Ferris State senior center Justin Keenan became the GLIAC's all-time leading scorer during Saturday's game against Grand Valley State. BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University suffered a tough loss to rival Grand Valley State in a hard-fought battle between the two rivals in Jim Wink Arena on Saturday afternoon by an 82-80 score in overtime.
FSU-GVSU games, particularly in basketball, rarely disappoint from an excitement standpoint these days.
It has been interesting to hear a lot of complaining and disrespect toward Justin Keenan, Ferris' standout big man.
I found this post-game comment from Grand Valley men's basketball coach Ric Wesley to be more than a little interesting.
“It was sort of an epic game,” Wesley said to the Grand Rapids Press after his team earned the victory over the Bulldogs. “I think we were ready to play. They were doing all they could not to let (Justin) Ringler get going and we were trying not to let Keenan shoot 20 free throws in the game.”
It's hard to tell if GVSU coach Wesley is taking a swipe at Keenan, if he is taking a swipe at the officials or perhaps a little bit of both.
Wesley seems to give Ringler respect, but seems to imply that Keenan only gets to the free throw line and is not successful based on his skill.
Well, its hard not to believe what Ric says isn't true. Just look at the stats. I have been following men's college basketball for all of my life and Justin is one the most overrated player I have ever seen in my life. The stats don't lie. Just look at his stats from all 4 years he has been there, every year he has the most free throws attempted and made. That is where 90-95% of points come from. It shows just how "soft" and "cheap" the gliac and D2 basketball has become. How are you going to have a guy who is a won all of the preseason, conference and national awards based on the fact that he attempts and makes alot of free throws. Now I know basketball very well and I know that the good players get to the line often but when that is where you basically get all your production from, that truly does a show lack of skills. When I think of a conference or national player of the year or even an all american, I think of a player who is so good that no matter what the game plan is that he is still going to get his from any spot on the court he wants...not just a free throw line when you have no defense guarding you. Anyone can sit there and make 20-30 free throws when you dont have a hand in your face or someone all over you. Good or great players normally have opposing coaches game plan is to keep the ball out of there hands, or no help no cover defense, double or triple teaming, I have never heard of "let keeps him from getting to the free throw line" or "man, that kid is tough, he just can't be stopped from the free throw line!!!" Once again just look at the stats!!! Very common theme throughout his career..its not uncommon that his stat line usually reads somewhere like 4-16 from the field and 24-28 from the free throw stripe..doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where the stats are coming from. Take away the 20-30 free throws per game that he gets and he would have mediocre to average stats at best. Just look at the recent great ferris players, even conference and national players of the year (such as David Logan and Josh Bostic)these different players prove themselves great players with the skills and talent that they possessed.
ReplyDeleteRic Wesley comments didn't directly question Justin Keenan skills but just for the sheer fact that his comments made you feel it seems to "imply that Keenan only gets to the free throw line and is not successful based on his skill," shows that Ric Wesley isn't the only person who is implying this and its obviously crossed your mind as well for you to even mention it.
Once again stats don't lie, on most nights he is going to the line more by himself more than the whole opposing team goes!!! Heck his career alone he has made more free throws than field goals, 783 free throws so far in career to 721 field goals. Its also an insult to true ball fans and players when you have a guy winning all these awards based on free throws!!!
The stats do not lie. People should box out and get in the weight room. Complaining about your opponent getting to the free throw line is not going to stop him from getting to the free throw line. Better still, instead of jacking up jump shots from the outside, maybe more teams should try going into the low post and getting to the free throw line.
ReplyDeleteHe is winning awards because he is outworking people. His haters are the ones trying to drag him down out of pure jealousy. They need to get to work to improve their game rather than hating on some other player.
Your comment shows the hatred you have for him, but hey it's cool. Keep hating on him as he keeps collecting hardware. He just added another GLIAC Player of the Year to his collection while his haters are taking shots at him and trying to take shots at him. If they had the game they would go out and stop him.
Minus the game there is only one thing left: haterism.
The guy who wrote the Russian novel length comment doesn't know squat about basketball and obviously has no respect for the game.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, Logan and Bostic were fine players that I had a chance to see on many different occasions. I will not badmouth them as student-athletes or their accomplishments unlike the commenter above (with the exception being something related to an extreme lack of sportsmanship, but that is another issue). I believe in respect for student-athletes and their accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteLogan and Bostic were great players because they worked hard and not because they whined.
The one guy's comment is beyond stupid. Keenan is shooting like 55 percent from the field. The statement is worthless based on the fact that this person has basically no knowledge of what he or she is talking about as far as basketball. There is no way this person can be anywhere near credible in basketball. This has to be some fan with below average basketball IQ.
ReplyDeleteI'm not suprised that you guys defend him, as well you should. I applaud you for it. I don't hate the kid. I can admit he is shooting above 50% from the field and that is great. I'm just simply stating the facts. Yes, he is collecting the hardware as you put it but none of you once disputed the fact of the stats I laid out..you just say I have no bball IQ or I'm just hating. How is it whining or complaining when its plain as day to see.
ReplyDeleteSo if I'm hearing you guys correctly, you guys are saying that your body of work doesn't have to reflect your reward?? Let me use this as this for example, so if I'm a student and I copied others student work and projects but I end of being valedictorian of my class, as long as I got the distinguished award of valedictorian "the hardware" thats all that matters??
The problem is you didn't state the facts well. Your numbers that you imply are common are not that common at all. The statistics do not accurately reflect what you state. It's difficult to have much respect for your comment when your facts are weak.
ReplyDeleteThe scenario you cite is a case of cheating and is unethical.
Also, as I read the post you are commenting to ... the person did not say you had no basketball IQ. The person stated that you had a below average basketball IQ. Once again your facts are off.
Also, you completely missed the point of the 54 percent number. It was to show that your facts (sometimes they get in the way of a good smear) were off. Also you had this line, "That is where 90-95% of points come from." What are you smoking?
ReplyDelete