Cusick should start

Looks like Rose took my advice, since Carlino came off the bench on Saturday night. Looked a lot more comfortable as the 2nd guy. Of course, that could also be the level of competition difference.

hawkwing wrote:
Looks like Rose took my advice, since Carlino came off the bench on Saturday night. Looked a lot more comfortable as the 2nd guy. Of course, that could also be the level of competition difference.

This is a tough call. On one hand Cusick starting brings a calm, under control presence to the court. On the other we're not as aggressive. I like how Carlino pushes the ball and his vision on the court. Watch Cusick, he rarely, if ever, dribbles past the 3 point line. We need some dribble penetration.



Carlino should just resign to the fact he's not a 3 point shooter and temper his aggressiveness just a bit.



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And of course Carlino still couldn't shoot. But at least he returned to his distributing ways. He had 17 assists in the first two games and then eight in the next three.

SpiffCoug wrote:
And of course Carlino still couldn't shoot. But at least he returned to his distributing ways. He had 17 assists in the first two games and then eight in the next three.

He did have a couple of buckets off the dribble. I think that's where he'll be able to do the most damage for us; just needs to lay off on the 3 point shooting.



If we had a 2 that could shoot consistently from behind the arc there would be no need whatsoever for Carlino to launch 3s between Haws and our 2 guard. We don't have a legit 2, though.



Seems to me, Carlino gets in the most trouble when he shoots 3s and when he tries to push the ball a bit too fast and dribble into traffic on a fast break. In a half court set, I think his ball handling is great; he has an ability to create, which we desperately needs.



Cusick, literally brings the ball up the court, passes it off around the top of the key and then hangs out around the arc. Good, safe sound ball but that's it. If you notice, Cusick usually gets his buckets off of passes from...Carlino.

Cusick puts the "sick" in free throw shooting. he should learn to make more than 65% of his free throws and then I'll clamor for him to see more court time. Oh and PS he should also learn not to pick up his dribble at stupid times as well.

Gunk wrote:
Cusick, literally brings the ball up the court, passes it off around the top of the key and then hangs out around the arc. Good, safe sound ball but that's it. If you notice, Cusick usually gets his buckets off of passes from...Carlino.

I don't know what games you have been watching. I don't think Carlino even has enough assists for your final jab to be within the realm of reality.



If you watch Cusick, he is MUCH more active off the ball than Carlino, and Cusick's activity is generally aimed at freeing the other four guys up. Cusick spends a lot of time crossing down low and setting screens to try and free up the other guys, which might explain why his +/- eclipses Carlino's so badly. Cusick off the ball is a true team player looking to get team points on the board any way he can, while Carlino off the ball is a guy waiting for someone to pass him the ball so he can try to shoot his way out of a 10-month slump and fill his stat line.

snoscythe wrote:

Cusick, literally brings the ball up the court, passes it off around the top of the key and then hangs out around the arc. Good, safe sound ball but that's it. If you notice, Cusick usually gets his buckets off of passes from...Carlino.

I don't know what games you have been watching. I don't think Carlino even has enough assists for your final jab to be within the realm of reality.



If you watch Cusick, he is MUCH more active off the ball than Carlino, and Cusick's activity is generally aimed at freeing the other four guys up. Cusick spends a lot of time crossing down low and setting screens to try and free up the other guys, which might explain why his +/- eclipses Carlino's so badly. Cusick off the ball is a true team player looking to get team points on the board any way he can, while Carlino off the ball is a guy waiting for someone to pass him the ball so he can try to shoot his way out of a 10-month slump and fill his stat line.

This. I'm a Cusick guy after watching last year and early this year. Both Need to get better. 65% FT is unacceptable unless you are Shaq.

We don't have a legit 2. And we don't have a legit 4. C'mon Kaufusi!! I can't wait to see a big body putting on the hurt. Love to see drawn charges and even some flops. But we need some muscle, not BDavies taking stupid cheap swipes at the ball getting fouls and sitting down early.

snoscythe wrote:

Cusick, literally brings the ball up the court, passes it off around the top of the key and then hangs out around the arc. Good, safe sound ball but that's it. If you notice, Cusick usually gets his buckets off of passes from...Carlino.

I don't know what games you have been watching. I don't think Carlino even has enough assists for your final jab to be within the realm of reality.



If you watch Cusick, he is MUCH more active off the ball than Carlino, and Cusick's activity is generally aimed at freeing the other four guys up. Cusick spends a lot of time crossing down low and setting screens to try and free up the other guys, which might explain why his +/- eclipses Carlino's so badly. Cusick off the ball is a true team player looking to get team points on the board any way he can, while Carlino off the ball is a guy waiting for someone to pass him the ball so he can try to shoot his way out of a 10-month slump and fill his stat line.

Is that when he's in playing the 1 or playing the 2? Carlino has never played the 2 and the two positions have different roles.



I'll give you Cusick moves better without the ball, but my point was when playing the 1 Cusick never dribbles past the 3 point line. The ball is out of his hands. It's safe basketball and probably part of the reason Cusick's +/- is better. There is no dribble penetration, no shot creation. Cusick passes it to Davies or Haws and let's them do the work. Fine he may set a screen, etc. but for a guard Cusick's assist numbers are low. Carlino leads the team at 5.2 followed by Haws at 3.2 then Zylstra and Cusick at 2.8 and Davies at 2.7.



We are hurting for points. And given our lack at the 4 and 2, IMO we'd be better with a 1 that can create his own shot and dish assists. Cusick can't do that. Yes, Carlino is erratic. Yes, he turns the ball over and yes he can't hit a 3 if his life depends on it. But he can create, push the ball and dish assists, that's why IMO if he tempers his tempo, focuses on getting to the lane and either shooting or passing and ditches 3, I think Carlino could be a much more effective player than Cusick.



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If Bronco were the BB coach, it would be Carlino through March.....

BoiseBYU wrote:
If Bronco were the BB coach, it would be Carlino through March.....

That is a fun line, but the situation is a little different.



Carlino is a far superior talent than Cusick. Kudos to Cusick for maximizing his talent but Carlino can do so many things Cusick cannot.



Maybe the situation would be more like Taysom Hill starting then struggling and getting pulled for Nelson.



I think Cusick starting works because he gets out of Davies and Haws way. Carlino is more ball dominate and can cover up for less talented bench players better than Cusick.

Qman wrote:

If Bronco were the BB coach, it would be Carlino through March.....

That is a fun line, but the situation is a little different.



Carlino is a far superior talent than Cusick. Kudos to Cusick for maximizing his talent but Carlino can do so many things Cusick cannot.



Maybe the situation would be more like Taysom Hill starting then struggling and getting pulled for Nelson.



I think Cusick starting works because he gets out of Davies and Haws way. Carlino is more ball dominate and can cover up for less talented bench players better than Cusick.

I think you mean Carlino has way more hype than Cusick. Carlino disappears against superior guards, while Cusick who is never too up and never too down remains at about the same level regardless of who he's playing.



Carlino is essentially Zylstra, just a version of Zylstra that the fans thought was going to be amazing so have given a complete pass to him for all his wild and out of control play against any team with a decent guard. But boy can he dominate crappy guards.

Too bad Calvert is going on a mission next year. We could really use him next year that's for sure. Maybe Kyle Collinsworth can run the point next year somewhat. If we land Jabari Parker you guys think Calvert may stay??

beauso79 wrote:
Too bad Calvert is going on a mission next year. We could really use him next year that's for sure. Maybe Kyle Collinsworth can run the point next year somewhat. If we land Jabari Parker you guys think Calvert may stay??

Calvert gets trapped. I don't think Calvert is any better than Carlino. Plus we're forgetting Carlino is just a sophomore.



Kyle's ball handling is horrid. He may have gotten away a bit in HS running the point but in college if he dribbled more than 3 times he got picked. That said, I am looking forward to him returning so that we have a legit 2. Either Kyle or Haws can play the 2.



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hawkwing wrote:

BoiseBYU wrote:
If Bronco were the BB coach, it would be Carlino through March.....

That is a fun line, but the situation is a little different.



Carlino is a far superior talent than Cusick. Kudos to Cusick for maximizing his talent but Carlino can do so many things Cusick cannot.



Maybe the situation would be more like Taysom Hill starting then struggling and getting pulled for Nelson.



I think Cusick starting works because he gets out of Davies and Haws way. Carlino is more ball dominate and can cover up for less talented bench players better than Cusick.

I think you mean Carlino has way more hype than Cusick. Carlino disappears against superior guards, while Cusick who is never too up and never too down remains at about the same level regardless of who he's playing.



Carlino is essentially Zylstra, just a version of Zylstra that the fans thought was going to be amazing so have given a complete pass to him for all his wild and out of control play against any team with a decent guard. But boy can he dominate crappy guards.

Are you trying to say that Cusick is a better player now or a better talent?



For some facts lets go to the stats-



http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/32062/craig-cusick" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Cusick is averaging 6.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg with 1.7 turnovers in 25 mpg. 37.5 % FG, 55.6 % FT and 36.8 % 3PT.



Carlino is averaging 5.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.2 apg with 1.3 turnovers in 23 mpg. 31.1 % FG, 60.0 %FT and 5.9 % 3pt.



Last year Carlino averaged 12.2 ppg (in 27 mpg with 40% FG). The 6.0 ppg Cusick averages this year is his career high. Carlino has already done some that Cusick as never done. Average more than 4 apg and 10 ppg.



Yes Carlino was out of control and yes he has struggled this year. It was a good move to bench him- he wasn't playing well. But Carlino's A game is 2 or 3 levels above Cusick's A game.



At the end of the year I expect Carlino to be averaging double figures again with 4-5 assists. I expect Cusick to be steady at his 6 ppg.

What I'm saying is that Cusick is steady at what he gives you. He will give you what he gives you against every opponent, great or terrible.



Carlino will rack up big numbers against very bad teams, and will and has cost us games against better opponents. His upside appears to be greater, but there's no need for him to be starting until he starts to show some of that potential against good teams.

Carlino has had one very good game in a big game- our win against Gonzaga last year



Against Gonzaga at home last year



28 minutes, 18 pts, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers on 7-13 from the field.



As I recall this was the game he was able to get to the hoop.



As for him not costing games against good opponents he just needs to try and do a little less and rely on Davies and Haws to carry the load.

Exactly. I'm concerned that Carlino's only good game against a decent opponent was his first game ever in a BYU uniform.

hawkwing wrote:
Exactly. I'm concerned that Carlino's only good game against a decent opponent was his first game ever in a BYU uniform.

Isn't that 2 good games against a decent opponent? Baylor and Gonzaga? Cusick has had zero good games against a good opponent, Carlino 2. I agree tht Carlino needs to improve, but Cusick, and his miss every other free throw, pick up the ball in bad situations and dribble off his foot, doesn’t seem to me to be the answer. I’d rather see Winder

From Greg Wrubell.



Matt Carlino is 1/17 from the arc in '12-13 and has missed 70 of his last 87 3pfga. He's so much better than those stats; he'll come around.

hawkwing wrote:
From Greg Wrubell.



Matt Carlino is 1/17 from the arc in '12-13 and has missed 70 of his last 87 3pfga. He's so much better than those stats; he'll come around.

I don't buy this from Wrubell. I'm not sold on Carlino coming around. I don't think we'll have great PG play this year.