College Basketball Players Who Will Be Game-Changers on Defense in 2015-16
So often lately, college basketball has come down to criticizing the offense. But sometimes, it's old-fashioned good defense that gets the job done.
That's what we're here to examine—the biggest defensive game-changers for the 2015-16 season.
It doesn't always have to be the swatted shot that requires retrieval from the bleachers. Nor does it have to be about guys who get a steal that turns quickly into two points. Though both of those qualities certainly help. But there's more than a singular trait that contributes to building the most excellent defensive forces.
Examining "defensive win share" scores and "defensive box plus/minus" ratings, we can establish a solid baseline when combined with typical data such as steals and blocked shots.
So get ready. Slap your hands on the floor if you have to.
Here's our defensive stance on the best game-changers coming this winter.
Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma
1 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.5
Defensive box plus/minus: 5.8
Lon Kruger was a little miffed after an early-season game in 2013 when standout forward Ryan Spangler had just four rebounds.
But Oklahoma's head coach let up. Defensively, Spangler had made his mark.
“Just awareness, kind of shoring everything up inside, help on penetration here, block a shot there, talking a lot,” Kruger told the Oklahoman's Ryan Aber in November 2013.
Certainly the 6'8'' senior's numbers aren't jaw-dropping like some on this list.
His block and steal rates aren't melting down teams.
But he's just constantly there, in the way. A presence. Voted OU's most inspirational player last year, the home-state product (who returned after a quick appearance at Gonzaga) recorded a career-high 24 steals last season and averaged about a block a game.
In a wickedly competitive Big 12—especially in the paint—OU is considerably better with him around. And that's saying something.
Anthony Gill, Virginia
2 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.4
Defensive box plus/minus: 5.1
A guy who didn't used to really care about defense, as Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer noted back in March, Virginia's Anthony Gill has turned into one of the best.
Yes, that picture above shows Gill isn't afraid to get a little bloody.
It helps that the senior forward, a one-time player at South Carolina, suits up for one of the most stingy defensive minds in Tony Bennett.
The 6'8'' Gill is a constant one-man wrecking crew. Sometimes it's more subtle, as he did average "just" a steal and about a half-block per game last season in the uber-talented ACC.
But what he does so well is understand passing and driving lanes, and he can force opponents go to Plans B, C or D.
“He’s just improved like most players do because he works at it,” Bennett told Jones. “He’s very driven, and very committed to his individual development physically, skill development and he’s really a team guy, that’s the one thing about it that you just love."
Virginia thrives on holding opponents to long scoring droughts. The Cavaliers get you one possession at a time, and they are extremely patient on offense. They continually are a Venus flytrap that just waits for vulnerability.
Gill is a huge part of that, especially on post-play defense.
He's also thrived at teamwork, becoming a brutally efficient trapping presence against opposing post players.
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/article15415412.html#storylink=cpy
Chris Washburn, TCU
3 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.1
Defensive box plus/minus: 7.6
TCU's Chris Washburn had some tough days at UTEP. But those appear to be behind him.
Now, with a fresh start, he basically keeps everything in front of him.
Washburn was a huge reason why TCU found some respectability in a veteran-laden Big 12 last winter. The 6'8'' junior—a former top-150 recruit, according to Rivals.com, and the son of former NBA No. 3 draft pick Chris Washburn (1986)—finished last year ranked No. 7 in the league in blocked shots, while ranking No. 8 in steals in conference play.
He wouldn't let down against anyone, as evidenced by the picture above—not even when facing Kansas in its backyard at the Sprint Center.
He closed the season with a 10-point, four-steal, three-block outing against the Jayhawks in the second round of the Big 12 tournament.
Washburn is a fairly underrated threat in league. He had 16 points to help TCU upset Kansas State for the Horned Frogs' first Big 12 tourney win in back in March.
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Daniel Ochefu, Villanova
4 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.5
Defensive box plus/minus: 8.3
You knew eventually we were going to get a big fella on this list.
Welcome Villanova's Daniel Ochefu, a 6'11'' senior who was third in the Big East in rebounding (8.5) and pegged as one of the most improved players.
Ochefu is starting to develop his skills with his terrific instincts. He averaged 1.4 blocks and nearly a steal per game last season. Troublesome for opponents, he left a lot of aggressiveness on the bench, averaging only about two fouls per game. Look for that to change this year. You can't take those fouls home with you, big man!
Among the 20 players who met our criteria for this slide, Ochefu was second in the plus/minus rating (8.3). Translation: The Wildcats are simply a much better team with him on the floor.
Known by some as the Chief, defense may be his chief concern this year. Nova will be loaded at guard, especially with the addition of Jalen Brunson, who may drop some dimes his way.
He may also help get the Wildcats running off missed shots. He's particularly good at cleaning up the defensive glass.
Gary Payton II, Oregon State
5 of 10
Defensive win shares: 3.2
Defensive box plus/minus: 7.9
Gary Payton II is just plain special.
No player in consideration averaged more win shares stemming from the defensive end.
And here's a guy who is just 6'3'' but set the Oregon State record for blocked shots in a game last season (seven against Colorado).
The Beavers are known to play some zone. Payton's presence helped crush the Buffs that particular day (a 72-58 win) and forced them to shoot 1-of-16 from the field to open the game.
Maybe his dad should go to every game. The famed Glove, Gary Payton, was being honored during that game for the Beavers' Pac-10 championship (1989-90).
No player in the country was better at stealing the ball last year, either, and for that voters named Payton II the Pac-12 defensive player of the year.
He has the length and relentless nature to give opponents fits. The Beavers lost their top five scorers (who accounted for nearly 84.0 percent of the team's point production in 2013-14). They were picked to finish last in the Pac-12 by the Pac-12 media.
They wound up finishing seventh and enter this season as a dark horse to win it, with Payton as a POY candidate.
It all starts with defense.
Hassan Martin, Rhode Island
6 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.9
Defensive box plus/minus: 7.5
When you think blocks, you don't often think 6'7''. Unless we're maybe talking high school. But Martin breaks the mold by being one of the country's most effective swatters.
"He's already on the NBA radar," Rhode Island coach Danny Hurley told SILive.com's Cormac Gordon about Martin.
There's a reason the Rams really turned a corner (23-10 record in 2014-15). They were ranked among the most stifling defenses and finished in the top 20 in points allowed and blocks.
In the A-10 season, where URI finished a surprising third in conference play with a 13-5 record, Martin finished with 12.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks. He even had 10 swats against La Salle. He had four in the opening six minutes, 11 seconds.
Teams try to abuse Martin's relative lack of height, especially in isolation situations. He's not having any of it.
Martin is what happens when above-average athleticism meets terrific timing and discipline.
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
7 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.1
Defensive box plus/minus: 7.2
So often we talk about star freshmen for their offensive skills.
Utah's Jakob Poeltl lets us examine the other half of the game.
The 7-footer virtually tiptoed onto our radars last season, but that won't be the case after he chose to return to Salt Lake City rather than be a likely high first-round NBA draft pick based mostly on potential.
Teammate Delon Wright laid serious claim to being the country's top player last year. Now in Toronto with the Raptors, it'll be up to Poeltl to be a major threat at both ends of the floor.
He is wildly efficient on offense but, just as importantly, is a significant agitator when other teams are trying to get into the paint.
He was just outside the top 50 nationally in block percentage last year, averaging nearly two a game.
Scarier yet, he has a defensive-mastermind coach (Larry Krystkowiak) who is a former scrappy NBA big man whom Poeltl trusts implicitly (why else would he return to college?). And he only averaged 2.4 fouls per game last year, so there's more aggressiveness to be had, as well, to complement his physical nature and good instincts.
Jameel Warney, Stony Brook
8 of 10
Defensive win shares: 3.1
Defensive box plus/minus: 5.7
Jameel Warney, a 6'8'' senior, is due for an NCAA tournament appearance, including missing out after a crusher last year in the America East title game to Albany on a last-second three-pointer.
Perhaps if Stony Brook can stay out of the CBI or NIT (where it's spent five of the last six postseasons), then fans will realize just how much of an effect Warney can have on a game.
Of course, we're here mostly to scrutinize defense.
Warney is a voracious rebounder at that end of the floor and also a nationally ranked presence in blocked shots.
In league play, he's a powerful enough force to draw triple-teams. He was among 17 players in Division I last year who averaged a double-double.
He had 26 steals, which was a personal season-best last year. And he also produced 87 blocked shots, which was nearly as many as he put up combined in his first two years (90).
Kris Dunn, Providence
9 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.3
Defensive box plus/minus: 5.1
Truth be told, there are guys who have better numbers that the ones listed above.
But it's hard not to want to include Providence's Kris Dunn, considering the overall impact he has on a defensive game plan based on his considerable duties as a scorer and setup man.
Dunn dominates possessions but still had the energy to rank fifth nationally in steal percentage.
“He brings everything to the table,” teammate LaDontae Henton told Sports Illustrated's Brian Hamilton last season. “And when I say that, I mean everything. He’s everywhere on the court.”
He can turn a defensive possession into two points as quickly as anybody in the country. Ask Butler, which saw Dunn play a remarkable second half in early March, turning a blowout into a nail-biter, producing 23 points, six assists and three steals.
Dunn is sometimes like a star cornerback that teams blatantly avoid in their passing game.
Yet just watch—he'll still make things happen this year.
Skylar Spencer, San Diego State
10 of 10
Defensive win shares: 2.5
Defensive box plus/minus: 10.5
Now this is really our kind of guy. Do mostly one thing—and really do it great.
Junior forward Skylar Spencer is SDSU’s all-time leader in blocks. After last season, he also became the first Aztec to be named the Mountain West's defensive player of the year.
Just look at that plus/minus number. The Aztecs are 10 points better with him on the floor.
He knows how force opponents to the alter their shot, making them change their shots at the last second. So Spencer's quite effective, even if he doesn't get a true deflection.
“I remember back when we recruited Skylar and I watched him play AAU basketball,” SDSU coach Steve Fisher told the San Diego Union-Tribune's Mark Zeigler last season about his shot-blocker. “That stood out then, as a rising senior. He had an innate feel and ability to be around the ball when it got close to the win. Maybe as important, he took great pride and delight in that part of who he is."
Spencer would rather have more blocks than points.
"I take pride in my defense, I take pride in having a big presence," said Spencer to the Union-Tribune's Matt Calkins, the Aztecs' 6-foot-10 sophomore forward. "If I score 10 points but only have one block, I don't consider it a good game."
Spencer registers as "nearly invisible" by KenPom standards, because he used up less than 12 percent of Aztec possessions.
But he still was a 52 percent shooter in those limited opportunities (many on putbacks) and No. 7 nationally in blocked-shot percentage. He also led SDSU in rebounds 12 times last year.
Stats via Sports-Reference.com and Kenpom.com.
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