Nick is now averaging:
14.0 ppg
8.2 rpg
2.5 bpg
shooting 63% from the field
shooting 76% from the free throw line (16/21).
Nick deserves some praise. Great improvement so far, Nick! :clap::clap:
Nick Richards stats through 6 games
- Thread starter Son_Of_Saul
- Start date
Nick is now averaging:
14.0 ppg
8.2 rpg
2.5 bpg
shooting 63% from the field
shooting 76% from the free throw line (16/21).
Nick deserves some praise. Great improvement so far, Nick! :clap::clap:
Definitely has made some improvement. Let’s hope it continues to show when the competition gets a little better.
76% might be my favorite number up there. If he could make 4-5 trips to the line, that’s huge.
Patience does wonders for some of these raw big guys but I gotta be honest, I was just hoping he’d go from liability to contributor. His transformation thus far was totally unexpected for me.
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At the start of the season, there were many on this board - including me - who were just hoping Nick could give us about 7 to 9 points and 6 to 7 rebounds/game. Even if Nick takes a statistical step back when the SEC portion of the schedule gets here, I think we'll still only need those initial projected numbers from him.
Right now, our wing forwards - Juzang, Brooks, Whitney - and our 4 man EJ need to take the step forward.
Nick is doing more than any of us had hoped he would. The other guys need to step it up now.
I can remember before the season we were all having doubts about Richards. We all hoped to see improvement this season, but I don't know if anyone really expected what we've seen so far. He is blossoming before our eyes. I really think this is just the beginning for him, too. This is really his first opportunity with extended minutes and touches in multiple games. It's his show now, though. He's going to get 25-30 minutes every night out. With that kind of time, he's going to keep improving. I couldn't be more happy for him and the team.
I am more than happy with what Richards has done thus far, but I'm more interested in what he's going to do against teams that are good. His 5 point 4 rebound night against Michigan State doesn't look like much, but his value was in his defense that night.
Nick is the primary example to why I hope to see UK get ahead of the sponsorship rule change. If Cal keeps these secondish/thirdish-tier guys around UK for three years at a time, we're going to see some incredible shifts in our program. Here's my very developmentally raw suggestion:
1. The sponsorship element is coming. Our fans need to accept this reality and get behind it now before the change officially comes. Rhetorically fighting for "amateurism" does nothing at this point.
2. In light of the coming rule/legal change, UK needs to identify what has been it's greatest weakness in the Cal Era ( retaining 2nd/3rd tier players) and turn it into a strength. How do we do that as a program?
3. The answer to point two might go like this: get a sponsorship conglomerate of, say, 12 to 15 businesses. They collectively pull together a few hundred thousand dollars. In exchange, a player like Richards allows them to use him image for their own marketing purposes. Richards, being a low level NBA player (but also a potential high level college player) could then make a few hundred thousand off his image/name.
4. If guys like Richards/EJ/Brooks made perhaps $200,000/annually off their image/brand, it might give them a bit more incentive to stick around for that crucial third year of college. NBA two-way contracts don't pay much (Poythress made less than $80,000 one season), and the D-League's highest pay is less than $160,000/year.
5. Ultimately, it's still a stretch that these guys would want to stick around, but it's better than the present situation that doesn't help them financially at all. A guy like EJ might be more comfortable sticking around school for an extra year while also getting a jump start on his financial earnings by walking out of UK with a few hundred thousand to his name.
If Nick could fight for position and hold it a little longer in the post would be amazing. In the end, I’m proud of Nick for seeing this thing through and not getting down on himself.
I’m not going to lie, I was one of those that thought if the team had to depend on him then they were in trouble, glad I was wrong.
I’m not going to lie, I was one of those that thought if the team had to depend on him then they were in trouble, glad I was wrong.
I’m still not sold on him. He has zero hands.
This is part of my mojo thing.
This is part of my mojo thing.
But couldn't we find flaws with any big guy in the second/third tier? Walter McCarty was no real low post threat under Pitino, but he was used according to his strengths. We see the same of guys like Reid Travis (marginal shooter, limited defensively); Erik Daniels (lacking in strength/shooting ability for an interior stretch four guy) or his pal Chuck Hayes (lacking height for a 5 man); Rodney Dent (pretty one-dimensional offensively). The list goes on. All those guys started for teams that won 30 games or more at UK.
I'm not making a case that Nick is the second coming of WCS or anything, but he's doing exactly what Cal needs him to do - rebound, block shots, make free throws, be at least competent on offense.
He’s doing great so far, I just don’t want to jinx him. You can tell he’s playing with a great deal of confidence right now. No longer fumbling every ball around. His mind is playing at the same speed as his body. Just looks much more natural.
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anon_013cn8yrfncx2
Guest
Was shooting nearly 90% from the line until he lost focus on those meaningless two at the end of the game.
As I’ve often noted in Nick threads, he’s making normal progression for a guy who’s only been playing the game a few years.
As I’ve often noted in Nick threads, he’s making normal progression for a guy who’s only been playing the game a few years.
I want him to be consistent. Providing interior defense and rebounding is crucial for our team success. Without his rebounding, we would be out rebounded in every game. Glad to see him with confidence.
It wouldn't surprise me if those even get better when the team starts settling Into their individual roles. He is most improved player in nation.
I like EJ’s game as of late too. Attacking the rim, rebounding some. Solid D. I could still do without his hideous long jumpers, but at least he’s hitting a few now.
His FT% would have been higher had the announcer not jinxed him last night. Started talking about it before he had taken a FT. NR then went 0-2. Darn announcers!
This is what we expected out of EJ and just hoped Nick would be consistent.
One thing that helps Nick is that he's not fouling every time he guards someone....included during the free throw timeout. :eyes:
Extremely impressed. If he can play like this in conference play then we’ll be cookin’
I’ve really been pulling for Richards. He’s brought me off the couch with a few plays this year, plays he wouldn’t have finished year’s prior.
He seems more confident, and that goes a long way for players. Here’s to hoping he continues with this type of poise as we get closer to sec play.
He seems more confident, and that goes a long way for players. Here’s to hoping he continues with this type of poise as we get closer to sec play.
Especially since that 200K involves zero bills, an easy college life, and travel only for certain games. That’s love right there and better than an actual job even if it is basketball.
He's also finally getting consistent, extended playing time. He was always on a very short leash with one eye on the sideline. He seems to be relaxing and playing with more confidence with the extra court time.
But why do we label his hands as poor when he so effortlessly gets the lob dunks almost like Willie did in his era? I'll agree that his hands to hold on to the ball in the paint with his back to the basket isn't great....but he at least has good enough hands to grab tough lob dunks in traffic.
I was bashing his hands before the season. Again, part of the mojo. No looking back now.
Agreed if the zebras would allow.
I remember seeing him get gun shy after a couple quick fouls.
Nick Richards is playing to his strengths. He is hustling up and down the floor, catching the alley-oop and being disruptive on defense. If he keeps those things up along with snagging a few boards and hitting his free throws both he and UK will have an awesome season.
Richards is doing his part and then some.
It’s funny, it seems like every year before the season starts, we say that something will be a weakness for us and it ends up being a strength. Our inside game was suppose to be an area for concern, but so far it’s been pretty solid and Richards is the main reason.
It’s funny, it seems like every year before the season starts, we say that something will be a weakness for us and it ends up being a strength. Our inside game was suppose to be an area for concern, but so far it’s been pretty solid and Richards is the main reason.
EJ has titanic shoulders. He’ll never do it but if he stayed four years he’d be a much better version of those grown men Bama and LSU are always terrorizing us with because they have no NBA future to leave for.