Specifically, talking turnover rates, big picture.
Here's how Cuonzo stacks up on his career, year by year (national rank in parentheses)
Missouri State
2009: 20.8 (206th)
2010: 17.4 (28th)
2011: 16.6 (15th)
Tennessee
2012: 20.5 (204th)
2013: 20.1 (183rd)
2014: 16.8 (71st)
California
2015: 16.6 (41st)
2016: 17.6 (145th)
2017: 18.7 (196th)
Mizzou
2018: 20.8 (313th)
2019: 21.6 (311th)
Now, it's long been my suspicion, a more veteran team is better at protecting he ball...let's look at "experience" ratings which measure the team based on year of players and minutes played (1st is most experienced):
Missouri State
2009: 155th
2010: 291st
2011: 25th
Tennessee
2012: 215th
2013: 206th
2014: 82nd
California
2015: 192nd
2016: 259th
2017: 109th
Mizzou
2018: 141st
2019: 279th
The much discussed "trends" seem to relatively strongly favor a correlation between experience and a lower turnover rate throughout his history, with the notable exceptions of 2017 and 2018 when he had relatively experienced teams and a mediocre turnover rate in the former and a hideous number in the latter.
In 2017, Cuonzo's primary PG was Charlie Moore. He sported an impressive 27.4 assist rate with a relatively high 22.7 turnover rate. It was the highest rate of any perimeter player on the team. While the team was more experienced, their primary ballhandler, one who averaged over 70% of minutes available, was a freshman. And he had a significant turnover rate.
We all watched 2018, so a deep dive isn't needed. But here are the player's 2018 turnover rates of those who reached 30% of minutes played:
Tilmon: 25.8% (27.1% in 2019)
Van Leer: 24.8%
Porter: 20.5%
Geist: 22.9% (17.5% in 2019)
Puryear: 18.1% (17.0% in 2019)
Robertson: 17.9%
Barnett: 14.5%
Tilmon has a higher turnover rate, but has almost exactly equally increased his usage over 2018. Geist is being used nearly 6% more than in 2019 per possession and has drastically decreased his turnover rate. Puryear has seen roughly 1% in increase in usage and has a decrease in turnover rate.
Who are the prime turnover machines this year?
Santos: 36.8%
Nikko: 33% (nearly a 13% raise from 2018)
Pinson: 31.2%
Mi. Smith: 29.8%
Tilmon: 27.1%
A freshman and four "big" guys.
It would seem to me, at least, that two things need to happen.
1. Get better, more experienced perimeter players. Watson (18.5) and Pickett (16.4) handle the ball pretty safely as a whole. Pinson is all over the place. But that group is one that is going to need to show the improvement above to really get things under control. The addition of Dru Smith should, at least in theory, assist in that endeavor. Mark Smith's 14.5% rate is more than adequate.
2. Clean up the play with the big guys. Whether it's shitty passing on the part of entries, moving screens (is a turnover) on the perimeter or loose handles inside the arc, they need to get better.
This isn't to mean that turnovers haven't been an issue. Quite the opposite. Rather that there are "trends" and data that indicate that under this very coaching staff....experience breeds better ball safety.
Here's how Cuonzo stacks up on his career, year by year (national rank in parentheses)
Missouri State
2009: 20.8 (206th)
2010: 17.4 (28th)
2011: 16.6 (15th)
Tennessee
2012: 20.5 (204th)
2013: 20.1 (183rd)
2014: 16.8 (71st)
California
2015: 16.6 (41st)
2016: 17.6 (145th)
2017: 18.7 (196th)
Mizzou
2018: 20.8 (313th)
2019: 21.6 (311th)
Now, it's long been my suspicion, a more veteran team is better at protecting he ball...let's look at "experience" ratings which measure the team based on year of players and minutes played (1st is most experienced):
Missouri State
2009: 155th
2010: 291st
2011: 25th
Tennessee
2012: 215th
2013: 206th
2014: 82nd
California
2015: 192nd
2016: 259th
2017: 109th
Mizzou
2018: 141st
2019: 279th
The much discussed "trends" seem to relatively strongly favor a correlation between experience and a lower turnover rate throughout his history, with the notable exceptions of 2017 and 2018 when he had relatively experienced teams and a mediocre turnover rate in the former and a hideous number in the latter.
In 2017, Cuonzo's primary PG was Charlie Moore. He sported an impressive 27.4 assist rate with a relatively high 22.7 turnover rate. It was the highest rate of any perimeter player on the team. While the team was more experienced, their primary ballhandler, one who averaged over 70% of minutes available, was a freshman. And he had a significant turnover rate.
We all watched 2018, so a deep dive isn't needed. But here are the player's 2018 turnover rates of those who reached 30% of minutes played:
Tilmon: 25.8% (27.1% in 2019)
Van Leer: 24.8%
Porter: 20.5%
Geist: 22.9% (17.5% in 2019)
Puryear: 18.1% (17.0% in 2019)
Robertson: 17.9%
Barnett: 14.5%
Tilmon has a higher turnover rate, but has almost exactly equally increased his usage over 2018. Geist is being used nearly 6% more than in 2019 per possession and has drastically decreased his turnover rate. Puryear has seen roughly 1% in increase in usage and has a decrease in turnover rate.
Who are the prime turnover machines this year?
Santos: 36.8%
Nikko: 33% (nearly a 13% raise from 2018)
Pinson: 31.2%
Mi. Smith: 29.8%
Tilmon: 27.1%
A freshman and four "big" guys.
It would seem to me, at least, that two things need to happen.
1. Get better, more experienced perimeter players. Watson (18.5) and Pickett (16.4) handle the ball pretty safely as a whole. Pinson is all over the place. But that group is one that is going to need to show the improvement above to really get things under control. The addition of Dru Smith should, at least in theory, assist in that endeavor. Mark Smith's 14.5% rate is more than adequate.
2. Clean up the play with the big guys. Whether it's shitty passing on the part of entries, moving screens (is a turnover) on the perimeter or loose handles inside the arc, they need to get better.
This isn't to mean that turnovers haven't been an issue. Quite the opposite. Rather that there are "trends" and data that indicate that under this very coaching staff....experience breeds better ball safety.
