Deonta Vaughn's Role

[jbreeds1]

Does anyone else see Vaughn's role changing slightly because of Lance's signing? It's interesting to think of how many times Vaughn has had to change his approach to the team in each and every season. He is the ultimate chameleon. I wonder what kind of player he's going to be this year because of the Stephenson effect.

[BearcatAlum1]

It's............"The Lance Stephenson Effect."

If anything, he'll score more. We should have 4 starters scoring 10+ points, with 3 guys getting around 15 points.

I still think Deonta leads the team in scoring.

[Bearcat Jeff]

Let's be honest here. If Lance is cleared his presence will make everybody better because it will open the floor. Gates will benefit, Vaughn will benefit, Cash will benefit, everyone on the floor will benefit. This kid can score. He may be the best ball handler on the team and he can pass. For anybody who hasn't seen him play go to You Tube and watch some video of him. He is truly an amazing talent.

[MDW79]

I agree with Alum's prediction. Just because of type of lineup we have I think it will create plenty of shots to go around. If we run as much as I think we will, I think it maybe somewhat similiar to Memphis's team 2 years ago as far as scoring balance.

[GoBearcats31]

A bit off topic, but Deonta deserves a trip to the NCAA Tournament this year more than anybody, so hopefully if Lance works out this just seals the deal. UC has been considered a tournament cotender, but now they are looking at preseason Top 25 no doubt.

[BearcatAlum1]

^ I think they could be considered a top 20 team, possibly top 15. After the top 3 or 4 teams, there isn't much out there.

PG - Cash (4*; Top 100 recruit; 11th best PG)
SG - Vaughn (4*; 2-time first-team BigEast)
SF - Born REady (5*; McDonald AA; all-time leading scorer in NY history)
PF - Gates (5*; top 25 recruit; BigEast All Frosh team)
PF - Toyloy or Thomas (Toyloy had offers from several schools out of JUCO, including Memphis with Calipari; Thomas is proven 6'11'' in Big12; Big12 all Frosh team).

P.S. Toyloy could be our Joey Dorsey.

[Richard_Head]

A bit off topic, but Deonta deserves a trip to the NCAA Tournament this year more than anybody, so hopefully if Lance works out this just seals the deal. UC has been considered a tournament cotender, but now they are looking at preseason Top 25 no doubt.

Just heard Mike Decourcy on with Lance say that with Lance Stephenson this is a top 25 team right now.

[BeastUC]

Just heard Mike Decourcy on with Lance say that with Lance Stephenson this is a top 25 team right now.

Now there's a surprise.

[Cats for Life]

Top 25??? If Lance comes we are top 15 easily. Take a long hard look at this team. We have everything. My only concern will be the 5 position although I think we can rotate Biggie, Toyloy, Gates,and even Thomas.

We are freakin loaded. Gates is going to be a load down low.

[Richard_Head]

Top 25??? If Lance comes we are top 15 easily. Take a long hard look at this team. We have everything. My only concern will be the 5 position although I think we can rotate Biggie, Toyloy, Gates,and even Thomas.

We are freakin loaded. Gates is going to be a load down low.

Baby steps, I'd be happy just starting out in the Top 25 at the start of the season.

[Namrag]

My big concern is 2 go-to guys sharing one ball. Deonte has been "the man" for all 3 years of his career at UC. As a senior he expects to be "THE MAN" on the team. He certainly expects to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly expects to not take a backseat to anyone.

Then we have Lance, who as a burgerboy, expected one-and-done, 13 months away from being an NBA player.... he certainly will come in expecting to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly will come in expecting to not take a backseat to anyone...

That gives us the potential for trouble.

Huggs was able to manange DeMarr and Kenyon... Mick will have a similar situation to manage.

[Richard_Head]

My big concern is 2 go-to guys sharing one ball. Deonte has been "the man" for all 3 years of his career at UC. As a senior he expects to be "THE MAN" on the team. He certainly expects to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly expects to not take a backseat to anyone.

Then we have Lance, who as a burgerboy, expected one-and-done, 13 months away from being an NBA player.... he certainly will come in expecting to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly will come in expecting to not take a backseat to anyone...

That gives us the potential for trouble.

Huggs was able to manange DeMarr and Kenyon... Mick will have a similar situation to manage.

Didn't that team also have Kenny Saterfield, and Pete Michael aswell. I don't think you have to worry about more then one scorer on the team, they should help each other.

[Carin's Dad]

Top 25??? If Lance comes we are top 15 easily. Take a long hard look at this team. We have everything. My only concern will be the 5 position although I think we can rotate Biggie, Toyloy, Gates,and even Thomas.

We are freakin loaded. Gates is going to be a load down low.I'm not a Mick hater by any means, but the one thing we don't have is a proven Big East coach. Give this team to Calhoun, Huggins or Boeheim and it's top 15, no doubt. With Mick, he's got some coaching to do to prove he can coach as well as he recruits.

[BearcatAlum1]

Top 5? C'mon now. I think we're talented, but still very young and inexperienced.

Before "Born Ready" committed to UC, we had 4 new players and only 2 Seniors (one being a JUCO guy).

Now we have 4 Frosh (two that will start (Cash and Born Ready); one that will get solid minutes (SK); and Parker (probably limited contributor), 2 Sophomores (Dixon and Gates), some experienced Juniors and two Seniors.

[qsilvr2531]

My big concern is 2 go-to guys sharing one ball. Deonte has been "the man" for all 3 years of his career at UC. As a senior he expects to be "THE MAN" on the team. He certainly expects to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly expects to not take a backseat to anyone.

Then we have Lance, who as a burgerboy, expected one-and-done, 13 months away from being an NBA player.... he certainly will come in expecting to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly will come in expecting to not take a backseat to anyone...

That gives us the potential for trouble.

Huggs was able to manange DeMarr and Kenyon... Mick will have a similar situation to manage.

Maybe, but Vaughn might also expect to win and might enjoy not being the only offensive weapon on the team. According to his scouting reports, Stephenson is more of a slasher with a nice pull-up so Vaughn should still be free to run off screens, shoot three's and use his mid range game, while Cash and Stephenson are able to penetrate and score or pass.

Having lance should take alot of pressure off of Cash as well, as Cash won't be required to do as much on offense. And having multiple guys that can penetrate will help open things up for Gates inside.

[GoCats1994]

It's............"The Lance Stephenson Effect."

If anything, he'll score more. We should have 4 starters scoring 10+ points, with 3 guys getting around 15 points.

I still think Deonta leads the team in scoring.

Vaughn:

Freshman year: Took 23.4% of the teams shots, took 17.2% of the team's FT's, and scored 22.4% of the team's total points (434 points)
Sophomore year: Took 22.9% of the teams shots, took 21.9% of the team's FT's, and scored 26.8% of the team's total points (554 points)
Junior year: Took 21.3% of the teams shots, took 21.3% of the team's FT's, and scored 22.1% of the team's total points (488 points)

Not sure how I see DV's production going up when, in theory, there will be more offensive options for UC than DV is accustomed to working with.

Perhaps his FG% will increase since he should be getting better looks (not needing to force things)...

Perhaps UC's total point production will increase...although I think this will be contingent on how much Mick wants to let them run...

Although, assuming everyone is healthy...I would be highly, highly surprised if Vaughn takes 20% of the shots this year.

As to the original topic of this thread...I think DV's role on this team will be (a) leadership, (b) shooting/scoring, (c) ball in his hands at crunch time - until another reliable option presents itself...(which hopefully happens...which would force the opposing coach to defend multiple scenarios when the game is on the line)

[Richard_Head]

Having lance should take alot of pressure off of Cash as well, as Cash won't be required to do as much on offense. And having multiple guys that can penetrate will help open things up for Gates inside.

I think this is a very good point Cash was going to have a lot of pressure as the guy we were missing last year, now with Born Ready he has someone else to share in that pressure.

[BearcatAlum1]

Vaughn:

Freshman year: Took 23.4% of the teams shots, took 17.2% of the team's FT's, and scored 22.4% of the team's total points (434 points)
Sophomore year: Took 22.9% of the teams shots, took 21.9% of the team's FT's, and scored 26.8% of the team's total points (554 points)
Junior year: Took 21.3% of the teams shots, took 21.3% of the team's FT's, and scored 22.1% of the team's total points (488 points)

Not sure how I see DV's production going up when, in theory, there will be more offensive options for UC than DV is accustomed to working with.

Perhaps his FG% will increase since he should be getting better looks (not needing to force things)...

Perhaps UC's total point production will increase...although I think this will be contingent on how much Mick wants to let them run...

Although, assuming everyone is healthy...I would be highly, highly surprised if Vaughn takes 20% of the shots this year.

As to the original topic of this thread...I think DV's role on this team will be (a) leadership, (b) shooting/scoring, (c) ball in his hands at crunch time - until another reliable option presents itself...(which hopefully happens...which would force the opposing coach to defend multiple scenarios when the game is on the line)

Just because the scoring percentage doesn't go up, doesn't mean he won't score more.

I think feel very confident that we score at least 10 more points this year on offense. In fact, it's not unreasonable to think we score about 15 points more.

Vaughn should get open looks and higher percentage shots. I can't wait to have him spot up while Cash or Born Ready creates when the shot clock gets low.

[Joe_Pong]

I don't think Vaughn's role will change. It just means that we don't have to rely on him like we used to. That is a good thing, considering how streaky he is. He'll score a whole bunch of points in a short period, then will disappear for the rest of the game. Or he'll go nearly scoreless for the entire first half, then come out in the second half and score about 15 in the first 10 minutes, then disappear again. If he continues that trend, we now have someone to pick up the slack when he is in one of his dry spells. Or maybe Stephenson will push him to maintain his performance throughout the entire game.

[BearcatAlum1]

^ Good point. Vaughn has always been able to score in bunches, hence his huge output in some games.

However, now we have plenty of scoring options to help when he is dry or can't get high percentage shots.

Could there be a concern that we only have 1 basketball?

[Bearcat Jeff]

that could be a concern, but my guess is the current guys want to win. Vaughn, Gates, Stehenson.....sounds like a solid triangle to me.

[BeastUC]

Could there be a concern that we only have 1 basketball?[/QUOTE]

Not if we play the uptempo style Mick has said he's wanted to play.
I think that will create more shots to keep everyone happy.
I can see Vaughn,BR and Gates putting in about 15 ppg each,which would be good to have an inside/outside combo along with a slasher.

[jbreeds1]

Vaughn:

Freshman year: Took 23.4% of the teams shots, took 17.2% of the team's FT's, and scored 22.4% of the team's total points (434 points)
Sophomore year: Took 22.9% of the teams shots, took 21.9% of the team's FT's, and scored 26.8% of the team's total points (554 points)
Junior year: Took 21.3% of the teams shots, took 21.3% of the team's FT's, and scored 22.1% of the team's total points (488 points)

Not sure how I see DV's production going up when, in theory, there will be more offensive options for UC than DV is accustomed to working with.

Perhaps his FG% will increase since he should be getting better looks (not needing to force things)...

Perhaps UC's total point production will increase...although I think this will be contingent on how much Mick wants to let them run...

Although, assuming everyone is healthy...I would be highly, highly surprised if Vaughn takes 20% of the shots this year.

As to the original topic of this thread...I think DV's role on this team will be (a) leadership, (b) shooting/scoring, (c) ball in his hands at crunch time - until another reliable option presents itself...(which hopefully happens...which would force the opposing coach to defend multiple scenarios when the game is on the line)

Great stuff! Thanks for bringing the original topic back.

[Joe_Pong]

My big concern is 2 go-to guys sharing one ball. Deonte has been "the man" for all 3 years of his career at UC. As a senior he expects to be "THE MAN" on the team. He certainly expects to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly expects to not take a backseat to anyone.

Then we have Lance, who as a burgerboy, expected one-and-done, 13 months away from being an NBA player.... he certainly will come in expecting to be the focus of the team's offense, and certainly will come in expecting to not take a backseat to anyone...

That gives us the potential for trouble.

Huggs was able to manange DeMarr and Kenyon... Mick will have a similar situation to manage.

I actually think Huggs did a poor job managing that team. It was great at the beginning of that year, if you remember...everyone was involved, scoring was coming from everywhere, we were explosive and impossible to defend becasue of all our options. Then as the season went on, the contribution from the other players (especially Dermarr) was extremely limited and we became very one dimensional and relied more and more on Kenyon, and were much easier to defend. We weren't nearly as good at the end of the year as we should have been, which is why I still maintain we would NOT have won a NC that season even with a healthy Kenyon. ****, even St. Louis was kicking our *** in the conference tourney before Kenyon went down. Other teams like Michigan State had surpassed us by then.

[Bearcat Jeff]

I think even after Kenyon went down there was enough talent that the team should have gone to the sweet 16.

[Carin's Dad]

Could there be a concern that we only have 1 basketball?

I suspect Kilpatrick had A LOT to do with BR coming to UC. He'll want some minutes with his buddy too! I personally think he'll earn them and be a great player for us.

[BeastUC]

And here we go with the Huggins stuff.***rolling my eyes***

[Joe_Pong]

^ Good point. Vaughn has always been able to score in bunches, hence his huge output in some games.

However, now we have plenty of scoring options to help when he is dry or can't get high percentage shots.

Could there be a concern that we only have 1 basketball?

I wouldn't worry about that. If you remember, people on this board were saying the same thing prior to last season...talking about how this team was so loaded offensively, how we are two deep at every position, and have tons of guys who can score. It's not like this team has a ton of proven big time scorers returning. Deonta Vaughn is the only proven scorer on the team right now. Stephenson should be able to help him out, and Gates hopefully can do some damage inside, but too many scorers is definitely not a problem right now.

[Joe_Pong]

And here we go with the Huggins stuff.***rolling my eyes***

It has nothing to do with Huggs. The point is, last time we had a team that had a lot of offensive weapons, the problem was actually the opposite of what you expect. Instead of not having enough balls to go around, we actually became too one-dimensional.

[BearcatAlum1]

^ Not worried about too many scorers. I'm worried about 1 ball.

Whether or not the shots go in is not concerning me right now. I'm more worried that there will be enough shots to go around.