shots. Luke may not be the most universally loved and appreciated Topper, but the dude just continues to do something positive every game. He has occasional explosion for huge points, but when he doesn’t, he’s usually good for some rebounds and assists and very few turnovers. Luke plays the second most minutes of all Toppers, one of only three players to play every game, and he’s a distant fourth in turnovers on the year.

Jairus Hamilton: C+

Jairus was not awful, but there is no question we’ve only seen his “A” game once since the UT-Martin game on November 27, at least against Division I opponents. He had good games against Division III Centre and Rhodes, but those were only so WKU could claim its most home games in history. So I really don’t think those count for much. It’s frustrating. Jairus came on like gangbusters, but ever since his back issue, he has never seemed the same player. Is that lingering around, too? If WKU could just get a good Jairus Hamilton that is a real threat inside and outside, WKU is a completely different team. Jairus did score 11 this game, but he also turned it over five times, something he has already done several times this season. He also only had one rebound. In a game WKU struggled to rebound, the Tops could’ve used him getting three or four more rebounds in his 37 minutes.

Jamarion Sharp: D-

Not only did Sharp struggle to score, he only had three blocks, only five rebounds, and nearly fouled out. He was hampered with issues all game, including a scary injury timeout. One wonders if he’s wearing thin, generally playing at least 30 minutes a night for nearly the whole season. He even had a couple of turnovers this game, something he rarely does. Of all the starters, Sharp takes care of the ball the most. Even he turned it over against FAU. And his main responsibility, the 7’1” Russian Goldin had a field day. Really, really not a good day for Jamarion.

Josh Anderson: C-

JA had been WKU’s most consistent player up until the North Texas game. The past two games, Josh has a combined eight points. In this game, he had six, so not as bad as UNT. But again, for whatever reason, WKU’s normal rebounders all struggled to rebound with the exception of McKnight. WKU did have six dead ball rebounds, but every team has a few a game. But Josh only had two rebounds. WKU needs Josh Anderson to score and give the team energy and fill up the stat sheet somewhere. He hit two huge threes, but that was basically the scope of his impact in this game. He also continues to miss a few close range shots. If Josh could eliminate missing the bunnies, he could be just that much better. That’s an issue that spans longer than just the past few games. Something for him to continue to work on.

Jaylen Butz: C+

First of all, thank you Jesus for him getting some minutes. If you’re going to play a bench of two, give those two a chance to get into some rhythm. We can debate about who should actually get minutes, but Jaylen Butz has had several moments where it seemed he was checked out or not interested. There were very few times in this one that it felt like anything but good effort on his part. Now in terms of production, he did draw some fouls with that big body, making 2-of-4 free throws. He also made another basket. Again, nothing significant, and the rebounds could’ve been a shade higher. However, no turnovers in 18 minutes for a big guy is great. Butz may not yet be what WKU fans hoped for when he transferred from DePaul, but he is in the rotation and contributing. And in this one, at least he was not a huge negative. I think he, dare I say it, had a more positive impact on the game than Jamarion Sharp. Maybe Butz should have been given a few minutes Thursday.

Team Effort: C

There were some moments late in the game where WKU really turned up the screws. The problem was that the effort was once again tangibly less than its opponent for 95% of the game. How does WKU continue to lose despite having leads and being clearly the better of the two teams in terms of pure talent? By not playing as hard and as united as the other team. So give the Tops a C for playing hard at times, but there is no question WKU could put more effort up against three point shooters and on the glass. When the color commentator says, “They actually defended that one,” when talking about

Efficiency: D

WKU was efficient in terms of shooting percentage, but WKU missed several layups and put backs that absolutely would have swung the game the other way. WKU probably should have been up double digits with all of the opportunities they missed that they normally would make. Also, defensively, Western was not good wiping the defensive glass, once again losing the offensive rebound battle, a nearly pure hustle stat. Western also allowed FAU to get a rhythm later in the game shooting threes. FAU missed some wide open shots early to make it look like WKU was playing pretty good three point defense. But once again, for some reason WKU makes no effort to guard bad three point shooters. They’re still Division I athletes that can hit wide open shots. They shoot every day in the gym, too. Leave them open and you’re asking for it.

Overall Coaching: D

Many would say this should be an F. I want to be as unbiased as possible here. I believe Rick came in with a good game plan, but the issue for him continues to be adjustments. I think Rick Stansbury has very well thought out game plans, but he does not adjust well to in-game issues. He has a system he sticks to and a process that he believes in for certain situations, but sometimes that system needs to be scrapped and the process needs to be re-ordered based on the feel of the game. But everything but the game plan was a failing grade from me, so we arrive on a “D”.

Coaching Strategy: B

WKU has now gone to this matchup zone in an effort to reduce three point shooting. The problem is I think it’s too complicated and is allowing for WKU to make mistakes they normally wouldn’t make. Matchup zone is still a pretty good idea if the players on the court are better off using it than other alternatives. But that’s the question. For example, Bryan Greenlee is hot from three, WKU is in a matchup zone, Dayvion McKnight sinks over to cover a man on the wing, and Luke Frampton (I believe) sinks down to cover the man in the corner. All FAU did was pass it to the other wing, Dayvion swings over, FAU reverses the ball, and Greenlee is wide open. That’s an assignment issue. WKU had 4-on-3 on the baseline with McKnight guarding both men up top that are 20 feet apart.

I believe the matchup zone is interesting, and I actually recommended a matchup zone, but in hindsight, I’m wondering if it’s added another layer for the players on the court to mess up. If I’m the coach, I’m sticking with a 2-3 and man concept and I would sprinkle in a 1-2-2 3/4 trap press 1/4 of the game, including sometimes early in the game. Maybe a matchup zone occasionally. WKU does really well with a press, but it’s not a sustainable effort for the entire game. However, that was the only way WKU was going to get back in the game Thursday, and Rick engaged it late in the game and WKU came back in a matter of a couple of minutes.

Coaching Adjustments: F

There are plenty examples of issues. If you don’t believe me, go check our Twitter feed. Plenty of people are starting to directly call for Rick’s head, say they’re dropping their tickets and not renewing, etc. Even Facebook, one of the Rick Stansbury strongholds, is littered with negativity. If this trend continues, Todd Stewart will have to start paying attention to the will of the people, so to speak. But why is Rick in such hot water? Because he continues to show little ability to go away from his game plan. Rick’s plans before games I actually like and understand for the most part. They’re very sound. But once he gets in the game, personally I think it’s just pure stubbornness. He doesn’t make massive, obvious adjustments. But his pride or inability to adapt continues to bite him.

Perfect example came from the announcer. Paraphrasing, near the end of the game, he said, “If I’m Rick Stansbury, I go small here and I replace Jamarion Sharp with (I think he said) Josh Anderson. Jairus Hamilton played the five spot at Maryland and would be very comfortable in this role.” Honestly, at that moment it just felt like, “How does Rick not see sitting Sharp down as a good idea?” How does an announcer that hasn’t covered WKU much see it in less than a game’s time, but Rick Stansbury hasn’t figured this concept out in six years? Sharp is not going to help WKU come back in a close one, and if WKU gets ahead, he’s now a liability at the free throw line and WKU would be shooting 1-and-1’s. And Sharp had absolutely zero points. What are you losing by taking him out? Another example is the press. How often does the press create a run for WKU? It happens almost every single time WKU runs it in the Rick Stansbury era. Frankly, it’s always worked, even before Stansbury. Now, if you have an absolute weapon like Josh Anderson, who does not necessarily create his own shot in the halfcourt but is an excellent on ball chaos defender and can steal the ball with his length, why are you not playing him to his strengths and letting him sit at the top of a token pressure press for at least five minutes a game? Heck, I’d almost advocate for a mandatory ten.

I don’t understand it, especially against a team that likes to speed it up and take quick shots and chase after long rebounds. Western literally played into that style of play in the last five minutes, and I believe some token pressure actually would’ve swung this game way in WKU’s favor. FAU likes chaos, but they like to dribble up to a halfcourt offense and run around like headless chickens after crossing the timeline and hope the defense screws up. They don’t like to have to methodically move the ball up court and be 15 seconds into the shot clock before they start their offense. There’s plenty here to dissect, but frankly it’s redundant. It gets old explaining why Rick doesn’t make any sense.

Coaching Decisions: D

This is the second game in a row WKU wasn’t aware enough or possibly not even instructed to foul immediately. WKU is down six with less than 30 left. Why are you messing around trying to steal the ball? Why is WKU calling off the dogs down six?!? Heck, even down nine over 20 seconds is a live ball game if you can make some threes and get a steal or two. Also, why did Cam Justice only play 17 minutes? Is he injured? He was 7-of-10 from the floor. What’s up with that? Why didn’t you try to post up Jamarion and just see if he could make a one-on-one move? Why not play Sherman Brashear at all? Why not post up Hamilton more? Why not post up Josh Anderson?

WKU feels like it’s hanging on by a thread energy wise. Rick’s refusal to extend his bench is astounding at this point. Keith Williams is not walking through that door. Neither is Zion Harmon. So this is now the roster Rick must move forward with. Rick Stansbury needs to figure something out, because he’s losing a lot of allies very quickly. Very soon, it will be the voices that shut down the conversations about Rick not doing a good job that will be shut down in the message board threads. It will be (if it isn’t already) a vocal majority that are at minimum ok with a change at the top.

Overall: F

I understand there are more factors at work here, but this was a game you needed to win, Tops. Any margin for mercy was lost by blowing it against La Tech and getting outworked against North Texas. And frankly, you had to play really well to beat an FIU team that is 1-4 and a Rice team that is probably the fourth or fifth best team in C-USA at best. UNT literally won the game against WKU by doing exactly what they wanted and being united and playing hard. On top of needing to win, Rick Stansbury is talking with the media about how upset he was at the North Texas loss, how motivated they were, and then WKU comes out and doesn’t play like the wild animals they supposedly should be. They’re “backed into a corner” and it’s looking like any other game’s effort. This was a game WKU probably should have won by double digits if the Tops had some luck and played with relentless efort. Bunnies from inside ten feet somehow rolled off, etc. But that happens when you’re not focused.

But somehow FAU had offensive flow and WKU had none, relying on discombobulated elite talent to make enough shots to stay in the game. Once WKU started missing outside shots (or not taking them), the game swung to FAU and the Hilltoppers were on the back foot from that point on.

But there’s something that’s at minimum concerning with this team.

Can you put your finger on it? I can’t. They’re a mystery in many ways. So much talent, and so much talent that has surprised us! Jamarion Sharp was not supposed to be an NBA draft pick from day one, but he could be. Jairus Hamilton was not supposed to be the best player on the team. Josh Anderson was not expected to be as consistent as he has been. Dayvion McKnight certainly wasn’t on my radar to be a Player of the Year type of candidate. Cam Justice wasn’t even supposed to be on the team!

You have all of these individual players that are showing wonderful promise this year, but WKU seems to be getting worse rather than better. You’re telling me you have six solid pieces and you can’t figure out how to cobble a roster with several other scholarship players that you have chosen to be here? Most teams would kill to have six double figure scorers.

Are they tired and beat up? If so, why isn’t the bench getting some minutes to manage the injuries?

Are they just in a funk? Ok great. How do you fight through a funk or a slump in sports? Keep playing hard. Play even harder.

More than once the past few games, Jairus Hamilton has been on camera arguing or at least bantering back and forth with Rick Stansbury. He seems frustrated with something. Is it Rick? Is it just that he’s frustrated with himself? This isn’t a rumor mill, but what is actually going on?

I think it’s fair to ask these questions now that there’s fire with the smoke, so to speak. If WKU loses to FIU, I feel like the dumpster fire GIF is going to be highly overused. And the Big Red sitting in a room saying, “Everything is fine.” Or the guy with the blank stare on his face nodding and pointing to his temple. You pick your favorite, I guess.

It should be interesting to write about for sure. However, honestly as a true diehard WKU fan, and I think if I dare speak for the rest of Towel Rack, we would all agree: We would love to just write about an awesome turnaround and how Rick Stansbury saved his job and took us to the promised land.

Is that so much to ask? Let’s beat FIU and let’s run this conference. There is no reason we can’t after six seasons of near misses. Get it done, Tops. We’re behind you.