KAEO LuWane Pipkins (PG-2015)

[inthescoop]

I'll take LuWane over Chaz every day of the week.

I think he plays with more heart and he's a better leader...he leads by example. I also think Pip is a more tenacious defender.

As tough as Chaz is/was, I also think LuWane he's tougher. I'll use the LaSalle game and the Stony Brook game to illustrate what I mean.

That's not a knock on Chaz as much as it is a vote for LuWane.

Hehehe that's the kind of response I was hoping for, to stir up a nice debate here.

[69MG]

If you are talking just about skills, their games are very similar. I also think their leadership is about the same. To be fair, take the last half year away from Chaz and I rate them pretty equal on all fronts. Since LP is only a soph, I think he still has upside and in the end he will end up the better player.
Frankly, that's saying a lot.

[Roadtrip]

Out on the limb I go; Pipkins is the better player already, IMHO.

[Not Trigger]

Until Pip carries his team to an NCAA tourney bid, I'll still give the edge to Chaz. Another performance like the second half Wednesday night might get me to change my mind.

[minutefanjsf]

Pip’s defense is better than Chaz. But, Pip turns it over more. Really two different position players. Next year when Pip isn’t playing the point, he could really light it up.

[rayers]

I love both Chaz and Pip and clearly there are some similarities. Chaz has a better handle and a quicker first couple of steps. He is also a better passer but Pip will only get better. Pip is a slightly better shooter. I think the difference that stands out more to me is that Chaz seemed to be always looking for a foul call and Pip doesn’t give a hoot and just keeps battling until the whistle. In that same vein, Pip is less expressive on the floor and I really admire and value that in a young player. And Pip is a better individual and team defender. Leadership is open for debate but Pip has much more time to establish himself even more. Thanks for reading.

[DEM]

Next year when Pip isn’t playing the point, he could really light it up.

Are we really expecting him to move to the wing for the majority of his minutes after this year? We already have a whole bunch of wing players that we'll be adding to the rotation to go along with Pierre, so my guess is that if even just one of them is legit then Pipkins stays at the point. Plus it's probably better for his development if he has aspirations after college since he'd likely be playing pg and not wing. Anyway, it's not like Pipkins can't score as a point guard, he did just break a scoring record after all!

[minutefanjsf]

Next year when Pip isn’t playing the point, he could really light it up.

Are we really expecting him to move to the wing for the majority of his minutes after this year? We already have a whole bunch of wing players that we'll be adding to the rotation to go along with Pierre, so my guess is that if even just one of them is legit then Pipkins stays at the point. Plus it's probably better for his development if he has aspirations after college since he'd likely be playing pg and not wing. Anyway, it's not like Pipkins can't score as a point guard, he did just break a scoring record after all!

I love what he's doing at the point. Don't get me wrong. I just think he'd be even better not having to run the offense. We have true PG next year. If pip stays at point it'll be because he's best there and I'll be good with it. But, imagine if he doesn't have to run the show.

[MikeEsq]

Until Pip carries his team to an NCAA tourney bid, I'll still give the edge to Chaz. Another performance like the second half Wednesday night might get me to change my mind.

I concur.

[MikeEsq]

From the Associated Press writeup. I think we need some fact checking.

Pipkins broke the nearly 50-year-old mark of 41 points by Billy Tindall on Feb. 10, 1968, which also occurred in the William D. Mullins Memorial Center.

Some papers (I don't know if the Associated Press does this) are using computer programs to write stories. They take the box score and draft the recap accordingly. So they wouldn't have known if that was indeed the case. But yeah, that is a notable screw-up.

[xlgman]

I have never understood why people don't think Pip is a point guard. I think the kid has great instincts, a good handle and makes things happen. He's already improved this season and become more of a threat to drive and finish and get to the FT line. I expect that development to continue and I have no doubt that if he is coached up over the next 10 months, he could be a great scoring PG with an improved A/TO ratio. I'd be perfectly comfortable with him running the point for us next year. I can picture him practicing PG skills all spring and summer and developing into an all time great.

[UMass87]

^ I think you answered your own question. Yes, he may well be able to LEARN to be a pg but he simply is not an acceptable D1 point guard today. He turns the ball over far too often. Unfortunately, Pip, CJ, and Rayshawn Miller are the only players who can play pg and none of them are high A10-level point guards right now. If UMass wants to be at the top of the A10 then they will almost certainly need an A10 top-level pg.

[LS71]

^
That's 100% a knock on Chaz and you only say it because you "heard" he gave up in a game. Come on, who are you kidding?

I say it because I was at the game and I know what I saw.

[LS71]

From the Associated Press writeup. I think we need some fact checking.

Pipkins broke the nearly 50-year-old mark of 41 points by Billy Tindall on Feb. 10, 1968, which also occurred in the William D. Mullins Memorial Center.

Some papers (I don't know if the Associated Press does this) are using computer programs to write stories. They take the box score and draft the recap accordingly. So they wouldn't have known if that was indeed the case. But yeah, that is a notable screw-up.

I saw an updated article today in which the AP acknowledged its error.

Correction: La Salle-Massachusetts story
The Associated Press
Posted: Jan. 11, 2018 8:00 am Updated: Jan. 11, 2018 11:50 am
AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — In a story Jan. 10 about a game between Massachusetts and La Salle, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a 1968 scoring mark had been set in the William D. Mullins Memorial Center. The center did not open until 1993.

A corrected version of the story is below:

[capezona]

^ I think you answered your own question. Yes, he may well be able to LEARN to be a pg but he simply is not an acceptable D1 point guard today. He turns the ball over far too often. Unfortunately, Pip, CJ, and Rayshawn Miller are the only players who can play pg and none of them are high A10-level point guards right now. If UMass wants to be at the top of the A10 then they will almost certainly need an A10 top-level pg.

CJ is 2nd in the A10 in assists per game. You're right about the turnovers - Pipkins has the most TOs per game in the conference - CJ is 6th.