Alex Ruoff: Friend or Foe?
by Dr. Charley West on Mar 2, 2009 6:36 PM EST
in Mountaineer Basketball
Email
Print
I have been staring at Alex Ruoff's career stat sheet for about the last hour, and besides becoming dizzy for a short time, have accomplished almost nothing. Why? Because it doesn't make any sense.
Usually, players progress from year one to year four. Or at least they do in some categories. Rarely does a player get worse, though it does happen. Now, get me straight, I am not advocating the thought that Alex Ruoff has gotten worse as a player, but you won't see me advancing the argument that he's gotten better, either.
He scores, yet his shooting percentages aren't great. He passes -- more than last year, yet less than two years ago. He also gets the same amount of rebounds per game, regardless of season. See a lot of progression? I certainly don't, and I really tried, too.
In 2007, Ruoff was a passing machine, dishing out 191 assist on the season, or 5.3 per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio was also a very respectable 2.4. Then, last year, his assists dropped by nearly half, from 5.3 per game down to 2.7 per. His A/T ratio also got considerably worse, nosediving to 1.6. This year is only marginally better. So far, in 2009, Ruoff has averaged 3.4 dimes per game, with an A/T ratio of 1.7.
What's happened?
Well, for one, Ruoff is scoring more, which is usually a good thing. Unfortunately, though, Ruoff's shooting percentages just aren't that great. Last year, he greatly improved on a sub 40% shooting average in 2007, knocking down 47.9% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc. Though, with more pressure on him this year, those stats have dropped to 36.6% from three and 43.7% overall.
His scoring has increased incrementally each year, from 10.3 in 2007 to 13.8 in 2008 and 16.1 this year. That's a good thing, but it's coming at the expense of a lot of other things. Based on the statistics above, that scoring might be better off coming from another player. I really wish I had John Hollinger's ninja-like stat skills to try to pin down Ruoff's effectiveness while on the court -- but I don't. All I have are the basic stats mentioned above, which paint a somewhat unflattering picture.
As a sidekick in 2007, Ruoff was extremely efficient. Double digit points, a lot of assists, very few turnovers, and a great defender. In 2008, when asked to do more, he was able to score, but the downward trend of most every other stat began. Now, in 2009, the scoring is once again up, but the rest of Ruoff's game has flat-lined. With Joe Alexander back, we might have been able to hide those flaws. But with only Alex and Da'Sean as veteran leaders, we need Ruoff to score. I'm just not sure it's worth it.
Image credit via jockdreams.com
19 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think Alex is the type of player that needs alot of shots to stay in rhythm. Back a few years ago, he shot alot, thus he stayed sharp. Now he’s more the leader, passer and takes less shots, so he’s rhythm isn’t there and neither has been his stroke.
That's not true at all
2007: 8.6 FG attempts per game
2008: 9.5 FG attempts per game
2009: 11.7 FG attempts per game
by Dr. Charley West on Mar 3, 2009 8:19 AM EST up reply actions
If you take it even further...
…and look at it on the basis on attempts per minutes played, the numbers are still up.
2007: 10.37 attempts per 40 minutes played
2008: 11.97 attempts per 40 minutes played
2009: 13.05 attempts per 40 minutes played
So, not only is Ruoff getting more playing time, he’s also shooting quite a bit more in the time he’s playing.
by Dr. Charley West on Mar 3, 2009 8:36 AM EST up reply actions
Lay off Charley
I think Ruoff is more of a Best Supporting Actor. He’s not a leading man and that’s what he’s been asked to do more and more each year. Maybe it’s him rather than the coaching staff saying that and he’s pressing a little, but I don’t think anyone would disagree that he has to be a big scorer for this team to win. In Beilein’s system in 2007 he was surrounded by numerous shooters, thus the defense couldn’t concentrate on one guy. Not only were there better shooters surrounding him, but the supporting cast overall was better. Fast forward to this year….who are our outside threats? Who is going to put the team on his back like Alexander did in the tournament last year? We don’t have that (unless Butler wants to pour in 43 time and time again), so Ruoff taking some bad shots and lowering his shooting percentage is going to happen.
Ditto
I may not know a lot about basketball, but Bob Huggins does, and he disagrees with you:
http://www.register-herald.com/sports/local_story_020000636.html
I’m not going to go into every detail of the article, but the gist is that being a good basketball player isn’t necessarily measured by statistics. Plus, you have to take the system change into account—-Beilein’s system naturally created more opportunities for assists and steals, and played right into Ruoff’s strength as a spot shooter. Under Huggs, Alex is asked to create shots, play more man to man D, and this year, run the offense as a point guard. Totally different circumstances.
Also, I agree with Barksdale.
You are a meanie.
You can’t compare Ruoff’s first two years with the last two. Two completely different coaches and coaching styles. I think he has matured and become a total basketball player and not just a shooter.
by 5th Year Senior on Mar 3, 2009 10:06 AM EST reply actions
Why?
The stats don’t say that at all. His “total basketball player” stats have decreased. So why is he better?
by Dr. Charley West on Mar 3, 2009 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
The reason his stats have decreased is because he is not a good fit for Huggins system. He is a somewhat slow white kid that can shoot. He is being asked to be the primary ball-handler at times and will have more turnovers.
The lack of assists could come from the fact that we don’t shoot as well right now and we get more of our points from the offensive glass. Also, we run a more “one-on-one” system that does not create a lot of off the pass shots.
If you watch Ruoff now and think he hasn’t improved from his freshmen season then I question your basketball acumen. He is a better ball player now than before.
by 5th Year Senior on Mar 3, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
Ignoring the coaching change exposes the flaw of your argument
Beilein’s system played perfectly into Ruoff’s strengths – shooting and making crisp passes. It emphasized taking care of the ball and spot-up shooting. Huggins hasn’t radically changed this, but he certainly runs more post sets that Beilein ever did.
Surely the supporting cast is a key component to this argument too.
Statistically, there’s no doubt that he has regressed. But, by your own admission, the stats you present don’t necessarily accurately gauge his performance for the team.
I guess my point is that there are so many factors at work here, that grabbing some stats and saying this player sucks ignores the realities of the TEAM game of basketball. I’d say the past few years of WVU basketball have been pretty fine and we have Ruoff, among others, to thank for that.
It’s a common misconception that a player automatically gets better as he gets older. Did Pat White improve? Maybe. But his numbers were better his soph year than any other year. Ruoff is a classsic Pat Beilein. His defense has probably improved, but he has not improved in any tangible offensive catagory.
You can argue that he is smarter now “because he is a senior,” but he still is the player throwing an eyebrow raising amount of inbounds passes away and taking wild shots at the end of the Cincy game.
He is a very good role player who has improved his on ball man to man defensive, and is still a very streaky shooter. He is our best passer who makes the most ill advised passes. He is the best shooter who misses the most open threes. He is a riddle wrapped in a question inside of an enigma.
He is Alex Ruoff and he is a prick. But he is our prick. So here’s hoping he helps us get 5 more wins.
I don’t know why everyone is so pissed at Ruoff for taking that shot at Cincy. It wasn’t the best shot but at least he was man enough to take it. Butler ran away from the ball like a little baby. Butler ran away from the ball the entire second half.
He is a role player being asked to play the role of a star player. He has done a very good job of that this season.
by 5th Year Senior on Mar 3, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
Hypothetically,
Is it possible to be a better player, but not be playing as well? For instance, someone may be a better shooter, but is being asked to take more difficult shots, so the percentage goes down and is asked to break pressure more so the A/TO ratio goes down. Or maybe in football, the QB improved as a passer, but doesn’t have the WRs to throw to or the OL to block.
Also, can someone please at least attempt to refute Huggins’ comment that Ruoff has improved? If anyone would know, I think Huggins would know.
Also
You can’t discount the impact of teammates, which is what I think 5th Year and Barksdale are getting at. Pat White probably had better stats as a sophomore because Slaton was ridiculous, the OL blocked well and he had Brandon Myles as an additional downfield threat. But it’s hard to argue against his improvement as a passer, especially this year. As for Ruoff, how do you account for the losses of Alexander and Nichols, who allowed Ruoff to do what he does best—-catch and shoot?
by Country Roads on Mar 3, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
I think Pat White’s “improvement” as a passer had more to do with self-fulfilling prophesy than reality. Every year you’d hear that he’d improved as a passer. Then the next year you’d hear about how he struggled as a passer the previous year and had improved that year. It’s just something announcers and writer’s do to pass the time. The whole improving as a passer is part of the story line they concoct to have something to write about. Cause quite frankly, what other positive spin could possibly be put on Mullen and our offense last year.
I agree with the statement that Ruoff is a role player being asked to be a star. Which is why its frustrating because we’re not getting a star’s performance. I would be more forgiving if he didn’t look a the crowd after he makes every 11th 3-pointer and preen like a star.
Pat himself has credited Mullen for his improvement as a passer, especially in reading coverage, lookinng off receivers, etc. If you couldn’t take one look at Pat throwing the ball this year and tell he improved as a passer, I got nothin’ for ya.
by Country Roads on Mar 4, 2009 8:55 AM EST up reply actions
The Big East is a man’s league, and he’s held his own for the most part. He’s adapted to a new coach when many (myself included) didn’t think he could. He actually drives to the basket some which I thought he would never do. Hell, he dunked the ball with authority, in traffic against Georgetown for crying out loud.
Becoming more than a spot up shooter has helped him become a contributor. He’d be a guard version of Jamie Smalligan if he hadn’t developed his game as much as he has.
Although he’s added more to his game, he is still extremely dependant on his outside shot. If it’s not falling then he’s not going to be much more than a role player offensively. He’s not going to put up 20+ with his mid-range game or by taking it inside and getting t othe foul line.
He’s not exactly what we need as a star player in this league. However, he’s developed his game and improved in ways necessary to allow him to be effective for a coach whose philosophy doesn’t typically accomodate players like him.
He pisses me off sometimes with his shot selection and when he’s not quite the player we need him to be, but you can’t ignore his growth. He’s a much tougher player who has developed into a leader that this team desperately needs.
Eye test
Ruoff has been asked to shoulder a much greater share of the non-scoring load the past two years. Add that to the fact that he’s playing in a system that is not suited to his talents, he deserves nothing but praise for his efforts.
Ruoff is the team’s MVP. He’s their best shooter, passer and ball-handler. He also is a very solid and reliable defender.
Because of the injury to Mazulla, and Truck Bryants out-of-control play, he’s been forced to play the point, diminishing his scoring.
And he, and to a lesser extent Butler, are the only fundamentally sound players left on the team.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
